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"Salute to Health" helps you eat better and exercise more. It is available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Mulligan Center Fall 2004 Training Calendar: www.hcsm.org/ahectrainingscalendar.pdf
Previous Issues of The Advocate: | February 2005 | January 2005 | December 2004 | November 2004 | October 2004 | September 2004 | July/August | June 2004 | May 2004 | April 2004 | March 2004 | February 2004 | January 2004 | December 2003 | October 2003 | September 2003 | July/August 2003 | May/June 2003 | April 2003 | March 2003 | February 2003 | January 2003 | December 2002 | November 2002 | October 2002 | September 2002 | April 2002 | March 2002 | February 2002 | January 2002 | December 2001 | November 2001 | September 2001 | July/August 2001 | April 2001 |
THE
ADVOCATE
The Newsletter of the Greater Taunton Health & Human Service Coalition (GTHHSC) and the Greater Attleboro Taunton Health & Education Response (GATHER)
Volume XV, No.3 March 2005
Substance Abuse Round Table X
"Change Through Perseverance"
(Youth Issues, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement)
April 7, 2005
8:30-2:30
Taunton Holiday Inn
(Agenda Draft)
8:30-9:00 | Registration |
9:00-9:15 | Welcome: Mayor Robert Nunes & Peer Leaders Britney Foley and Myles O'Toole |
9:15-9:45 | Statistics, Updates, Discussion: Police, Schools, Courts |
9:45-11:45 | Working Groups: Café Justice: High School Youth (Steve Turner, Community Police; Kevin Martin, Juvenile Probation Officer; Erica Emond; Katie Kelly; Project YELL Peer Leaders); Pole Room: Middle School Youth (Dr. Englander); Governor’s Ball: Providers, Parents (Keith Bourdon, District Court Probation) |
Noon-1:00 | Lunch/Presentation |
1:00-2:30 | Outcomes and Presentations from Working Groups (Carol Silvia, Taunton District Court) |
REGISTRATION FORM*: RSVP by Fax to Kathy at 508-824-5578 by March 18, 2005.
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Phone Number: |
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Address: |
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*Registrations also available at the GATHER Website www.oocities.org/gathercoalition/SARTXRegistration.htm
Deadline 3/18/05. Agenda is also posted. If you have questions, please call Kathy Lalor, at 508-823-9416.
GTHHSC March Networking Meeting Presents
“Massachusetts State Budget: Questions for Legislators”
Presented by Alison Robles, Legislative Aid
3/15/05, 9:00, Associates for Human Services
68 Allison Avenue, Taunton
Telephone: 508-880-0202
This month's Advocate was published by Lorraine Rosa, Coordinator, with funds from SAMHSA, GATHER MRI and GTHHSC dues. “The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and/or contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA. To submit an article, announcement or other information, please call 508-823-4822, or email mcaprosa@hotmail.com, by March 31, 2005. You may also access copies of The Advocate at www.oocities.org/gathercoalition. ♫
Did You Know
That…?
Morton Hospital & Medical Center Calendar of Events upcoming offerings include Caring for Others, Caring for Self, 3/15/05, 6:30pm, Margaret Stone Conference Room, Free; Women’s Wellness Workshop, 3/19/05, 830am-1:30pm, Holiday Inn, Mansfield, $25; What is Orthotic Therapy?, 4/1/05, 3:00am, Silver City Galleria Community Room, Free; Spring Family Health Fair, 4/2/05, Noon-3:00, Silver City Galleria Mall, Free. Preregistration required for above, except for Health Fair. To preregister, call 508-828-7777.
Mulligan Center Trainings Project ALERT, 3/21/05, 8:30-3:30, $20. Contact Sabrina at 828-9116, x1211; Grant Writing and Sustainability, 3/23/05, 9:30-Noon, $25; Supporting Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: Issues, Trends, and Needs Identified in the 2003 MA Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 4/13/05, 2:30-4:30, Free, $10 for CEUs. Contact Linda Owings, HCSM, 508-583-2250, or lowings@hcsm.org. Located at 942 West Chestnut St, Brockton.
National Poison Prevention Week is March 20-26, 2005. Children act fast, so do poisons. Out of reach is out of danger. Post the poison hotline: 800-222-1222.
Triumph Headstart is for children 3-5 years old. Full day, full year is based on a sliding fee scale, and part day school year is free based on income guidelines. For information, please call 508-822-5388. For pregnant moms and ages 0-3, please call 508-880-0202.
CADCA Advocates for Preservation of Safe and Drug Free Schools Program by responding to the release of the President’s FY 2006 Budget, which requested the elimination of the State Grants portion of the SDFSC Program. They also released a legislative alert encouraging substance abuse prevention advocates to urge their Members of Congress to maintain funding for the program. Their statement is available at www.cadca.org/CoalitionResources/PP-main.asp, and can be customized with local statistics. To take action on this issue, visit capwiz.com/cadca/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=695641.
Relay For Life of Greater Attleboro information is now available at www.cancer.org, or by calling 508-584-9600. The event will be held Friday, 6/10/05 – Saturday, 6/11/05.
Governor Romney’s FY06 Budget filed 1/26/05, includes $90 million for the Prescription Advantage program and $250,000 for outreach grants to encourage enrollment in MassHealth, according to MTF Update at www.ocp-map.org. The budget continues the enrollment freeze for MassHealth Essential and reduces funding for prostate cancer screening and prevention programs by 75%.
Offering Safe Choices: New England Conference on Integrating Services for Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Mental Health, will be held 4/28-29, 8:30-4:15, at the Holiday Inn, 500 Lincoln St., Worcester. $160. For a copy of the brochure, log on to http://www.healthrecovery.org/Laurie/SAMHSA%20Conference%20Brochure.pdf
SAMHSA Data Ranks Rate of Drug Use Among States – Alaska has the highest rate of illicit drug use in the country and North Dakota has the highest rate for binge drinking, according to new data from SAMHSA. New England states with high past-month use of any illicit drug include New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. New England states among the highest in binge drinking include Massachusetts and Rhode Island. New Hampshire had the highest rate of current marijuana use. For the full report, see www.oas.samhsa.gov.
Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program is designed to meet food needs of low-income people, increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs, and promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues and/or meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for infrastructure improvement and development, planning for long-term solutions, or the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers. Private, nonprofit entities may apply. Due date: 3/30/05, $10,000-300,000 per award. For information, see www.csrees.usda.gov
Underage Drinking in MA Costs Citizens $1.4 Billion in 2001. These costs include medical care, work loss, and pain and suffering associated with the multiple problems resulting from the use of alcohol by youth. Youth violence and traffic crashes attributable to alcohol use by underage youth in MA represent the largest costs for the State. Among teen mothers, fetal alcohol syndrome costs MA $14.1 million. (PIRE, March 2004)
Sun Safety Workshop for Nurses and Parents, sponsored
by American Cancer Society, Sun Protection Foundation and The Melanoma
Education Foundation
will be held
4/8/05,
8:30-3:00, at the Quincy Historical Society Adams Academy Building , 8 Adams
Street , Quincy, MA
Registration deadline: 3/30/05
For more information or to register, contact Gail Bork at 508-897-4344.
GLBT Youth Leadership Conferences 2005. by Health Care of Southeastern Massachusetts, Inc., will be held 3/17/05, 8:15-1:30, at the Unity Church in North Easton. For information, call Marisa Howard at 508-583-2250, or email mhoward@hcsm.org.
COALITION/COMMITTEE MINUTES
GATHER Domestic Violence,
Violence Prevention. 2/17/05, 3:30
New Hope, 39 Taunton Green
Discussion Highlights:
Announcements:
Arbour Fuller Hospital provides adolescent substance abuse treatment, and has started older adult partial programs.
“Parents Who Care…Guiding Good
Choices” will be offered without
charge on Tuesdays beginning
March 8, 2005,
from 6:30-8:00 pm, at the Friedman Middle School. Deb Brown will facilitate.
Call Cheryl at 508-828-7777 to register.
Emergency Task Force is planning a local dinner/dance fundraiser to raise money for fuel assistance.
Budget – The Governor’s budget has good news for DPH, with most of the programs being funded, and some restored. The program suffering the largest cuts in President Bush’s FY2006 budget is the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) program. The President’s budget recommends elimination of the State Grants portion, effectively removing federal funding for substance abuse prevention and intervention in the vast majority of the nation’s school systems. To read more and find out how you can help, log on to http://cadca.org/CoalitionsOnline/article.asp?id=674.
Bristol Elder Services covers most of Bristol County. They have seen an increase in case levels, along with more coverage. There has been a trend in adult children and grandchildren moving in with elders, who may be afraid to confront abusive loved ones.
New Hope 25th
Anniversary Gala –
Sponsorships
and donations have exceeded expectations, with over 140 items donated for
the live and silent auction - including a signed panoramic Super Bowl 38
picture with multiple Patriots autographs, and a football signed by Tom
Brady. The Attleboro Sun Chronicle (& Silver City Bulletin) as well as the
Taunton Daily Gazette are providing coverage and being very supportive.
15th
Annual National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect
will be held April 18 to 23, 2005, at the Boston Sheraton Hotel
located at 39 Dalton Street, Boston, Massachusetts. "Supporting Promising
Practices and Positive Outcomes: A Shared Responsibility," promotes
interagency collaboration, as well as collaboration across disciplines, in
order to maximize resources and provide more effective services to protect
children and strengthen families. For information, contact
15conf@pal-tech.com or call (703) 528-0435.
THS Health Awareness Day will be held 3/24/05. A Voices Against Violence table will be near New Hope and Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP). Large signs can be made at Bristol-Plymouth High School, for use at the Health Fair, and at future events.
SART X – Substance Abuse Round Table 10 features Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement and Youth Issues.
Youth Violence Concerns – Youth polled in Middleboro cited violence their top concern. Jeanine Fitzgerald will speak at the Assawompsett Elementary School in April, and will also do a Brown Bag workshop at Community Partnerships for Children.
Highlights from the (Online) Professional Training Conference on Abuse of Children and Adults with Disabilities –Communication Strategies for Community Based Risk Reduction (PowerPoint Presentation by Lorraine Rosa) – “Risk Reduction – Prevention Works!” encourages a comprehensive coordinated program with baselines, that includes ongoing community education and public awareness. Deeply entrenched perceptions and attitudes are challenged through statistics based media messages. Ideally, all segments of the community are involved in planning, implementation and continuation of the program. This is similar to the Project YELL social norms campaign.
GATHER Steering Committee – New Hope has received a $9,000 Determination of Need (DON) check, the first of 5 years of funding. SYNERGY will receive $500, and $900 goes to fiscal management. The Steering Committee will reconvene to discuss structure, role, group identities, goals, position, directions and decision making. Feed back from DPH Commissioner Ferguson’s regional forums emphasized the importance of the CHNAs (Community Health Network Areas). GATHER continues to reach out to its 13 communities, through connection and communication.
Take Back the Night – Bridgewater State College’s Masters of Social Work program event will be held 4/15/05. Agenda: 7:00 Clothesline Project and violence prevention information booths, 8:00 Presentations by BSC president and Annemarie, a mile walk to town and back with pen flashlights, followed by music and refreshments.
Jeans Day and Penny Wars – Jeans Day takes place on Fridays at Taunton High School. GATHER can be a recipient of funds. Deb will keep the group informed. Penny Wars are currently concentrating on Tsunami relief and hospital funding.
2005 National Crime Victims Rights Week – This year’s theme is “Justice Isn’t Served until the Crime Victims Are”. Preliminary events include THS Health Awareness Day on 3/24/05, SART X on 4/7/05, and “Take Back the Night” on 4/15/05. On 4/11/05, 4:30-6:30, committee members will stand in silent vigil with violence awareness posters. Ideas for posters, PSAs (Public Service Announcements) or sound bites are available, and ideas for short messages are requested from committee members. Project YELL is providing parent programs during which bullying information and surveys may be shared, along with domestic violence information. In April-June, the momentum can continue by connecting to “Prom Promise” by youth promising to respect their prom partners.
Voices Against Violence Hopeline Grant still has a small amount of money. Funding for the new quarter will be released after the April events.
Next Steps:
Reformat the sign in sheet
Email parent workshop flyers to committee members
Convene a preliminary Steering Committee meeting
Gather violence based police statistics
Bring information about prom safety and relationship safety from the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) conference on 4/9/05
Email short messages to put on violence prevention posters to mcaprosa@hotmail.com
Volunteer to stand in silent vigil with violence prevention posters on 4/11/05, 4:30-6:30
Next Meeting:
GATHER DV/VP: 3/17/05 (3rd Thursday of the Month), 3:30, New Hope, 39 Taunton Green
Contact Persons:
Annemarie Matulis, 508-824- 3227
Dan LeBrun, 508-226-4015
GATHER/GTHHSC
Substance Abuse Committee. 2/16/05,
9:00, 18 Broadway
Discussion Highlights:
Next Meetings:
· Substance Abuse Round Table 10: 3/11/05, 3:00, CPI.
· Substance Abuse Committee: 3/16/05, 3:00, 18 Broadway
· 10th Annual T.H.S. Health Awareness Day: 3/24/05
Contact Person:
Phil Shea, 508-824-7224
GTHHSC General Meeting.
2/15/05, 9:00, AHS
Discussion Highlights:
Announcements:
Bristol County Savings Bank Grant is providing a no-cost transportation program to low-moderate income families. The Department of Human Services is taking applications for the program. Appointments are necessary. A short application as well as income verification and a positive ID are required. Call Charlene Sanger at 508-821-1420.
SARTX invitations are out. To register, download form from www.oocities.org/gathercoalition.
Top 10 Ways to Save a Child’s Life posters were inserted in the February Advocate, and are available on line. Attendees were asked to distribute them widely. Lorraine will translate into Portuguese and Spanish, and AHS staff will proofread.
Health Surveys for City Employees were distributed by Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association. Their informational wellness program can be accessed at www.emia.org/services/wellnessactivities.html, and include nutrition, exercise and stress reduction information.
Harvard Pilgrim Grant Report and statistics were shared with the Coalition. It will be submitted along with an application renewal.
Coalition Building
v Attendance - A graph of Coalition attendance since 2001 was presented. There has been a slight drop over the past year or so. Subcommittee attendance continues to maintain or grow. A graphic representation will be presented at the March meeting.
v Membership Survey would be helpful in making the Coalition more valuable to members. This could be part of an annual meeting.
v Funding Record – The GTHHSC and GATHER have received much grant money in recent years, which include the $100,000 yearly Project YELL grants, a $50,000 Project ALERT grant, $3,000 from Bristol County Savings Bank and $5,000 from Harvard Pilgrim. DON funding will provide $9,000 yearly for 5 years to GATHER.
v Event – Project YELL, GATHER and GTHHSC can utilize a May event for Coalition building. This could feature a “Did you know” sheet with Coalition accomplishments, membership benefits and access to letters of support.
v Monthly Meeting Topics – Meetings take on greater meaning when topics lead to outcomes from each meeting. Ideas for next meetings are as follows: Questions for legislators, Trends on leading causes of death and birth data in Attleboro/Taunton, Results of the United Way community assessment, AIDS, and the New Department of Education and Care (replaces the Office of Childcare Services)
Budget - $4631.18 is left in the budget. Microsoft Access will be purchased. Coalition dues are sent out each spring.
Department of Social Services (DSS) RFR for Family Networks will pool funding under one lead agency contracting with various programs to help youth transition into the community. Proposals are due 4/8/05. A team will select the agency to be ready for July.
“Parents Who Care…Guiding Good Choices” will be offered without charge on Tuesdays beginning 3/8/05, from 6:30-8:00 pm, at the Friedman Middle School. Deb Brown will facilitate. Call Cheryl at 508-828-7777 to register.
Taunton High School Health Fair is 3/24/05, 8:30-2:00. The Taunton Public Schools Wellness Curriculum is in a 5-year revision. A gym teacher would like to bring the Friedman School nutrition program into the Martin School through a Blue Cross, Blue Shield grant.
Project YELL – A survey was done in Middleboro High School, and was approved to take place at Taunton High School, making a social norms campaign possible in both communities.
Project ALERT Curriculum Training will be held at the Brockton Mulligan Center on 3/21/05. Job descriptions have been posted for presenters of a summer and after school program for middle school students. If interested, call Sabrina at 828-9116, x1211.
Next Steps:
Translate child safety posters into Portuguese and Spanish.
Look into computer hardware grant.
Evaluate dues paying organizations and number of organizations at the table, along with subcommittee attendance.
Invite a guest to address legislative issues at the March meeting.
Purchase Microsoft Access.
Contact the Martin School teacher about the school nutrition/activity program through a Blue Cross, Blue Shield grant.
Schedule a GATHER Steering Committee meeting.
Next Meeting: 3/15/05, 9:00, A.H.S.
Contact Person: Richard McMahon, 508-979-7160, 3010.
GTHHSC Child & Family Focus Meeting. 2/15/04, 10:15, AHS
Discussion Highlights:
Obesity Prevention - Salute to Health Raffle Winners were drawn as follows, to receive GNC gift certificates:
· $50: Rose McGordon, Claudette Jordan
· $40: Cindy Reagan, Nancy Brady, Muriel Watterson
· $25: Myles O’Toole, Ursula Lauriston, Monica Reardon, Dr. Jody Persons, Louise T. Powell, Kathy Lalor, Richard Robinson, Nicolle Copeland, Elyse Gottschalk, Louise Daley, Susan Sousa, Angela Erhard, Pricilla Martin, Brittney Foley, Lorraine Russell
Child Safety:
· Child safety letters and a handout of “Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Child Safe” will be sent to Greater Taunton area pediatricians. The flyer will also be sent in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
· Apartment Safety – Besides stair and window falls, unsafe radiators can also be hazardous to children. Better physical layout of apartments and parental supervision are needed.
Next Steps:
Forward the mailing list of area pediatricians to Lorraine.
Translate safety flyer.
Send letters and flyers to pediatricians, and share flyers with agencies and in the A.H.S. newsletter.
Research Harvard Pilgrim continued funding and the addition of child safety features and/or walking trails.
Invite Ted Gay to the March meeting
Gather safety statistics, campaigns, window guard guidelines and resources.
Next Meeting: 3/15/05, 9:00, A.H.S.
Contact Person: Lorraine Rosa, 508-823-4822.
Greater Taunton Mayor’s AIDS Consortium. 2/905, 9:00 a.m., Morton Café Annex.
Discussion Highlights:
Announcements:
· POZ Magazine is taking registrations for personal ads.
· State CAB – The Consumers Advisory Board is seeking new members.
· Project ABLE Lobby Day will be held March 1. CCBC staff will attend. Visits to local legislators will follow the rally.
· Night of Illusion fundraiser will be held 10/15/05 at Anne’s Place.
· Legislative Breakfast was tentatively booked for 5/6/05, but a mid-April date may have an impact on budget decisions. The Chamber of Commerce will look at the change.
Treasurer – Sister Peggy was appointed as interim treasurer with Linda as a cosigner on the account. The Consortium will send acknowledgement to Bill for his contribution while serving as treasurer.
Staff – A new administrative assistant and a full time testing and counseling positions have been filled. Starting March 1, the vacant case management position will be filled full time.
Budget – The Ryan White fund was flat funded and HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) was cut by $14 million. ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) funding increased by $10 million, but will not make up for the shortfall. CDC (Centers for Disease Control) funding for prevention and surveillance was cut $4 million, and abstinence only programs were increased by $38 million.
Next Meeting: 4/13/05, 9:00, Morton Hospital Café Annex.
Contact Person: Richard McMahon, 508-979-7160, 3010.
Safe Neighborhood Initiative. 2/23/05, 8:00, Fairfax Gardens Community Room
Discussion Highlights:
Criminal Justice Committee - Goals for upcoming year are to maintain the Fast track list, continue open dialogue between agencies on the committee, continue home visits, curfew checks and child welfare checks and continue to expedite criminal prosecution of fast track individuals.
Crisis Intervention Team - Another training will be coming up at the Galleria. Will be reaching out to Bridgewater State College and other communities.
Treatment and Prevention - Project YELL: The Taunton school committee approved the administration of the survey on the day of the health fair. A special thank you to Mayor Nunes and Superintendent Cleary for their support. Adults and youth will take a perception survey at the Substance Abuse Round Table X. GATHER Domestic Violence Committee announced the “Take Back the Night” violence awareness program will be held at Bridgewater State College on 4/15/05. They also recommended that “Prom Promise” be extended to include respect for prom partners.
Education Committee - Goals for upcoming year include improving communication with all the schools in the City of Taunton to ensure proper information exchange, continuing to utilize the Juvenile Court, probation officers and truancy officers to improve student behavior and attendance, planning parent/ teacher meetings through which parents with students who are having adjustment problems at school can seek counsel and support alternatives, broadening the spectrum of after school recreational and enrichment programs for students, exploring sources of funding that could be used to assist after school activities, and continuing to utilize community businesses and organizations as mentor locations for high school students. A grant application to provide surveillance cameras, metal detectors and trainings will be submitted. Coyle Cassidy had a canine search. Bristol Plymouth had a bullying training and a drug training.
Neighborhoods Committee - Goals for upcoming year include developing programming and finding funding for supervised activities for juveniles (ages 13-19), continuing law enforcement presence during the summer with extra police details, and developing neighborhood groups and facilitate their interests into specific agendas and goals. Kim Lavigne reviewed designated site survey results.
Next Steps:
All committees will work on needs to address safety concerns in target neighborhood.
Each committee will continue to meet prior to SNI meeting.
Next Meeting: 3/30/05, 8:00 a.m., Fairfax Gardens Community Center.
Contact Person: Robert Cammarata, 508-821-1420
Discussion:
Save the Date postcards were shared with the Committee. Registration forms and SARTX information has been posted on the GATHER website (www.oocities.org/gathercoalition)
Red Sox Trophy has been requested and may be available for part of the day – long enough for the kids to take pictures. A speaker from the organization was also requested.
Agenda:
8:30-9:00 |
Registration |
9:00-9:15 |
Welcome: The Day will begin with a welcome by the Mayors and Peer Leaders. 5-6 minutes. |
9:15-9:45 |
Statistics, Updates, Discussion: Statistics from a 3 month period from police, schools and court will kick-off discussion groups. Suggested areas are as follows: Police - restraining order requests, number and type of complaints Schools - incidents at schools. (Schools may wish to utilize Dr. Englander’s free MARK Program to send a team to their middle school, to fight violence.) At this time, positive lists of what youth are doing in school to fight violence and substance abuse may be recognized. This can segue into group discussions, and be presented to the full group as resources for youth, at the end of the day. Also, newly updated youth resource cards may be distributed at SARTX. Courts - DSS calls |
9:45-11:45 |
Working Groups Café Justice: High School Youth (Steve Turner, Community Police; Kevin Martin, Juvenile Probation Officer; Erica Emond; Katie Kelly; Project YELL Peer Leaders) Suggested discussion questions: What would you like to see come out of SARTX? What could people do more of in the courts? What are the resources and contacts? What do you see as problems? What are examples of good things going on? How did you get to where you are, instead of getting into trouble? What helps you make healthy decisions? Pole Room: Middle School Youth. Dr. Englander can facilitate the middle school students and tie in positive bystander issues Governor’s Ball: Providers, Parents - (Keith Bourdon, District Court Probation) |
Noon-1:00 |
Lunch/Presentation - The bulk of time spent at lunch will be for networking, with a speaker at the last 15 minutes. |
1:00-2:30 |
Outcomes and Presentations from Working Groups - Each group will report back to the full assembly, with 7-10 minutes for the final wrap up and challenge for next steps. (Carol Silvia, Taunton District Court) |
Speakers – Also suggested as speakers welcoming or wrap-up portions are the following:
Next Steps:
Contact Deborah Prothos-Stith and David Mulligan to attend/speak (Lorraine Rosa)
Arrange for 2-3 speakers at the welcome, decide on addressing a current event, select groups from which to gather statistics (Committee)
Next Meeting: 3/11/05, 3:00, C.P.I.
Contact Person: Kathy Lalor, 508-823-9416
Taunton Emergency Task Force. 2/1/05, 9:30, TEMA Office, 15 Summer St.
Discussion Highlights:
Fuel Assistance helped 11 individuals with fuel. Another 3 have been approved, and invoices are pending. Ten applications were approved, and 19 individuals were helped through Community Impact Funds. The first quarterly report has been submitted to United Way.
Bristol County Savings Bank Grant is providing a no-cost transportation program to low-moderate income families. The Department of Human Services is taking applications for the program. Appointments are necessary. A short application as well as income verification and a positive ID are required. Call Charlene Sanger at 508-821-1420.
Homeless - Many homeless individuals are not ready to accept and enter into treatment programs, making many other services and options are not available to them. There are no easy answers. Intervention has included weekly outreach and provision of clothing and other items (gloves, hats, jackets, socks, jackets, Dunkin Donuts gift certificates, etc.) Some items were also brought to the Samaritan House shelter to make them available as needed. One individual has separated from the group. Three to 8 individuals have used the police station lobby for shelter on very cold nights. The inability to bathe has continued to be an issue.
Fuel Fund/Emergency Services - Citizens For Citizens received a small additional amount of money for fuel assistance. This has amounted to about $50-$70 for some individuals. There may be more money released for the Northeast due to the severity of the winter. Some people are running out of fuel. Charlene spoke to Church at the Crossroads about the Salvation Army assistance. They have not received many calls. (Money is primarily from Gas Company.) Applicants must have already applied and been denied by CFC and Salvation Army to be eligible for ETF assistance, unless referred by CFC due to being eligible for fuel assistance, but undeliverable. Referrals are also made to Citizens Energy. FEMA money is last resort for assistance. Discussion followed about the wide variation in oil prices from company to company.
Next Meeting: 3/1/05, 9:30, TEMA Office, 15 Summer St., City Hall
Contact Person: Millie Burrows, 508-880-0202
March 11, 3:00 |
Substance Abuse Round Table 10 Planning Meeting. Community Partnerships, Inc. |
March 11, 6:00 pm |
Building Tomorrows - New Hope 25th Anniversary Gala. Mansfield Holiday Inn. $75.00 per person. |
March 15, 9:00 |
GTHHSC Monthly Meeting. Associates for Human Services. 68 Allison Avenue. |
March 15, 10:15 |
GTHHSC Child and Family Focus Committee. Associates for Human Services. 68 Allison Avenue, Taunton. |
March 16, 3:00 |
GATHER/GTHHSC Substance Abuse Committee. 18 Broadway |
March 17, 1:30 |
GATRA Consumer Advisory Committee. Plymouth ARC, 10 Cordage Park, Suite 208. |
March 17, 3:30 |
GATHER Domestic Violence Committee. New Hope Office, 39 Taunton Green |
March 21, 8:30-3:30 |
Project ALERT Training. Brockton Mulligan Center. $20. Call 828-9116, x1211. |
March 24 |
10th Annual Health Awareness Day. Taunton High School. |
March 30, 8:00 |
Safe Neighborhood Initiative. Fairfax Gardens Community Room |
April 2, 12-3:00 |
2005 Partners in Health Spring Health Fair. Silver City Galleria. |
April 5, 9:30 |
Taunton Emergency Task Force. TEMA Office, City Hall. |
April 7, 8:30-2:30 |
SART X. Taunton Holiday Inn. |
April 7, 7 p.m. |
Take Back the Night. Bridgewater State College. |
April 11, 4:30-6:30 |
Silent Vigil. |
April 13, 9:00 |
Greater Taunton Mayor’s AIDS Consortium. Morton Café Annex. CAB follows. |