Youth and Family Advisory Committee Chair, Darlene Vittori-Marsell welcomed its newest committee member, Alison Quinan, during Monday night’s January meeting.  Vittori-Marsell noted that one seat on the Committee remains open. 

Melissa Stacey, Chair of the Holliston Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition (HDAAC), guest, provided an update of the Coalition’s recent work.  The Coalition is meeting with Barbara Ryan of Mindshare to plan a parent survey.  Mindshare is “the Holliston PTO parent education program that plans events, seminars and workshops with key industry gurus offering insights to overcoming the challenges we face as parents.” (See PTO-Mindshare)

Stacey also mentioned that she and Jackie Winer, Director of the Youth and Family Services Department, are investigating a grant that would fund a long-term prevention coordinator. 

The HDAAC website is also undergoing some updates, according to Stacey.  Included in the revised website will be hard-to-locate parent resources.  Stacey hopes that the site would be ready within the next week or so.  Additionally, HCAT has filmed Stacey for a public service announcement about the work of the Coalition. 

Jaclyn Winer presented the January Director’s Report to the Committee.  Among the points she reviewed:

• On December 16, 2019, Winer was interviewed by Boston 25 News for a segment on “Holiday Stress.”  To view the segment, click here: Holiday Stress
• The December 27 no school movie matinee, crafts, and games event, held in collaboration with the Holliston Public Library, drew 35 children from the community.
• On January 14, 2020, Winer attended Senator Karen Spilka’s presention, in partnership with Metrowest Health Foundation, Call2Talk, Metrowest Medical Center, and Framingham State University, “Strategies for Students” at the Warren Conference Center. (For more information, click Strategies for Students
• Winer will present the YFS FY21 budget to the Finance Committee on February 10. 
• In December, Holliston Board of Health made several referrals to the Youth and Family Services Department, illustrative of the collaboration among town departments.   Collaboration with the Holliston Fire/EMS Department and the Holliston Police Department was also noted.

Lynne Rahim provided information about the Holliston Community Action Fund.  Youth and Family Service Department received grants in the amount of $6000. in 2019.  A fundraiser is being planned for the springtime, but no details are presently available.  Also, Rahim reported that the youth program of the HCAF is going well. 

Present student representatives to the Youth and Family Advisory Committee will graduate in June 2020.  The Committee is looking for two sophomore replacements willing to sit on the Committee for two years.  The meeting closed at 8:02 PM. 

The next meeting is Monday, February 24, at 7:00 PM, at 1750 Washington Street, Holliston.