Mansfield YSB Advisory Board

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

12 noon @ YSB Conf. Rm. B

Attendees: Ethel Mantzaris, Frank Perrotti, Eileen Griffin, Jerry Marchon, Candace Morell, Sheila Riffle, Amber Hoyt

Staff: Kevin Grunwald, Pat Michalak, Kathy McNamara, Karen L. Taylor

Regrets: Heather Spottiswoode

I. Call to Order

Ethel Mantzaris, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:01PM

II Approval of Minutes – MOTION by Frank Perrotti, seconded by Pat Michalak. Vote: Unanimous in favor of approving minutes as submitted.

III. Reports - Kevin Grunwald, Director

· Kevin advised the Board that Human Services has applied a 40K Community Planning Grant thru SDE and a private entity. This grant would be linked to the Town Wide Strategic Planning. It is a 12 month grant that begins 7/1/08 and represents young children.

Pat Michalak – YSB Coordinator Update

· Pat advised the Board that the need for camperships has increased and informed the members that there were no funds to meet that need. YSB staff is thinking of ways to raise the funds.

· Pat also informed the members that YSB has 5 children attending Rectory Camp this year. And was able to partially fund another child to attend Holiday Hill.

· Pat touched on specific points of the May update with the Board and congratulated Amber on her speaking engagement during the Memorial Parade.

Youth Services Update May 2008

· YSB’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren’s group lobbied for legislation to enable grandparents who are appointed guardians though superior court to apply for grants to help them care for their grandchildren. Finally this year the bill was passed and eligible grandparents will receive up to $2,000 beginning July l, 2008. AARP, SSD and many grandparents groups around the state have been lobbying for this type of “care fund” since l986. A number of Mansfield grandparents will be eligible.

· Kathy McNamara has completed her first full academic year of service at YSB. She adjusted quickly from her work as a clinical supervisor in the psychiatric wards of Bellevue Hospital to community social work in rural Northeastern Connecticut. She quickly became an integral part of the YSB team. Kathy is an experienced, caring clinician who is passionate about her work. She has willingly worked many extra hours and evenings to meet the needs of our families. It is a pleasure to have her on our team.

· YSB has been working on providing camperships to many children whose parent’s are in financial need.

· Staff has been working with MMS and EOSmith High School to further support students transiting from the elementary school to the middle school and from the middle school to the high school.

· As the end of the school year approaches we have been receiving many referrals for assessment and treatment as well as people from other towns interested in our Children’s Grief Group

IV. Old Business:

• Mini Grants – Pat advised the Board that YSB had submitted 3 mini grants and the LPC considered all three. A side discussion ensued between the members regarding what steps can be taken to ensure YSB has access to these funds next year.

There was also a discussion among members as to what can be done to have the NECASA grant funds come directly to YSB and what needed to be done to set up a Local Prevention Counsel.

Questions were raised by members as to how Safe Graduation funds are spent. And expressed disagreement with the giving away of iPods and other incentives to entice seniors to participate.

Participants for Challenge have been chosen. They will depart the day after school and Candace Morell will be joining them for the hiking portion of the program.

V. New Business:

· Transition Programs – YSB is initiating a new program “LEAP” to assist the student in COPE to transition to MMS.

· Psychiatric Consultation – Pat informed the Board that Dr. Haney’s fees had exceeded the budget funds for this year. There has been an increased demand from the schools for assessment and follow up. Members agreed that for the next fiscal year that needed to be increased.

VI. Other

NONE

Meeting adjourned at 12:49PM.

Respectfully submitted by:

Karen L. Taylor

Secretary