Youth Service Advisory Board

NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING July 13, 2010 ROOM 335, NORWICH CITY HALL (860) 823-3782 - FAX (860) 892-6031 Email: nyfs@cityofnorwich.org MINUTES The Norwich Youth and Family Services Advisory Board Meeting was held on July 13, 2010 in Room 335 in Norwich City Hall. Those in attendance were as follows: Kay Eyberse-Coordinator Jodi M. Vara-President Janet Paton-Community Member Duncan Profitt-Community Member Debbie Kievits-Community Member Soledad Metcalfe-Community Member Hilary Sandberg-NHS Staff Angela Rae Duhaime-Community Member Guests: Barbara Richard Excused Absences: Connie LaBassi-NPS; Ashley Sebastian-Youth Member; Vouise Fonville-DCF; Ryan Kelsey-NPD Kay Eyberse called the meeting to order at 8:30. Kay started the meeting by having everyone introduce him/herself, sign in and update any email information. Introduced was youth guest Barbara Richard. The adopted minutes from the May 11, 2010 meeting were distributed. Attending members read them over, no corrections were noted, and the minutes were approved. Quarterly Report ~ The quarterly report for April 1-June 30, 2010 were distributed and reviewed. It included all stats for NYFS services and programs for the covered quarter, as well as a list of youth organizations NYFS collaborates with. Program Updates ~ • NYFS has received funding for the Summer Youth Employment program for this year. State and Federal money has been granted to the program and will be used towards employing 120 local at risk youth for the summer. • NYFS Hire-A-Teen program has minimal interest from adults looking to hire a youth for odd jobs. It is being look into whether advertising the program more will help. For more information on Hire-A-Teen, please contact Ray Hulten at (860) 823-3782. Budget/Grant Updates ~ • CSSD Grant – Court Support Services Division Family Support Center grant. Unfortunately UCFS, in collaboration with NYFS and all regional YSBs, was not awarded the grant funding, which would have been used towards running the  juvenile justice collaborative Family Support Center. This grant would have provided UCFS $400,000 y/3 year with NYFS receiving $75,000 of the funding to be used towards the program. • CDBG – Community Development Block Grant. NYFS was not awarded any grant funding from the CDBG. Kay is going to plan ahead in applying for next year. • Budget Cuts – It is with much relief that we can report that all City jobs slated to be eliminated or reduced in hours have been restored and will remain as such, for the 2010/2011 budget year. NYFS and NHS appreciate ALL the efforts from everyone in helping to save our positions. We are grateful for all the letters and phone calls of support to the City Council and to those of you who showed support at the Public Hearings. We would also like to thank all Union members from all City Unions who voted to give concessions to help save City jobs. Thank You. New Business ~ • After discussing where the focus of the Youth Advisory Board should be for the next year, it was decided upon to focus on Antibullying and to establish a coherent and cohesive effort by the Board to support all Norwich Schools and the Community. Angela Rae Duhaime proposed that the Norwich Youth Advisory Board make Antibullying a priority focus for the year. Janet Paton seconded the motion and all attending members were in favor. • Mayor Peter Nystrom has approached Debbie Kievits on the possibility of forming a Youth City Council. It was agreed upon that a Youth Council would be a beneficial experience for youth to involve themselves in real community matters. Debbie Keivits proposed that the Norwich Youth Advisory Board establish a Norwich Youth Council that would be a subcommittee to the Norwich Youth Advisory Board and would report to the Norwich City Council by way of the and mentored by the Advisory Board. Jodi Vara seconded the motion and all attending members were in favor. Discussion ~ • Family Fun Night will take place on August 25, 2010 at the Rose City Senior Center from 6-8:30pm. There will be arts & crafts, food, games, Zumba and tons of fun! All are welcome. • NYFS will have a staff planning retreat in August. If anyone has any suggestions of any programs or services you would like to see done differently or something new offered by the NYFS Department, please let Kay know. All suggestions are welcomed. • It is being revisited celebrating NYFS 35th anniversary. Kay is looking for anyone who is willing to sit on a subcommittee in order to form the event. Please contact Kay at 860-823-3782 if you are interested in helping out.  • Local youth Barbara Richard spoke about her efforts of collecting donations of school supplies and uniforms to be distributed to local youth in need and to the youth in Haiti. Donations are currently being accepted at Sprague Library and at Bully-Busters. • NYFS is now on Facebook. Check it out for program updates, tips and upcoming events! Wrap-Up ~ Two questions were posed for thought, • “What does Youth and Family Services need from me?” • “What can Youth and Family Services do for me?” Next Board meeting will be September 14, 2010 from 8:30-9:30am. Room 335 in City Hall Refreshments will be served. All are welcome! Check Us Out!