Youth Service Advisory Board

October 15th, 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), Lee-Ann Gomes (Norwich Human Services), Kerry Sisson (Joshua Center) Excused: Gail Palladino Marsh (Juvenile Probation), Pat McMahon (Community Member), Deb Barber (DCF), Katelyn Wagner (Norwich Public Schools), Sue Dub (Uncas Health), Steve Callender (Norwich PD), Jaime Miller (Norwich Tech), Absent: Review of April’s Meeting Minutes • Minutes accepted. Old Business • Board Members Month in Review: o Angelo: We are still waiting to hear back from the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant. The grant will focus on marijuana and vaping. Erin Haggan will be coming back to take over Angelo’s position. Family Day was also a success. o Rayallen: The Norwich Heroin Task Force will have Sam browning present on the 2018 overdoses in Norwich. Sam hope to present it to the City Council. Rayallen also reported that NFA, Norwich Tech and Three Rivers Middle College are ready to go to take the Partnership for Success (PFS) survey. He is working with Norwich Public schools to reach the 7th and 8th graders before Thanksgiving break. The data we get back can used to apply for more grants. • Champion for Children: Christine presented Angelo Callis with the Champion for Children award which is awarded to those for their work with children in our community. New Business • Enhancement Programs: Christine discussed the programs that will be going into the schools this fall. Selected kindergarteners and first graders at Wequonnoc will go through a 5 week anger management course. Also at Wequonnoc second graders that are not from the U.S. will go through art therapy and third graders that show trouble connecting with other or showing empathy will have a critter club with therapy animals from all around. In our middle schools we will have Voices, Boys Council, Girls Circle and a mindful dancing class. Norwich Prevention Council • Youth 2 Youth: We had our first sessions at Kelly and Teachers. We will rotate the schools every other Friday during their ASPIRE program. Youth 2 Youth is a youth empowerment program taking on the threat of alcohol & drug abuse with youth development. Members of Y2Y will plan and conduct projects in the community. Next Meeting: November 19th, 2019 at 8:45am Youth & Family Services 75 Mohegan Rd Page 2