Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-05-HSC-min.pdf Minutes Human Services Committee l June 5, 1996 Present: Arnie Berger, RePlace; Barbara Ciampa; Julie Fenn; Roz Gittleman; Eva Glick; Donna Hooper, Co-Chair; Rick Safford; Jolley Anne Weinstock, Co-Chair Absent: Jean Luongo These minutes incorporate and add to notes of a memorandum from Steve Baran to the Committee. Steve's name is attached to comments he made in the memo. Other notes from the memo are of a factual nature. 1. RePlace merger Arnie Berger reported that CBHC is merging with Wayside, an agency with headquarters in Framingham. Tom Keane, the CBHC CEO, will become a private consultant for outpatient services. Eric Masse, former Executive Director of Wayside, will be the new CEO. RePlace will retain its name. The new CEO has strong social work values and intends to respect the special identity of RePlace in the Lexington community Wayside has a reputation for innovative programs, such as PROJECT DEPTH (see RePlace FY '97 program proposal). No staffing changes are expected on the local level, but it is expected that there will be increased flexibility to borrow Wayside staff and in doing so make more cost efficient use of RePlace staffing, e.g. flexibility when RePlace utilization is diminished during the summer months. 1. RePlace Youth Services Contract FY '97 RePlace proposes to discontinue the following programs in FY '97• • Substance abuse workshops with Lexington High sports teams due to lack of cooperation • Diversity dialogue groups suspended but diversity principals integrated into all programs • Drop-in center eliminated pending recommendations of Youth Coordination Task Force; single, large drop-in center does not have promise COUNSELING $55 per session cost figure is requested with $10 co-pay for individual and family counseling is based on CBHC cost figure of$55; also eight session limit rather than six sessions. Eight sessions are considered standard in the managed care community The Town is presently allowing a maximum of six sessions (see page 2 of contract under counseling, screening and referral. '). The Committee agreed to accept the higher limit recognizing that eight sessions still were in the realm of brief counseling. Hancock will donate $2,500 for scholarships. Highest rate on sliding scale is $65 per hour. Counselors will go on fee for service basis. Human Services Committee Minutes June 5, 1996 1 Page 2 OUTREACH Joan Abrahams has commented that she is now involving herself much more with 'hands-on' supervision of all outreach programs. Arnie Berger said that RePlace is awaiting the recommendations of the Youth Coordination Task Force on the subject of outreach. Mark Reeves will no longer be among paid staff, is expected to continue on a volunteer basis. CAPP A new person has been hired to run CAPP It was agreed to insert in the contract the requirement that RePlace investigate the state of the art in CAPP programming and present their conclusions to the Committee in the course of FY '97 STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Laurie Fiedler from CBHC will work with Joan on this program targeting substance abuse as identified by teachers. The program is supported by Goeff Young. A number of guidance counselors are making referrals. 'SIBSHOPS' The Parents Advisory Council for Children with Special Needs will make referrals for this program. Steve was due to meet with this group at 9 p.m. on Thursday June 6 to discuss mainly ADA issues. PEER PROGRAM This was not part of the FY '96 contract, but Bill Deveney, evaluator, has been actively involved with this group since they are an integral part of RePlace and because they can shed light on RePlace functioning. FRIEND TO FRIEND is a Big Brother/Big Sister type of program; for kids who are isolated and have poor social skills. CONNECTION HOTLINE Steve had commented to Joan Abrahams that he had always been skeptical about this program believing that its low utilization was likely to be demoralizing to the participants even though the training portion was valuable. Joan replied that in spite of low caller response, the participants were quite enthusiastic about the program and their attendance was good. Furthermore, the program would be marketed in FY '97 Finally youth in the peer program are likely to be active because the Hotline will be connected with two other peer programs, Friend to Friend and Movie Night. Arnie ( Berger added that the hotline was being coordinated with two other hot lines, and this Human Services Committee Minutes June 5, 1996 Page 3 was expected to increase the number of callers. The Hotline training taught empathy kids were able to process peer problems and how to respond in a helpful manner. MOVIE NIGHT For younger kids, once a month. Steve invited consideration of use of Council on Aging space so as to accommodate more kids. The program will be publicized so as to avoid catering to the same group all the time. MULTI-ADVENTURE PROGRAM This program will take place between July 26 and July 30 and will be led by Tom Healey from CBHC. YOUTH SERVICES COORDINATION Steve in his meeting with Joan had questioned charging for this type of administrative/planning activity suggesting rather that administration continue to be built into the charge for programs. Joan did comment that in view of the new merger, there was some desire on the part of RePlace to build a measure of flexibility into the contract. The Committee decided not to agree to having the Town pay for this component. PROJECT DEPTH Joan Abrahams clarified that this program was not a form of psychodrama wherein the participants take roles to act out neurotic conflicts needing resolution. Rather, the format is to provide a script around a given social problem permitting open-ended problem resolution where the emphasis is on social rather than individual problems. The program provides many video opportunities, and successful models exist in Framingham and Marlboro. Joan has had experience with this type of program. Steve noted that such a program could have implications for giving youth an active role in Town planning for youth. SMOKING CESSATION The program would be useful because it is not administered through the School Department thus avoiding disclosure problems. This past year it has been run by David Gehrembeck-Shin. Next year it will be someone from Wayside. Ace and Place classroom are 'Point 4 classrooms for difficult' kids. Their teachers are Bob Ferias and Nancy Defeutis. The social worker is Rachel Rosenblum. Human Services Committee Minutes June 5, 1996 Page 4 Steve encouraged Joan Abrahams to provide the Committee with a report of all RePlace programs, not only those under Town contract so as to permit a fuller understanding of the RePlace contribution to the community It was agreed to request in the contract that RePlace present a final FY '97 report (as they have done in past years; this had been left out of the FY '96 report). It was agreed to request at this time: 1. Agency budgets for FY '96 and FY '97; 2. Actual and proposed Table of Organization; 3. Chart displaying RePlace relationship to Wayside; 4. Meeting with new CEO on July 24. 2. FY '96 statistics Steve's comments: a. Crisis intervention- numbers trail off in January and drop to zero for February March and April. Explanation? Is staff failing to record interventions? b. Community outreach programs utilization seems low Contract has no quantitative expectations. c. Figures show hours and individuals. A fair number of individuals seen per month considering limitations of space. Draft of Bill Deveney report to be requested to serve as input into budget decision-making. Budgets, Table of Organization, Chart and revised Program Proposal to be furnished to Steve by June 14 (no later than June 17) so that he can distribute to Conunittee. Decisions on budget will be made as early as possible. The next meeting of the Human Services Committee is scheduled for July 24 at 7 p.m. at the Council on Aging. Conunittee's work plan and preschool planning to be discussed. {