HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-13-YSC-min Youth Services Council Meeting
Tuesday September 13, 2005
In attendance were Helen Cohen, Joseph O'Leary, Ravi Sakhuja, Bill Blout, Bill
Clark, Mary Sullivan Kelley, Christina Demambro, Jim Rettman, Karen Simmons,
Lauren MacNeil, Becky Rushford, Norman Cohen, and Jennifer Wolfrum
We started with introductions and welcomed new members, Mary Sullivan Kelley,
Bill Clark, and Jim Rettman In regards to membership update, Paul Ash has
selected Mary Sullivan Kelley, Director of Student Services for LPS Lauren
asked Jennifer to think about naming students and making recommendations to
Paul Ash We still have Eliza Duncan, an LHS student who has been selected,
but we could benefit from more student representation Bill Clark represents the
Interfaith Clergy Association and is the Reverend at First Parish Jim Rettman is
the new School and Community Resources Officer
Due to fact that Bill Clark doesn't work on Tuesdays we changed our meeting
to the first Wednesday of each month The time and location will remain
the same, 3-4pm at Lexington Social Services/Senior Center building
Therefore our next meeting is Wednesday October 5th
Our meeting facilitators are as follows October Sheila Butts, November• Jim
Rettman/Christina Demambro, December Mary Sullivan Kelley, January• Helen
Cohen, February. Bill Blout. The role includes taking minutes during our meeting
and then e-mailing minutes to members Becky will provide a master list of e-
mail addresses for next meeting
The original agenda was set aside as Joseph O'Leary from the Lexington Police
Department came to speak with our group about a level 3 sex offender residing
in the community While the law now requires dissemination of information to
community regarding the person's name, address, age, sex, height, et cetera,
and offenses committed any CORI protected information can not be released
The police department will be distributing letters to 510 houses in the surrounding
person's neighborhood
The group talked about the potential for hysteria and misinformation about sex
offenders, as Joe and Bill pointed out that sex offenders "don't jump out of the
bushes", there is usually an established relationship based on trust. The majority
of times, abuse of children happens with a trusted family, extended family, or
friend of the family member We talked about being proactive and thinking about
things like a Safe Homes Program and bringing the information to the Forum for
Youth, as therapists there might be willing to lead an educational workshop
series related to topic area
With the remaining 10 minutes, Becky spoke about the book club to start in
beginning of November She will be using Girl in the Mirror-Mothers and
Daughters in the Years of Adolescence It will be open to all parents, though
program is capped at 12, and books are available through the Social Services
Department. The goal is to have another club in February then again in May,
possibly using professionals from the Forum for Youth
Then Becky introduced Ravi Sakuhuja, on the board of City Year, a Lexington
resident interested in parenting workshop series We have met a couple times
over the summer and he has looked into Families First (information provided at
meeting) in Cambridge They provide the educational series for parents He is
trying to figure what various groups inside and outside of the community are
doing for parents he sees this a big issue, then how do you get parents to
attend? We are trying to bridge his pursuits, energy, and thoughts with some of
the pursuits of the Forum
Our next Forum for Youth sub-committee meeting is Wednesday September 21st
from 10-11 am in Becky's office The next middle school outreach meeting is
Tuesday September 27th from 3-4pm in Becky's office
More updates to follow next month It was great to see everyone And thank you
again Helen That was extremely thoughtful
Our next meeting is Wednesday October 5th 3-4pm at the Social Services
Department/Senior Center And Sheila Butts, Assistant Recreation Direction will
be our minute-taker
Take care everyone
--Becky