Youth Service Advisory Board

January 12, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. Zoom Call Attendance Present: Erin Haggan (NYFS), Jodi Savage (NFA), Judith Post (Community Member), Steve Callender (Norwich PD), Jaime Miller (Norwich Tech), Kevin DiFilippo (DCF), Kim Charles (Juvenile Probation) Excused: Pat McMahon (Community Member) Unexcused: Sue Dubb (Uncas Health District), Katelyn Wagner (Norwich Public Schools), Review of Motion to Accept March Meeting Minutes • This was overlooked on the part of YSB Coordinator – will put on next agenda Old Business • Board Members Month in Review: o Jodi: Experiencing many challenges with virtual programming through Project Outreach. She has a core group of students working to get some projects off the ground. NFA Prevention Council has been meeting and they have been working productively as of the last meeting, and will explore alternative ideas for Suicide Prevention Week. Teen Leadership Council is doing a project to collect items for homeless people in Norwich. The items will be collected on 2/13 at the Senior Center from 9am-1pm. Collected items will be brought to SVdPP to give to those in need. o Judith: Judith runs the Spiritual Empowerment Program for youth aged 11-15. They meet weekly virtually. Also having challenges engaging youth on Zoom due to so much online activity required for school. Connect parents with Judith via email if have kids interested in the program. o Kim: Juvenile Court is open full-time but only have one delinquency day. Caseloads are back up and POs are going out to the field and making necessary referrals. Some virtual appointments/hearings are occurring and they are troubleshooting concerns with confidentiality of third parties are in the home. Juvenile Court no longer accepting FWSN referrals, YSB is now the hub for these. o Kevin: DCF is still mostly virtual; however, CPS intake workers will go out depending on the severity of the case. DCF has transitioned the foster parent training to virtual and have had 5 classes. Interest in getting licensed has increased. o Steve: PD is business as usual. He is meeting with JRB referrals for intakes at the PD. Has had to send some cases to court due to lack of response from families. JRB referrals have decreased because school is mostly distance learning, so school based arrests are not occurring. Virtual Coffee with a Cop is held each month. o Jaime: Norwich Tech also having challenges engaging students in anything extra due to zoom fatigue. They may be going to half-day schedule to help with this. The district is requiring social emotional screenings for students in the coming months so they expect a high rate of concern from those assessments.  o Erin: NYFS has programming in elementary, middle and high schools currently, including groups and mentoring programs getting started with Project Outreach, NFA football team, and elementary students. Applying for Community Foundation grant to run Summer Jam and Learn Program. Only 2 FWSN referrals since the mandate changed and those cases were assessed and provided with recommendations and referrals. Staffing changes include Tiana moving on to new position in Boston, Justin Zeigler starting as Caseworker in October, and Lee-Ann plan to retire July 1. New Business • Motion for new monthly meeting date and time, submitted by YSB. Suggested change to either the 2nd, or 4th Tuesday of the Month at 9am. o Motion was seconded by Kevin. Discussion included that all members could meet either the 2nd or 4th Tuesday. Jodi had one note that she wouldn’t have a substitute during the meetings so she may have to take a call or meet a student need during the meeting at times. o It was decided unanimously that the meetings will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 9am, every other month, moving forward. Next Meeting: March 9th, 2021 at 9am on Zoom Page 2