Youth Services Advisory Board Minutes

Meeting date: 
Monday, October 16, 2023

SIMSBURY YOUTH SERVICE ADVISORY BOARD


MINUTES
October 16, 2023

On October 16, 2023, the Simsbury Youth Services Advisory Board met in person at the Simsbury High School. 

Present: Erika Cleveland (SSS), Tom Tyburski (SCP&R), Mary Richardson (SPL), and Story McCarty (student)

The meeting was called to order at 2:17 PM.  

Interval House attended for public comment notifying the board what services Interval House has to offer including a 24-hour hotline for those experiencing abuse or domestic violence, safety planning and counseling, emergency safe house, court advocacy, peer support groups, and LGBTQ+ support groups. Amy Papale (SHS & HJMS) and Dr. Cathy Ernst (SHS) attended who are members to be appointed on October 23, 2023. Lori Boyko was also present.

Erika reviewed upcoming programs including co-sponsored events with the Farmington Valley Health District, Farmington Valley VNA, and Simsbury Public Library. Erika communicated scheduled youth programming from Social Services including sensory programing, LGBTQ+ peer support programming, life skills, and social emotional learning programming. Social Services supported 38 families during Back to School programming including 82 children and distributed $4,100 in gift cards for school supplies. Social Services, Simsbury Police Department, and our local Staples collaborated to collect additional supplies to distribute to families. Social Services started Energy Assistance programming on the first of October and screening families for Holiday program.

All Department updates were provided. Each department listed upcoming events open to the community. Parks and Rec offered a sold-out Family Arts and Crafts event and vocalized winter programming that’s in development. The Public library is offering an SAT college essay prep program, in addition to a silent book club at the Coffee Spot. Weekly programming will continue including a Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers tournament, and Taylor Swift bracelet making program. Student updates include: The bathroom issue is starting to get resolved. Students are expressing they want access to the outdoors. Students mentioned a particular lawn space at the high school where they would like to do programming. Students feel they are compacted with bookwork and are looking for some time outdoors.

No action was taken to approve last meeting minutes due to no quorum.

Having no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:38 PM.

 

Erika Cleveland, Chair