HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-09-HSC-min.pdf Minutes
Human Services Committee
12/9/98
Present: Helen Gravis, Co-Chair; Roz Gittleman; Eva Glick; Kathleen
Palmer, liaison from PTA Association; Gregory Kotonias-Payne;
Christine Yedica; Laura Kurman, Becket Rhodes and Arnie Berger
from RePlace; Steve Baran, Staff
Absent: Nancy Bartlett; Barbara Ciampa; Khalil Khatri; Dan Fenn, liaison
from Selectmen;, Christine Yedica
Minutes of 11/7/98
The Minutes of 10/7/98 were accepted.
Party
It was agreed to defer a party until after the holidays. Thursday evenings were
seen as preferable.
Preschool Scholarships
1 Kathleen Palmer reported that Preschool Association of Lexington
directors had noted a diversity of criteria between different schools for
scholarships. Moreover, families who can't afford scholarships don't
always approach the schools. It was agreed that there needed to be
systematic criteria to evaluate who was eligible for scholarships.
2. Funding sources for preschool scholarships were again reviewed. These
included: Special Ed, Community Partnerships/Communities United, the
preschools themselves, Harrington Fund, Genesis Fund, and Preschool
PTA., Mass. Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of
Social Services. Most scholarships go to families not living in Lexington.
3. Committee members agreed there was a need for a common policy and
coordination and an understanding of the extent to which need and
funding availability correspond. Goals need to be put in place in an orderly
way It was noted that in France, all children are entitled to preschool
beginning at age 1 1/2.
4 The next step is to look at gaps in funding with a full meeting devoted to
the question. Steve will.submit a report on the Human Services Committee
preschool survey with the next set of minutes.
2
RePlace
Laura Kurman, Becket Rhodes and Arnie Berger gave an update on RePlace
activities.
1 RePlace has a contract with the School Department to conduct a new
program at the high school where a 0.6 FTE case manager with clinical
supervision from RePlace will be reporting to an assistant principal.
2. Beginning 7/1/99 RePlace will need new space. Many potential sites have
been researched without locating anything feasible so far Two to three
small counseling rooms, a small waiting room, a group room and
administrative space are needed within walking distance of the high
school.
3. A back up plan involves locating the administration in Watertown while
providing services in different community locations. This would involve
renegotiating that portion of the contract which calls for RePlace being
located within walking distance of the high school. RePlace would still
commit to being community-based. Were this to be the case, Nancy Freed
and Steve Baran would meet with Rick White by March or April to discuss
a change in the contract.
4. RePlace is responding to federal family preservation funding since they
are already using a family preservation model.
5. In the next meeting, the Human Services Committee will consider RePlace
( utilization data and needs. Currently, approximately 20 clients are being
seen for counseling. There are 20 peer leaders. Two crisis interventions
take place per month. A number of groups are being conducted. RePlace
has submitted an annual report and will be submitting a mid-year report.
Liaisons
1 The Domestic Violence Response Team Lexington Task Force will be
asked if they might accept Eva Glick as liaison from the Human Services
Committee.
2. Christine Yedica agreed to serve as a liaison to the Council on Aging.
Agenda
Items for next agenda are:
1 RePlace utilization
2. Low income families
3. Affirmative action