Department of Human Services / Council on Aging

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING April 14, 2021 PRESENT: Charlene Bonenfant Laura Miola Tracy Heger Joanne LaFerrara Ted O’Brien Lori Gonsalves Kelley Sylvia Mary Beth Forshaw Barry Burke Jennifer DeLuca Herbert Day ABSENT: Ann Kardamis Meeting called to order at 10:02 a.m. by Ted O’Brien Joanne LaFerrara made a motion to accept the March 10, 2021 meeting minutes. Barry Burke seconded. All in favor. Board Meeting Reports 04.14.2021 Charlene Bonenfant - Director Board Report April 14, 2021 Meeting ID: 849 5687 7641 - Passcode: 667490 I. Call to Order - Ted II. Approval of Minutes of March 10, 2021 III. Director’s Report Old Business: Status of the Director’s Position – Appointed as of March 13, 2021 – Sworn in on April 9, 2021 for a 4 year term COVID 19 and Program Updates Elder Outreach – Jennifer Deluca (see report attached) a. Update on the status of home visits b. Outreach statistics c. Peer Friendly Visiting Program Senior Center Activities – Tracy Heger (see report attached) a. Extension of the AARP Tax Prep Program b. Senior Tax Work Off Program c. Grab and Go Activities d. Crafts to Go program e. Fitness Schedule f. Other Scheduled Activities/Programming Community Relations Program/Emergency Fund – Mary Beth Forshaw (see report attached) a. Service Statistics  b. Taunton Emergency Task Force c. State Earmark d. Taunton Opioid Task Force – Lori Gonsalves – First full meeting held via Zoom on 04/13/21 was well attended. Taunton Open Doors to Recovery is planning an outdoor event for a Saturday in June. Drug Court update was given by Nate Daniels who’s still running the program. Steve Turner is still out doing home visits to the families of overdose victims, which are still being well accepted. Other Department Updates a. City and Grant Funding updates – The city budget for FY22 was submitted on March 31, 2021. The CDBG has mostly been expended and all part time staff are on the Formula Grant. The Formula Grant for FY22 will reflect the 2020 Census numbers. At this point we do not know what the amount per elder will be. We received word on April 13, 2021 that we will be receiving a $40,000 Earmark courtesy of Carol Doherty – more information to follow. Revolving Account Update – Kelley Sylvia. (see report attached) b. Vaccination Clinics – With the change in J & J we are unsure what that means for the state homebound program. The status of the regional vaccination clinics is also unknown - the state has suggested that the local Board of Health collaborate with local community health centers. c. Other Updates – Colleen and Charlene will be presenting at Council with the Office of Community and Economic Development (EOCD) with regards to the expansion of the Senior Center. The reason for the presentation is EOCD will be utilizing COVID funding to assist. The presentation is slotted for April 27, 2021. A pergola with heat is scheduled to be installed by June, 2021. Elder Outreach will be moving to the 3rd floor of the apartment building and the former Elder Outreach Office will be utilized as a classroom for Senior activities until renovations start. Community Needs Assessment – Chairman O’Brien – Ted emailed a few people a sample of the Community Survey that he’s drafted and hopes to distribute in May. This can be used as a baseline for Grant applications. It’s free and customizable in Google Forms. Ted asked that those that received a sample complete and return it with feedback. Ted suggested we could also utilize a survey for clinical issues for Outreach staff. Charlene said she would post the survey on Face Book and Outreach staff will distribute surveys to those without computer access. IV. ANNOUNCEMETS AND NEW BUSINESS  a. Teen Christmas Program Proposal – With the closing of the Matthew Mission Mary Beth and I have received the blessing of the Mayor to conduct the teen Christmas Program. The director has spoken to Colleen at housing about the possibility of collaborating because they conduct their own teen program. We will keep you updated as we move forward. b. Next Meeting: May 12, 2021 Via Technology (Due to tax prep) Charlene asked if anyone was opposed to meeting over the summer months of July and August when we normally do not meet. All in favor. Charlene said the June meeting would be back to an in person meeting. V. Adjournment: Barry Burke made a motion to adjourn @ 10:42 a.m. Seconded by Laura Miola. All in favor. Jennifer DeLuca - Elder Outreach Director Board Report April 14, 2021 While in the yellow, all staff are expected to exercise extreme caution and awareness when completing home visits. They are required to double masks and stay no longer than 15 minutes, and document weather the visit was inside or outside for contact tracing if needed. Taunton is back in the red and staff have been asked to complete home visits outside for the rest of the week until a new report is released. If the staff member feels as though it is needed to have an indoor visit they have been asked to come and speak to me to discuss appropriateness of the in home visit. This is for the safety of the worker and individual served. Staff are still allowed to pick up/drop off paperwork, food, incontinence supplies, etc. Statistics: March 1-March 31 Elder Outreach 136 home visits, they have been documented as inside or outside for contact tracing purposes 772 Elder telephone calls, 111 contacts to family or friends 68 agency contacts to complete all appropriate calls and follow up 33 meal boxes delivered last week, today and next week. 60 Holiday Easter Meals were delivered out to our clients in the community 113 COVID Vaccine inquiries, 56 COVID Vaccine Pre-registrations for Mass Vax Sites, 119 State Homebound Vaccine Program Peer Friendly Visiting Program Mayra Peer Friendly Visiting Coordinator continues to carry a caseload of level 3 clients, complete wellness check in calls, birthday calls and calls to classes at the center. She is explaining the program and asking the individuals called if they would be interested in volunteering or being matched with a peer volunteer. Mayra has already begun matching individuals for a pen-pal type set up, all communication will come to the office and then be mailed off to the correct individual. Tracy Heger – Senior Center Coordinator Board Report April 14, 2021 The AARP tax preparation program at the Senior Center has been extended to May 12th. To date we have helped 145 seniors with their 2019 and 2020 tax returns. We have started our Grab & Go food events from the Council on Aging with a cooked rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and butternut squash from Trucchi’s on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at elderly housing sites, Veteran’s and our elder outreach clients for a total of 263 meals delivered. We will be delivering another 237 before the end of the month with a total of 500 meals given out in March & April. In May, with another Grant, we will be finishing the elderly housing sites for a total of 238 meals and then start our Drive-Thru Grab & Go’s that will be held in the Taunton Nursing Home parking lot. On May 18th at 4 pm we will have a musical Grab N Go with Mike Higgins serenading as they drive thru. Home Plate will be making pot roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans with a biscuit. On May 25th at 4pm we will have a BBQ on the Go with BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, coleslaw, potato salad and watermelon from DeAvila’s. And on June 16th at 11 am we will have a drive thru luau with teriyaki chicken, fruit cup, glazed carrots, vegetable stir fry rice and a pineapple upside down cake. Outside fitness groups will be starting on April 20th with 15 seniors in each group. By May 21st we will have 4 Fitness groups started, 2 Yoga groups, 1 Tai Chi and 1 Rhythm Rock class held on site at the COA. A Monday walking group is starting on April 26th for a 1 mile route that has been marked out from our door and back. I will be holding a 4 week Meditation class at 10:30 on Wednesdays at 10:30 am in June. I am working on starting up Aqua class at Hopewell pool. I have a certified instructor and working on getting the day and time figured out. I will update you on the progress. The City has decided to hold off on the Senior Tax Work Off program at this time but will look at it monthly to see if it can be started up. This month’s Grab & Go craft project is a turtle clay pot plant holder. Seniors are really loving these monthly projects to work on at home. For May it will be to create a clay planter using shells and sand. On June 9th we will be holding an Oldies Lunch with a hot dog, chips, drink and a muffin with Jukebox Bingo afterwards in the parking lot at the Center. The Taunton Housing Authority will be setting up the tents and everyone will have their own table to eat and play at. Mary Beth Forshaw – Community Relations Counselor Board Report April 14, 2021 Board of Directors Human Service Meeting: Introduce: Mary Beth Forshaw, Community Relations Counselor Taunton Emergency Task Force: Serves Berkley, Dighton, Raynham, Taunton  UW Family Fund COVID 19 FY 2020 - Current $8,164.87 o 1 Application (rental assistance) o Total Served 127 o Adults 68 o Children 59  UW Family Fund General Fund FY 2021- Current $12,581.63 o 1 Application (1 TMLP-Utilities) o Total Served 42 o Adults 19 o Children 23  UW Family Fund Flex Fund FY 2021- Current $ 18,650.00 NEW o 1 Application (1 TMLP-Utilities) o Total Served 4 o Adults 2 o Children 2  Earmark from the office of Senator Pacheco - $250,000.00 –3/26/2021 Received Funds  Taunton Opiate Task Force – Lori Gonsalves DEA National Drug Take Back April 24, 2021 at 10am Teen Christmas Program- Update the Board. Kelley Sylvia Head Administrative Clerk Board Report 04.14.2021 Revolving Account Update: Met with Matthew Costa – First Assistant City Solicitor at the Law Department on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, to discuss the process of requesting that the Department of Human Services and Council on Aging be authorized to establish a Revolving Account in the City Budget. We discussed the Guidance received by the Auditor’s Office on the “Authorization of Departmental Revolving Funds and Model By-law/Ordinance.” We must present our request, with the required information, to the council and Mayor for approval. Each FY an expenditure limit must be stablished and voted on by the City Council. This amount can be requested to be changed by requesting an increase on the expenditure amount to the City Council and Mayor if needed. I will outline the needed information, per the table format sample given, and Matt will draft the request to be submitted on behalf of the Department of Human Services. Charlene will need to be present to answer any questions from the Council and/or Mayor at the presentation during the City Council Meeting. Matt would like to submit the request in May for approval to establish the account effective beginning FY22. We must submit the following information: A. Fund Name: Dept. HS/COA B. Dept., Board, Committee, Agency or Officer Authorized to Spend from Fund: Director of Human Services/COA – Charlene Bonenfant C. Fees, Charges or Other Receipts Credited to Fund: Monies collected for specific events of the DHS/COA D. Program or Activity Expenses Payable from Fund: COA Activities such as, but not limited to; Parties such as the Spring Fling or Halloween Parties with expenses such as food, venue, DJ; Instructed Events such as instructor lead painting classes, educational events/trainings with hired Speakers/Presenters, craft events with a fee for supplies, etc... E. Restrictions or Conditions on Expenses Payable from Fund: Not eligible to pay salaried employees or FT/PT Staff. If ever decided to provide transportation services it was suggested to be done under a separate Revolving Fund. F. Other Requirements/Reports: Matt will check with Auditor’s, Treasurer’s, Mayor and City Council on any requested or required reporting expected. We will keep a Budget Spreadsheet on the Revolving Account as we do all other Accounts/Grants. G. Fiscal Years: Beginning FY22 and going forward. Next meeting: Wednesday, May 12, 2021 @ 10:00 a.m. Via Zoom