Mansfield YSB Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
12 noon @ YSB Conf. Rm. B
Attendees: Ethel Mantzaris, Frank Perrotti, Eileen Griffin, Jerry
Marchon, Amber Hoyt,
Staff: Kevin Grunwald, Pat
Michalak, Kathy McNamara, Kathy Easley, Karen L. Taylor
Regrets: Mike Collins, Candace Morrel, Sheila Riffle
I.
Call to Order
Ethel
Mantzaris, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:05PM
II. Approval
of Minutes – MOTION by Frank Perrotti, seconded by Eileen Griffin. Vote: Unanimous in favor of approving minutes as submitted.
Pat
introduced Kathy Easley, Social Worker, newly hired working in the Adult
Services Dept., of Human Services.
III. Kevin Grunwald, Director
·
Kevin informed the Board that a
new town ordinance establishing departments resulted in requesting the Social
Services Department changing the name to Human Services.
·
Kevin updated the Board on the
Underage Drinking Coalitions meeting after their “Take It Back” event,
providing the Board with a copy of the newspaper article printed by the
Chronicle. Eileen Griffin provided the Board with her assessment of the
meeting. Eileen would like to see Youth Services be recognized more for the
work they provide the community. A side discussion ensued.
Pat Michalak – YSB Coordinator Update
Youth Services Update February 2008
- Mansfield Youth Services,
in conjunction with the Connecticut Youth Services Association hosted a
Legislative Breakfast which was very well attended. Fourteen Eastern
Region Youth Service Bureaus shared program innovations, YSB enhancement
programs and data gathering breakthroughs! Legislators had the opportunity
to hear about our needs and our work.
- Staff participated in the
Uconn Career Fair to provide more exposure about out programs and to also
enlist more students to work with us. We met a number of students who were
very interested in working with us next academic year.
- Staff co-facilitated the
MMS special education dinner for families, excellent attendance and
participation from parents and students.
- Staff facilitated families
with financial need to receive free tickets to the Wizard of Oz
performance at Uconn’s Jorgensen Theater. We received great feedback from
the families which attended.
- YSB coordinator attended a
program on eating disorders sponsored by the Women’s Center at Uconn
entitled “ANDREA’S VOICE” The presentation promoted understanding without
judgment and encouraged shifted paradigms to move individuals toward
personal change with a desire for action in the areas of prevention and
treatment of this all to silent epidemic.
- Leadership training
program at MMS has been set into motion and is scheduled to begin in April.
Ken Caputo from Villari’s Martial Arts School will be co-facilitating this
group along with Julie White, a middle school teacher. We will be using
Enhancement money received from the State Department of Education to fund
this initiative.
- Julie Marchon is our new
volunteer from Three Rivers College. She has been a wonderful addition.
She is co-facilitating our Cope Group at Goodwin School, participating in
our intergenerational activities as well as providing outreach to a
homebound senior in town.
IV. Old
Business:
- Kidtrac – Kevin is
attending a meeting on 3/19 regarding a pilot program and will update the
Board.
- Subcommittee – Kevin
provided a draft Operational Plan handout to the Board members.
- Budget – The Board members
were advised by Kevin that there will be no increases in the budget per
the Town Manager.
V.
New Business:
·
Kevin handed out a draft
description for the Challenge Program and requested input from the members.
·
Frank Perrotti suggested that the
originator of the Challenge Program, Ray Lawrence be contacted for input on
Challenge.
VI.
Other
Pat advised the Board that she had received an
email expressing an individual’s desire to be on the Youth Services Advisory
Board.
Meeting adjourned at 12:47PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
Karen L. Taylor
Secretary