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Legislators outline priorities: Office of Human Rights, youth engagement and service access among near-term goals
Summary
At the March 19 Health and Human Services Committee meeting, members reviewed and discussed goals including support for the Office of Human Rights, youth engagement initiatives, Health Planning Council liaison work and improving access to DSS services.
Tompkins County Health and Human Services Committee members reviewed a list of goals and priorities on March 19 that emphasized community engagement, supporting the Office of Human Rights, youth programming and improving access to county services.
Committee Chair Travis Brooks opened discussion of the packet and emphasized community involvement in priorities ranging from shelter planning to youth engagement. Several members praised the Human Rights Commission’s recent programming; one member noted the commission’s panels included people with lived experience and said those panels produced significant public engagement.
Members discussed appointing liaisons and improving collaboration with existing bodies. The committee confirmed that Travis Brooks will serve as the liaison to the local Health Planning Council and said staff will invite council leadership, including the council chair, to outline shared goals. Kate from the Youth Bureau described plans to update Achieving Youth Results indicators and to pursue a community-wide needs assessment with community partners and youth outreach to gather input.
Committee members stressed barriers to participation for teens, particularly transportation, and discussed rebuilding a countywide youth summit or resource-mapping events. Library representatives and local youth-employment partners were named as natural collaborators for summer programs and broader youth engagement.
Other priorities discussed included improving access to services through partnerships that pre-screen SNAP and other benefits so residents can minimize repeated trips to DSS, and a review of manufactured/mobile home‑park regulations and environmental health monitoring. Committee members proposed forming committees with partner agencies and funders to tackle specific goals and agreed to solicit member interest for leading or participating in priority workstreams.
No formal votes were taken on these goal items; the committee asked staff to circulate a prioritization survey so legislators can indicate which goals they will support and to return with a ranked list and volunteer sign-ups at the next meeting.
