Mansfield YSB Advisory Board

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

12 noon @ YSB Conf. Rm. B

Attendees:               Ethel Mantzaris,  Frank Perrotti, Jerry Marchon

Staff:                          Kevin Grunwald, Pat Michalak, Kathy McNamara, Karen Taylor

Regrets:                    Mike Collins

Call to Order

 Ethel Mantzaris, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:05

I. Approval of Minutes – MOTION by Frank Perrotti seconded by Ethel Mantzaris.  vote: Unanimous in favor of approving minutes as submitted.

Kevin Grunwald, Director

A. Kevin advised the Board that he has met with YSB staff over the summer and discussed Program Planning, activities and YSB requirements for the coming year.

B. He advised the Board that there are currently 30 – 35 individuals interested in participating in this session of the H.I.F.I. group.

C. He informed the Board that the YSB was eligible for a State Enhancement Grant totaling $6200 and that the application had been submitted.  Kevin informed the Board that part of this grant if approved would be to fund the part-time position responsible for coordinating the Grandparents Group.  Also, as a collaborative group YSB’s were donating funds to the Manchester Memorial Hospital for after hours support.

D. Kevin updated the Board on the Underage Drinking Project and that there is an upcoming presentation scheduled at E.O. Smith.

September Activities 2007

• The past several years of diligent lobbying on the part of the Connecticut Youth Service Association has brought very good news to the Youth Service Bureaus in the State of Connecticut.  CYSA and Mansfield's Denise Merrill were able to locate additional sources of funding for Youth Service Bureaus.  Mansfield is hoping to receive $6,200.00 in enhancement money by the end of November. This money will enable the Youth Service Bureau to participate in the Manchester Hospital "Youth in Crisis Response System" and to fund a part time position to continue the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group. 

• The Youth in Crisis Response System is a collaborative effort of the East of the River Youth Service Bureaus and Manchester Hospital.  The project will be staffed at the hospital in the adolescent unit Monday through Friday 5pm to 11:30pm and on weekends from 7pm to 11:30pm.  Participating Youth Service Bureaus and their respective Police Departments will be given a dedicated 1-800 private direct line to the triage person on call.  Triage will screen the calls and offer clinical interventions and/or referrals to the Adolescent Unit.  In the event that the youth does not need intensive clinical intervention, Manchester Hospital would then contact us the next morning allowing us to follow up with the youth and family.

• Grandparents from our Grandparent’s Raising Grandchildren Group participated in the AARP Connecticut Grandparents Taskforce: Grandparents Voices for Change.  Participants learned about new laws and resources to help relative caregivers.  Over 200 grandparents from around the state were in attendance.

• Children’s Grief Group began its 2nd session with more families participating than our first session and several families were put on a waiting list for our next session in February.

• YSB honored Amy Pimentel at the 4th annual Friend’s of Youth Service Bureau Awards Banquet.  Amy has been a dedicated and hard working volunteer who has enhanced the services of the agency. 

• YSB staff attended open houses at the three elementary schools and the middle school.  Families used this opportunity to learn more about our services and to sign up for our programs. 

• Staff developed new program flyers, allowing residents to better understand our services.

• Continued work with UCONN Psychological Services to assist us with the volume of referrals we are receiving from the schools and community.

• YSB collaborated with the JOY program at UCONN allowing underprivileged Mansfield children and their families to attend the production of Winnie the Pooh at Jorgensen.

• Over 90 UCONN students applied for an opportunity to work in our mentoring program.  Due to staffing constraints we were only able to accept 8 since we also had l0 returning students.

• YSB has procured a UCONN work study student, financed by the university to assist in the delivery of our services.

• YSB is supervising an intern from the Family Studies Program at UCONN to work in our COPE program.

• Staff is working with EOS on the development of a program to help ensure success for 8th grade students transferring to high school.

• Orientation dinner and open house was provided for parents of 7th and 8th grade special education students who are in the self contained classroom with Ms. Holman at MMS.

• Intakes, assessments and psychiatric involvement with families are ongoing including
• DCF referral, emergency placement use of United Services

Good neighbor programs:

· Mansfield child continues to receive complimentary Martial Arts training from Villari’s Martial Arts School in Willimantic.

· UCONN professor is paying for 2 children to participate in the Mansfield Community Center After School Program.

· Karate

· Good neighbors program

· DCF referral, emergency placement use of United services

Introduction of Matt Hart, Town Manager to the Youth Service Advisory Board members.

Matt thanked the Board for inviting him and informed them that he would welcome any and all questions.

• Frank inquired about the reasoning for the part-time position in YSB being cut from the budget.  To which Matt replied it was a joint decision with Jeff Smith the Finance Director during the budget process.  Matt advised the Board that it would be addressed during the next budget cycle and explained to the Board that it is up to the Director to provide justification for the position.  A discussion ensued between Matt and the Board members regarding the commitment to the families and youth of Mansfield thru programs and support groups.

• Matt proposed a question to the Board regarding key interests for the youth and community served by the YSB.  A discussion ensued.

• Ethel commented that Youth Services has always done an outstanding job and provides an invaluable service to the schools. 

• Frank commented on needy families and the unique services that YSB provides to meet those needs.

• Jerry asked Matt to speak about the Strategic Planning Committee that is forming and where YSB fits in.  Matt advised the Board that letters were to go out within the month announcing the committee.  At which point, Ethel suggested having a member from each advisory committee be part of the planning to better serve the youth, families and the community.  Matt agreed and suggested that anyone from the Board submit a letter of interest.

Ethel thanked Matt for coming and extended an open invitation to future Advisory Board meetings.

I. Old Business: None

II. New Business:  None

IV. Other: 

• Frank asked about Pomfret (Rectory) camp.  Both Kevin and Pat advised the Board that the program had to be cut.  However, more youths were sent to town camp and other families with youth who qualified for fee waivers were enrolled at the Community Center.  Frank made the suggestion to contact the local Lions Club for donations to support the camp fund.
• Kevin and Pat shared with the board that the Challenge program is in it’s 31^st year and the criteria and selection process is being reviewed between E.O. Smith and Youth Services with an effort toward more involvement between the two.

Meeting adjourned at 1:02.

Respectfully submitted by:

Karen L. Taylor

Secretary