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 August 15th, 2017 NYFS 80 Broadway 8:45-10:00 1. Welcome and introductions In Attendance • Angelo Callis – NYFS Coordinator • Erin Haggan – NYFS Youth & Family Caseworker • Angela Duhaime – PFS Coordinator • Officer Callender – Norwich Police Department • Judith Post – Community Member • Pat McMahon – Community Member • Tiana Powell – Peer Advocate PFS Grant • Shylo Howlett – Youth Member • Sue Dubb – Uncas Health District 2. Program Review/Old Business o Motion to accept last month’s minutes Made by Pat, discussion regarding the listed charge under compliance checks being corrected because Risk of Injury to a Minor was not the actual charge – the correct charge per Norwich Bulletin was sale of liquor to a minor. With this amended there was a second to accept the minutes and (MOTION PASSES) 3. New Business: • State Budget: Angelo reports that the State Budget still has not been finalized. He indicated that to date, the YSB (Youth Service Board) line item has been flat lined meaning that YSB’s will get what they got last year unless they announce any new changes o Angelo reported that NYFS (Norwich Youth and Family Services) did get the JRB (Juvenile Review Board) and Enhancement Grant; however the award was reduced by $1300.00. Therefore, the tutoring program will experience some cut backs, drug test purchasing will be eliminated and the amo0unt of money allocated for gas cards and positive youth development activities were both decreased.  ESTABLISHED 1659 CITY OF NORWICH CONNECTICUT NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES 80 Broadway Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-3782 Fax (860) 892-6031 • Report on Juvenile Justice Changes: Juvenile Court will no longer accept FWSN referrals for truancy or defiant of school rules and YSB’s are charged with accepting referrals and setting up intake and referral procedures. The charge from the State on how YSB’s manage this still is not clear and no additional funds have been allocated for this. NYFS has been meeting with Norwich Public Schools to develop plans and organize prevention efforts. Norwich Public Schools have written NYFS into a grant to provide pro-social activities and the Say it Straight (an evidence based curriculum to improve effective communication skills) training in both middle schools this upcoming year. Additionally NYFS will conduct a weekly parenting education series at the Rec Department. o Question from Pat regarding the ability of diversion efforts to mandate parents to participate in parenting education. Angelo explained this has been attempted in the past but due to the parents not being the ones “charged” they cannot be “required” to do anything. o Further discussion was had regarding the removal of court as a motivator to encourage their kids to follow through with services and requirements of the FWSN (Family With Service Needs) boards. The emphasis moving forward will be on rapport building with youth and families to encourage engagement and follow through. o PFS (Partnership for Success) grant will be funding trainings for teachers focused on trauma education to help support their understanding and improve their reactions to students. Also NYFS and NPS are working together to develop more programs for support to teachers. Judith shared that in her experience as an educator it is very important and valuable to know what works and what doesn’t work with traumatized individuals. An initial training being offered will include 45 people including counselors and other school staff and then another training will be help and open to other community members. o Further discussion was held about the importance of encouraging NFA to participate in some of the trainings being offered, particularly for the teachers working on Sachem Campus. • Summer Jam & Learn: 13 of the initial 15 kids registered, completed the Summer Program. Shylo, who volunteered at the program this Summer talked about some highlights and challenges with the kids’ behaviors. There were about 8 volunteers that built relationships with the campers. Activities included weekly  ESTABLISHED 1659 CITY OF NORWICH CONNECTICUT NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES 80 Broadway Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-3782 Fax (860) 892-6031 sessions with 4H camp, community service projects at the Soup Kitchen, Sheltering Arms and with the Fire Department, cooking classes, presentations with the Norwich Police Department, drumming, clay bowl making, wrestling, table manners presentations and field trips to Launch Trampoline Park, Indoor Ropes Course, Mohegan Park, Fort Trumbull, Go Karts, Nautilus Museum and the movies. There were behavioral challenges for the Intervention Specialists to manage. o The Board discussed the work of finding the balance between group mentality and how the kids act in group setting versus who they are as individuals beneath that. We discussed how the group mentality can be molded to foster good behavior, and that we have the opportunity to teach the youth strategies for improving their ability to remove themselves from negativity. o Angelo shared that funding for Summer Jam is not at risk and that the Community Foundation is a huge supporter of our program which has 15 slots maximum yearly. • Family Day: Sunday September 17th from 11-3pm at Mohegan Park. Angelo discussed the proposed programming for the day and that this is the 14th year the event will be held. Non-profits are welcome to have a table free of charge and are only asked to have a family friendly engaging activity at their table for attendees. There is the Harry O Road Race and free food. Angelo will be scheduling a planning meeting soon. Pat inquired if volunteers from the Young Marines would be needed for set up and clean up. • Moving: NYFS will be relocating to the Recreation Department and the remainder of Human Services staff will be relocating to City Hall. Plans are moving along and the timetable for actual move is now Mid-September. The Board discussed some of the benefits of NYFS being at the Rec Department including its’ proximity to the middle school and high schools and that it is on the SEAT bus route. 4. Norwich Prevention Council Subcommittee • Angelo reported that he has not received notice if Norwich has been awarded the LPC (Local Prevention Council) grant. He indicated that NPC is commited to its’ Suicide Prevention efforts whether or not the grant is awarded. NYFS will continue to offer QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) trainings to students, staff and  ESTABLISHED 1659 CITY OF NORWICH CONNECTICUT NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES 80 Broadway Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-3782 Fax (860) 892-6031 community for additional Suicide Prevention efforts. Heroin Prevention efforts will continue through the PFS grant. o Sue Dubb shared that she has access to Public Health Matters, which airs 1x per month and then is shared on YouTube. Angela can appear on the show to discuss substance abuse and prevention efforts and Erin can appear to discuss suicide prevention. Board shared thoughts about sharing the links to all of the shows that air to Facebook pages and to local schools to use in their Health classes. • Angela reported that the efforts to combine the NPC and Heroin Task Force have been put on hold at this time and the two groups will remain separate entities. • Sue shared that she has a connection for a training on Narcan and a short discussion was had about holding a training at the Rec Department and to have kits available to give out at the training. • Angela reported on the Norwich Unhooked Campaign and reported the website will launch in about 2 weeks. She reported the website will cover a continuum of things from data to events to blogs for people to share their personal stories. • Red Ribbon Week is Oct 23-31 o Hopes to have a round table discussion for High School students o October 28 will be a prescription drug take back event o Discussion about getting local politicians involved in events for Red Ribbon Week o Pat reported the Young Marines are taking an active role in drug demand reduction efforts. They are having a National Run Drugs Out of Your Town 5K on October 28 and the local Young Marines are partnering with NYFS and the PFS grant to hold the run at Mohegan Park. They are trying to hire a business to track the times for the runners with a fee of $20.00 to participate in the race and have shirts possibly donated to give out to participants. Considering having a 1 mile fun run for younger kids.
Sue mentioned that she can have a tent and people available to do Hepatitis C screenings.
Discussed benefits of getting police involvement
Discussed having the Rotary involved to do their Amber Alert Child ID program. NEXT MEETING : September 19th @ 8:45am @ location TBD