HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 Report by Boston College Interns.pdf 1
SUMMARY
J
In the fall of 1978, five social planning student interns from the
Boston College Graduate School of Social Work did a study of human
service needs and the structure of the human service delivery system
in the Town of Lexington. This included an examination of the demo-
graphic characteristics of the Town, a home-interview survey of four
percent of the households to determine needs, an analysis of agencies
that serve Lexington, and an exploration of possible alternative
structures and functions for municipal involvement in the human ser-
vice delivery system.
One purpose was to locate specific problem areas in which there were
gaps or duplications in service delivery and to recommend possible
courses of action for the Town that would meet these problems. The
second purpose was to address the issue of the Town's responsibility
for reviewing the total picture of human services and to recommend a
possible mechanism by which the Town could perform on-going planning
and policy development so that it might stimulate creative and fiscally
responsible approaches to emerging human service issues.
Lexington had a period of rapid growth from 1955 to 1965; however,
subsequent figures indicate a stabilization at approximately 31,000
people in some 9100 households, with indications of a possible dec-
line in its total population The characteristics of this population
are changing along with the total growth rate, and Lexington is show-
ing an increase in the number of citizens vulnerable to social ills
With the decline in both the birth rate and the death rate, there is
evidence that the population is aging significantly, and will continue
to do so Concomitent with an increase in those over the age of sixty,
there has been a significant drop in both the number and proportion of
residents under the age of nineteen. In addition to its concern over
age distribution, the planning team found that Lexington has over 770
households (8 7%) with total incomes under $10,000; that there are
approximately nine hundred households with children that have been
affected by divorce; and that close to four percent of the working
population is unemployed.
Service Issues
When examining the needs of Lexington' s population, the planning team
discovered that most of the human service issues for the residents of
the Town are being addressed. Health care, counseling, and recreation
are areas of general satisfaction. There are, however, some major
areas of concern Four of these can be seen as short range, immediate
issues.
The first of these lies in the area of infoLwation and referral.
Over six hundred residents are frustrated in their efforts to lo-
cate services that they need In addition, many service agencies
cited problems with referral and coordination issues . The planning
team recommends the coordination and implementation of a system for
information and referral that could include expanded publicity, a
centralized telephone number, a directory of agencies and the develop-
ment of referral lists for such groups as the police department, the
Town offices, and the Council on Aging.
The second major area of concern is transportation. The planning
team also views this as a high priority for immediate attention. Be-
tween twelve hundred and two thousand citizens feel a need for trans-
portation, and over half of them are not having that need adequately
addressed. Since there is a statistically significant correlation
between the need for such assistance and the elderly population, the
need for transportation assistance will grow as this segment of the
population expands.
The planning team also found the need for increased special services
to the elderly, including site meals, social contacts, home care and
housing as well as transportation Concern for the elderly was ex-
pressed by agencies and by citizens, who favor the development of a
senior Center. With the growing senior population, services for the
elderly can be seen as a continuing issue
Child care also emerged as a fairly high unmet need, although not as
pervasive as the others. There are approximately 325 households that
are frustrated in their efforts to locate appropriate child care.
This number is likely to remain relatively constant, despite the
decreasing youth population, because of the increasing number of
households with single parents or two wage earners.
In addition to these immediate short range issues, the planning team
identified two major areas of concern that can be viewed as long range
problems. These are housing and economic issues.
Low and moderate income housing is felt as a need by approximately
350 households while elderly housing is needed by approximately 220.
The Lexington Housing Authority currently has a waiting list of 460
for this kind of assistance. The aging population, combined with the
dwindling household size and current economic conditions are likely
to exacerbate this problem. The planning team recommends that the
Housing Authority, the Planning Board, the Veterans Agency and the
Council on Acing work closely together to locate and develop alterna-
tive housing possibilities such as congregate housing, subsidized
renovations or tax abatements, as well as increasing the number of
affordable units.
A
Economic concerns include adult employment, youth employment, finan-
cial assistance, job training and budget counseling. All of these
are needed by a significant number of Lexington households, and that
number is expected to rise as the economic situation remains troubled
The planning team sees these issues as areas in which the Town should
play an advocacy role on behalf of its citizens, helping to stimulate
services that could be provided by private enterprise or by state and
federal departments. It is clear that Lexington is not a universally
affluent community If it is to maintain its (economic and social)
diversity, these economic concerns should be addressed.
Structural Issues
The town government of Lexington has long been involved in the human
services; this involvement has become increasingly complex within a
burgeoning system that includes federal, state and regional depart-
ments as well as local agencies. The planning team considered the
question of how the Town could increase its human services capacity
while respecting the need for fiscal restraint and responsible alloca-
tion of resources.
The curreht system was found to lack several key processes and mechan-
isms necessary for sound decision making Some of these weaknesses
could be addressed in the near future while others require a longer
process for resolution
Short range goals include
1. A statement of human services policy Such a policy should include
criteria for decision-making and priority setting and bind together
those tnits that currently address specific human service issues in
relative isolation
2. A rational framework for evaluating budgets so that programs can
be reviewed in relationship to one another.
3 A mechanism and standard for accountability so that programs of
Town departments and local agencies can be judged according to the
total picture of community needs
4 A method of assuring appropriate coordination so that community
problems can be addressed through a sharing of resources and ideas
To this end, the Human Services Council should continue to be supported.
Long Range goals include
1 A capacity for future-oriented planning and needs assessment so
that needs that do not fall within the domain of any existing unit
will be addressed
2. A basis for participating in state and regional planning so that
local government can have a greater impact on state programs that
affect the Town' s residents
3. An integration of physical, economic, and social planning so that
the social consequences of current trends and planned actions can be
considered in the broader picture of the Town' s future.
The final recommendation must therefore include a mechanism for
citizen involvement, policy development and implementation of strate-
gies for coordinated human service activities. The recommendations
must involve somebody with the capacity to take an overview of human
service issues and to insure that these issues are sufficiently
addressed.
Recommendations
The planning team recommends that a citizen panel be established to
address human resources. The primary purpose of this panel should be
to develop human services policy and facilitate strategies to realize
community goals. The panel should interact with existing Town depart-
ments to ensure coordinated approaches to problem solving and serve
as an advocate of community needs vis-a-vis the various systems of
service delivery, including local private providers and state agencies.
The team recommends that this panel become a permanent part of the
local government in acknowledgement of the important role of the human
services in the life of the community As a formal body this citizen's
panel could assist in the integration of physical, economic, and social
planning in order to preserve the well-being of the Town. The team
suggests that this panel could be introduced as a by-law commission
Alternately it could be initiated as an advisory board to the Selectmen,
from where it might evolve into a permanent commission.
Secondly, the team recommends that consideration be given to the staff-
ing of a human services specialist position The increasing complexity
of the human services system and the growing demand for such services
require a level of technical expertise that is now lacking in the local
government. As a short term measure, the Town should provide sufficient
staffing for the citizen's panel and those departments currently address-
ing human service needs.
b
The following chart contains the list of service areas explored
in the citizen survey The figures following each service are
the results of the survey extrapolated to the entire Lexington
population The first column of figures lists the total number
of households currently needing these services. (The number of
households in Lexington is 9,170 which serves as a base figure.)
The second column lists the number of households that have used
these services and are satisfied The third column lists the
number of households that have used these services and are
dissatisfied. The fourth column gives the number of households
who have needed the services but have not used them.
The right side of the chart lists the agencies that are currently
providing these services to Lexington residents. Following this
list are the age groups served by the agency. The last column
indicates whether the agency has an income or geographic or any
other eligibility requirement. The information is primarily
based on the responses compiled from the agency survey, with
some specific additions of providers known to be offering a
service but not included in the survey
It should be noted that households using services were not asked
to identify the specific agencies Indices of dissatisfaction
should not, therefore, be directly correlated with the agencies
listed
Population Served by Agency Eligibility Req
m
v u
o ' " ' o Q'
m W F F. a)
no V v ro m rob o 0 aa, b ,a a c
-17.. c to C •.1 C T1 a, u H U C m u .� a) Ir
Arca of service u A `� `0 y a Agencies Currently m v o w g E
�r, i m '', y y y u Providing Service a � o c v v C
fjy % �_to aA 7z
C. U 4 Y' 4 P. m N L O
RECRiATION Lexington Recreation
Department XXXXXXX X
Recreation for
Special Needs jj 146 96 50 0 Cary Library XXXXXXX
Hayden Center XXXXXXX X
I �
Recreation for { Lexington Recreation
Youth ' 3,466 3,185 281 0 Department XXXXXXX X
I I
Cary Library XXXXXXX
Hayden Center XXXXXXX
{ I
Recreation for Lexington Recreation
Pre-School jI 1,000 758 165 77 Department XXXXXXX X
Cary Library XXXXXXX
Hayden Center XXXXXXX X
i
Recreation for
Adults 3,934 1,'576 358 0 Lexington Recreation
Department X X X X X X X X
Cary Library XXXXXXX
Hayden Center XXXXXXX X
Population Served by Agency, Eligihility Req
a o
co M a s 4., s + a C
H a s a 0 0 '0 0 C 0 a •1-1 Cu' 0'
0 U)' C ,i C ,i a .0 a U < u T U
.0 C C W C a+ a in U N 0 N, U .1 U 0.'
c�
Arca of service r a ,y a •�, a
o m a p
a Agencies Currently in v a x .. a h.
I .+ C . I y
0 s
m
7 0 a u a m a u Providing Service a ,+ a o - a a u o
E x ! .� Ch 5 A x = a~• U 6 0 6 a ice-] p-1 cal O
Cary Library XXXXXXX
RECREATION (coned)
Lexington Recreation
Recreation for Department XXXXXXX X
Elderly 3,934 .3,576 358 0
Hayden Center XXXXXXX X
Council on Aging X X
HOUSING Office for Children I {
(Council for Children) X X X I i
Emergency Shelter
For Youth 46 0 0 46 Replace XXXX
Department of Public
Welfare XXXXXXX X I
special Needs
lousing 101 76 0 25 Lexington Housing Auth, X X X , X X X X X
Dept. of Public Welfare X X X ; X X X X X
i E
.ow-Moderate Income
lousing 348 124 0 224 Lexington Housing Auth XXXXXXX X
lderly Housing 220 55 0 165 Lexington Housing Auth. X XIX X X X IX I X
'emporary Housing 0 0 0 0 E
Population Served by Agency Eligibility 8
v
NL 1
m ,i b .a u r-1 N u
.-. v d V m M 'C 0 C N .0 ri y i. AX Y
et, C 00 C •ri C rC
i ' ,C C) V <
.0 C CJ W 9 u 'C m L H m m C) r-1V a
Arca of service ;, .4 to m u o Agencies Currently m v m oo ., cc I. a L
.0 m 'C 13 .4 v m v I .i .-i C � I co c C'
0
u o 0 y w u
m, C v m m „
N O j d a w Providing Service m v+ o 'v a v u o
m M r 6 4 cS' o
E. x D: p v) 7 O x z
HEALTH
Pre-School P.T.A. X X
School Department XXXX X
* Screening 5,163 4,802 232 129
Health Department XXXXXXX
Tri-Community XXXXXXX X
*Medical Treatment 4,310 3,998 260 52 Middlesex County Hosp. X X X
Tri-Community XXXXXXX X
Symmes Hospital XXXXXXX
Choate Hospital XXXXXXX
Mt. Auburn Hospital XXXXXXX
Emerson Hospital X X' X X X X X
Emergency Health
Care 2,192 1,960 206 26 Lexington Fire Dept. XXXXXXX
Symmes Hospital XXXXXXX
Choate Hospital XXXXXXX
Mt, Auburn Hospital XXXXXXX
Emerson Hospital XXXXXXX
*Family Planning 358 307 26 25
* Services extensiveJ,y offered by private providers
r
Population Served by Agency Eligibility Req
,o N
0 r1 a+ - ' Qi
c
yG'0 'C .W CM a
c
.1 b N '0 co tl 'cN U < 4J >
MIC DO F H C . a H ¢ 00
a a la 7 ot E Agencies Currently o 'cv Area of service n o yiy 0
y
u y 0 y CProvicinF Service W oo w �0 v 4.4 y r ,o 7 c
HEALTH (contcd) Mystic Valley Mental
Health Center XXXXXXX
Alcohol 220 164 28 28
Alcohol Treatment Center X X X
Replace X X XIX X
Drug Treatment 0 0 0 0 McLean Hospital XXXXXXX
i !
.
?apart tion Served, by A1enny I{I l 1.1111lty I:rc
,o N
L
ur 'H 91 N L r1 N V'
..
'O N 'C 0 0 '0 .0° C V 'V 1-I �� a' U
G M C .H C •NCU
u G 0 CO s U 0 w e
Arra of service ; ,w0m
TI a u Agencies Currently v of CI
c - u
C; 0 N L Irnvhlhn • tirrvlre I a o uv c .
I. '0 O -
HY N0 . % W U 6 Y { t. W i•-•. C 0Sa - Lz
FOOD AND NUTRITION
School Lunches 3,521 1,644 1,877 0 School Department X X X X
Meals on Wheels 156 26 27 103 Council on Aging X
Site Meals 174 97 0 77 Minuteman Home Care X X
Food Stamps 275 75 50 150 Dept. of Public Welfare X X X X X X X X
MISCELLANEOUS
Transportation Asst 1,660 597 527 536 F I S,H. X X
Council on Aging X
Minuteman Home Care X X
Red Cross XXXXXXX
Child Care 853 528 92 233 Lex, Montessori School X X
Lex. Children's Center X X
Lex Nursery and
Kindergarten X X
Church of our. Redeemer
Nursery X X
Community Nursery X X
Hancock Church X 1
Living and Learning
School X X
Methodist Weekday School X X
Temple Isaiah X X
Unitarian Cooperative X X
Pilgrim Nursery X X
(all licensed by 0 F.C.)
i I c— 1 ,—
Population Served by Agent' _ Eligibility Req
'd u I
N r1 L -I rr
HN 94 q 0 e
- a y ro0 a Ct •.+ a
c vbv a Ti G
Area of service a `� INC `° ue Agencies Currently m v v to ` v
y 7 y d y y u u Providing Service ^°o c G C "
N = z a to a z Z0 n. 0 d a d a ra e 0
ECONOMIC Department of Public
Welfare XXXXXXX X
inancial Asst. 440 169 141 130
Veteran+s Agency XXXXXXX X X
O,T,C, (Council for
Children)
_ (welfare, camps) X X X ,
udget Counseling � 146 20 0 126
_
ob Training 339 104 78 ! 157 C.E T A. XXXXX X X
t Mass Rehab XXXXXXX X
I
outh Employment 614 255 180 179 Lexington Job Center
(DES) X X X IX X
i4ass Rehab X X X X X X X 1 X
adult Employment 679 306 112 261 Lexington Job Center XXXXX
Bass Rehab. X X X X A IK K X
Population Served by Agency Eligibility Req
Pt
N
o b w 0C .-1 u rii 1 N C
CJ
.-i ro 0 'O N CO 'O 0 C a '0 H K C
0 w C +1 C 'ti W .0 0 U < u T 0
.0 C CJ W M L 'O 0 U F. 0 0 U H VK
Area of service. y .1 0 F 1✓ 4 Agencies Currently o 'O o u m 1. E I 1.
co 0 'W M CO'O '0 b I r1 . C 'i I 0 0 U
4.1 0 0 d a+ 0 0 m P Providing Service w a o C o a a v v u c r
0
0 O N o. o o .-I 0 0 W
W F 'O 0 V .. .-10 U u
Z Z..
Ec MA Zia W = 0 6 Y' 6' it H C: O
MISCELLANEOUS Office for Children X X X
(cont td).
Tri—Community XXXXXXX X
Information and
Referral 1,256 614 231 411 Veteran's Agency XXXXXXX X X
Replace XXXX X I
Mystic Valley X .X X X X X X X
Minuteman Home Care X IX
Cary Memorial Library X X X X X X X
Lexington Housing Auth. X X X X X iX X X
i
Council on Aging X
Symmes Hospital X X X I X X X X
Dept of Recreation XXXXXXX X
Dept. of Public Welfare X X X X X : X X X 1
Lex. Chapter of the Ass
Retired Persons X X
*Legal Assistance 963 677 130 156 Council on Aging X
Police Emergency 1,917 1,763 129 25 Police Department XXXXXXX
Social Contacts 1,275 446 446 383 Minuteman Home Care IX X
Welcome Wagon XXXXXXX
*Services extensive y offered by private providcra
orr -
Population Served by Agency Eligibility Rec
y m
m .,.to 'U .4 U .-1 o t--
Po
'U 'U w C o C 7 U o
•-1 'U O) 'U N WV O C CJ 'O '1 T C J
i O 00 C M .
C . o .0 CJ U 6
.0 C 4 W CJ JJ V m U U 0 m 0 ,-.1U C
Area of service y .,t y Md Agencies Currently m v a, oc c h e - U
0
„ o y y m y m d m Providing Service v .. o c o e u o
C O W m m to 9-4 N' O 1+ J: 'U C 'O >- ^-, C 0 U
F- a: r P h P O Z Z C. V 6 i'• d o. w N cC O
I
COUNSELING I
Emergency/crisis 83 46 0 37 Replace XXXX X
Mystic Valley Mental
Health Center XXXXXXX X
Council on Aging X
Hot Lines 119 48 0 71 Replace XXXX ! IX
Mystic Valley Mental I I
Health Center XXXXXXX I X I
*Family Counseling 569 543 0 26 ILex. Counseling
• Collaborative X X X X X ' X Xli: 1 I I
Lex Counseling
Service X X X X X X i t
I
_Mystic Valley Mental
Health Center XXXXXXX (X
i
McLean's Children's
Unit X X X
*Individual
Counseling 1,119 1,015 78 26 iMass. Rehab X X X X X X IX X
'Lex, Counseling
Collaborative XXXXXXX
Lex. Counseling I
Service XXXXXXX
Mystic Valley Mental
Health Center XXXXXXX X
McLean's Children's Unit X X X
School Department XXXX X
*Services extensively offered Ly private 'providers
Is