Committee on Family, Health and Human Services Minutes
March 28, 2006
Committee Members in attendance: Judy Myers, Chair, William Burton, Clinton Young, Ursula LaMotte, Martin Rogowsky and Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
In Attendance: BOL: Louise Gantress, Ray Indelicato Guests: Janet Langsom, and Aiesha Wilshire, Westchester Arts Council, and Grace Noone, News 12.
Items Discussed: Janet Langsam, Director of the Westchester Arts Council did a presentation about the Arts Council.
Minutes
Chairwoman Myers called the meeting to order at 12:21 p.m.
Moved by Legislator LaMotte and seconded by Legislator Burton the minutes from March 14th, 2006 passed 5-0.
Janet Langsom, Director of the Westchester Arts Council described the programs that the Arts Council facilitates in conjunction with the Department of Social Services. The Council has a program called Arts Partners, where they teach social skills through art activities.
The Arts Council completes 25 residencies annually with DSS-funded programs such as Head Start, Woodfield Cottage, the Westhab Shelter, the Coachman, and day care programs. They also work with schools. Each residency consists of 8 sessions and serves 20 children per residency.
The Arts Council is able to work with these programs through DSS as long as the programs and their recipients are TANF eligible. For every residency undertaken, at least half of the children must be receiving TANF funds. Each program is also asked to make a matching contribution of $500 to show a commitment to the partnership.
The Department of Social Services budgets $50,000 a year for programs with the Arts Council. This money pays for the artists hired for the residencies. The artists are paid $150 per site visit.
The Arts Council also contracts with the Department of Community Mental Health. Ms. Langsom reports that the mental health clients find art to be therapeutic. They work with organizations such as Hope House, the Guidance Center, and new Beginnings.
The Arts Council provides troubleshooting services between the agencies and the artists. They also provide professional development training to teachers and the agencies, and help come up with ideas for different residencies.
Ms. Langsom informed the Committee that Chairman of the Board, William Ryan, Legislator Lois Bronz, and Chief Advisory to the County Executive Susan Tolchin, all sit on the Board of Directors for the Westchester Arts Council.
Moved by Legislator LaMotte and seconded by Legislator Burton the Committee on Families, Health and Human Services adjourned at 1:41 p.m.
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