Re: Approve March 11, 2008 Meeting Minutes
David L’Heureux moved that the minutes for March 11, 2008 be approved. Agnes Saenz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Re: Guest Presentation: Results of Survey of Korean American Residents
Sarah Duffy then introduced Hyeonok Jin, an intern for the City of Rockville, who has recently completed a survey of Korean residents in Rockville. Hyeonok began her presentation by thanking the City of Rockville for her internship, which she said has been a very good experience. She explained that the purpose of her survey was to gain a better understanding of what the City can do to better meet the social service needs of its Korean residents.
Hyeonok then explained the methodology she had used in conducting the survey. She had first designed a written survey using three types of survey questions to elicit the most complete response possible. The survey was mailed to approximately 150 Korean households using a directory of residences and businesses. She followed this mailing up with face-to-face interviews of 26 Korean Americans. Of the total 176 surveys distributed, 51 were completed. Those people who did respond lived in different residential areas throughout the city. Hyeonok stressed that this was not a scientific sample.
According to the 2000 census, there were approximately 971 Korean Americans living in Rockville representing 2% of the total population. Hyeonok said that it is safe to assume that this number has increased in the last eight years. Her survey showed that the respondents have lived in Rockville for varying amounts of time. She thinks the City is good at retaining its Korean American residents and provides a favorable destination for attracting new Korean residents.
The survey looked at the responses of Korean residents of Rockville in three topic areas:
The primary needs identified through this process were for increased translation services, a Korean-speaking outreach worker and increased English language programs for Korean residents.
Hyeonoke said that her own personal observation is that the Korean residents she talked with are satisfied with their lives and, while they may face difficult issues living in Rockville, they are happy to be living here. One woman told her that although she encounters hardships living in Rockville, she feels rewarded by the fact that her children are succeeding in school and doing well as they mature.
Agnes asked Hyeonoke if she thought that Korean residents would participate more in City activities and ask for needed assistance if the City offered more Korean speaking staff. Hyeonoke said she thought they would—that the embarrassment caused by language difficulties often keeps Korean residents from participating. Cindy Griffiths said that she has seen the same issue impact the schools where there is difficulty reaching out to Korean parents. The schools see Korean children as being under a lot of pressure to succeed from their parents, an issue they try to address. It is helpful to find just one parent that can speak English to translate for others.
David commented that City government should put together an outreach team to focus on these different communities. If that isn’t done, the city will be compartmentalized into many subgroups. He used the example of a group of Chinese American residents that are trying to purchase homes in one area of Rockville so that they can all live together. Tim Stranges said that perhaps the City has a role but he thinks that neighborhood associations also have a responsibility to reach out to these neighbors. It might be a good idea to encourage the Alliance of Rockville Neighborhood Associations (ARNA) to take on this issue.
Sarah Duffy asked as to the role of the Human Services Advisory Commission in considering the survey. She asked if Korean churches were able to meet the need for emergency assistance and other basic needs. Hyenoke said that she doesn’t think that the City has to provide specific services such as food and clothing. Rather the City needs to reach out to these residents. It’s possible that Korean residents would like a specific program but they have no means of expressing this. In addition there are some specific needs among the senior Korean population as for example transportation. Even though this service exists, Korean seniors are unable to make the necessary arrangements because they don’t speak or understand English.
Re: Nomination of Commission Chair
After a brief discussion, Tim moved to nominate Sarah Duffy to continue as Chairperson of the Human Services Advisory Commission. Eric Wang seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Agnes then nominated Cindy Griffiths to be Vice Chairperson of the Human Services Advisory Commission. Tim seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mary Lou Jacobs said that she would forward Sarah’s name to the Mayor and Council for approval.
Re: Old Business
Debrief March 11 Meeting with Mayor Hoffman and Councilmember Britton
Sarah Mahin said that she thought the meeting had gone well especially insofar as the Mayor and Councilmember Britton had some specific directives for the Commission. Cindy agreed saying they really seemed to understand what the Commission is about. Sarah Duffy said that the idea of Town Meetings had been discussed and she wondered if they have been scheduled yet. Mary Lou said that she would need to contact Neighborhood Resources to find out which communities the Mayor and Council will be meeting in. It might be good to go and observe a meeting first. Cindy said it might be a good idea to target a neighborhood that might need human services. Sarah Duffy said she thought this would be a good task for the subcommittee on access. Agnes said that she would call Jenny Kimball and find out more about the town meetings.
Sarah Mahin asked if the Commission would be meeting with any other Councilmembers. Agnes suggested that the other Councilmembers be invited. There was agreement that Phyllis Marcuccio and Anne Robbins should be invited to a Commission meeting. Mary Lou said that she would contact the City Clerk to schedule them.
Mary Lou said that other issues coming out of the meeting with Mayor Hoffman and Councilmember Britton include:
a. Exploring the overlap between the Human Rights Commission and the Human Services Advisory Commission. She suggested that if Agnes is calling Jenny Kimball, she might explore this with her. Tim offered to attend the next meeting of the Human Rights Commission.
b. Re-examining the issue of gangs in Rockville and inviting Chief Treschuk to a meeting as the Mayor had suggested. Members all agreed that they would like to pursue this. Mary Lou said she would invite him to a future meeting.
Community Services Division Monthly Report.
As there were no questions on this report, Mary Lou said she would like Commission members to know that staff has been researching a plan for helping low income residents with the usage fees for water and sewer in response to a request from the Mayor and Council. The general structure of what is being proposed is that eligibility for this assistance would be similar to the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) guidelines. There are a lot of people who get water from WSSC as well as from the City in Rockville. The process would entail residents coming in on an annual basis to establish eligibility. The Community Services Division and the Senior Center would take the lead in determining eligibility. If residents were receiving their water from the City of Rockville, they would receive a credit. If they were receiving water through WSSC, the City would make a payment directly to WSSC.
Agnes asked if the money for this program would come from the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP). Mary Lou said that she didn’t know. She would prefer to keep REAP for those people who are not able to manage their entire water bill. Mary Lou also said that this new program would include a conservation aspect in that the amount paid by the City would depend on the size of the household. Tim said he would like to see other measures pursued as well, for example, setting back the hot water thermostat and low-flow shower heads.
Re: New Business
Report on recent Site Visits
Rainbow Place: Mary Lou said that she attended this site visit alone. Rainbow Place is an emergency shelter for homeless women that is open only between November 1 and April 1. The program has gone through several leadership transitions and is about to do so again as the current director is leaving. Also, one of the shelter’s main funding sources, the City of Gaithersburg, has decided not to provide funding next year. The shelter’s board is looking at restructuring the administration but this may not be possible with the funding cut. Gaithersburg is very focused on seeing tangible outcomes. This concept is not in sync with Rainbow’s philosophy of providing a low-demand environment. As a result some women come back year after year.
In other shelters there is access to case management services, which is what people need to move out of homelessness. The new case management services used by Montgomery County require that every recipient have a diagnosis. The women who stay at Rainbow are chronically mentally ill but in denial, which causes a stalemate. They really need help but refuse to see a doctor.
Rainbow’s interaction with the immediate neighborhood is very good, very supportive. Some shelter volunteers are from the neighborhood. This year Rainbow has had more new people then is typical.
Men’s Emergency Shelter: Sarah Duffy said she had accompanied Mary Lou on this visit. They went in the afternoon so they could see the new daytime program. There are many programs available during the day including counseling. Sarah said she was very impressed at the services being provided. She could also understand that being homeless can be a career. Residents have to take the bus to one site for one service, then to another and maybe a third. Men’s Emergency Shelter is expanding. At present it can accommodate 135 men although, if more show up, space is found for them.
Testimony for April 14 Mayor and Council Budget Hearing
Sarah Duffy said her testimony on behalf of the Commission would include
the Commission’s proposal for a volunteer coordinator
a case that human services are a good use for tax dollars
examples of people who have been helped by the system
Mary Lou pointed out to Commission members that two new programs were being included in the City’s budget: one for Mental Health Services for seniors, which the Commission had advocated for; and a second program for youth suspended from middle or high school which would provide them a safe location to do homework and receive anger management training. With respect to the second program, City funds would be a match for other funds that the applicant organization would need to raise.
Mary Lou said that, as a general rule, the City does not look at grants as a primary funding source for programs but as a discretionary grant. Programs that receive additional funding are those with new services or those who serve an increased number of Rockville residents. Sarah Duffy said that this approach does not take into account the fact that staff costs increase. Mary Lou said that the only program that received an increase because of increasing costs was Manna and that was due to rising gasoline costs. Mary Lou suggested that if the Commission wanted to advocate for cost of living increases they could recommend that the City use the same system used by the county in which case Sarah Duffy should include the specific amount of the increase. Tim said it would be helpful if one or more Caregivers could provide tangible figures to back up this type of recommendation.
Sarah Duffy said she would email her comments to everyone and include Scott Ullery, the City Manager. Sarah Mahin asked why the new mental health service for seniors was being funded through the grants process. Her impression at the time the program was discussed was that the new position would be included in Lorraine Schack’s budget. Sarah Duffy responded that, in the future, when making recommendations, the Commission should specify that new positions needed to be funded through new money. Sarah Mahin also suggested that Sarah Duffy add a sentence to her testimony saying that the current year offers a tough financial environment.
Re: Plan Agenda for April 8 Meeting
Chief Treschuk will be invited to the next meeting
Depending on schedules, Anne Robbins and Phyllis Marcuccio will be invited
Agnes mentioned that RHE has a new executive director who could be invited in the future
Re: Adjourn
David moved that the meeting be adjourned; Eric seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
The next meeting of the Human Services Advisory Commission will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Black-Eyed Susan Conference Room in City Hall.
