Youth Service Advisory Board

Youth and Family Advisory Board Meeting September 18st, 2018 Time: 8:45 a.m. Attendance Present: Erin Haggan (NYFS), Pat McMahon (Community Member), Judith Post (Community Member), Jodi Savage (NFA), Kerri Sission (Joshua Center). Excused: Steve Callender (Norwich PD), Tiana Powell (PFS), Christine Goracy (PFS), Angelo Callis (NYFS), Sue Dubb (Uncas Health District) Not Present: Jaime Miller (Norwich Tech), Chris Delucia (Three Rivers Middle College), Katelyn Wagner (NPS), Deb Keivits (Bully Busters) Review of August’s Meeting Minutes • Not enough members present to officially make a motion to accept the minutes, but they were reviewed by those in attendance at last month’s meeting and no changes or corrections were suggested Old Business/Program Updates • Family Day: Successful event with over 1000 families/20+ nonprofit agencies attending, debrief meeting will be held in late September with planning committee to discuss what went well and make suggestions for ways to enhance the event • Interns: NYFS has 1 MSW intern, Alexis Jelm, from Springfield College for 20 hours per week supporting clinical aspects of programming, 1 intern from Connecticut College, Anna Rubin, earning Bachelors and shadowing 3 hours per week. • Other Board Members Reports (Month in Review): o NFA/Judith report events this week for Diversity Week which include the Multicultural Talent Show on 9/20 and all proceeds will be going to support YETI (the Youth Engagement Team Initiative). On Friday 9/21 there is a Peace Pole Dedication at the marina to acknowledge Norwich as an Official City of Peace. o Pat McMahon reports upcoming event October 27 @ Mohegan Park, Scaring Drugs Out of Town 5K sponsored by the Young Marines through the Drug Demand Reduction program. Free T-shirts for those who dress up, $10 admission price. Flyer to come. Also discussed upcoming Red Ribbon Week 10/23-10/31 and explored ideas for working with NFA and Norwich Public Schools to raise awareness with students…Erin will attempt to set up a meeting with Abby Dolliver (NPS Superintendent) and Jodi will speak with John Iovino at NFA. Erin will also reach out to IDCS to determine their level of interest in participating. New Business • Reviewed Goals and Purpose of the Board (which are): o 1) Evaluate, plan, coordinate and implement prevention and treatment services for delinquent, pre- delinquent, and troubled youths o 2) Provide opportunities for youth to develop positively and to function as responsible members of the community. • Inventory of Advisory Board:  o Challenges:
Attendance: • There are several unfilled positions on the Board, including DCF, Juvenile Program and Youth Member. Also discussed pros of having a parent member on the Board. o Erin will contact DCF and Juvenile Court for appointment inquiries o Youth Member recruitment ideas included:
Checking with Norwich Tech
Check with Celeste Warner with Three Rivers • Board members attendance is not consistent and the Board discussed strategies for improving attendance of already appointed Board Members by: o Increasing interaction of Board versus it being mainly informative. o Improving structure of meeting (refresher on Roberts Rules) and allowing Members to have input on agenda items o Having a “month in review” Portion of the meeting for Members to discuss recent trainings, events, ideas and upcoming events o Requesting feedback from Board members of parent workshop ideas/possibly allowing Board members to take on role of planning/securing speakers and attending assigned workshops o Informing Members of Grant Proposals when they occur between meetings to allow time for them to give input/feedback
Board Member Appointment Process/Training: • Discussed value of a welcoming packet/binder for Board Members to better understand their role, to include frequently used acronyms. • Elections for President & Secretary – with President being the one who runs the meetings. Jodi reported this is how it had been done in previous years. • Required Ethics Training link was not sent to all Board members (Erin will follow up on this) o Strengths:
Attendance (although having room for growth) had improved last year
Comradery among current members is great
Meeting can be very informative
Board Members respect one another and listen to others’ ideas and input
All members have differing levels of experience with youth
The Board is harmonious o Next Steps:
Erin will reach out to different agencies/schools for Board appointments and she will connect with City Manager Secretary for updated guidelines regarding appointments and Ethics training
Pat will do brief (5 min Max) presentation on basics of Roberts Rules at next meeting Norwich Prevention Council • Presentation to City Council: On 9/17 the Heroin Task Force presented Power Point regarding their efforts to address Opioid Crisis. The Power Point will be emailed to the Board for review. Page 2 Announcements • DDR Dash 5k: October 27th at Mohegan Park. Halloween theme and partnering with a running club to get more runners. “Scaring Drugs Out of Town!” $10 admission price, free t-shirt for those that dress up in costume. • Task Force Meeting: 10/2 9am Otis Library: Sam Browning will be presenting the results of his research on the Common Characteristics of the 33 people who died from overdose in Norwich last year Meeting adjourned at 9:45am Next Meeting October 16th, 2018 at 8:45am Youth & Family Services 75 Mohegan Rd Page 3