MINUTES

Mansfield Advocates for Children

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Mansfield Town Hall –Conference Room C

6:30PM-8:00 PM

 

PRESENT: K. Grunwald (staff), N. Hovorka, A. Bladen (Chair), J. Higham, L. Oransoff, J. Soroka, K. Paulhus, J. Goldman, R. Leclerc (staff), K. Russo (United Way), C. Guerreri (Graustein), S. Daley, J. Stoughton (staff)

REGRETS: S. Baxter, J. Buck, MJ Newman, D. McLaughlin

 

 

Time   Item                                                    Discussion                     Outcome/Action

6:30 -6:35

Call to order

 

-Chair A. Bladen Called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM

 

6:35-6:40

 

 

Approve minutes of 12/05/07

 

 

C. Guerreri pointed out that she would not be in the position to develop a contract with the United Way, as stated in the minutes.

Minutes approved with that correction.

 

 

 

 

 

6:40-6:50

 

 

 

 

 

Review New Contract with United Way as our new Collaborative Agent

There is no new contract at this point, as we have just finalized our agreement with the United Way. They have offered to donate their fee as the Collaborative Agent to the Discovery Collaborative.

 

The contract will be reviewed at our next meeting.

 

6:50-7:15

 

 

Briefing on the  Mansfield Strategic Planning Initiative

J. Goldman gave an overview of the Strategic Planning Process (handout).  They have held their future search conference, and are now looking for citizen input.  She gave instructions about how to do this, including going online.  Jane is advocating specifically for ECE needs.  She suggested that the small groups look at adding comments in the areas that they are working on.

K. Grunwald reported that he attended the open house on Monday, and encouraged people to attend.

 

Members are encouraged to log on to the “Wiki” to add comments on the importance of ECE, and the small group members were encouraged to add specifics from the issues that their groups are working on.  As an alternative, members can attend the open house on January 10.

7:15-7:25

Review of a ‘Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program’

A handout was provided on a new program being offered for parents on preventing child sexual abuse.  L. Oransoff mentioned that this program is being run at Day Kimball Hospital. C. Guerreri indicated that it was piloted by the East Hartford Youth Service Bureau.  Overall there was much interest in bringing this to Mansfield.

L. Oransoff will get information on the Day Kimball program.

 

We will look for possible co-sponsors for this event.  K Grunwald will contact the Community Center, and members will contact PTO’s. (K. Paulhus agreed to do this)

7:25-8:00

Small Group Reports,  Actions completed and next steps.

Parent Group: met on Dec. 7 to discuss Parent-C and CT Parent Power Programs. The group raised concerns about isolated parents/single moms, whose voices are not being heard.  The Community Center is not seen as a meeting place for families, but the Library is seen as a resource for parents and kids.  J. Stoughton pointed out that the library is free and allows for drop-in programs.  These programs seem to work well in this community.

 The group has identified a concern that there are not more places (a central playground) for children and families to congregate.  They also talked about the isolation that some parents with parents of young children experience.  What are the playgroups that exist?  K. Paulhus raised a concern about having programs available in the afternoon for pre-schoolers and children in half-day K.  

The group met with Ann Pratt the following week, and she sent in a proposal, and would be willing to work with us to make this specific to this community.   K. Grunwald suggested starting with a smaller number of leaders, and expand if the need/interest exists.  The group will meet and determine how they will potentially utilize this program.  The primary objective is to conduct a needs assessment of parents of young children.  J. Stoughton pointed out the importance of linking all of these initiatives including the application for the Local Capacity Building grant, data collection by the Infant/Toddler group and the town-wide strategic plan.

 

 

Membership:  They are looking for ideas from other collaboratives; several other communities expressed interest in this as well.  At the last meeting it was suggested that members provide a bio.

 

Infant/Toddler Group: They have started collecting information from home childcare providers; tallying information from the Centers.  Data that has been collected suggests that there are very few openings for children.  Much of the information collected was on current enrollment and the use of a waiting list.  Some interest in collecting data on programs for kindergarten-age children who are not enrolled.

 

 

 

Disseminate information about the fee waiver program, look at developing the Community Center as more of a family resource.

Look at developing a facilitated play group for parents and children that is open to community members; sponsored by MAC.  We need to find out if such a group currently exists. Look at sources for funding an activity like this.  C. Guerreri said that Graustein funds could potentially be used as a pilot if this is consistent with the Action Plan

 

Meet again Friday, and come back to this group with a recommendation.  Look at Uconn students for possible resources re: other languages.  Expand the diversity of people involved in this initiative; need to be attentive to cultural issues.  Get back to the parent group if you are interested in participating in this. 

 

 

Complete answers to who are you; how did you get to MAC?  Bring these to the next meeting.

 

 

 

Tally data that has been collected. 

 

Incorporate some of these questions into the “1 on 1” interviews.

                                                                                                                                                      

Meeting Adjourned at 8:00 PM

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Kevin Grunwald