To the Editor:
As we prepare for the April season of town meetings, I write to describe two programs of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services that will appear on warrants in each town: First Stop and CORE (Counseling, Outreach, and Referral for the Elderly).
Formerly a county-funded program, last fall First Stop was integrated into Community Services to eliminate duplicative services, and consolidate administrative functions and support staff under the umbrella of our existing nonprofit agency.
Originally designed as a resource for seniors, the First Stop website is in the process of a redesign that will result in a more comprehensive and robust resource, linking Islanders of all ages to all available Island social services. Services will range from at-risk youth programs and interventions to access to food distribution, health benefits, homeless services, substance use disorder services, etc. Telephone support and referral activity of First Stop have been integrated into CORE, and now are functions of the CORE clinicians. Since its inception, visits to the website have increased month to month, and in the month of March 2017 alone, there were 2,500 visits to the First Stop website.
An existing program of MVCS, CORE addresses the significant interrelated physical and behavioral health, social, and case-management needs of elders ages 55-plus at no cost to the client. Many CORE clients require home visits due to difficulties with mobility, transportation, and Medicare restrictions. CORE services are not covered by Medicare or other insurance. In 2016, 62 of our neighbors — some of the most fragile among us — received services through 967 units of service. They were referred by the Councils on Aging, primary-care physicians, EMTs, and the community at large.
We respectfully request your support of the warrants for funding both First Stop and the CORE program of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.
Juliette Fay, executive director
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services