741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Youth & Social Services Board  
Meeting Minutes - Draft Minutes  
Chairman  
Mikayla Bozym  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, May 16, 2023  
5:00 PM  
Annex Meeting Room - Hybrid  
Format  
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I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman Bozym called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. at the Meeting Room, Town Hall  
Annex Building.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Community-at-Large Representative Maria Nott  
Community-at-Large Representative Charlene Rand  
Chairman Mikayla E. Bozym  
Present  
Private Youth Agency Representative Lisa Smith  
Under Age 21 Representative Mackenzie Hope  
School System Representative Heather Shipley  
Police Department Representative Dan Grimm  
Excused  
In addition, the following were present:  
Kristen Chapman, Social Services Coordinator  
Naomi Rodriguez, Town Councilor  
III.  
IV.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
None  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Ms. Bozym stated that the Town's Veteran representative will present at the July meeting. Ms.  
Bozym requested additional ideas Youth & Social Service related presentations. Ms. Chapman  
suggested inviting a representative from TVCCA (Thames Valley Council for Community  
Action) to come speak about the programs and services the agency provides. Ms. Bozym stated  
that Child & Family Agency is expanding into the Ledyard School system with school based  
health centers. Ms. Bozym will reach out to Tanya Wenke.  
V.  
MEMBER COMMENTS  
None  
VI.  
1.  
REPORTS  
Youth Services Report May 2023  
Youth & Social Services  
Report for Ledyard Youth Services  
May 5, 2023  
JRB (Juvenile Review Board): 4 open cases  
April: 1 intake  
May: 2 reviews  
Truancy:  
No cases  
Counseling:  
Case Load Summary  
Kate- 19  
Sara-9  
Allison-13  
Joanne-11  
LPC-13 families  
Total families: 65 active cases  
Intakes to be scheduled: 4  
Groups:  
No groups running currently.  
New Interns:  
Three URI interns started the week of April 15th. The last week for the current interns was April  
29th.  
We will possibly have another intern starting August 2023.  
Ms. Smith commented that the case load is very impressive and commended Ms. Sikorski whom  
was not present at the meeting on attracting interns to provide counseling services as clinicians  
are hard to come by at this time.  
Social Services Report March/April 2023  
2.  
Social Services Report  
March/April 2023  
Food Pantry Statistics  
March 2023  
Total Client Visits - 92  
Total # of Eligible Clients Served - 122  
Unduplicated Households Served - 61  
April 2023  
Total Client Visits - 96  
Total # of Eligible Clients Served - 137  
Unduplicated Households Served - 61  
Total New Clients March - 3  
Total New Clients April - 4  
Total New Clients 2023 YTD - 9  
Referrals - March/April 2023  
CT State Department of Social Services (Norwich Office) - 2  
Elder Protective Services - 1  
LICEAF - 2  
Salvation Army Funds - 4  
TVCCA Energy - 0  
TVCCA Other - 3  
211 - 3  
Social Services Account Balances  
Linda C. Davis Food Pantry - 105,857.04  
LYS Enrichment Grant - Parks & Rec Scholarships - $1657.32  
LYS Enrichment Grant - Parks & Recreation Scholarships ARPA - $5643.75  
Miscellaneous Assistance - $6261.25  
Ms. Chapman shared that she has been able to take care of end of season fuel requests through  
$3500 in Salvation Army funds that are provided to the Ledyard Service Unit each year. To  
date, Ms. Chapman has assisted four Social Service clients with fuel deliveries through the use  
of these funds. These clients receiving fuel through Salvation Army funds have exhausted all  
available funds through TVCCA. Ms. Chapman stated that although fuel deliveries are over  
through TVCCA, residents can still apply for assistance with their Eversource bill and may be  
eligible for a credit to their Eversource account.  
Ms. Chapman elaborated on the TVCCA Other category within Referrals. Ms. Chapman stated  
that she refers clients to TVCCA for services that are not provided through the town, such as  
child care, housing, eviction and case management.  
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION to approve the Youth & Social Services Board regular meeting minutes of March 21,  
2023  
1.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Heather Shipley  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Charlene Rand  
SECONDER:  
6
1
Nott Rand Bozym Smith Hope Shipley  
Grimm  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Parks & Recreation Summer Camp Scholarships  
1.  
Ms. Chapman stated to date five scholarships in the amount of $2,268.75 have been awarded.  
Ms. Chapman sought ideas for other fundraising opportunities or events that could be held for  
this program. Ms. Chapman is concerned about the balance of funds as people are not as aware  
of this program and has not received any donations this year. Ms. Chapman stated that she  
learned about a "Dancing with the Stars" fundraising event that the Town of Waterford holds  
each year to raise scholarship funds for summer camp DASH. Ms. Rand suggested holding a  
formal fundraiser at Sweet Hill Farm and she would be happy to provide the venue and food.  
The Board discussed involving a High School group to provide the music. The Board will  
continue to brainstorm ideas for this possible fundraiser and aim to hold the event in late  
February early March. Ms. Chapman stated that a "Special Meeting" can be called to plan the  
event. Ms. Rand inquired if alcohol can be served at the event and Ms. Chapman will follow up  
with the Mayor.  
Councilor Rodriguez inquired about the application process for Parks & Recreation scholarships.  
Ms. Chapman stated that a resident must first become a Social Services client and provide the  
Ledyard Social Services application along with proof of address and income. The scholarship  
application provides a rubric for the amount of scholarship available based upon household size  
and income. Ms.Chapman stated that due to limited funds, there is a $1000 cap per household  
for scholarships awarded. Ms. Chapman works with families to determine a camp schedule that  
will work within the client's budget.  
Any Old Business proper to come before the Committee  
None  
XI.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
School Backpack & Supply Drive Summer 2023  
Ms. Chapman shared that the request for school supplies and backpacks will begin after July 4th.  
Ms. Chapman will share the webpage with information and Amazon wish list with the Board  
before the next meeting and asked the Board members so share via social media.  
Any New Business proper to come before the Committee  
None  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Ms. Hope moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Ms. Shipley.  
The meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m.  
VOTE: 6 - 0 Approved and so declared  
Respectively Submitted,  
_______________________________  
Chairman Bozym  
Youth & Social Services Board  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.