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on, the offect of h�• f inancirig
<br />on the duality .:n. ,1ity of
<br />mental health arrd cr. dohendency
<br />care. This was a •.jori.,r,g conference
<br />which drew participati_,n fiom the
<br />entire Metro area and i.ad keynotes
<br />by recognized experts :n health care
<br />financing from Canada and '+lashing -on,
<br />D. C. Conference proceedings were
<br />published and widely distrituted after
<br />the conference. A group organized
<br />as a result of this confecertce will
<br />look at strategies for change on a
<br />btatewide basis.
<br />Help,
<br />Wit -'in the last year a new domestic
<br />abuse intervention project began which
<br />serves the cities of Mound, St. Boni-
<br />facius and Minnetrista. WHHS provided
<br />technical assistance and support to
<br />the organizers of the new service,
<br />Westonka Intervention Project. This
<br />service is an example of the kind of
<br />result the Family Violence Committee
<br />hopes to promote in its community edu-
<br />cation efforts. The committee has
<br />develped a traveling film and panel
<br />presentation that includes police,
<br />battered women, former perpetrators
<br />of violence and counseling ^rofes-
<br />sionals that can be used by west sub-
<br />urban groups upon request. WHHS pro-
<br />vided support to Sojourner Shelter
<br />in their recent move. The committee
<br />recognizes that its Corr education
<br />efforts must be contir,a•I.- to reduce
<br />stereotypes about victims a:.d perpetra-
<br />tors of family violence. WHHS is also
<br />represented on the Home Free Advisory
<br />Board and the Working Croup on the
<br />Legal Problems of Low -Income Families,
<br />which gals with battered women's
<br />issues
<br />Ne.yl• M
<br />itance
<br />A.w..
<br />H wlau
<br />i
<br />With the other two suburban human ser-
<br />vices councils, we sponsored the energy
<br />assistance program for the sixth year.
<br />Utilizing Federal and ;state funds,
<br />the three (3) councils served 4897
<br />households with paymen•s of $i.8
<br />million for heat int; costs d,.rr ag t he
<br />1985 program year. In ,addition, the
<br />program paid out almost $18,000 for
<br />emergency repairs for f•rnace repair
<br />and other heating relat r' ark. An-
<br />other $9",,000 was paid it in crisis
<br />,l:-�,,; st dI cr-, wh(,re the onr,r,3Y al:;s I>;tarice
<br />gratit was insufficient to advert shut-
<br />off. In he West. Hennepin area 1,463
<br />household: received jrants for heating
<br />dsS1s1.ancc Emergency repairs were
<br />al:.oprovid. to 27 households in the
<br />West 1'enno, area. As in previous
<br />years a kc. ingredient in the delivery
<br />of this service were the 29 volunteers
<br />who contributed almost. 1000 hours of
<br />service. Intake sires were located
<br />inExcelsior, St. Louis Park, Plymouth,
<br />Mound, Minnetonka, Hopkins, and Maple
<br />Plain. As of mid -May, the 1986 Energy
<br />Assistance Program has served 1300
<br />households and again utilized volun-
<br />teers. This year over 40 volunteers
<br />participated in the program. In an
<br />effort to expand our outreach, we have
<br />enlisted the assistance of three busi-
<br />ness graduate students to do a market-
<br />ing survey for the program. Also this
<br />year a new vision and philosophy state-
<br />ment were developed for the program.
<br />As part of our continuing efforts to
<br />address the problems relating to the
<br />high cost of energy for a low income
<br />household, West Helineptn Heiman Services
<br />testified and advocated at the State
<br />Legislature and the Public Utilities
<br />Comm.ssi, on behalf of weatherization
<br />and enecyy assistance issues. In addi-
<br />tion, hest Hennepin Human Services
<br />has continued to play an active role
<br />in the Suburban Energy Issues Tasle
<br />Force, a group representing munici-
<br />palities, and other community groups
<br />interested in promoting weatherization
<br />and other conservation activities in
<br />suburban Hennepin County. These act -
<br />vities have included the submis.
<br />of two conservation program propo,-
<br />to Minnegasco and Northern States Powe..
<br />for Conservation Improvement Program
<br />funds, the spor,soring of speakers on
<br />subjects such s market program
<br />funding and the monitori if state
<br />and federal legislative acti ..ies.
<br />W a,l
<br />n....r;. emeraencu all Rance
<br />ra witu
<br />In 1985, our Emergency Services Pru-
<br />giam provided food to 2512 people,
<br />snelter to 243 people and emergency
<br />transportation and utility assistance
<br />to 1356 people. This program ie, de -
<br />to pro -tide assistance to people
<br />in crisis; who are without other 1
<br />sources. This i, a cooperative effort
<br />with s'PE:r, In,.erfaith Outreach, Inter -
<br />church Community Association and West-
<br />onka Christian Services with assistance
<br />from First Gall for Help, YES, 12 loral
<br />police departments, Home Free and So-
<br />
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