Minutes
DRAFT
Tuesday October 13, 2009
12:00pm at Mansfield Town Hall
Conference Room B
Board Members
Present:
Ethel Mantzaris, Chair
Frank Perrotti, Co-Chair
Patricia Michalak, YSB Coordinator
Kathleen McNamara, YSB Senior Social Worker
Kevin Grunwald, Director of Human Services
Eileen Griffin, Social Worker
Jerry Marchon, Police Officer
Amber Hoyt, EO Smith Student
Lauren DiGrazia, Graduate MSW Intern
Absent: Jay O’Keefe, Candace Morrell, & Sheila Riffle
Proceedings
-We are getting an enhancement grant which will be retroactive to July 1, 2009. The money received from this grant will be put in part towards the grandparents group.
-Jean Ann Kenny, the senior center’s social work, has retired. Her last day was last Friday October 9, 2009. We will be hiring a half time position to replace her position.
-We just got approved for the NESCA grant. This past year some of the money went to the Big Friends program and some of the money went to mini grants.
-Spoke with Chuck Leavens about the funding reduction for the Wilderness Challenge. This program has been cut by $5500.00. The hope is to obtain private funding to meet the needs of the Summer Challenge Program.
-COPE groups have started in all of the schools. Kathy McNamara, YSB Senior Social Worker, has been working with all three graduate interns, Uconn Baseball Team players as well as undergraduate volunteers to get this program off to a great start.
-Our administrative intern, Lauren DiGrazia, has been working with YSB program coordinator on developing a Policy and Procedures Manual for the office.
-Our casework intern, Jen Morrisson, facilitated an orientation for the volunteers that are participating in the Big Friends program this year. She is working on planning a fall service day and on developing policies and procedures for this program.
-The University of Connecticut’s Community Outreach department will be working with the YSB on providing transportation for our students partaking in the fall service day. The students and their big friends will be going to Edmonds pumpkin patch to choose pumpkins and enjoy a hayride.
-We have successfully instituted a transition group from Mansfield Middle School to E.O. Smith High School. Chuck Leavens and Dr. Haney are participating in this group.
-Twenty one students and parents attended a performance through UConn’s Jorgenson Center for the Performing Arts. The JOY Program allowed families to attend the “Tale of a First Grade Nothing” free of charge.
-We have recently been experiencing an increased number of drop-ins and referrals in the office.
-Amber Hoyt, EO Smith Student, has rejoined the board. She is preparing to apply to college and YSB has made arrangements for a mentor from the University to help her navigate the college application process.
-There was a productive discussion on restructuring the meetings. Members agree that the meetings are well run and substantive. The board will continue to discuss how to best utilize the community and its members to provide input into the YSB initiatives.
-The topic of successful lifespan transitions was discussed after Amber Hoyt, EO Smith student, was reintroduced to the committee. The idea that the committee may want to have another student who is transitioning into the 9th grade was discussed. The hope is that Amber Hoyt, EO Smith student, will be able to help make a connection and ease the transition of a new student entering the group.
-Kevin Grunwald, Director of Human Services, reminded everyone that the League of Women Voters is hosting a candidate’s night and that members of the committee should consider attending.