HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-08-06-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee
Minutes
8/6/97
Present: Barbara Ciampa; Eva Glick; Lauren MacNeil; Rick Safford; Laura Kurman,
Director of RePlace and Becket Rhodes, Assistant Director of RePlace;
Arnie Berger, RePlace board; Nancy Freed; Steve Baran (recorder).
Absent: Julie Fenn; Roz Gittleman; Jolley Anne Weinstock
Minutes of 6/4/97
Helen Cravis noted that she was not present at the meeting of 6/4/9. Also, Lauren
MacNeil and Rick Safford had volunteered to be on the subcommittee on drugs of
HealthPAC; they had not agreed to assist in planning for the role of RePlace in the
schools. The minutes were accepted as otherwise correct.
RePlace
FY '98 Contract: Arnie Berger introduced Laura Kurman and Becket Rhodes,
respectively the Director and Assistant Director of RePlace. Laura noted that the
contract for FY '98 reflected a redesign and streamlining of counseling services which
were now divided into Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling (Clinic Based)
and Outreach Counseling/Community Support. Outreach involved going into homes
and working in the community Arnie noted that there was provision for group
counseling in the contract but with flexibility as to just what kind of groups might be
provided. Prevention services included an information and referral service. The majority
of requests to date have pertained to counseling. The Student Assistance Program will
take place at Clarke Middle School. The Peer Program will eliminate the Hot line which
has not been productive Assault prevention will be provided in the middle school, and,
as in Watertown, will include date rape and sexual assault among other issues. In
relation to sexual assault, it was noted that the Human Services Committee had been
particularly concerned about bullying. Steve Baran explained that reimbursement
involved payment for units of service rendered; there will be no further cost
reimbursement.
Administration. An Administrative Assistant had been hired, and Becket Rhodes was
now the Assistant Director responsible for direct services. Laura Kurman, the RePlace
Director, gives 30% of her time to RePlace and 70% of her time to the Watertown
MultiService Center
Human Services Committee Minutes
8/6/97
Page 2
Domestic violence. A separate domestic violence advocate will be hired under a
contact funded for $25 000.1 The approach will call for the victim to be interviewed
within 48 hours after the Police Department responds with a backup team available to
furnish resources as needed. It is expected that there will be times when the victim is
not interested in participating. The program will respond to the full range of abuse.
Schools: Helen Cravis asked about the interface between RePlace and the schools.
The question had come out of a meeting earlier between the School Department and
RePlace. The schools had reported experiencing poor communication with RePlace
over a two-year period. Eva asked if there needed to be a single point of
communication between RePlace and the schools. Becket Rhodes said that the high
school wanted one person whom they could contact when making referrals. Nancy
Freed commented that there needed to be a reestablishing of communication with Arnie
Berger suggesting that this might coalesce around the new Director of Guidance. Helen
Cravis was also interested in knowing what services the high school was outsourcing
since this might point to services that RePlace could eventually provide upon
demonstrating its areas of expertise (e.g. home visits).
Single parent study
Sherri McInnis, a first-year student from Salem State College, supervised by Steve
Baran, reported that out of a total of 57 cases receiving emergency assistance through
the Human Services Fund 29 involved single parents. She referred to the range of
problems experienced by single parents including locating suitable housing
arrangements, perception of racial discrimination, difficulty of affording child care, and
the embarrassment of asking for help. Many parents reported that support from their
former husbands constituted just a small portion of their incomes.
Preschool
Steve Baran reported that he was in touch with Communities United about funding for
preschools. The Committee urged him to locate statistics through the Town. The
earlier findings of the preschool subcommittee concerning need were reviewed--
testimony of providers of the need for parent support groups and a coordinator Helen
Cravis suggested that the Committee be clear about the distinction between need and
goal. Rick Safford thought that goal clarity would evolve upon further study A potential
1 Becket Rhodes clarified later in response to the Committee's question, that
( the program is funded by the Executive Office of Public Safety Mass. Office on
Victim Abuse
Human Services Committee Minutes
8/6/97
Page 3
goal statement offered by Helen was that preschool should be available to any
Lexington resident in need.
Eva asked why the preschool program under Lexington school department auspices
was underutilized.
Next steps were identified:
Develop parent support groups
Investigate funding sources
Agenda items for next meeting
The role of the Human Services Committee in the preschools
Committee's goals and priorities for the year
Preschools
Youth
Draft mission statement
Membership on the Human Services Committee