HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-08-2009
CITY OF.,_
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wasHiNGTON HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MINUTES
September 8, 2009
I. CALL TO ORDER
The September meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. in Conference Room Three located
on the second floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA.
Committee Members present were: Chair Suzanne Limric, Barbara Derda, Virginia Lloyd, Michael Harbin,
Tony Latlner, JoAnne Walters and Bette Van Gasken
Members not in attendance: Gary Masterjohn and Marian Thomas
Staff present were: Human Services Manager Michael Hursh and Community Services
Project Assistant Kirsten Reynolds
Guests present were: Sheila Pankratz from Auburn Respite Care
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The July 21, 2009 meeting minutes were reviewed.
Committee Member Derda moved to accept the July 21, 2009 minutes as read; Member
Ladner seconded.
The July 21, 2009 minutes were approved.
The August 11, 2009 meeting minutes were reviewed. Two edits were made to the Public
Health section, one about the total amount of clients being served in Auburn and the second
about their maternity services program not being new.
Committee Member Ladner moved to accept the August 11, 2009 minutes as amended;
Member Van Gasken seconded.
The August 11, 2009 minutes were approved.
III AGENDA
A. Auburn Respite Care
Sheila Pankratz talked about the Respite Care Program and how important it is for elderly
people to stay in their homes with consistent care. Ms. Pankratz shared a story about a
client in the program for 4'/ years; he had to stay in a nursing home for six weeks while
his caretaker was going through surgery recovery; he went to the nursing home and
passed away shortly after arriving. The Respite Care Program has been running since
1988 and strives to keep people comfortable in their own homes.
Program days are every Friday and the 2"d & 4t" Tuesdays of the month. The cost is $25
for clients to participate, including their $3 lunch at the Auburn Senior Activity Center.
Sixteen people attend on Fridays with a waiting list of eight. Nine people are signed up
for Tuesdays. The Senior Activity Center and Auburn Respite Care have formed a great
partnership and are working well together; the facility is perfect for their program needs.
Some of the caretakers have formed a support group; these friendships are very helpful to
them. Some people who've had spouses pass away still come to participate in a support
group and assist with the program.
The agency's budget is very tight and there have been some new expenses with the
program such as lunches; they do everything they can to make every dollar stretch.
The Human Services Committee expressed gratitude in making this program work in
spite of their budget short falls. They have started to raise money by raffling off quilts.
The agency has also recreantly applied for a grant from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
How many clients can you handle? The program guideline is twelve clients, right now
there are sixteen on Fridays. The agency is always in need of volunteers. Volunteers
are used from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Fridays and the 2"d and 4t" Tuesdays; lunch is
provided for the volunteers.
B. Consolidated & Action Plans
Human Services Manager Michael Hursh will be sending the Consolidated Plan and
Action Plan to the Committee via e-mail. The Action Plan will be discussed at the
October 13th meeting.
C. Committee Members
Lela Brugger has agreed to serve on the Human Services Committee; the bulk of her
career has been with the Department of Children Services. This will make her the tenth
member of an eleven member committee. Daryl Thompson will be extended an invitation
to participate in the committee as a non-voting agency advocate.
IV. ADDITIONAL TOPICS
A. Miscellaneous
• Is there something the Human Services Committee can do to promote
vo/unteerism? Mr. Hursh is working with Robert Whale from the Auburn Reporter
on a story that volunteerism could be easily worked into. Member Walters talked
about a binder she made that had local volunteering opportunities.
• After the Planning and Community Development Committee (PCDC) discussion
that took place on August 24, 2009 Chair Limric suggested the Human Services
Committee could convene a panel of each of Auburn's five funding areas to help
with determining appropriate outcomes and perFormance measurements. This effort
will also include the involvement of United Way. A Memoriam of Understanding
(MOU) could be used to help filter the achievements; the City of Auburn would be
the lead on this concept. Auburn would act as a mediator in this feedback
conversation.
• There was a Holy Family invitation for "Blue Mass" on Friday, September 11th at
8:00 a.m. honoring our police and firefighters.
V. NEXT MEETING
October 13, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. After the scheduled speaker
the Committee will walk over to the old Post Office/Public Health building for a tour.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adourned at 4: 0 p.m.
11
APPROVED THE
day of 2009.
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Suza ne Lim air Ki~ ten eynol , C9~munity Services Project Assistant
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