Mansfield YSB Advisory Board

Approved - Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

12 noon @ YSB Conf. Rm. B

 

 

Attendees:               Ethel Mantzaris, Frank Perrotti, Candace Morell, Amber Hoyt

 

Staff:                          Kevin Grunwald, Pat Michalak, Kathy McNamara,

                                   

Regrets:                    Jerry Marchon,Eileen Griffin, Heather Spottiswoode

 

I.  Call to Order

    Ethel Mantzaris, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:03PM

 

I.                                    II.  Approval of Minutes – The minutes of the 9/9//08 meeting were accepted as       written.

           

III.  Reports - Kevin Grunwald, Director

 

·        K. Grunwald distributed copies of his report.

·        P. Michalak noted that the NECASA grant includes funding for the Big Friends program

·        K. McNamara raised questions re: how we make families aware of the impact of stressors that they are experiencing; how will they find out about resources?

·        Some discussion about the need to do outreach in the community, and the question of how we would go about doing this? 

·        Questions directed to C. Morrell re: the extent of drug/alcohol abuse that they are seeing in the Middle School, and what their referral process is.

·        F. Perrotti raised the question about what we do with these issues/concerns? 

 

 

     Pat Michalak – YSB Coordinator Update

 

Coordinator’s Report – Pat Michalak distributed copies of her report.  She noted that A. Hoyt has been assisting with the Big Friends program. 

 

YOUTH SERVICES UPDATE                  September 2008

                                                       

  • Big Friends Mentoring and homework program has doubled in size since last year.  We have 25 Mansfield students from K-8th grade and 25 plus college students and one EOS volunteer, Amber Hoyt.

 

  • Parent group has also increased in size to an average of 11 parents participating each week.  We will be having a number of guest speakers this year including Ande Bloom, Health Education Coordinator from Eastern Highlands Health District and Ruth Freedman, MSW with Positive Parenting. 

 

  • LEAP, middle school transition program had its second meeting, 24 5th graders attended.   MMS vice principal and 5 and 6th grade guidance counselor are working together with youth services to support the students.

 

  • YSB attended the MMS open house and had our first parent dinner with the families in Carrie Holman’s Special Education class.

 

  • Multi family therapy group has a total of 33 participants who are involved in ongoing education and support.

 

  • Assisting families and students who have transitioned to EOSmith High School.

 

IV.               Old Business:

 

·        Challenge – No discussion.

 

·        Transition Program:  Staff have been working closely with MMS and EOS to assist with transition issues to the high school; primarily interacting with Chuck Leavens at the high school.  P. Michalak feels that YSB’s most important role is to connect families with the school.  K. McNamara and P. Michalak presented cases that they have been working with.  It appears that it’s important for clients to maintain a connection w/YSB once they enter the high school because of the level of trust that has been established. 

 

V.     New Business:  None

 

 

VI.   Other

 

·        Ken Caputo will be invited to the November meeting. 

·        C. Morrell requested that a Children’s Grief group be scheduled for the Spring.

 

The next meeting will be on Nov. 18, due to the

Veteran’s Day holiday. 

 

Meeting adjourned at 12:50PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by:

 

Kevin Grunwald