Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Committee Report to ICC 0924201 Report out to ICC – 9/24/20 Human Services Committee: 21 Members Have met 8 times, while our 4 sub-committees have met many additional times Summary of team work: • Early on - Developed a list of 12 Potential Actions and prioritized those with these 4 top priorities: • Heard from the County at our August 21st meeting about existing funding and potential new funding opportunity (JeffCo Coronovirus Relief Funds) that have to be spent by October 31st, now Nov 30th as we understand it, with proposals for spending those funds due by September 4th o Directed our 4 subcommittees and any member agencies to develop draft proposals as to how HS best thinks some of those funds could be used – those drafts were completed and submitted to BOCC by the Sept 4th deadline. We submitted 9 proposal ideas and later prioritized the items. o Our team engaged with other teams to make sure we coordinated similar ideas. We worked closely with the Children and families team on multiple proposals (Navigator, Youth tutoring, childcare), communicated our priority for Broadband to the Broadband team and Communicated with the Food System Resiliency team about our meal plan for the American Legion Shelter. We are currently reviewing and refining all of the original 12 requests, we have developed a simplified document and will be meeting on Oct 9. At that meeting we will produce a final draft of proposals we want to see forwarded from Human Services. Here is the list of current proposals, the items in green were approved for CARES funding by the BOCC, dark blue were submitted to the BOCC for funding but not approved and light blue items have not been submitted: Project Activity Priority New and creative solutions around safe, affordable, and quality housing that include emergency and longer term affordable housing American Legion open 24/7 through December 1 Single daily meal for clients sheltered at American Legion through December Household Utility Assistance Development of more housing at all levels from transitional housing to housing for working families Once appropriate site(s) has been identified, create a formal proposal to bring to County administrator and/or County Commission for re- purposing this property to serve homeless population. IGG Human Services Work Group commissions/generates an exhaustive list of county real estate (e.g. county campgrounds, parks, etc.) with an eye for where to shelter JeffCo's most vulnerable homeless population during and in the aftermath of the COVID crisis. Community-wide resilience and cohesion activities OlyCap COVID Navigator 2 Paid Tutors and physical facilities for students Obtaining food and delivery for seniors/immune-compromised How’s Your Neighbor, Jefferson? 2 Governments and school districts identify rain-protected outdoor locations and manage their availability throughout the winter for school classes, community meetings, and people in need of social interaction. Study/survey/effort to determine ongoing needs with referral to appropriate agencies/assistance Conducting a survey 3 Community Volunteers for Human connections Identify disabled folks who may not be already identified through existing social services. Provide personal contact services for these folks who may be isolated at home with little or no social/community contacts. Bring some of the same services offered by a mental health professional and medication prescriber to individuals in their respective encampments or homes Affordable access to Broadband and Internet, provision of cell phones Referred to Broadband Team 4 Funding for individuals/families who need assistance for rent, mortgage payments Develop funding streams to assist families facing eviction due to loss of employment 5 Assessing the need for help with insurance Create and widely distribute resource list of available human services Development and distribution of a services list to community members that need the services 6 There are many organizations in our community with a variety of human services available-people in need of these services may not even be aware of their existence or how to access them. ICC engages the Jefferson Community Foundation to create a Volunteer Clearing house. Governments, public institutions and third sector groups that serve basic needs identify gaps. Write volunteer job descriptions Create online platform, post opportunities, and intake forms. Eventually staff Clearinghouse itself with volunteers Find work for the hundreds of volunteers displaced from large events such as the County Fair, Wooden Boat Festival, and PTFF. Reduced public revenues Free Covid-19 screening for anyone who asks or wants it (No symptoms required) Develop infrastructure to allow of this type of testing working with Jefferson County Public Health and Jefferson Healthcare. 7 Enhance daycare/childcare to help workforce if schools remain virtual. Enhance or supplement current daycare offerings. Work with community leaders to develop funding and create options. 8 Support for Families educating children at home Guidance for parents (mentorship and support individuals or groups). Often they do not feel they have sufficient education themselves, confidence or knowledge of how to support, motivate and direct their children’s school work. 9 3 ICC develops consistent messaging on COVID-19 for Jefferson County communities and visitors. Form a committee of communications and public affairs specialists from Governments, Public Health, the Chamber, health-oriented nonprofits, KPTZ, and Enjoy PT. Identify or recruit a facilitator skilled in behavior change communications, audience research, message testing, and identification of channels. Enlist local artists, filmmakers, actors, and musicians to produce posters, PSAs, and very short street performances 10 ID Gaps in Human Services and work to fill those gaps Look for gaps in services, identify gaps in existing services 11 Food security for school aged children, low income, and vulnerable people Expand the existing “Backpack” food program for school children over weekends to more than just weekends and to more than just school children. Work closely with our GREAT FOOD BANKS in developing this program to help folks get to the Food Banks themselves or to deliver food to those who can’t travel easily, such as those with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and seniors. Also, because in some areas of the County where senior lunches have been curtailed, restart those maybe with just a take out type service if safe distancing can’t be provided through live lunches. 12 Thank you, any questions?