Youth Service Advisory Board

CITY OF NORWICH ESTABLISHED 1659 CONNECTICUT NORWICH YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES 75 Mohegan Road, Norwich, (860) 823-3782, Fax (860) 823-3793 Youth Advisory Board May10, 2022 3pm In attendance: Jodi Savage (NFA), Erin Haggan (YFS), Sue Dubb (Uncas Health District), Teairez Atunbi (DCF), Kim Seifert-Charles (Waterford Juvenile Court), Jon Turban (NPS), Cara- Lynn Turner (Community Member Awaiting Appointment) Absent: Leopoldine Bertrand (Unexcused), Jen Croce (Excused), Bob McKinney (Excused) Vacancies: Community Member (1), Norwich Tech (1), Youth Representative (1) 1. Old Business  Motion to Approve Minutes from November 2021, January 2022, and March 2022: Jodi so moved, Teairez seconds, motion passes.  Parent Social Night: Held on March 24 530-7, at the Rose City Senior Center. Well-attended and very successful event. Games, interactive activities, food for parents/children and free childcare. Project Outreach planned fun activities for the children. NEXT ONE to be held JUNE 1, same time and place. 2. New Business ● Board Elections/Membership: ● Sue motions for Kim to be Secretary, Teairez seconds, all in favor. Kim accepts. ● Elections for other positions to be held in November. Erin to send out positions/responsibilities, and by-laws to the Board in the interim. ● One Community Member spot still open following Cara appointment. ● Youth Rep has not attended in several weeks, Board members asked to spread the word to young people that may be interested. ● Upcoming Events/Resources: ● QPR Training, May 18th, 6-7pm at YFS ● Parent Social Night, June1st 530-7 Rose City Senior Center ● Ongoing Parent Support Group, Mondays 6-7, St. Marks Church ● NYFS Recruiting 5-8th graders for Summer Jam & Learn, 6 week Summer Program, Mon-Thurs 10-4 for at risk youth.  ● Human Services has ARPA funding to support Norwich Residents with basic needs assistance, childcare, and City jobs for Norwich youth – call 860-823- 3778 for more information. ● NPS hosting more district wide events, including Science, Math, Tech Event at Global Studies on May 12th 5-7pm ● Summer School to be held at Kelly STEAM, Moriarty, Mahan, Stanton & Huntington July 5-Aug 5, Mon-Friday. AM focused on hands on/holistic learning, PM to focus on outside providers bringing in enrichment opportunities, Friday field trips. ● Uncas Health still doing COVID vaccines for ages 5 and up. They still do home visits for vaccines 1x per week for those with mobility issues. ● Open Discussion of Trends/Concerns in Community ● Schools seeing excessive use of 211 and ambulance for mental health emergencies. Looking for more proactive strategies, ways to create behavioral change before it escalates. Looking for ideas/strategies (not trainings). Parent trainings not well attended, across the board. ● Managing child and parent screen time is a concern. Finding more opportunities for meaningful connection between parents and children. Helping parents see the value in decreased screen time. ● Court is seeing an increase in cases, many related to inappropriate texting, among younger kids. ● Overarching concern related to lack of access to services due to lengthy wait lists. Next Meeting: September 13, 2022 3pm Location: TBD Page 2