At the September 23 Selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Sarah Stanton outlined the structure of the newly-created Health and Human Services Department that now incorporates four separate agencies-Health, Youth and Family Services, Council on Aging, and Veterans’ Services-into one. Heidi Porter, Board of Health Director for the past eight-plus years, has assumed leadership of the new department, with the title of Director of Health and Human Services.
As Stanton explained, the reorganization represents a “natural transition” which has come about through the collaborations built over the past several years with the social service agencies, the Police and Fire Departments, and the Bedford Public Schools. The long-established mission of the Bedford Board of Health (BOH) is to promote public health but the definition of public health has broadened in recent years to incorporate wellness, wellbeing, and mental health. Over the past year, Health Director Porter discussed the Board’s desire to encompass mental health and social services as part of the public health offerings in town but current staffing did not allow for reorganization.
With the retirement in the spring of the Director of Youth and Family Services (YFS), an opportunity arose to combine the Board of Health, YFS, Council on Aging, and Veterans’ Services into one department. Experience gleaned from other Massachusetts communities, in which the BOH, YFS, and COA work hand in hand on a daily basis, offered a model for the reorganization.
The Town is currently looking to hire a Community Social Worker who will be able to do outreach into the community and to connect with adults, youth, and families in places where they feel comfortable. Stanton mentioned that the Social Worker at the COA, Danika Castle, has made great strides working with the senior population. Castle is on the search committee and will take part in interviewing candidates for the new licensed social worker position. And with Veterans’ Services now under the HHS umbrella, Stanton said the town is committed to continuing to serve the needs of our veterans.
What do these changes mean for Bedford residents? Stanton is confident that under the new HHS structure the current excellent programs will continue and an even stronger service model will emerge. The HHS as a whole will provide direct assistance with connecting residents to various social services as needed.
Already in effect: to be more accessible to the public the YFS and BOH departments will shift to the work week schedule adopted by Town Hall earlier this year. As of October 1, service hours will be from 8 am to 7 pm on Monday, 8 to 4 pm on Tuesday through Thursday, and Friday, 8 am to 1 pm. One positive result will be increased access to Eliot Mental Health services, through YFS, which is in direct response to feedback from residents who requested increased hours for Eliot.
Stanton stressed the role played by Director Porter in developing the new department. “It could never have been anyone else than Porter,” Stanton said. “Not only does she have a vast knowledge of public health but she has been an integral player in getting all the key players in the room and working things out.”
Director Porter then had a few moments to tell the Selectmen of her excitement and enthusiasm in taking on an expanded role in ensuring a Healthy Bedford. Porter has a master’s degree in environmental health and has led the Board of Health for more than eight years. She said she welcomed the opportunity the new HHS model offers to better integrate the work of the individual service agencies. For example, the Community Social worker will be able to identify populations not currently being served-residents of apartments away from the center, or new families in town. Porter is looking forward to results from the recent BOH mental health survey which will likely suggest unmet needs-all areas that will be explored by HHS. “It’s been an exciting opportunity over the past months, evaluating where we are and where we want to be,” she said about the integration of services, “but it’s still a work in progress.”
And yes, the traditional offerings of the BOH will continue as always: flu clinics, triple E warnings, restaurant inspections, and the many other services people are accustomed to. Porter mentioned that 258 flu shots were given at Bedford Day this year and another flu clinic is scheduled for October 5.
Selectman Moonan asked about the financial impact of hiring a Community Social Worker, to which Stanton replied, “It’s budget neutral.” Porter is already a town employee and with the elimination of the Director’s position at YFS there are funds available for the new hire.
Loading ...
