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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, February 25, 2013 <br /> Page 11 <br /> hee opined that she didn't see that the problem rose to such a level that a grant <br /> was necessary, nor any expenditure of staff time. <br /> Mayor Roe and Councilmember Laliberte concurred with the makers of the mo- <br /> tion. <br /> Roll Call <br /> Ayes: Laliberte; McGehee; Willmus; Etten; and Roe. <br /> Nays: None. <br /> 9. General Ordinances for Adoption <br /> 10. Presentations <br /> a. Northwest Youth & Family Services Annual Update of Activities <br /> Mayor Roe introduced Jerry Hromatka, President and CEO of Northwest Youth& <br /> Family Services (NYFS) who provided a summary of programs offered by NYFS <br /> to area residents of partnering municipalities. Mr. Hromatka's presentation in- <br /> cluded a history of how the NYFS was initially developed thirty-six (36) years <br /> ago as a cooperative venture, focusing on three (3) program areas: mental health, <br /> youth development, and day treatment with services available at clinic, homes or <br /> schools. Mr. Hromatka noted the importance of working with youth by looking at <br /> their family life and in the context of the community and available resources. <br /> Mr. Hromatka reviewed several programs of focus by NYFS, including Diversion <br /> programs, for youth with low offences and efforts to help them say "no" to bad <br /> choices, and "yes" to and connect them with something positive. Mr. Hromatka <br /> noted that involved education of the entire family, screening for problems, and in- <br /> volving them in interactive, intergenerational community service efforts allowing <br /> them to develop a long-term outlook for their future lives. Mr. Hromatka noted <br /> that this involved addressing opportunity gaps as a youth community-based or- <br /> ganization and defining the role of NYFS in facilitating that positive behavior, <br /> such as experience with schools and business that developed interest in future <br /> goals, careers and training opportunities through exposure to those positives. <br /> Mr. Hromatka also focused on the Senior Chore Program, with forty-five (45) <br /> youth currently matched with approximately one hundred-fifty (150) seniors <br /> across the service area, and coaching efforts among those seniors and their youth <br /> beyond lawn mowing,but allowing youth to become young entrepreneurs paid di- <br /> rectly, while allowing seniors to remain independent in their homes longer. Mr. <br /> Hromatka noted the relationships and connections developed between the genera- <br /> tions, creating another adult outside the family structure showing interest in those <br /> youth. <br /> Mr. Hromatka addressed NYFS's day treatment program for those experiencing <br /> mental health issues, and collaboration of therapeutic programs offered by NYFS <br />