Community Relations Commission

Approved Minutes Community Relations Commission-YOUTH SUMMIT Wednesday, June 19, 2013 Board Room, Village Hall The meeting was called to order at 12:17pm by Community Relations Commission (CRC) chair Ray Wehr. In attendance were CRC Members Rochelle Singer and Bruce Doughty. Also in attendance were: Kate Mahoney (PEER Services), Jodie Segal (Elyssa’s Mission), Rabbi Aaron Melman (Congregation Beth Shalom), Kristen Bjork (School District 27, Wood Oaks Jr. High), Heather Schultz (School District 28), Theresa Fournier (School District 27), Dane Kroeze (School District 27), Marcia Doniger (Northbrook Community Network), Carla Chludzinski (Rosecrance), Larry Hewitt (School District 28), Mike Riggle (School District 225), Father Bob Heinz (St. Norbert Church), Sari Glazebrook (North Suburban YMCA), Mary Hansen (Baha’i), Homer Ma (Northbrook Seventh Day Adventist Church), Kamyar Jabar (Baha’i), Christine Hultman (The Village Church & GBN), Peggy Kubert (Erika’s Lighthouse), Stefanie Norris (Willow House), Howard Schultz (North Suburban YMCA), (School District 31), Katie McCarthy (Haven Youth & Family Services), Amy Skalinder (Links), Kelly Schuler (The Josselyn Center), Melissa Early (Northbrook United Methodist Church), Eric Etherton (Glenbrook North High School), Paul Pryma (Glenbrook North High School), Mike Nevling (Village Presbyterian Church), Luana Bricco (PEER Services), Matt Szymanski (Northbrook Police Department ), Nancy Vaccaro (Northbrook Police Department), Jessica Mead (Catholic Charities), Mary Lou Coyle (Jewish Child and Family Services), Charley Smith (Haven Youth & Family Services), Barb Flanagin (North Suburban YMCA), George Granias (Elyssa’s Mission), Rabbi Sidney Helbraun (Temple Beth-El), Sarah Stumme (Gloria Dei Lutheran, Family Services Center of Northbrook), John Berg (Gloria Dei Lutheran), and Paula Merucci (Family Services Center of Northbrook). Also in attendance were Village President Sandy Frum, Village Manager Rich Nahrstadt and CRC Staff Liaison/Assistant to the Village Manager Kendal Maltas. WELCOME Village President Sandy Frum welcomed the group and thanked everyone for attending. She then provided a brief history on the Youth Forum concept. A Forum is something she had asked the CRC to look into. Once the CRC started to do so, we learned that there are many groups out there providing great services. The next question became: how can we work together? The goal is to make Northbrook a stronger and healthier community. OBJECTIVE CRC Chair Ray Wehr continued with the welcome and laid out the objective for today’s gathering. He noted that the discussion topic for today is not unique to Northbrook; however, we are striving to do more and perhaps become a model for other communities looking for answers. The purpose of today’s summit is to hear from the services agencies in order to receive a front-line prospective—what are you seeing? We hope to learn more about what the community needs to do to help as this is a community based issue. Page 1 of 11 When the CRC first started to talk about a forum and what should be addressed, it was overwhelming, We realized that there are tremendous organizations already in place, doing great work. Our next thought was to create a linkage (“tapestry”) amongst these groups. From this we developed the concept of “Northbrook Cares.” Today we will hear from our local service providers, school districts and houses of worship INTRODUCTIONS Everyone present was provided an opportunity for introduction. HEAR FROM: SERVICE AGENCIES 1. Josselyn Center, Kelly Schuler:  Outpatient mental health services  Counseling  All ages  Sliding scale  Family therapy  Works with schools  Newer program: o GBS/ Glenbrook Hospital funded o Psychiatric services for students  Programs offered 12 months a year  Still a stigma around the concept of mental health issues 2. Jewish Family Services, Mary Lou Coyle:  Continuum of care  Outpatient counseling office (many locations)  Psychological services department  Sliding scale for counseling services  Psychological services at reduced rate  Programs for families with disabilities  Camp Firefly: kids with anxiety  Dealing with kids who are going through family issues (i.e. divorce)  One phone number to call that can direct individuals to all services available 3. Willow House, Stefanie Norris:  Provide support services for families who have lost child or parent  Offer group sessions/meetings  Free services  Advocacy for children and parents through school programs Page 2 of 11   If possible, we would love to work with Schools before crisis occurs o We can provide education to teachers and student services prior  Noticeable trend: Misdiagnosis of kids o Medicated o Not normal in our society for kids to be sad  Cringe when we hear “providers on site” after tragic event; kids want to talk to someone familiar not a stranger  Willow House recent held an event/discussion on suicide 4. Erika’s Lighthouse, Peggy Kubert:  This is our 10th year working with schools  Provide free services  Educate on prevention and mental health  Would love to establish relationship with all schools (have good relationships with high schools here)  We receive a lot of calls from parents: o How do you tell if there is an issue? o When do I have a problem? o If I do have a problem what do I need to do?  We receive a lot of calls from teachers/schools: o Help staff understand early signs of kids going through an emotional struggle o Steps for early intervention  Goal: Getting school educators and mental health professionals comfortable talking about mental illness  Erika’s Lighthouse website has a lot of information and videos made by kids  “Beacon of hope for child with depression” 5. Haven, Charley Smith:  First of all, wanted to mention that it is inspiring to see everyone come together today  We provide individual and family counseling  Based in Wilmette  Have a 24 hour crisis line  If there is a situation with a youth runaway, or youth that has been locked out of their house, we work to find an immediate safe place for kids  Wonderful partnerships o Erika’s lighthouse o New Trier High School o Washburn Middle School o Sunset Ridge School  School resources can be provided outside of school o Great way for kids to make a connection, without stigma of kids having “issues” Page 3 of 11   Sliding scale, but willing to work with individual o No one is turned away  No wait list  Provide checks/assessments at schools o Work with schools to get kids back in school  Provide advisory presentations at the schools  Youth Board o Office as much theirs as staff o Leadership program  Summer support group—8th grade to high school 6. PEER Services, Kate Mahoney:  Prevention, Education, Evaluation, Recovery  Substance abuse  Youth & adult services  Prevention initiatives (Glenbrook/Northbrook Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition)  Speakers & training  Support for parents  Assessments  Early intervention  Outpatient services  Intensive outpatient services  Make referrals to Rosecrance  What we are seeing: o Alcohol and marijuana use still big o Prescription drugs and heroin on the rise o Heroin use has changed: last drug on the line in the past, now trying early 7. Rosecrance, Carla Chludzinski:  Residential treatment in Rockford  New kid on the block in Northbrook: office on Shermer  Free level care assessments  What are other needs that the community has?: preventions? Adolescent IOPs? 8. Catholic Charities: LOSS, Jessica Mead:  LOSS program started 35 years ago  Grief support for survivors of suicide  Adult program  Youth program  St. Norbert: currently holds a group for siblings who lost someone to suicide Page 4 of 11   Provides general group discussion opportunities as well as specific/targeted groups  Monthly groups are drop-in  Free  Groups are run by two facilitators who have lost someone to suicide  Children’s program: new, grant received from Illinois o 3 years ago o Children individually who have lost someone to suicide o Des Plains office o Meet with parents, children, together 9. LINKS, Amy Skalinder:  Located in Northfield  Teens and young adults  Community Education o Schools and faith communities o Health and sex education o Middle school: decision making  Currently work with NBJH and Wood Oaks  Clinic: o Reproductive Health Care  See 500-600 individuals a year  45-65 Northbrook residents o Birth control o STD testing o Low cost o Double the number of positive diagnosis from last year for STD o Health testing  Pride Youth Program, high school students o Evanston, Northfield, Palatine, Gurnee o Weekly group o 47 plus communities o Coming out discussions o Dealing with discrimination o Communications skills o Kids say “only place I feel safe” o Panel discussion: Wilmette Public Library tomorrow night (June 20) o United Methodist Northbrook: middle school kids group 10. Elyssa’s Mission, Jodie Segal:  Based in Northbrook  Work in schools Page 5 of 11   2006: Elyssa committed suicide, started by family  Prevent suicide  Educate school communities about depression and link to suicide  Main focus: SOS (Signs Of Suicide) o SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) program o Bring program to schools o 45 schools (5 in Northbrook) o Educates teens about warning signs o Educates about what to do about personal concerns and concerns over friends o Video: one to two class programs o ACT message. Acknowledge, Care, Tell o Identifying who are the trusted adults to tell o Screening component o 60% of kids identified in screening getting referred for services o Elyssa’s pays for the program, online access o Provide education to staff o Collect data to make sure knowledge is gained from program  Programming for parents/community: partnership with Alexian brothers o Suicide prevention 11. NCDAA/YMCA, Howard Schultz:  The NCDAA has been incorporated in to the YMCA (as a separate entity) 12. Family Service Center, Paula Merucci:  Sliding scale  Refer to other organizations  FAN- Family Action Network  What we have noticed: Kids and parents are not talking HEAR FROM: SCHOOLS 1. Glenbrook North High School, Principal Paul Pryma:  First of all, express gratitude for all of you who have walked with us through some very tough times o You all responded to help us out o Kids stepped up as well o Northbrook Police Department was key  Looking at other communities—theme: partner, put arms around people, provide settings for help  Access is key o Accessible at time of incident, need to learn to be accessible at ALL TIMES  Eric Etherton, Assistant Dean: Page 6 of 11  o Fortunate enough to have tremendous support from School Boards  Able to provide social workers and psychologist on staff o Grief groups o Interventions o Series of meetings on how to work together with the agencies here today o Struggle: timeline  kid admitting that they need help and to talk recommendations length of time energy to talk gone  How can we work with you guys sooner? Bring you in?  Mike Riggle, District 225 Superintendent: o Northbrook doesn’t stand alone; our kids don’t stand alone—they are not just in Northbrook  Social media—positive and bad  We need to pay attention to all connections that they have—kids not isolated to our community alone o Lower income population and diversity growing—different community than what I came in to o We do not have all the necessary services that we need o Schools a lot of times become a “dumping zone”—kids go get help, but then are sent back to schools to graduate on time--lack of linkage o Both parents working  A lot of hours without supervision at home  Need safe havens 2. District 27, Theresa Fournier:  While in school, students are a captive audience o For this reason, schools becoming intake  Northbrook Community Network  10+ years ago there was a meeting similar to this at Shabonee School o Excited about this meeting— great opportunity and we should repeat often o NCN looking to have that Shabonne meeting again. o Get school counselors, coaches, teachers the contacts for these organizations 3. District 28, Heather Schultz:  4 schools in District 28  Social emotional curriculum—work with providers on outside o Depression, anxiety, divorce o Group and individual—sometimes groups hard at school  Talk About It—anonymous reporting group, school social workers Page 7 of 11  4. District 31, Alexandra Nicholson:  Thank you for the opportunity to be here and all that you do  835 students, small district but not small problems  Changing demographics: 6% to 20/23% low income  3 homeless families  3 parent deaths  Several students had suicide ideations and had to be hospitalized  Limited English proficiency (40+%)—difficult communications with parents  Trying to use service agencies here today to educate our staff on warning signs of any kind of issues  Administrators: looking for signs in our staff (2 in emotional distress)  Trying to be proactive: o 2 social workers o 2 psychologists o Individual and small groups sessions o Programming:  Good Decisions  Safe & Civil School  Elyssa’s Mission (grades 7-8)  Unincorporated areas: 60% of “issues” –having issues getting them to come to you or to us HEAR FROM: HOUSES OF WORSHIP 1. Gloria Dei:  Overcoming insurance issues (sometimes cannot receive care needed due to insurance)  Build up network of families that are caught in that place 2. St. Norbert:  Clergy association has had conversations about what we might do  Prayer service in March  Open to be more involved at whatever level 3. Temple Beth-El:  School is not always in session  Happens in broad community….. other communities  Having information for services available so we can be on same team  The more we can see ourselves as being on the same team, the better 4. Baha’i:  No clergy in faith. All volunteers.  Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Page 8 of 11  o Do not need to be Baha’I (Baha’i faith not mentioned in curriculum) o Free o Open to all youth ages 11-15. 5. Village Church  Access to service providers as well as information is key SUMMARY/WRAP-UP: 1. CRC Chair Ray Wehr:  First idea: pick a date and do a forum  After discussion we realized that one single event or forum is not enough  Need to address in manner that can reach multiple audiences  Questions for the Group: o Are we on the right track? o Where do we go from here? 2. Ericka’s Light House:  Right track, but missing youth component.  District 214 example: Hurricane of Hope o Started by youth going to school administrator o What do the youth want? 3. District 27:  Perhaps provide landing page on website (Village) that has a listing of resources available 4. CRC Member Rochelle Singer:  We have heard from some individuals that having an event with both parents and kids would deter the kids from attending. The concept of having multiple groups sessions going on at once with separate meetings for adults and kids was presented. Would that work? 5. Marcia Donniger:  Kids can be in groups with other adults, but not own parents  I think would be very successful.  GBN small group example (NCDAA experience) 6. LINKS:  If you want youth to be in attendance, have to engage youth in planning 7. Gloria Dei:  Could we create a voucher system? o Cards for free sessions for crisis response Page 9 of 11  o Hold on to card, you may need later o Grant through hospitals, donors, Village o Getting them in for multiple sessions, form relationship, fee schedule 8. Peer Services:  Affordable Care Act— We will start to see some of the benefits of this  Insurance/health information programs available. 9. Josselyn Center:  We see folks that make enough money not to qualify for Medicade, but they cannot provide insurance  We also see families that have the same need and different lifestyles (food pantry vs. 3 cars and two kids in college) that want to pay the same fee. 10. District 28:  Parent engagement is key  The ones who need to be there are generally not  Need to determine how we rethink getting information and coaching to parents 11. Jewish Family Services:  Currently have a program with Highland Park High School—drop center  Helpful model, working well 12. Ray:  Summary: o Need youth involvement o Share information gathered today o Potentially resource guide on website  Do we need more events for kids? Adults? Educators? 13. Glenbrook North:  Take inventory of what is in place already o Note areas that can be strengthened o Invest more in what we have  Forums: last summer and additional since o What is good attendance?  Not a lack of resources but a question of how do we continue to network and coordinate the resources  Involve Park District Page 10 of 11  13. YMCA:  Kids seek normalcy, work from that 14. Links:  Perhaps invite us to events at schools—not as main attraction, but presence in lobby with information 15. Nancy Vaccaro:  I spoke with some individuals in the community and asked, What makes sense to you as a resident? o Parents: I would love it if there was somewhere that the Village would host a youth resource/ general resource fair for parents o Kids: Flamingo Friday event for teens  Where can you go to hang out if not organized activity o Newsletter: resource guide listing o Police and kids get together. How do we partner in a good way with the police? NEXT STEPS  Request for information to service agencies  Compile contact information and notes from today’s gathering  Subcommittee meeting to finalize next steps Adjourned at approximately 2:30pm. Page 11 of 11