Youth Service Advisory Board

ESTABLISHED 1659 CITY OF NORWICH CONNECTICUT NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES 80 Broadway Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-3782 Fax (860) 892-6031 NORWICH YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES Meeting Tuesday September 13th, 2016 NYFS 80 Broadway 8:30-10:00 I. Welcome and introductions In Attendance • Angelo Callis – NYFS Coordinator • Erin Wood – Community Member • Jaime Miller – Norwich Tech High School • Katie Waggoner – Board of Education • Jodi Vara – Norwich Free Academy • Deb Kievitz – Bully Busters II. Program Review/Old Business • Board Membership- board discussed requirements for board representation. Last amendment to board requirements will be reviewed to determine needs of the board in terms of membership and representation from community agencies • Heroin Forums – A forum and Community Conversation were held in the Spring, both of which were well attended • Compliance checks conducted in June – recognition was given to store owners who met compliance standards. • Summer Jam and Learn Summer Program– 12 kids completed the Summer program and many community service projects were completed by the youth. • The FWSN/JRB/ Diversion program from last year serviced 81 kids who completed case management. Over 90% of youth were successful in not reoffending within 6 months of discharge. • Leadership Collaboration was restructured and will be a 6 week program focused on educating youth and developing  ESTABLISHED 1659 CITY OF NORWICH CONNECTICUT NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES 80 Broadway Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-3782 Fax (860) 892-6031 project ideas. Following that, youth will transition to NYAC to implement project ideas. New Business: Staff changes: • NYFS Coordinator, Kay Eyberse retired in June 2015 • Angelo now serving as the NYFS Coordinator • NYFS in hiring process for the new case worker Prevention Grant: • NYFS was awarded 4 year truancy prevention grant and is in the process of getting approval from the City Council to hire prevention specialist. Board members will attend council meeting if available to advocate for need of this position. • Community Conversation on Race, Policing & Violence to be held on 10/14 at the Rose City Senior Center, moderators and recorders will be needed. Planning meeting scheduled for 9/14 @ 3pm o Committee discussed the benefits and challenges associated with community conversations and explored additional ways that the board can support exploration of ideas and solutions that are identified during the community conversations. o Committee will review outcomes of Heroin conversation at next month’s NPC meeting. Norwich Prevention Council Subcommittee • Committee reviewed the SERAC grant to determine the needs of the council for this upcoming year. o Compliance Checks will continue and a request for the same allocation of funds from previous years o QPR trainings will continue with a focus on increasing the number of people being trained o Suicide Prevention Week will continue and an additional 400.00 will be requested for allocation. The prevention week will begin April 24th culminating with the 5th Annual Take the First Step Walk-a-Thon to be held on April 29th 2016. o Coffee Houses – two coffee house dates will be set  ESTABLISHED 1659 CITY OF NORWICH CONNECTICUT NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES 80 Broadway Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-3782 Fax (860) 892-6031 o Opioid Focus – allocation of funds will be reviewed and action steps to be taken this year will be discussed at next prevention council meeting. • A request was made by board member, Jodi Vara, that the monthly meetings be held on a different date due to challenges and conflicts with other scheduled meetings for several board members. All board members were in agreement and it was decided that meetings will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 8:30am. Next Meeting: October 18, 2016 @ 8:30 am, NYFS 80 Broadway