YAC Meeting Provides Updates
After waiting for a quorum, Youth Advisory Committee Chair Jen Liebermann called the remote meeting to order at 7:07 PM, on Wednesday (4-11-22) evening. Jackie Winer (below), Youth and Family Services Director presented the Director’s Report which included several updates.
Winer began with the happy news that the Drug Free Community Grant application was submitted on Friday, April 8. She remarked that she learned a lot about the community’s current needs in working on the grant. Additionally, Winer reported that she is presently working with Jariel Vergne, Director of Social Emotional Learning & Equity for Holliston Public Schools, to study data. Panels will be presented to inform the community of mental health information and resources.
Next in store for Winer is some intervention training at Bridgewater State University. Winer is also working with Assistant Director of the Library, Jennifer Keen, in the presentation of “Understanding Teen Depression,” a Zoom meeting for parents, April 14.
Winer met with Holliston High School teacher Susan Stone, School/Work Coordinator, to plan the Career Panel for students. Winer will be sharing information on the field of mental health. Additionally, the two are exploring the internship program for next year.
Matt Putvinski provided a brief update on his work within the Envisioning Future Holliston Committee that is finalizing its update to the community for the May Town Meeting. A final report will follow in the Fall Town Meeting.
Student Representative Stephanie Farrell (above), a graduating HHS senior who has been on YAC for two years, announced her acceptance to Providence College. As both Stephanie and senior Brian Sahagian will be off to college in the fall, the YAC is hoping to replace them with two sophomores. Three YAC members will also be leaving the group, Jen Liebermann, Lynne Rahim, and Kathy Cummings. The Committee discussed ways of attracting and selecting potential voting and student members.
The next meeting is planned for Monday, May 16, 2022, at 7 PM. The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 PM.
1 Comments
Jackie and the whole YFS team and board are doing an incredible job. This Drug Free Community Grant is an incredible opportunity for our community and will bring some much needed additional resources. I am also very glad to hear that Jackie and Jariel are working together looking at data on mental health. The more our town departments that are impact by mental health work together on this issue the better off we as residents will be!