5/13/2013 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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8 Board of Selectmen Minutes May 13,2013 APp INTMENTS,&HEARINGS Hunan Services—Consultant Presentat n—Final rt: irgia Thomas of Collaborative Research was in attendance to review the f .al report relative to the Mashpee Hunan Service Needs Assessment. The report dated May 1,2013 provides-an assessment of both short-term and long-termun- met needs,barriers, and gaps in human services and also contains recnendations as to how to address the un-net needs in the`fin of Mashpee. Steering Committee members Gail Nilson,Ruth Elias,and Janice Walford were in attendance for discussion purposes. It was noted that Selectman John Cahalane also served on the Steering Committee. The Human Services Department of the Town of Mashpee is one of two Human Services Departments on Cape Cod. In Mashpee,the department is comprised of a Human Services Director with 'strative support received from a volunteer participant from the S nior Tax abatement program. community survey compdsed of four major components; community issues, senior issues,emergency/crisis issues and awareness of services including the Human Services Dement in Mashpee was distributed with 146 respondents. Prioritized community issues included;positive youth development, substance abuse prevention, substance abuse treatment,health services for under-insured, child care/preschool for children under 5 years,home health care,health education,,fob gplacerment for adults, individual and family mental health counseling and anti-disk ' tionracism prevention. The top senior issues included health ser�ees,t mnspo ation, in-home support, affordable senior housing,assisted living and nursing hone (skilled)care. In the co nunity survey,the crisis and emergency services rant ing included child abuse/neglect,emergency shelter for children, domestic violence,eider abuse/neglect services and emergency health services# Findings associated to the Human service Needs Assessment prioritized increased visibility and community awareness of the Human Services Department, its location,description of services,homer to access resources,qualifications for services and the processes and procedures of the department and agencies related to the Human Services Department.