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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-03-HSC-rpt.pdf t V fs ` or March 1986 Human Services Committee Report to Town Meeting The Human Services Committee is an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen charged with 1 Recommending a Human Services policy; 2 Developing a Human Services planning process; 3 Analyzing critically the funding requests presented to the Town. In January we presented a detailed report to the Board of Selectmen which fully discussed all FY 1987 Human Services budget recommendations What follows is a summary of this report I Overview Each year, in an effort to expand its understanding of the human services needs in the community, the Committee invites funding proposals from non- profit provider agencies serving Lexington residents The requests for proposals made to the Committee in the fall of 1985 for FY 1987 funding led to eight responses including renewal requests from six agencies as well as two applicants for first-time funding Members of the Committee have visited the sites of each agency requesting funding A high premium has been placed on program accountability and fiscal integrity as well as the ability to participate cooperatively in a provider system In each case, the agency was examined in relation to human services agency review criteria in use since 1981 Cognizant of fiscal constraints facing the Town, the Committee adopted a two-part strategy First, members encouraged agency representatives to limit requests for town funding to their highest priorities Subsequent negotia- tions resulted in only modest increases in requests from agencies seeking renewal funding Then, in their own reviews, Committee members endorsed only those proposals which met its criteria as having the greatest need for town funds Were funds unconstrained, the Committee would have recommended nearly $20,000 additional to support worthy agency programs 6J,MORN,,, e .;00 mo,,,' 4461/46101t1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02173 TELEPHONE (61 T) 661.0500 -2- Consequently, the Human Services Committee's budget recommendations reflect a modest increase for fiscal year 1987 Lexington is fortunate to be served by a variety of agencies providing a spectrum of programs for our more vulnerable citizens The budget we recommend reflects this diversity and is all the more valuable in a time of financial constraints Respectfully submitted, HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Stan Finkelstein, Co-Chair Judith Zabin, Co-Chair Robert Cushman Leonora Feeney Harvey Lowell Sheila Martin Sylvia Perlman Marion Shepp -3- II Summary of Budget Recommendations Town Agency Council on Aging In making an expanded commitment to senior citizens, the town must expect program growth to lead to increased expenses Either the town must be prepared to assume a growing share, or there needs to be a coordinated effort made to attract outside funds In endorsing the FY 1987 budget request, the Human Services Committee wants all concerned to be aware of this situation Requested $51,500 Recommended 51,500 Other Human Services Agencies Central Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens CMARC is a non-profit agency located in Woburn which provides pre-vocational and vocational services to mentally retarded adults Currently CMARC serves 116 clients in a variety of program options including Diagnostic Vocational Evaluation, Personal Adjustment Training, Extended Employment, On-Site Training, and Day Activity Services Eight Lexington clients are currently served at CMARC Requested $7,500 Recommended 7,500 Cooperative Elder Services, Inc CESI operates an adult day health program for frail elderly This program is seeking level funding from the Town of Lexington to provide a sliding scale scholarship payment for Lexington residents who are not covered by insurance or public funds Currently 18 Lexington residents use the program, and six have been assisted with partial scholarships Requested $3,000 Recommended 3,000 Everyone's Youth Group Everyone's Youth Group has as its primary objective the establishment of a setting where adolescents could find guidance in dealing with adolescent issues In 1984, the group of 31 teens, a majority from Lexington, produced a series of eight well-received 25-minute video programs on subjects such as teen suicide, sexuality and drugs Currently requested funds from the Town of Lexington would be used to produce four additional programs to be aired in 1987 Requested $2,000 Recommended 675 -4- Lexington Playcare Lexington Playcare is a day care center serving Lexington residents Their request for town support for a lecture series is not recommended at this time as the Human Services Commiteee believes that appropriate alternative sources of funding might be identified Requested $2,000 Recommended none Mystic Valley Mental Health Center Mystic Valley is a community mental health center providing comprehensive services for the whole continuum of mental health and mental retardation disorders Last year 371 Lexington residents and workers were served in a wide variety of programs on a sliding fee basis for with no insurance coverage This year's proposal is to offset reductions in staff by funding fee-for- service clinicians to provide out-patient services to the Lexington population who have the lowest priority for service as determined by D.M.H guidelines and who cannot affort to pay private fees for treatment Requested $35,000 Recommended 21,000 RePlace, Inc Replace has continued over the last 15 years to meet the needs of adolescents and their families They have provided services to the community through individual and family counseling; a drop-in center; outreach through the schools, the courts and on the street; in-town emergency shelter; crisis intervention; and an information and referral service The Human Services Commitee recommends the full amount of this year's request to bring Replace's salary structure closer to parity with other human services providers Requested $59,904 Recommended 59,904 Visiting Nurses and Community Health _ Laat year Lexington's Trustees of Public Trusts approved a request from the Visiting Nurses and Community Health (VNCH) for partial support of its Senior Health Monitor Program which serves more than 20 frail elderly in Lexington who are at risk for nursing home placement VNCH believes it will receive funding from the Department of Elder Affairs to continue this program and is asking the town for contingency funding during a transition or for a sensitive phase-down of the project should it not be funded by the state (The present funding request is also being submitted to the Trustees of Public Trusts ) Requested $3,750 Recommended 3,750 - 5• - III Human Services Agency Budget Review Criteria 1 Program Specific (Internal) a Program meets an identified need (This need may be identified by the Town, the Human Services Commitee or the program itself ) b The program has a clear statement of goals and objectives c The program can define what specific measures are used to evaluate services in meeting specific objectives d Salaries should be in line with salaries offered similar providers in similar agencies Job descriptions should be available demonstrating that there is a "fit" between the job position and the type of services and outcomes which the service provider is expected to furnish e The program meets all licensing and regulatory requirements as established by state and federal agencies 2 System Related (External) a The program has both formal and informal linkages established with other agencies, so that it sees itself as part of a system of services b The program works to ensure the provision of comprehensive care for all individuals served 3 Budget Specific a The program is financially viable b The program has made an effort to secure funding from other sources 4 Citizen Involvement a Consumers are satisfied with the services provided, and there is a method to determine consumer satisfaction. b The Board of Directors is representative of the community at large and is involved iwth the agency's activities 5 Prevention a The program conforms to the Lexington Human Services Policy prevention A- r Budget H S Comm Actual Actual Budget Request Recommends Agency FY 1984 FY 1985 FY 1986 FY 1987 FY 1987 Council on Aging 7360 Expenses 29,045 34,900 37,450 51,500 51,500 Other Human Services j 7410 Mystic Valley 1,000 15,000 15,000 35,000 21,000 7430 Community Services Replace 44,316 52,064 54,864 59,904 59,904 CMARC 5,000 5,000 5,500 7,500 7,500 Cooperative Elder Services * * 3,000 3,000 3,000 Hospice Care, Inc - - 4,800 0 0 Everyone's Youth Group - - - 2,000 675 Lexington Play Care - - - 2,000 0 Visiting Nurses and Community Health - - * 3,750 3,750 * Funds were received from Lexington's Trustees of Public Trusts