MINUTES

Thursday, May 6, 2004

PRESENT: J. Heald (chair), P. Hope (staff), K. Grunwald (staff), J. Krisch, J. Kenny (staff), M. Hauslaib

I. MINUTES: Minutes of April 1, 2004 meeting: the minutes were accepted as written.

II. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Patty Hope and Jean Kenny from Senior Services attended to discuss the At Risk Program. The following aspects of this program were discussed:

· Role of the Advisory Committee/volunteers: The question was raised as to whether or not we should be doing more outreach for this program, and whether we have the capacity to respond? This is something that we will need to assess as we further define the parameters of this program.

· “Are You OK”?, is a computerized calling program that is offered through the McSweeney Center. If there is no answer police or emergency services respond. There is a cost for subscribing to this service.

· The role of the VNA: They are available to provide necessary medical services for clients that they are involved with, but may need to get a doctor’s orders for any changes. They are aware of who is receiving essential services, and they would receive first priority in times of crisis. If individuals are clients of CT Community Care they code clients who are electricity-dependent and on-call case manager will respond in the event of a power loss.

· Revision of procedures/coordination w/other services: Questions were raised about the use of back-up oxygen during power outages, and people stuck in lift chairs. Emergency housing is available at Eagleville FD. We talked about involving the Senior Service Social worker in a more proactive way, and discussed how far volunteers should go in reaching out to individuals who enroll in this program. It was suggested that we have a minimal face-to-face contact once a year to evaluate individual needs, done by a staff person, with follow-up by a volunteer. We will look at what other towns are doing; staff will identify goals of the program, revise procedures, and come back to this committee with recommendations.

B. Other: none

III. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Agency funding requests: status/review: public hearing outcome: some questions were raised about this process relative to the role of the Town Council. The recommendation was made that this committee request to be on the agenda for November Council meeting to explain our process for evaluating these requests and ask for clarification as to what role they would like us to play.

B. Status of annual budget process: budget recommendations have been finalized and the budget will be voted on at the Town Meeting on May 11.

C. Membership: J. Heald raised the question of expanding the membership of this committee to nine members, possibly looking at including a UConn graduate student. There was some question of whether or not they would be here long enough to fulfill a term. M. Hauslaib stated that the size of this group contributes to the degree of commitment that each member feels. A question was raised about what we would attempt to accomplish by expanding membership. We will look at the possibility of creating a category of ad hoc members who would be involved as sub-committee members as specific issues arise in the future.

D. Linkages to other advisory committees/proposed meeting schedule: A request was made that the focus of these visits would be to address new needs that have been identified and new initiatives that are being thought of or planned.

E. Other: none

IV. COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS:

A. Review of Department activity and other items in packet and discussion with SSD Director: a draft brochure for the Social Services Advisory Committee was reviewed and accepted.

B. Program updates

· Graustein Foundation Discovery Grant: we are meeting with representatives of Graustein to review our grant award.

· LWVCT Community Conversations: sub-committees are in the process of forming to pursue action steps that were identified in the Conversations.

· School Readiness Grant: we are meeting with representatives of the School Readiness Council to determine whether or not we will continue to participate in this program.

· Adult Services

· Senior Services

· Youth Services

· Parks and Rec. Scholarship Fund

· Fee Waiver Program

C. Other

V. PLANS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

A. June: YSB Staff/Advisory

B. Balance of 2004: scheduling of Social Service program staff

VI. ADJOURNMENT: meeting adjourned at 5:40; next meeting June 3 at 3:30.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Grunwald, Director of Social Services