Social services reports: energy-assistance season winding down; donated gift cards, updated policies coming

Julie (social services staff) told the Fairfield Human Services Commission the department is finishing its energy-assistance season, that the Operation Fuel program ran out of funds after about two weeks this season, and that staff expect to bring a revised policies and procedures manual to the commission next month.

The manual, Julie said, has not been updated since before February 2011 and will incorporate existing practices including guidance for donated gift cards. Julie said donated gift cards are accepted, can be kept as actual cards or purchased with donations in a restricted donations account, and donors receive a letter for tax purposes. Staff said these cards and donations are used for holidays, back-to-school needs and episodic grocery support and are not town general-fund expenditures.

Commissioners praised staff for rapid client assistance, with one member describing recent emergency aid for a senior as “invaluable.” Commissioners and staff said publicity about the donation channels could increase community contributions. Julie said the department is scheduling spring programming and partnerships with youth services and recreation staff and that the social-worker partnership will extend mental-health referral programming for families and caregivers.