Youth Service Advisory Board

September 17th, 2019 Time: 8:45 a.m. Attendance Present: Angelo Callis (NYFS), Christine Goracy (NYFS), Tiana Powell (PFS), Rayallen Bergman (NYFS), Jodi Savage (NFA), Judith Post (Community Member), Steve Callender (Norwich PD), Jaime Miller (Norwich Tech), Kerry Sisson (Joshua Center), Christine Miskell (SERAC). Excused: Gail Palladino Marsh (Juvenile Probation), Pat McMahon (Community Member), Deb Barber (DCF), Katelyn Wagner (Norwich Public Schools), Sue Dub (Uncas Health). Absent: Review of April’s Meeting Minutes • Minutes accepted. Old Business • Board Members Month in Review: o The annual alcohol compliance checks with the Norwich PD were completed. This time around there was only one arrest from Big Y. This is the first year we have stopped at Big Y. The Liquor Commission was in attendance this year as well. We will be holding vaping compliance checks sometime after October 1st. The state has changed the legal age to purchase vaping products to 21. o Our 16th Annual Family day was this past Sunday. It was an overall success with 24 vendors in attendance. There was the usual DJ, music, games, and dance performances, Harry O run, fishing tournament, photo booth, Police K-9s, animals and more. For the first time we held a Hidden in Plain Sight presentation for parents. • Norwich Heroin Task Force: Rayallen shared that the overdose study will be presented to the Task Force during the next Task Force meeting in October. Reliance Health is making harm reeducation kits with Narcan, CPR information, fentanyl test strips, needle exchange information and Recovery Coach contacts. The average age of people dying from overdoses in Norwich is decreasing. • Report on Grants: Our programing will now go into the middle schools. The programs will include skill building on expressing anger, self-esteem building, transition groups, using therapeutic animals, yoga classes and dancing mindfulness. We will continue our regular programs as well. o Drug Free Communities (DFC): We will hear back in the beginning of October. This is a five year grant, for $125,000 a year. New Business • Staff Changes: Angelo will be retiring from the City of Norwich on October 18th after 34 years. They’re having final interviews for his replacement on Thursday. Please contact Lee-Ann to attend his party.  • Partnership for Success (PFS) Grant Survey: The last of surveys were done in 2017. We do this survey every two years to see any progress and it will tell us where we need to focus our efforts. The survey take no longer then ten minutes to complete. SERAC now has a scantron to input the surveys. Norwich Prevention Council • Prevention Grant: The group discussed what events and programs they want to continue this next year. We will keep a focus on marijuana education, vaping and mental health. Youth 2 Youth will also be put into the schools for a peer to peer program. We would also like to hold an event similar to Fresh Check Day at the high schools. The prevention grant is due in December. Next Meeting: October 15th, 2019 at 8:45am Youth & Family Services 75 Mohegan Rd Page 2