HHS TaskForce
Minutes
February 2, 2000

Vida Huber called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. in Moody Lounge. The members present were Herb Amato, Judy Holt, Jean Dalton, Bill Walker, Craig Abrahamson, Janet Gloeckner, Jeff Kushner, and Lennie Echterling. Student Paula Neher was present as a participant observer.

The minutes of the January 19 meeting were reviewed and approved.

Mission Statement and Principles

The Task Force reviewed the proposed Mission Statement and Principles. After revising one of the statements, the group voted to adopt the Mission Statement and Principles in draft form. The approved draft is attached to the Minutes and will be posted on the Task Force web site.

Structural Models

The Task Force also reviewed the two structural models proposed to support a HHS mission here at JMU. One model creates a new school within CISAT, while the other establishes IHHS as a new college. The two models, with minor revisions, were accepted as working drafts. It was agreed not to post these drafts at this time.

An Opportunity for University-Community Partnership

Vida brought up the possibility of developing a university-community partnership around the 2010 Healthy People Goals. Next Friday, February 11, at 9:00 a.m., there will be a meeting to explore this exciting possibility. The participants will include representatives of community agencies and members of different JMU programs. This opportunity is an example of the potential benefits of a closer collaboration that a Health and Human Services administrative unit could offer.

Recommendations

It was decided that the Task Force would divide into small groups to draft specific recommendations that would both serve the HHS Mission and follow its Principles. Given the current concerns about limited resources, the Task Force decided to give low priority to proposing the development of any new programs in the near future. Instead, it will focus on recommendations that creatively use current resources to accomplish more. The groups will work during the next scheduled task force meeting time, and persons not present today will be added to the groups at that time.

The Task Force will divide into the following four groups:

Courses: This group will discuss a number of strategies, including:

· incorporating interdisciplinary experiences into current courses.
· promoting and encouraging team teaching across departments.
· designing new courses that involve students in interdisciplinary learning.
· creating an interdisciplinary minor involving a senior seminar.
· exploring the possibility of a common core based on core competencies

Jean, Janet and Jeff will participate in this group.

Practicum and Clinical Education: This group will explore options that may include:

· creating shared projects and practicum experiences that cross disciplines.
· developing an interdisciplinary certification program and portfolio.

Judy and Herb will participate in this group.

Administrative "Nitty Gritty": This group will examine specific proposals that could involve:

· developing an interdisciplinary HHS advisory board.
· bringing in consultants to advise JMU in developing a HHS unit.
· creating a HHS web page that includes a calendar of events, ongoing activities, and links.
· ways to decrease barriers to interdisciplinary activities
· considering a HHS career fair

Jean and Lennie will participate in this group.

Outreach Programs: This group will explore possible recommendations for outreach, such as:

· coordinating services that will be offered in the new modular building.
· creating and maintaining satellite centers in the geographic area.
· coordinating services offered through existing community agencies.
· offering consultation services for assessing needs and evaluating programs.

Bill and Craig will participate in this group.

Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Health and Human Services Task Force will be Wednesday, February 9, at 4:30 p.m. in Moody Lounge.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted, Lennie Echterling

2/2/00 Mission Statement
Our mission is to:

· prepare students to be successful, ethical, and collaborative professionals in health and human services;
· promote the professional development of practitioners;
· expand research and scholarship in health and human services field; and
· provide outreach services to the local and societal communities.

Principles

Our educational programs are:

humanistic.
We value a caring and respectful relationship as the foundation for providing any health and human services.

holistic.
We view all individual needs in the context of a dynamic interaction of mind, body, spirit, and environment.

comprehensive.
We actively promote the acquisition of knowledge, competencies, and ethics that are essential to successful professional practice.

interdisciplinary.
We maintain partnerships among disciplines, departments and programs to work towards common goals.

experiential.
We involve students in learning experiences that include providing services, collaborating on projects, and applying theory and research toclinical practice.

current.
We are committed to remaining aware of, and responsive to, emerging trends, innovative ideas, promising technologies, and ongoing issues.

professional.
We accept the challenge of achieving, maintaining, and promoting the highest professional standards.