HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-04-HSC-min.pdf Minutes
Human Services Committee
3/4/98
Present: Barbara Ciampa, Co-Chair; Roz Gittleman; Eva Glick; Gregory
Kotonias-Payne; Lauren MacNeil; and Steve Baran (Recorder), Social Service
Department; Becket Rhodes and Laura Kurman, RePlace( Jodi Hill, Parenting
Resources, Inc.
Absent: Helen Cravis, Co-Chair; Linda Pucci; and Rick Safford
RePlace
Steve Baran commented for the Social Services Department that RePlace had
demonstrated excellent accountability in reporting on utilization. There did remain
question about reporting outcomes, as noted particularly by Dan Fenn in the last
Selectmen's meeting during the report of the Social Services Department. The
RePlace initiative in the area of domestic violence represented a promising
contribution to the community
Laura Kurman, reporting for RePlace, explained that Wayside had given careful
attention to reporting hours in a new format and setting utilization objectives while
payment was for services rendered only, a departure from past practice.
Wayside was dealing with an inheritance from the past that was not always
positive, but its emphasis was on moving ahead. RePlace has been in touch with
the schools where there is continuing ambivalence. They are still waiting and
watching. New services call for a greater emphasis on counseling while some
programs have been eliminated because they were not successful.
Becket Rhodes, at Barbara Ciampa's invitation, gave an example of outreach
from her own caseload. She had responded to a special needs teenager with
ADHD, assisted with advocacy in the school system and supportive counseling at
home.
Laura commented that most counseling took place out of the office. As to office
space, RePlace was required to vacate its space in the Hancock Church by
June,1999. They needed four to five counseling rooms and a waiting area.
Lauren MacNeil volunteered to help in the search. Gregory Kotonias-Payne
suggested that there might be space at the Follen Church while Steve Baran
suggested getting in touch with the Chamber of Commerce.
As to groups, Laura commented that in the past groups had been planned that
never took place so that this time around the agency had done a needs
assessment leading in one instance to groups focusing on transition to middle
school.
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Gregory Kotonias-Payne inquired about the medical and interpersonal
consequences of eating disorders since one of the new RePlace groups dealt
with body image and self-awareness. RePlace reported that 50% of girls who
took a pre-assessment test revealed being at very high risk of developing eating
disorders. The group advertised as being about body image had not been
successful. Lauren MacNeil suggested that the group be advertised as a girls'
issues group The more restrictive terminology led to parents' pressuring
daughters to join.
As to the group for parents of children aged up to one year old, RePlace had
experienced little response to their extensive marketing. They wondered whether
it might be pertinent to widen the age range. Parenting Resources had been
running a group for parents of children ages two to six. Barbara Ciampa
suggested that having the group in the springtime might yield better results while
Eva Glick suggested being in touch with hospitals. Becket Rhodes replied that
they had tried without success.
Other aspects of the RePlace report dealt with crises, tracking and the peer
program with peers engaging in tutoring middle school children, undertaking
strategic planning and the developing of a mission statement. Steve Baran
wondered if the peers might continue into the summer and begin considering the
feasibility of a drop in center Barbara Ciampa suggested clean up projects.
Briefly noted was the inauguration of a domestic violence project along with the
development of a new brochure. The program was involved with 20 cases in the
first three months of its existence.
Suzanne Larsen, Barry Orenstein and Arnie Berger continue on the advisory
board with Arnie active in the 24-Hour Relay Challenge. She has also helped to
provide training for peers. Judy Zabin is also still involved.
Selectmen's Liaison
The Committee asked Steve Baran to contact the Board of Selectmen to suggest
that they appoint a new Selectmen liaison, preferably Jean Krieger, or Dan Fenn,
in view of his interest. Leo McSweeney had been the liaison but was no longer
continuing as a Selectman having lost in the last election.
Parenting Resources Associates
Jodi Hill reported on the eight-session parenting group, which she had run at the
invitation of the Human Services Committee, and with funding from the Children's
Trust Fund. The group was composed of parents of children ages two to six
perceived by the parents to be challenging. The Hancock Church provided
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- space. An 81-year-old babysitter from Arlington assisted and was given a small
stipend.
There were 20 to 30 inquiries, and 13 parents registered while 11 parents (of 27
children) completed the eight sessions. 11 registrants were from Lexington while
two parents, although not Lexington residents, had children in preschool in
Lexington. All of the participants were female and all currently married. The
market rate for such a group is $25 per session whereas parents were paying $5
per session to participate in this group Jodi will share the parent evaluations with
the Human Services Committee.
The sessions dealt with temperament, discipline and limit-setting, and marital
relationships. Themes included getting kids ready for kindergarten, complaining
about fathers' lack of interest. (the Wednesday morning meeting time may have
been a factor in keeping fathers away) and grief work. Some parents expected
kids who were developmentally on target. The children were quite challenging,
and some were special needs children. Half had diagnosable issues and half
were kids who had been previously evaluated.
A portion of the group wanted to continue, and group members were invited to
stay in touch with each other Jodi thought that if funding were available, it would
be feasible to run another group in six months. She was also thinking about
running a drop-in group for new parents since this represented a tumultuous and
( transient time in parenting.
Survey
Preparations are proceeding for surveying 1,060 parents of preschool children 0-
4 Costs for mailing and printing are being collated.
Next Committee Meeting
The next meeting of the Human Services Committee will take place on
Wednesday, April 1 when there will be a discussion concerning the Food Pantry
along with other items.