Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-02-03-HSC-min.pdf Minutes Human Services Committee 2/3/99 Present: Helen Cravis, Co-Chair; Nancy Bartlett: Barbara Ciampa, Co-Chair Roz Gittleman; Khalil Khatri; Gregory Kotonias-Payne; Christine Yedica; Nancy Freed, Director, Social Services Department; Dan Fenn, Jr , Selectman Liaison; Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator, Staff and Recorder Absent: Nancy Bartlett; Eva Glick, Kathleen Palmer Minutes of 1/6/99 Dan Fenn and Khalil Khatri were present, not absent. Nancy Bartlett and Barbara Ciampa attended meetings of the Early Childhood Committee. RePlace History Dan. Steve and Nancy reviewed the history of RePlace in the community and its relationship with the Town. Steve traced its beginnings as a counterculture drop-in organization which became professionalized over time. Dan discussed their contractual relationship with the Town. At an earlier point, the Human Services Committee were not pleased by the RePlace performance but they had failed to leave a paper trail documenting a lengthy period of previous dissatisfaction. Nancy and Steve had instituted a process of greater accountability allowing analyses, which could lead to an improvement of services. Nancy noted that RePlace was now reimbursed by unit of service whereas this had not been true previously Nancy noted a history of staff turnover changing directors and a lack of adequate support by Wayside in helping RePlace find a location from which they could operate as an agency He/en Cravis meeting with Phil Lanoue. Helen met with Phil Lanoue, High School Principal and subsequently attended a RePlace board meeting. Phil Lanoue reported that the high school had not been making much use of RePlace because there was a full complement of guidance counselors. He did expect, however, that the new RePlace case manager (29 hours per week) for more challenging children would be helpful. The Mass. Department of Education Safe and Drug-Free School Program funds the position. 2 Helen Queenin, high school guidance counselor, commented to Helen that students did not like to go off site for counseling. Moreover, guidance counselors did not make referrals to RePlace in spite of their being aware of the program due to energetic marketing. At the RePlace Board meeting, Helen learned that RePlace expected to obtain space at the Hancock Church on a sign-in basis after June 30 She affirmed the importance of having space for counseling. The members finally raised the following questions: o What would happen if there were no RePlace? o Should a Request for Proposal be sent (to go in late March)? o Had the RePlace board seriously helped to find space? o Was there confusion about goals with the peer-counseling program, which was now concentrating on tutoring rather than counseling? Affirmative Action Working Group Steve Baran reported on a new committee working on affirmative action issues for the town (not the school) and accountable to the Town Manager The Chair is Linda Crew Vine. The purpose is to review hiring approaches and recommend more effective recruiting and hiring procedures. Dan Fenn was thanked for the role he had played in creating a climate that was conducive to the formation of this committee. Diversity Teas Barbara Ciampa reported that the Tea of 2/26/99 sponsored by the COA and Human Services Committee already had 20 people signed up Naomi Topalian will be the speaker Liaison Dan Fenn, since he was ending his term as Selectmen, suggested that the Committee send a recommendation for his replacement shortly after the election. The members thanked Dan for all of his efforts. Preschool Steve Baran noted that with additional state funding for this fiscal year it would be possible to have another parenting group continuing the type of education that the Committee had been instrumental in securing from the Children's Trust Fund last year 3 Fund for Lexington Dan Fenn announced that $16,500 had been raised to date for the Fund for Lexington while $15,000 was carried overt over from last year Genesis had promised to allocate 50% of any monies it raised during the year to a Fund for Lexington endowment.