Lifebridge Neighborhood Advisory Committee
Minutes
March 14, 2011
6 p.m.
120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor Conference Room
Present: Meghann Ackerman, Christine Cericola, Mark Cote, Bob Femino, John Femino, Joan Lovely, Jean Pelletier, Steve Pinto, Jason Silva
Introductions: Everyone introduced themselves.
Lifebridge update: Christine Cericola explained some of the ways Lifebridge tries to help clients:
- Clients’ identities are recorded and reported to police to check for issues.
- There are urine tests 3 times a week for clients with substance abuse issues.
- They try to get mentally ill clients into treatment.
- It takes about 1.5 years in the Lifebridge case management system to get many clients ready to live on their own.
- Each case manager has 20-30 clients and they meet weekly to discuss progress.
Mark Cote said the shelter has two staff nurses and a doctor who treat clients. He said the trend has been more young people coming in and an increase in severely mentally ill clients. He said there are 22 units of housing that Lifebridge owns and has placed clients in and they have a 90% renter retention rate.
Jean Pelletier asked about an assault that had been reported at Lifebridge. Christine Cericola said the victim was still at Lifebridge, but the alleged attacker was kicked out and is not allowed on Lifebridge property.
Housing update: Mark Cote said Lifebridge would like to add 22 units of housing above the mission center and remodel the main building. Joan Lovely asked if services would be interrupted during any construction. Mark Cote said they may use modulars and keep some space usable.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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