HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984 11-14 HRRAAGENDA
Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission
November 14, 1984
City Hall
1.
Call to Order: 7:30 p.m.
2. Roll Call
3. 7:30 - 7:45 p.m. Guest Speaker: Rosemary Casper from Home Free
Shelter's Childress Program
4. Review of Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council. Telephone
Survey
5. Report from Commissioner Rabine on Status of Parents Anonymous
in Brooklyn Center
6. Review of Commission Activities and Roll for Report to Year
2000 Committee
7. Status of Commission Terms for 1985
8. Other Business
9. Adjournment: 9:30 p.m.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission
FROM: Tom Bublitz, Administrative Assistant --f 5
DATE: January 3, 1985
SUBJECT: November 14, 1984 Human Rights Commission Meeting
A quorum was not present at the November 14, 1984 meeting so this memorandum will
serve as an informal record of the November meeting.
Rosemary Caspar of the Home Free Shelter was the guest speaker at the November
meeting. She explained that before coming to Home Free she had worked in a large day
care operation in Minneapolis. She is now the Children's Program Coordinator and
Child Advocate at Home Free Shelter and one of her duties is doing community
education. She explained that the Home Free program is four years old and that the
advocacy for children evolved as the shelter grew.
The children's program at Home Free consists of several programs:
1. The program provides shelter for mothers and child care including
activities for children when the mothers require it, such as when they must
make court appearances or run errands etc.
2. The shelter provides support groups for children.
3. The shelter provides an advocacy program providing assistant to mothers
including legal rights, referrals to legal sources etc. and also deals with
Hennepin County Child Protection workers.
Ms. Caspar explained that the program also works with District 281 and enrolls
children in school and helps them to adjust to the new school. She added that the
program also does some medical advocacy such as referring childern to counseling or
therapy. She explained that between January and June of 1984 the program had 178
women in the shelter and 174 children. Home Free Shelter also has a transitional
services advocate which provides assistance to women who are leaving the shelter.
Ms. Caspar discussed the operation of the shelter and noted the full range of
services at Home Free as opposed to other shelters that simply provide shelter for
women and families.
In reponse to an inquiry from Commission members Ms. Caspar explained that the
shelter does have a volunteer program and that the volunteer coordinator at Home
Free is Judy Jayasuriya and she can be reached at 559-9008.
Ms. Caspar then reviewed the funding for Home Free Shelter and explained that some of
the funding comes from general assistance per diems to the women and also funding is
received through the Department of Corrections. Additional funding comes from
corporate donations and Hennepin County. Chairperson Kuhar pointed out that a
certain percentage of filing fees for divorces goes for domestic abuse programs.
Ms. Caspar pointed out that there are no support groups in many of the shelters in the
Metro Area and that support is a very important element. She added that education
is also needed and that schools have done a great deal but much more is needed.
With regard to other agenda items at the November meeting the Commission reviewed
the results of the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council telephone survey and
Commissioner Mayleben reported on the opening of the Peacemaker Center in Brooklyn
Center and suggested that the Commission designate some liaison to the Parents
Anonymous group in Brooklyn Center. Chairperson Kuhar suggested meeting with a
representative from Parents Anonymous and asked for volunteers from the Commission.
She also suggested the possibility of publicity in the City newsletter.
Commissioner Stoderl indicated an interest in attending the January meeting at the
Peacemaker Center.
With regard to the Year 2000 committee discussion Chairperson Kuhar, noting that no
quorum was present, deferred the item to the next meeting which would be in January.
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