HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-28
I.
Contract Review Committee
November 28, 2006
2 Fairgrounds Road
Attending: Dirk Roggeveen, Jack Gardner, Alice McWade, Rachel Rosen, Christy
Kickham, John Belash, Brian Chadwick Maryanne Worth, Ann .Me~..~~
Swenson, Bert Johnson, Cheryl Bartlett, Kevin Dugan, Rev. Jffi\mifa~
McLaughlin. N,M\rnJCKET, MA 02554
DEe 1 4 2006
Maryanne explained to all agencies that she just provicla~rcldministrative supportro '0' 4tv)
to the CRC she does not vote in the funding process. Cl..ERK: Wv\8
Nantucket Behavioral Health Services $175,000 Peter Swenson, Chervl
Bartlett, Bert Johnson
Peter Swenson the new director started in February 2006. His goal is to
reorganize the agency, prioritize where to focus, re-evaluate what needs to be
done to move forward. Revisit contract with the school, the focus of energy to
strengthen that program. The clinician who goes to the schools prefers to work
in group sessions. There are 3 different groups at the school. Young people with
problems sometimes have problems in the home. NBHS will work with families as
a whole. There has been a great response from the school and families. We are
not waiting for problems to spin out of control. Peter has met with Bob Pellicone
(Superintendent of schools) and Nina Locario (Director of Special Ed) and they
want to continue in that direction. NBHS will collaborate with ASAP because
ASAP does prevention and NBHS does treatment. These two organizations need
to work hand in hand, if you are going to provide treatment you need to work
with prevention.
NBHS has a duty to provide services to anyone who presents themselves
regardless of their ability to pay. 60% of people here do not have adequate
insurance to pay for services. The funds NBHS receive from the town and other
sources pay for services. 70% of those who come in have alcohol or drug related
problems and with substance abuse services you lose money, however the state
requires licensed workers to provide services and most people who need services
cannot afford to pay. The contract with the state only provides mental health
services not substance abuse and as soon as NBHS responds to a person at the
hospital that is intoxicated there are no fees charged. Another NBHS program is
the residential services at Fairgrounds House where 5 mentally handicapped
women live 24/7 365 days a year. This is considered a model program by the
state. Mass Rehab services will be here 1 to 2 times a month to provide services
for these women such as job training and placement. The sober house
"Tryworks" is another program that opened in October. There is one person
there now and more people will be brought in slowly. NBHS would like that
program to run the same as the Fairgrounds House. The sober house put NBHS
in a huge financial strain. NBHS ran out of money and the whole organization
was at risk however NBHS is in a major re-organization and as part of re-tooling
of financial matters all paper work has been filed on time.
Does NCH provide any financial help? No, however with the Mass General merger
Senator O'Leary is talking to them and we are hoping to get some fund for
emergency mental health issues. Does NBHS have to pay for patients who go
off-island for treatment? No, however ASAP has some funds available to help as
well as Peter MacKay. How many people can the Fairgrounds House hold? Five,
although NBHS is negotiating with the state to make 1 room a double room. The
state owns the building and NBHS provides the services. At school conference
does A Safe Place attend as well as NBHS? We have heard that they are there;
NBHS staff is always there, we have an ongoing contract with the school. NBHS
has an incredible staff that can provide training in dealing with difficult children
in classroom and depression in children.
IFC Food Pantry $20,000 Kevin DUCJan Rev. Jennifer Brooks
The amount of the request $20,000 will be used for the salary for the part-time
director of the food pantry. The food pantry has been around for 17 years. The
need has increased over the years. The food pantry is open Tuesday and
Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00, however Kevin makes emergency deliveries and he
is available 24/7. People that use the pantry are treated with dignity and respect
and they are given what they need. The food pantry receives lots of donations of
food and cash and it is run very fiscally responsible. The numbers we serve keep
expanding; we are up 15% over last year. On the Thursday before Thanksgiving
we served 56 folks and on the Tuesday before we served 54. The food pantry is
based on need. How do you determine need? If a person says they are in need
they get it; they can come for 6 visits then they must speak to a member of the
clergy or Maryanne to see if they could use other services that may be available.
Kevin is extremely dedicated; he is available 24 hours a day. Some people are
unwilling to go to the pantry and Kevin will make a delivery to them. The food
pantry pays $1,000 a year to Saint Paul's church to use the basement. Single
mothers are the ones that use the pantry the most. What percentage of people
uses the pantry and the NRAP program? Very small, none that Kevin is aware of.
There are a lot of needs on this island and it is important for town government to
step in and help people get their needs met. Treat people with dignity and
respect.
Sherburne Commons $15,500 Joe McLauCJhlin
He amount of the request $15,500 will be used for a wheelchair lift for the van.
The van has been ordered and in order to get a sign off from the state the
handicapped devices must be in place. There are only two or three folks that do
this type of work and Sherburne Commons is going to use the one the Don
Allen's uses. They are the same one that did the NRTA vans. The van will be
used to take people back and fourth to appointments and will be part of the
whole Sherburne Commons package. The cottages should be ready to be moved
into by January '07. The main building will hopefully be ready by the end of
January. There will be 40 apartments with 8 dementia units and 13 affordable
units.
Discussion: NBHS best presentation so far. First priority is getting finances in
order. Maryanne will get the forensic audit. A Safe Place is trying to get its
mental health license. They would be carving out the exact same thing NBHS
,
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offers, duplication of services. Although it would be nice to have another option
for this type of service. It depends on the efficiency of both services. It seems
the school and NBHS is a nice fit.
IFC Food Pantry They do a good job. The need is not going to decrease. Their
request is the same as last year. IFC did not include the form 990 because they
are exempt from filling one out because they are a religious organization.
Sherburne Commons They are buying the van and banking on getting funded.
If it is utilized by the people that live there it will help with traffic, NRTA elder
van does not run on the weekend. At least they are coming to us with something
that is concrete. Is CPC funding them this year? No unless something has
changed. What about giving them half of what they requested?
The meeting adjourned at 1 :00. The next meeting is Thursday November 30th at
11:00. ASAP is the only agency.
Respectfully submitted by
Ann Medina