BYS meeting minutes 12/1/10
Members present: Bobby Bongiorno, Ann Horgan, Lynn Horgan, Joan Axelroad, Maryanne Andrew, Lori Talanian, Mary DeCourcey, Elizabeth Oppedisano, Phyllis Brown, Joan Robbio, Linda Suzuki, Carlene Newell
Guests: Jocelyan St. Cyr, Rebecca Wolfe
I. Motion to accept minutes of 11/3/2010 - Joan Robbio seconded by Ann Horgan, approved unanimously.
II. Welcome and Introductions
Group introductions
Two new staff members of AYCC were present and introduced themselves:
Jocelyan St. Cyr – new case manager
This position is funded through grant money from the High Rock Church. Jocelyn will be helping people to find resources, connecting people, license working with the homeless prev. group, dom. violence group and working directly with AYCC clients. Jocelyn is a licensed social worker. Her hours will be flexible, nights and weekends.
Lynn will send thank you letter to David Swain, Pastor – for reaching out to us and supporting position.
Rebecca Wolfe – new social worker at Police Dept.
Through a grant from DMH, full time MH clinician. Rebecca will be based with the PD community. Her specialty is crisis assessment, corresponding with officers. Rebecca has extensive previous experience in a range of positions. Rebecca’s regular hours will be 11-7pm but is flexible.
III. AYCC Update – Phyllis
Recently received a $500 donation from the Park Ave. Congregational Church
Open house was successful; staff of AYCC enjoyed dinner after open house. They don’t often see each other with their varied schedules.
AYCC has recently started an “Anger Management” program at AHS and guidance Dept. at AHS is referring students to this program.
It has been difficult to sign up with Tufts Health Plan for billing purposes. Members remembered that Dr. Foley mentioned he might be able to speak with someone at Tufts if we needed help. Phyllis will get in touch with him to ask him if he can refer us to someone that might help us to be accepted. This difficulty is not uncommon with Tufts.
Phyllis has been disappointed with the billing service we hired. She is looking into other services. Next week she will be speaking to 3 other billing services with more experience with MassHealth.
We now have a data base on each client.
Grants – High Rock is funding case manager.
Phyllis will be hosting next CHNA meeting
Phyllis would like to put together some sort of PR presentation/community relations program or power point to give us more visibility.
Lori T. thought Terry Vandercook from ACMI might be interested. She wanted to chronicle AYCC, sort of a documentary on the agency. Lori to call her.
Another option – John Barken, who does presentations for non-profits. Joan Axelrod offered to get in touch with him she has a connection with him. Lori thought she will get in touch with Terry first and then reassess what our needs might be.
Lynn reported we would like to figure out how we could best bring in others to help us with our mission. This will be a topic for the next meeting.
Lori mentioned an Electronic Medical Records Grant she is aware of from Federal Government. Joan A. will look at grant guidelines and report back.
Lori will check with Christine about the grant writer status.
IV. Update from Board of Health
All purchasing orders to Christine. There is a hiring freeze.
Marketing and fundraising consultant will be starting (through grant money).
MLK Dinner Event - annual event coordinators has asked us for a donation. $50 donation Joan A. motion to accept, seconded by Lori unanimous vote to accept.
The money comes out of a Gift fund at AYCC. Any donation would go into this fund as well.
V. New Business
Kathryn Tighe an Arlington resident is interested in getting approval for including an add-on to the town water bill for people to donated to the non-profit organizations in Arlington. She is looking for Representation from the BYS for a meeting. She will be coordinating the meeting. Anyone interested is welcome to attend meeting.
Free Meals program during Christmas week – started with conversations with Thompson having a local restaurant provide a meal or two at Thompson. Joan A., Mary D., Lori, Carlene to help. Christie will get in touch with us.
VI. Holiday Help Update – Lori T.
Thanksgiving - over 69 baskets were given out. Every family got $40 in gift cards. High school kids helped out. Ottoson had a food collection as well as collected money and gift cards.
Joan A. and Mary will head it up next year. Lori T. has some ideas for changes for next year that she will share with Joan and Mary.
Holiday Help – Lori T.
Lori is trying to update givers/receivers list.
So far there are over 30 more children than last year.
We hope to deliver more of the gifts this year to make is easier for distribution.
Call for volunteers:
Anyone who can help out let Lori know by email.
Looking into having a Holiday help line at the Board of Health
Liz has taken a new position so is no longer at the Board of Health.
Board of Health is looking for volunteers for basic office help. Anyone able to answer phones and help out call Christine to let her know.
VII. Updates:
AYHSC – next meeting Thurs. December 8
Diversion Program – Cindy will update next meeting.
First Step – Lynn gave a brief update. Group is meeting regularly. The Medford Elizabeth Grady Store is willing to sponsor women coming in to have facials, treatment, etc.
SADD – Elizabeth 228 members at the AHS 9-12th graders, Matt Clark spoke to the kids again (Middlesex Community College). SADD day at scheduled for December 15th. A School teacher from Revere will be speaking to the students. Bob B. saw him speak at AC and he has come highly recommended. Morning time 2 sessions, for the SADD day.
Parent Forums – Carlene
Kindergarten night
Trying to organize something thru Children’s Room.
Parent Forums are now on APS website
Also adding an open circle session to accommodate the number of parents interested.
VIII. Announcements
Maryanne has been facilitating the guiding good choices program this session – thank you!
Joan R. announced a wellness lecture series at Lahey to start up. Linda S. and Doug Katz will be speaking Dec. 9th at 12 N in the auditorium at Lahey. Topic is Bullying: adolescence, teens, families and friends. How to identify and strategies for all and will include role-playing for parents. It will be videotaped. Joan was asked if we could put it on our website.
John Deyst’s mother died, service is on Sunday.
Motion to adjoin 8:30 Motion accepted. Next meeting Jan. 5th, 2010
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