07-28-1986 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Wt/1 I , htnnspin �" htivl el onfitual"E'Al, .- CITIZEN INVOLvzMENT IN A TIME OF CHANGE As a member of West Hennepin Human Services Planning Board, I have been amazed and overwhelmed by the needs of the people in our communities - the western suburbs and the rural west Hennepin County. Compounding the problem of service availability and accessibility are tight budgets and ever -changing rules. It is how more important than ever to have a plan- ing board assessing and advocating for the needs of our communities. Two themes continued to surface this past year. First, important de- cisions that impact our communities are made at. many levels and to be effective, we have to work at not only the local level, but the state and federal levels as well. Second, it is essential for us to have community participation. We are continually striving to expand the level of involve- ment by citizens in the west Hennepin area by creating new, better and more meaningful opportunities for citizen input. I feel that the challenge of providin; a communication link is critical in this time of uncertainty, with many chinges in the structure and fund- ing of human services initiated at the state and federal levels. Our priority setting process allows us to provide an important link for our citizens to have a voice in the $109 million Hennepin County Community Social Services Budget. In 1985 about 450 west suburban residents parti- cipated in our formulation of priorities and already in 1986 about 300 residents have joined us in this effort. the consider this process as one of our most important funcions and char,:, our findings with municipalities and agencies within our planning area. 3oard and staff members have actively monitored federal and state human services policies and funding that affect our communities and promoted positive efforts to assure that programs and policies address the needs of our citizens and support the West Hennepin service delivery system. Cxpanding our horizons and broadening community participation are integral parts of a community planning process. We need this process if we are to assure that the service system and public and private policies address the real needs of residents su,;h as the over 3,000 West Suburban residents who fed and housed their families and the 1#468 households who heated their homes with the assistance of the WHITS Emergency Services and Energy Assistance programs. These citizens and many others like them who need hu..;an services in the West Hennepin, arty.+ must continue to count on us to understand and advocate for their n(-(-d.,;. I am really impressed by the involvo:ntnt inj dedication of our Board members and our many other volunteer:,. 1n 148S , Board members contributed about 4,800 hours of volunteer time. we found our energy assistance volunteers contributed 990 hours to this program. On behalf of our Board I would like to thank our oluntecrs and member municipalities for their support. Together we can meet the chollrn,ty of making the western suburbs a better place to live. Susan M. Morrison, Chairperson Board of Director-,