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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-10-30-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee Minutes 10/30/96 Present: Jolly Anne Weinstock, Chair; Barbara Ciampa; Helen Cravis; Roz Gittleman; Eva Glick; Lauren MacNeil; Rick Safford; Nancy Freed, Social Services Director Arnie Berger and Joan Abrahams, RePlace; Bonnie Saulnier, Vice President, Wayside Youth and Family Support Network; Ephraim Weiss, Town Meeting Member Joyce Holloman, Director Children's Center of Lexington; Steve Baran (recorder). Absent: Julie Fenn Minutes 9/11/96 The Minutes of 9/11/96 were approved. Social Service Director Nancy Freed, Social Service Director, was introduced. She referred to her background in social services and mentioned her interest in developing a pocket social services guide to Lexington social services. New Members Barbara Ciampa, Helen Cravis, and Lauren MacNeil were welcomed as new members of the Human Services Committee. Preschool age needs Ephraim Weiss, Town Meeting Member, said that it had been his impression that the Human Services Committee had functioned primarily as a `teenage committee whereas human services should refer to a variety of need areas. If the Committee did wish to address other areas of need, he could be of help particularly in the matter of bringing information to Town Meeting members. Jolley Anne Weinstock referred to a cross-the-board needs assessment that had been completed by the Committee. A report will be sent to Mr Weiss. The Committee has liaisons to other groups working on needs in different areas. Joyce Holloman reported that 90 - 95% of preschoolers attend a preschool, but a handful of families either can't afford to send their children to school or prefer not to do so although data going back over 20 years show that children who have had preschool do better in school. Two or three years ago a directory of preschools had been prepared but no special funding mechanisms were put in place An exception is a new program with built-in support systems for low income, two-parent, working families with children aged two years and nine months and up Further, there are no agencies situated in Lexington coping with the problems of battered women or abused children. Human Services Committee Minutes October 30, 1996 Page 2 It was Joyce Holloman's impression that day care families were under greater pressures these days and had more needs. She sees more signs of stressed families and children who don't function well in a group setting. A number of families have a major issue around finances, particularly single parent families receiving voucher subsidies for preschool. Single parents newly eligible for training are no longer eligible to receive child care vouchers. Lauren MacNeil referred to the problems of middle class parents who find preschool to be very expensive Current rates given by Joyce Holloman; • child under two in attendance between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. over $1 000' • over three $940 per month, same hours. Mr Weiss urged the Committee to submit a budget responding to child care needs and/or a Town Meeting article which would have educational benefits. Bonnie Saulnier mentioned that the Department of Social Services was going out to bid in January and that Children's United and Wayside were developing a group treatment model. Ephraim Weiss suggested contacting Jay Kaufman, Representative and Joyce Holloman suggested that the Committee should organize a legislative breakfast. Barbara Ciampa asked if there was an interagency council to address such needs. Nancy Freed mentioned that in Bedford there were several interagency task forces to address a variety of needs. RePlace Update Joan Abrahams provided an update on RePlace See attached RePlace Status Report dated November 6, 1996. Next Meeting The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 p m.