Department of Human Services / Council on Aging

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING February 13, 2019 PRESENT: Anne Bisson Kelley Sylvia Tracy Heger Ann Kardamis Barry Burke Jim Lincoln Ted O’Brien ABSENT: Lori Gonsalves, Charlotte Carr Ted called the meeting to order at 10:05 Jim Lincoln made a motion to accept the January 09, 2019 meeting minutes. Ann Kardamis seconded. All in favor. Director’s Report Board Meeting 02.13.19 Old Business: 1. FY 19 EOEA Formula Grant: All staff is now funded through the Formula Grant. We received the total Formula Grant deposit. Anne added that we did receive the increase and are already talking about 2020. 2. FY 19 State Budget COA Earmarks: a. Dementia Friendly Taunton – Janet Richardi, Dementia Friendly Consultant, has been attending education sessions and is now beginning to schedule trainings at businesses. We met with Mayor Hoye on 1.29.19 to garner his support. We met with Jennifer Hoadley, Alzheimer’s Association, on 2.11.19. The Taunton Federal Credit Union will be trained on 3.13.19. Janet will be meeting with the Rotary on 3.14.19. b. Enhance Services at COA - Both ‘Wisdom Wednesdays’ and the Mental Health trainings have been advertised and individuals are now signing up. 3. FY 20 CDBG: The grants were submitted to the Office of Economic and Community Development in January 2019. We are now waiting to hear back. 4. Substance Use Prevention Grants (MOAPC, SAPC and PFS): There has been no change to these grants. However, we met on 1.30.19 to review the results of the evaluation of our Drug Free Communities grant submission that we did not receive and to discuss moving forward to apply once again this year. The City Grant Writer, Taylor Torres, will be assisting SSTAR and our office with this submission. 5. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force (TOTF): The TOTF monthly meeting was cancelled due to the forecasted storm. 6. Age and Dementia Friendly Taunton: The committee met on 1.28.19 at the YMCA. Janet Richardi chaired the meeting. She provided an update on Dementia Friendly Taunton. I explained to the group that we would like to continue moving forward as a partner in the Age Friendly Taunton initiative. 7. My Senior Center: We had our introductory telephone meeting on Thursday, January 10, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. We have a full-day training scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, 2019. All hardware has been received. New Business: 1. Collaborative Grant Submissions: The Department of Human Services has collaborated on two Tufts grant submissions: Dementia Friendly Taunton with Associates for Human Services and Age Friendly Taunton with the YMCA. 2. Taunton Safe Neighborhood Initiative (SNI): a. Emergency Protocols Meeting: We are holding an Emergency Protocols meeting with First Responders and Taunton Public and Parochial Schools on 2.14.19. b. SNI Annual Meeting: I am presently planning the SNI Annual meeting that is scheduled for 4.24.19. The Guest Speaker with be April Cabrera from the Office of the Bristol District Attorney. She will also be hosting a ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ mock bedroom demonstration. 3. Meeting Summary/Anne attended the following meetings: a. My Senior Center: 1.10.19 b. Mayor Hoye: 1.14.19 c. Dementia Friendly Consultant: 1.15.190 d. MA Councils on Aging Board (2 conference calls): 1.15.19 e. Manet Community Health Center Board: 1.15.19 f. MA Municipal Association Annual Meeting: 1.18/1.19.19 g. Morton Hospital Behavioral Health: 1.22.19 h. Department of Human Resources/Senior Tax Work off: 1.22.19 Anne added that Human Resources will now require Senior Tax Workers to obtain a physical before working the program. i. State of the City Address: 1.22.19 j. Taunton Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 1.23.18 k. Manet Community Health Center Board Retreat: 1.24.19 l. Age & Dementia Friendly Taunton: 1.28.19 m. Mayor Hoye/Dementia Friendly Taunton: 1.29.19 n. Drug Free Communities Grant: 1.30.19 o. Tour of ‘The District’ venue with Charlene and Tracy: 2.5.19 It was mentioned that there is not yet an elevator at this location. p. Leveraging Federal and State Funding to Help All Children Thrive event: Tentatively scheduled for 2.7.19 q. Business After Hours/Manet CHC: 2.7.19 r. MA Councils on Aging: 2.8.19 s. Mayor Hoye: 2.11.19 t. Alzheimer’s Association/Dementia Friendly Taunton: 2.11.19 u. Manet Strategic Planning Committee (conf. call): 2.11.19 v. Dementia Friendly Consultant: 2.12.19 w. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 2.12.19 (cancelled) 4. Upcoming Scheduled Programs/meetings: a. TRIAD: 2.13.19  b. Emergency Protocols Meeting/First Responders & Schools: 2.14.19 c. Age & Dementia Friendly: 2.25.19 d. Taunton Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 2.27.19 e. MMA Human Service Council: 2.28.19 f. Dementia Friendly Consultant: 3.6.19 g. Mayor Hoye: 3.11.19 h. Alzheimer’s Association: 3.11.19 i. Manet Strategic Planning Committee (conf. call): 3.11.19 j. Teen Safety Summit-Wheaton College: 3.12.19 k. TRIAD – 3.12.19 l. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 3.12.19 5. DHS Updates: a. Handicapped Bathroom update: It’s coming along and hoped to be complete before the start of our “Wisdom Wednesday” programs. b. I will be taking vacation from 2.19.19 – 2.22.19. 6. Senior Center Coordinator Monthly Report 7. Next meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 2019 Barry Burke stated that Anne Bisson was recently mentioned in the Gazette. Anne informed the board that she facilitated a relationship between Manet Community Health Center and the Taunton Public Schools/Family Resource Center at Parker Middle School to provide health insurance counseling for new families. Senior Center Coordinator’s Report – 02.13.19 January 10th – South Coastal County Legal Services came to present: “Know your Rights”, learning your rights in a manufactured home community. We had 35 seniors attend. This event is held yearly. January 15th – Mike Higgins came and 31 seniors attended. January 17th TED Talks –How to Motivate yourself to do good for others. 3 seniors attended. February 7th – Never Stop Learning Group – Unfinished Business – 4 seniors attended. February 7th – Craft Class – Heart Wreaths – 6 seniors attended. February 12th – Ask Paul the I.T. Guy – 9 seniors attended. This event will be held on a monthly basis. Upcoming Events February 19th – Smart 9-1-1 – Brewster Ambulance will be here to register or update records. February 21st – TED Talks – How insects can improve our lives and health February 26th – Senior Medicare Patrol. Anne added: AARP Tax Appointments are almost filled completely. The next Federal Census will be in 2020 and those numbers are used for 10 years. We need to encourage elders to complete the census. The census will now be done on line and not sent out unless no response is received. We will be planning to assist elders with completing the census online. Meeting adjourned at 10:32 a.m. Ted O’Brien made the motion. Seconded by Barry Burke. All in Favor. Next meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 2019