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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