Department of Human Services / Council on Aging

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING October 09, 2019 PRESENT: Anne Bisson Joanne LaFerrara Jim Lincoln Ted O’Brien Ann Kardamis Barry Burke Tracy Heger ABSENT: Meeting called to order at 10:06 a.m. by Ted O’Brien Ted O’Brien made a motion to accept the September 11, 2019 meeting minutes. Ann Kardamis & Jim Lincoln seconded. All in favor. Director’s Report Board Meeting 10.09.19 Old Business: 1. FY 20 EOEA Formula Grant: The finalized FY 20 Formula Budget (submitted) and FY 19 Annual Report is due 11.15.19. The approved amount is $125,628.00. We will continue to fund the partial salary of the Nurse, one part-time Case Worker for a full year and two part- time Case Workers for one-half of the year, the part-time Receptionist and Drop-in Center Aide, the Fitness, Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi and Zumba Instructors, the Dementia Friendly Taunton consultant, Volunteer Recognition, Travel Reimbursement for the part-time outreach positions, conference/trainings, dues and office supplies. 2. FY 20 Earmark: We were notified by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs that we were awarded the Earmark in the amount of $20,000.00 for ‘Enhanced Services for the Council on Aging in Taunton’. The funds will be used to continue the ‘Wisdom Wednesdays’ and the Dementia Friendly Taunton program. 3. Substance Use Prevention Grants (MOAPC, SAPC and PFS2): I met with the Prevention Coordinator at SSTAR. It was confirmed that FY20 is the final fiscal year for these grants. Some programs may be continued but in a different context. At this time, no formal statements have been made but it appears that the PFS2 grants will not be refunded. We were also notified that we did not receive the Drug Free Communities Grant. 4. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force (TOTF): The meeting was held on Tuesday, October 8, 2019. There were 30 in attendance. The Guest Speakers were from the DEA 360 Southcoast Program. 5. Age and Dementia Friendly Taunton: It was decided that we would not apply for the Tufts Momentum Grant (one year at $10,000). It was difficult to secure a 501c3 to apply for the grant as it required that the 501c3 be directly related to the services that we were requesting. However, it was decided that Associates for Human Services and our office would reapply for the larger grant in January (up to $100,000 for 3 years). The Dementia  Friendly Taunton Program Consultant is presently being funded through the Formula Grant for 260 hours and will then be funded by the FY20 Earmark. The next Age & Dementia Friendly meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2019. Some members of this committee are being trained by the Alzheimer’s Association in Raynham on how to conduct Caregiver Support Groups, including Janet Richardi and Charlene Bonenfant. This training is scheduled for October 23, 2019. Charlene will also be attending a full-day UCLA Memory Training in Hopkinton on November 7, 2019. 6. ‘My Senior Center’ statistical software program: Charlene and staff continue to do an excellent job. The Elder Outreach portion of the statistical program has been more difficult to design. However, Charlene and Gail Thurston have been working together to make the program more streamlined. 7. Collaborative Grant Submission: Tufts Healthy for Life with the YMCA – The Healthy for Life Committee met on September 10, 2019. Anne could not attend. The YMCA is holding a Listening session at the Senior Center on October 15, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. to ask those in attendance what Healthy Living programs they would like to see in the city. 8. Census 2020: We have not heard much from the area coordinator other than asking for a list of the local shelters, soup kitchens and food pantries so that they can outreach to those that attend for a more accurate census count. Tracy met with the Census 2020 jobs coordinator. Tracy can speak to this. New Business: 1. FY 20 City Supplemental Budget: The FY20 Supplemental Budget request was submitted to the Budget Director on 9.23.19. We asked for three (3) months of additional funding to hire an Elder Outreach Director to be trained prior to Gail’s retirement, a full-time Elder Outreach Case Manager and a full-time Principal Clerk for the Senior Center. 2. Meeting Summary/Anne attended the following meetings: a. Sustaining Dementia Friendly Programs Webinar: 9.17.19 b. Manet Community Health Center Board: 9.17.19 c. Assessor’s Office/Senior Tax Work-off: 9.18.19 d. SSTAR Prevention Coordinator: 9.18.19 e. Mayor Hoye: 9.23.19 f. Taunton Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 9.25.19 g. Bristol Elder Services Advisory Board: 9.26.19 h. Taunton Senior Center City Resource Fair: 9.26.19 i. Manet Community Health Center/Taunton- Congressman Kennedy: 9.30.19 j. Flu Shots by Manet CHC: 10.3.19 k. Manet CHC Strategic Planning Committee: 10.7.19 l. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 10.8.19 3. Upcoming Scheduled Programs/meetings: a. Healthy Living ‘Listening Session’: 10.15.19 b. Manet Community Health Center Board: 10.15.19 c. CPR/AED training: 10.16.19 d. Fall Party at Holiday Inn: 10.17.19 e. Mayor Hoye: 10.21.19 f. Taunton Safe Neighborhood Initiative: 10.23.19 g. Autumn Walking Club: 10.29.19 h. Bristol Community College: 10.30.19  i. Age & Dementia Friendly Taunton: 11.4.19 j. Veterans’ Breakfast: 11.8.19 k. Taunton Opiate and Substance Use Task Force: 11.12.19 4. DHS Updates: a. New Zumba Gold Instructor: Kelley Brophy 5. Senior Center Coordinator Monthly Report 6. Next meeting: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 Senior Center Coordinator’s Report – 10.09.19 September 9th – Our office started taking open enrollment appointments. -September 10 – Ask Paul the I.T. Guy – We had 9 seniors attend. -Our 6 week meditation class started. -September 11th – Halloween party tickets went on sale. September 17th – Richard Ferreira, Director of the Taunton Emergency Management Agency came to speak about how to prepare for a weather emergency. 10 seniors attended. -On September 19th our TED Talks had 9 seniors attend. -For the week of September 23rd thru the 27th we offered a shred week where 37 seniors took advantage of the service from Taunton Federal Credit Union. -On September 25th our Wisdom Wednesday was called, Protect Yourself and 70 seniors attended. -On September 26th we had our first fair called, Learn How City Hall Can Help you. 49 seniors were counted at one point. -We started a 1 mile walk every Tuesday in October – The first week we had 4 seniors walk. -On October 1st the Classic Jazz Quintet had 18 seniors attend. -On October 3rd we had a flu shot clinic and 50 seniors participated. -On October 3rd we had our Never Stop Learning Group and 5 seniors attended. -On October 8th Ask Paul the I.T. Guy had 6 senior attend. Upcoming Events -On October 15th the YMCA is coming to the Senior Center for a Healthy Living Focus Group. -Our Halloween Party is on October 17th at the Holiday Inn – We already have over 215 seniors who have bought tickets. -On October 21st our Zumba Gold class will start back up with our new instructor Kelley Brophy. These will be held on Mondays at 2:45 pm. -Jack Ryan the magician will be here to perform on October 22nd. -Our craft class with Mary Beth will be on October 23rd. -On October 29th at 1 pm – The Veteran’s office will be here to discuss VA Compensation claims. Ted O’Brien made a motion to adjourn @ 10:37. Seconded by Barry Burke & Joanne LaFerrara. All in favor. Next meeting: Wednesday, November 13, 2019