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HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 21, 2000 Page 3 of 4 1 2 Ms. Moore said that she felt that the 1999 Forum was too concentrated on just one 3 group, and that there are other groups that need to be considered. Marvin Block said 4 that the reason the HSAC chose the Hispanic theme for 1999 was that the County has 5 experienced a recent large influx of Hispanic immigrants and it was felt that there was a 6 need to address the specific issue of how to assist these new citizens. 7 8 Mental health among children was discussed at length. Many times unruly school 9 children are mentally ill and are not receiving the appropriate attention for that problem. 10 11 Ms. Russell suggested that a survey be done in the community to find out what the 12 issues of most concern are. The United Way did such a survey in the fall of 1999. The 13 members were in favor of studying that survey to help them to decide a Forum 2000 14 topic. 15 16 Co -Chair Echols mentioned that the Health Department also produces a bi- annual report 17 entitled "Community Diagnosis" that could assist the Commission in its search for a 18 topic. Another valuable resource would be a booklet produced by the North Carolina 19 Department of Health, Ms. Echols said. 20 21 Co -Chair Echols will contact the United Way regarding the its Fall 1999 Survey, and ask 22 for a speaker to come to the next meeting of the Commission, or she will request copies 23 of the Survey to provide to Commission members. 24 25 Another resource to help the Commission find a relevant topic for the 2000 Forum was 26 suggested by Sue Russell, i.e., that the Commission request the current report from 27 Shaping Orange County's Future Task Force, which makes projections to the year 28 2030. 29 30 Ms. Russell also posed the question of, "To what extent does the Human Services 31 Advisory Commission plan ahead regarding citizen needs ?" She suggested that this 32 Commission consider incorporating long -range planning as part of its goals. 33 34 Co -Chair Kinert suggested using the Healthy Carolinians report, but in further discussion 35 it was mentioned that this would be duplicative of the other reports already discussed. 36 37 Rebecca Young presented the idea that the Commissioners be encouraged to make a 38 statement that our community is safe. She said that creating and building trust for new 39 citizens is important. Ms. Russell suggested wording to the effect that Orange County is 40 "a safe and welcoming community." These concerns were discussed in light of the 41 recent Siler City incident focused against the Hispanic Community. 42 43 Ms. Russell was in favor of Ms. Young's suggestion that Human Service Advisory 44 Commission should make public statements whenever we see injustice such as in Siler 45 City recently. 46 47 48 49