HomeMy Public PortalAboutHHS Meeting Packet_10.3.23Health and Human
Service Committee
Members
Suzanne Kenney
Chair
Sean Parker
Vice Chair
Lisa Perkins
Secretary
Deborah Blackman
Jacobs
Patricia Hess
Mary Jo Murphy
Anne O'Connell
Town of Brewster
Health and Human Services Committee
2198 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631
(508) 896-3701
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
2198 Main Street
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
This meeting will be conducted in person at the time and location identified above. This means that at least a
quorum of the members of the public body will attend the meeting in person and members of the public are
welcome to attend in person as well. As a courtesy only, access to the meeting is also being provided via
remote means in accordance with applicable law. Please note that while an option for remote attendance
and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy to the public, the meeting/hearing will not be
suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast or affect remote
attendance or participation, unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with particular interest
in any specific item on this agenda, which includes an applicant and its representatives, should make plans for in -
person vs. virtual attendance accordingly.
Members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so in the following manner:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87354818467?pwd=ZzNCNXJuTGgxTFVUT0k3cUNNTFRUdz09
Passcode: 027724
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Webinar ID: 873 5481 8467
To request to speak: Tap Zoom "Raise Hand", then wait to be recognized.
When required by law or allowed by the Chair, persons wishing to provide public comment or otherwise participate in
the meeting, may do so by accessing the meeting remotely, as noted above. Additionally, the meeting will be broadcast
live, in real time, via Live broadcast (Brewster Government TV Channel 18), Livestream (livcstream.brewster-ma._mv),
or Video recording (tv.brewster-ma.gov .
Please note that the Health and Human Services Committee may take official action, including votes, on any item on
this agenda.
1. Call to Order
2. Declaration of a Quorum.
3. Meeting Participation Statement
4. Recording Statement: As required by the Open Meeting Law we are informing you that the Town will be video and
audio taping as well as broadcasting this public meeting. In addition, if anyone else intends to either video or audio tape
this meeting they are required to inform the chair.
5. Approval of September 6, 2023 Minutes
6. Review of Data Form for Grantees FY'25
7. Presentation by Outer Cape Health
8. Presentation by Homeless Prevention Council
9. Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair
10. Next Meetings: November 1, 2023
11. Adjournment
Date Posted:
Date Revised: Received by Town Clerk:
Town of Brewster
Health and Human Services Committee
2198 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631
(508) 896-3701
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
2198 Main Street
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 @ 5:00 p.m.
Present: Suzanne Kenney, Sean Parker, Mary Jo Murphy, Deborah Blackman Jacobs,
Patricia Hess, Anne O'Connell, Conor Kenny (town liaison)
Absent: Lisa Perkins, Kari Hoffman (Select Board Liaison)
I Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:00.
2. Declaration of a Quorum: A quorum was declared.
3. Meeting Participation Statement was read by the Chair.
4. Recording Statement was read by the Chair.
5. Approval of August 9, 2023 Minutes:
Approved: unanimous
6. Review of Last Year's Grant Recipients and Their Impact on Brewster Residents
A discussion was held regarding how funded non -profits do or don't account for how
many Brewster residents are served. Ultimately it was determined several factors will
be taken into consideration when determining funding requests. Examples include
multiservice service agencies vs. overnight services which are more expensive.
It was suggested by Anne O'Connell we develop a standard report for all agencies.
Conor Kenny is working on a foul' for the agencies to help them define the impact
they have on Brewster residents by stating numbers served and how they define the
cost of services.
7. Presentation by Police Department
Chief Eldredge was introduced by Suzanne Kenney. She asked the Chief to address
challenges the town faces where social services may be needed. If so, which
organizations do they find most helpful in the work they are doing.
While responding to a call, whether it be a medical or a police issue, police may
observe a situation which can result in police wanting to connect people with
resources from a social service agency.
Gosnold is a frequently used resource, as they offer wraparound services. Also, a
representative from both the police and Gosnold visit the person who suffered the
nonfatal overdose a few days later to discuss possible next steps.
Both Bay Cove and Outer Cape Health Services are frequently used organizations
that respond with mental health outreach services.
When officers observe housing instability or food instability, they reach out to
Homeless Prevention Council, Lower Cape Outreach, and the Family Food Pantry in
Harwich.
Police also have a "Wellness' program where about 25 people call in to the police
each day by 10:00 am. If the police haven't heard from the individual, they send a
cruiser by to check on the person.
A question was asked about drug usage and Chief Eldredge responded Brewster does
not have the issues confronting other towns on the Cape. Occasionally they respond
to people who have overdosed on edibles.
The number of domestic abuse calls, while not high, often goes in waves and can
sometimes be the same parties. In these instances, they may be connected
to Independence House or the individual may receive assistance navigating the court
system for a restraining order.
Warrants are the number one call coming in followed by Operating Under the
Influence and domestic abuse. On a positive note, OUI's are down most likely from
ride shares, like UBER.
Breaking and entering is less frequent than previously reported, most likely because
of an increase in security cameras.
For the past few years, the police have provided a week of a youth police academy at
the end of the summer.
8. Agency Presentation — Nauset Youth Alliance
David Roth, Director of Nauset Youth Alliance presented an overview of the agency.
NYA is the afterschool and summer enrichment program for the children of Brewster
serving children ages 5-12. The program this year serves 48% of Brewster students
serving over 60 students in each school. They can support some children through
vouchers and others receive help from Lower Cape Outreach and the Ellie Snow
Scholarship fund. The number of children attending has increased 10% over last year,
and they now have a waiting list.
Hiring staff can be challenging because it is part time work. Salaries have increased over
the past few years to the $21-$26 range and staff are now paid for holidays.
They provide enrichment program including karate, crafts, gymnastics and elements of
science.
9. Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair
Items for Future Meetings:
We agreed to ask the Fire Department to speak to HHS, after funding decisions have been
made. It was recommended by Sean Parker that we invite Bay Cove to present their
program, since Chief Eldredge said they work with the program frequently. Their
presenting is contingent on whether they will apply for funding. Conor is reaching out to
them to gauge interest. Anne suggested we bring in Nauset Together We Can sooner
rather than later. If the previous agencies do not present, we will invite the Alzheimer's
Family Foundation and Cape Cod Children's Place to present.
10. Next Meetings: October 4, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. *
11. Adjournment was at 6:05.
• This has subsequently changed to October 3 at 5:00
Date Posted:
Date Revised: Received by Town Clerk:
Town of Brewster
Health and Human Service Committee
Data Form
Agency Requesting Grant:
Amount Requested:
Date:
# of Brewster Residents Served Per Year (specify unduplicated or duplicated and
for period served):
Services Provided (per Grant Request) and Cost Per Service Breakdown (per
person and/or per unit served):