HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-26-YSC-min Hello Everyone-
Our latest meeting was held on October 26, 2004 at Lexington High School In
attendance were Julia Schutt, Bill Blout, Elaine Sterzin, Karen Simmons, Jennifer
Wolfrum, Helen Cohen, Arny Berger, Bill Kennedy, Beth Ribeiro, and Becky
Rushford
Welcome Julia, who is a senior at LHS serving on the Council!!
Elaine reported that the Metro South/West Regional Employment Board funding
grant we spoke about last month was not being pursued It is just too big
Right now I will be establishing a relationship with the Clergy Association,
luncheon next week. While we are not completely closing the door to their
presence on the Council, we need to establish ourselves as a group before
adding new members Bill further reiterated this point.
Funds for youth were not requested for FY05, therefore, no money exists right
now Possibly for next year, but not guaranteed as Bill said, but we will advocate
strongly In the meantime, multiple Council members said we will use and pool
the resources we have from those around the table (copying, folding my role into
functions/meetings/events that already exist, money for programs) Jennifer also
mentioned looking to the Chamber of Commerce and to pizza parlors for
donations
My update consistent meetings have been established at LHS and Clarke,
Parent's Meeting once a month at each school, I sat in on a peer mediation
meeting at LHS and will be participating in the teen dialogue nights with
middle/high youth and families I'm now trying to find ways to meet youth I have
started to meet with private schools out of which, Lexington Christian Academy
expressed interest in forming a relationship with the police department. I've been
in touch directly with Tina Demambro and via e-mail with Kristen French I have
met with the Director of Emergency Services at the Edinburg Center, three
private practitioners have expressed an interest in meeting who work with
adolescents, and I'm meeting all guidance counselors K-8 h in couple weeks
Suggestions from the group connecting with the Clarke Breakfast Club, hanging
out in center on half-days, or schools at lunchtime to meet a wide range of youth
Some parts regarding the operation of the Council were hashed out. Elaine's
idea was well received and I will be sending a skeleton agenda out to everyone
one week before our monthly meeting Please write in an item(s) you want to
discuss, share, or follow-up on and send it back to me
We spoke about the possible formation of a Youth Services Network, using Bill's
words (idea and meaning will discussed next month) to host and sponsor forums
For instance, we might invite private practitioners to hear the latest results from
our YRBS in the hopes to exchange information and also hear from community
therapists what they are looking for/want out of such forums Arny feels many
professionals would be interested in attending to feel connected as long as we
elicit input from them around things like frequency, helpful information to be
discussed We could begin to develop a clinical roster for those who work with
youth, specialties, and services offered, call hours, etc. At some point we may
also look to other communities, like Lahey Clinic to provide on-call support for
youth as preventive We also spoke forums for youth, parents, for instance, what
to do in a situation that is boiling into a crisis?
We all agreed that our Council serves as a working group and there is a need to
form sub-committees as we prioritize need and move towards action Sub-
committees will be time-limited Beth and Bill will begin to coordinate a meeting
time for our forum sub-committee to also include Becky, Elaine, and Amy
Our meetings will start promptly at 2 30 pm since our time together is
limited and short. Mark your calendars Tuesday November 23, 2004 2 30-
3 30pm in Room 217 at LHS and a recent change in December, our meeting
is now scheduled for Tuesday December 14, 2004 same place
Thank you everyone for your input, work and support. See you soon
Becky