Department of Human Services / Council on Aging

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING December 12, 2018 PRESENT: Anne Bisson Barry Burke Tracy Heger Ann Kardamis Charlotte Carr Lori Gonsalves Jim Lincoln ABSENT: Ted O’Brien, Kelley Sylvia Anne called the meeting to order at 10:02 Ann Kardamis made a motion to accept the November 14, 2018 meeting minutes. Lori Gonsalves seconded. All in favor. Director’s Report Board Meeting 12.12.18 Old Business: 1. FY 19 EOEA Formula Grant: We received the contract on 12.6.18 and I had the Mayor sign on 12.10.18 and forwarded it to EOEA. As stated previously, we have a total of $125,628.00 from this grant. 2. FY 19 State Budget COA Earmarks: The signed contract for the COA Earmarks was received on 11.15.18. Charlene has put together a listing of mental health/health education brunches for elders that will be called ‘Wisdom Wednesdays’. In addition, she developed a list of trainings for first responders, elder service providers and other professionals to be held on three (3) Friday mornings at the Senior Center and one (1) for City Hall. We have hired a consultant, Janet Richardi, to organize and provide the business and community with Dementia Friendly Summit and education. Mrs. Richardi will be trained to provide education sessions on-site at businesses/agencies. The last session for the COA Earmark for elders and for the community will be a training on how to be Dementia Friendly. 3. Substance Use Prevention Grants (MOAPC, SAPC and PFS): I met with Paula Beaulieu, our PFS subcontractor (SSTAR) and Prevention Coordinator. As stated last month, MOAPC will most likely be extended for two additional years. SSTAR will be hiring an additional full-time person to assist with these grants. Paula is still waiting to hear why we were not awarded the Drug Free Community Grant. 4. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force (TOTF): The TOTF monthly meeting was held on 12.11.18. There were 29 in attendance. The Guest Speaker was Lori Gonsalves from Cory’s Cause. The contract for the Earmark for the Taunton Police Department’s Outreach Team was forwarded to City Hall on 11.15.18. The Taunton Opens Doors to Recovery Drop- In Center will be holding a vigil with dinner on 12.13.18. The Raising Generations Taunton group will be holding a Winter Wonderland event on 12.15.18 at First Parish Church. This  group is a support group for those who are raising children due to addiction/overdose/ death of a relative. 5. Age and Dementia Friendly Taunton: Charlene and I attended an Age & Dementia Friendly meeting on 11.19.18. There were 6 in attendance. Nancy from Associates for Human Services announced her resignation from her job. She will assist in introducing her replacement to the group. Anne announced the Earmark for Dementia Friendly Taunton and the hiring of a consultant to move this forward. We were also notified that the person overseeing Age Friendly Taunton is no longer working at the YMCA. We will continue to move forward on the Dementia Friendly Taunton project. The next meeting is 12.17.18. 6. My Senior Center: The contract was forwarded to the City Solicitor for his approval on 11.14.18. There were some concerns but has been resolved. The IT department and Charlene, Kelley and I have a meeting scheduled with the representatives of My Senior Center on December 13, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. The funding for the software package will come from the Formula Grant. New Business: 1. FY20 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): We were notified that the FY20 CDBG Public Outreach meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. Charlene will attend. 2. Holiday Meals: a. Thanksgiving: 32 baskets were delivered by Elder Outreach Staff on 11.19.18. The baskets were donated by St. Vincent de Paul and Taunton Charitable Association b. 174 home delivered applications were completed for the Corline Cronan Thanksgiving meal. c. Christmas: We have 28 Christmas baskets donated by St. Vincent de Paul being delivered. 3. Meeting Summary/Anne attended the following meetings: a. Taunton Drug Court Graduation: 11.14.18 b. Opioid Webinar: 11.15.18 c. Age & Dementia Friendly Taunton: 11.19.18 d. Mayor Hoye: 11.20.18 e. Manet Community Health Center Board: 11.20.18 f. Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 11.28.18 g. Manet CHC & Mayor Hoye: 11.29.18 h. Manet CHC & Colleen Doherty, THA: 11.29.18 i. Manet CHC & Taunton Police Department: 11.29.18 j. MA Councils on Aging Membership & Advisory Council Meetings/Milford: 12.6.18 k. Mayor Hoye: 12.10.18 l. Dementia Friendly Consultant: 12.10.18 m. Manet Community Health Center subcommittee conference call: 12.10.18 n. SERCCOT-Transportation: 12.11.18 o. TRIAD: 12.11.18 p. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 12.11.18 4. Upcoming Scheduled Programs/meetings: a. ‘My Senior Center’: 12.13.18 b. Mayor Hoye: 12.13.18  c. MMA Human Services Council: 12.13.18 d. Age & Dementia Friendly Taunton: 12.17.18 e. Dementia Friendly Taunton: 12.17.18 f. Community VNA: 12.18.18 g. Manet Community Health Center Board: 12.18.18 h. Taunton Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 12.19.18 i. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 1.8.19 j. Manet Safety Training: 1.9.19 5. DHS Updates: a. Holiday Hours – December 24 – Close at noon December 25 – Closed for Christmas Holiday December 28 – Open from 8:00 – 4:00 December 31 – Close at noon January 1 – Closed for New Year’s Holiday January 4 - Open from 8:00 – 4:00 b. Handicapped Bathroom update c. I will be on vacation from 12.24.18 – 1.1.19. Charlene will be in charge during my absence. d. I will be attending the MA Municipal Association Annual Meeting: 1.18 – 1.19.19 6. Senior Center Coordinator Monthly Report 7. Anne handed out Conflict of Interest Training. 8. Next meeting: Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Senior Center Coordinator’s Report – 12.12.18 November 8th – Chaplain Ken Hart – “Getting Older & Having Fun” – 12 seniors attended. November 8th- Jerry Ciarci – Never Stop Learning Group – “Religions of the World” – 6 seniors attended. November 13th – Taunton Nursing Home – “Who will speak for you when you can’t”, 4 seniors attended. November 20th – singer Bill Reidy – 25 seniors attended. November 27th – singer Roger Tincknell – 30 seniors attended. December 4th- Chaplain Ken Hart – “Grief & the Holidays” – 3 seniors attended. December 6th – Never Stop Learning Group – “2 Famous Stone Carvings” – 4 seniors attended. December 11th – Friedman School Choir cancelled. Upcoming Events Since Erin has come back our Clutter group has started back up with a new name – Collecting & Acquiring Peer Group which meet every Thursday from 1-2:30. December 13th – 1-2:30 – Mary Beth’s craft class – Christmas Tree door hanger. December 19th – 10-11 am – Hopewell School children here to give back to the Senior’s. They will be doing a small craft, passing out candy canes and sing them a few carols. December 20th at 11:30 am – TED Talks – “What does your New Year look like?” January 3th – Never Stop Learning Group – “Innocent Mistakes” January 8th – Paul Arikian, IT Director – “Ask the IT guy?” January 10th – South Coastal County Legal Services – “Know your Rights”, learning your rights in a manufactured home community. January 15th – Mike Higgins January 17th – TED Talks – Meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m. Barry Burke made the motion. Seconded by Ann Kardamis. All in favor. Next meeting: Wednesday, January 9, 2019