2007-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Challenge Day, the Yellow Dress presentation and I Report of the Sports Night for students and parents. Human Services Department The Department continued its involvement in Human Rights activities as a member of the Town The year 2007 was another busy one for the Representation Council to the Barnstable County Human Services Department. Again this year, the Human Rights Commission. most frequent request was for counseling services. Residents asking for counseling often had to be put on The Human Services Department also continued its participation in LOHSC,the Local Officials Human a waiting list as the department continues to be staffed by one person. During 2007, an average of 28 clients Rights Council arm of the Mass Municipal including individuals, couples and families were seen Association. each month for an average of 53 sessions a month. The Unitarian Universalist Church presented This translates to approximately$55,500 dollars worth of free counseling a year for Mashpee residents. Mashpee Human Services with an award for comm�- nity service in October. The clients who are seen for counseling are unin- sured, underinsured, or have been seen due to a pro- The Department presented its own Thanks-for- Giving awards to Roche Bros and Sandy Reichell in fessional reference from the School Department, Council on Aging or Police Department for example. December. Approximately 35 residents who would have been appropriate clients were referred elsewhere as there During the holiday .season the department isn't sufficient staff within the department ment to accom- modate those residents. worked in collaboration with charitable organizations I p to keepcurrent information about available resources and referral to needy families in town. i Along with direct clinical counseling, numerous hours are provided by phone for clinical consultation And finally, the Human Services Department to clients, another benefit for Mashpee residents. participated in an update of the human services ele ment of the Town Comprehensive Plan, an ongoing Information and referral continued to be an challenge as the resources available through existing non profits in the community remain tenuous. important function of the Human Services Department. Keeping abreast of existing resources is key to making referrals to Mashpee residents for a Report of the wide spectrum of requests. Director of Information The Fuel Assistance Program assisting with Technology Department applications to South Shore Community Action is increasingly busy with the cost of fuel shooting up. ! The FA program is entirely staffed by volunteers under To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of the direction of Mary Scanlan. Fifty-one applications the Town of Mashpee for Fuel Assistance were made for calendar year 07 for residents under age 60. 2007 was another busy year for the Information Technology Department. We have accomplished In addition, Mary Scanlan serves as the Chair of much in the past 4 years that I have had the privilege the Human Services Committee. She also serves as the of working for the Town of Mashpee, and many of the clinical consultant to the Coordinator, at no cost to the new features, enhancements and products we have town, a savings of approximately $4,500 per year. provided to our town employees and residents would j not have been possible without proper funding and a ! The Department continued its oversight and quality team. May I also express my gratitude and management of 17 contracts with non-profit agencies. thanks to the Mashpee Cable and Advanced Technology Advisory Board for their generous sup The Human Services Department participated in port in funding the hardware, software, wireless net" a number of initiatives in the community over the past work infrastructure, and G.I.S. initiatives that we have year, including several events in the school such as implemented over the past 4 years to stabilize, enhance, expand, and secure our network; and may 1 118