InterAgency Council of Glen Cove held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 13 at the Robert Finley Middle School. The primary mission of IAC is to enhance the delivery of human services through collaboration and communication, and to provide mutual support among community agencies through sharing and networking.

Carol Waldman, vice President of IAC opened the meeting by thanking Dr. Michael Griffin, Assistant Interim Superintendent of Schools, for the delicious hot buffet breakfast. Also, the memberships delight in being escorted to the breakfast by the Peer Review students. Dr. Griffin introduced Middle School Principal Lethbridge who provided an overview of the Peer Review program at the school. Dr. Griffin introduced the School Districts first speaker, Carol Rasinger, social worker, provided an overview of an “Alternative High School,” (AHS) for failing high school students. Geared to providing intervention for failing students, examples of AHS programs operate in a number of school districts on Long Island. The program would require community support and funding. Students would be referred to the AHS, which would be held off school property and staffed by faculty experienced in dealing with youth at risk of academic failure along with other negative characteristics that pose a barrier to learning.

Dr. Griffin then introduced Charmaine Clarke, the Glen Cove Youth Bureau’s Mentoring Director, who provided a Power Point Presentation on a program called “While you’re Out, You’re In.” The concept will deal with youth who have been suspended for long periods of time and who risk losing vital classroom learning experiences. Identified students would attend classroom sessions off school grounds for a period of four hours a day during the school calendar. Students would receive individual counseling, tutoring and one-on-one help in order to identify their reasons for the unacceptable behavior that resulted in their suspension. Students would be returned to the mainstream school program after improved behavior was established.

Carol Waldman thanked both speakers for their informative presentations and then introduced Christina D, Morris, Project Director for the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant who provided a 27-slide Power Point Presentation highlighting the diverse programs made possible by the funding. IAC provides grant management for the collaboration between the School District, Boy & Girls Club, La Fuerza Unida, Inc., the Glen Cove Youth Bureau, and S.A.F.E. During the School District’s slides, Gloria Hafner, program coordinator for the School District’s portion of the grant, elaborated in the programs offered.

The final speaker of the day was Pat Blanco, executive director of La Fuerza Unida, Inc. Several slides in the Power Point Presentation highlighted La Fuerza’s role in the grant, and Mr. Blanco provided an overview of the long history of La Fuerza Unida in the Glen Cove community. He also provided information on some of the new services the organization provides the Hispanic low income residents of Glen Cove and surrounding communities. He spoke with pride on the opening of a La Fuerza Unida office in Hempstead.

InterAgency Council of Glen Cove was established in 1971 to improve the delivery of human services through cooperation, communication and coordination of community agencies. The original concept for IAC was developed under the auspices of the Community Hospital of Glen Cove as part of a University based community service project. Twenty of the original agencies continue active participation. Monthly meetings are held every second Wednesday of the month September through June at member agency settings. Please check IAC’s website for locations and dates of future meetings as well as agency events, services, locations, and contact personnel.www.iacglencove.org.

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