Prevention Works! Minutes 

Clallam County Prevention Works!
Community Coalition Meeting

May 10, 2004, Olympic Medical Center with Telelinking to the West End

President Norma Turner called the meeting to order and asked for introductions. Along with name and organization, if person attended the Annual Meeting, asked to share something meaningful from the meeting. If you didn’t attend the Annual Meeting – could share anything at all.

Kate Wheeler (Sequim Community School Prevention Intervention – Alternative High School) – PROTECT , Sue Renes (OESD), Cynthia Martin (Parenting Matters Foundation) – everyone had many strong views, Patty Hannah (United Way) – liked facilitator and his work on outcomes, Gwen Cole (Healthy Families), Nancy Martin (Lutheran Community Services), Ellen Fetcheit (PASD) – struck by outcome issue – have been thinking about the importance of trying to figure out (with no money) what do we have to do to make a difference and that we better figure it out quick. Liked idea of trying to target Head Start crew in greater ways, Enjoyed the PowerPoint, Nita Quan (First Step), Shaine Schramling (Parenting Matters Foundation) – Number of people involved, Barbara Clampett (Peninsula College) – left early, Florence Bucierka (Health & Human Services), Rachel Anderson (Health & Human Services) – not enough time – liked format and feedback on different topics, Jennifer Charles (Health & Human Services), Susan Hillgren (Family Planning) – liked meeting other people who were out of town from smoking group, Kristen Jackson (Sequim Gazette & Clallam County Literacy Meeting), Karen Meyer (Communities that Care) – nice day, important meeting, strategic planning is ongoing process that we kicked off, Norma Turner (Prevention Works) – had 2 wonderful months in Tanzania, Dan Maguire (Director of YMCA), Pam Arnott (New Family Services) – Hospital Auxiliary just donated $15,000+ to purchase hospital grade electric breast pumps.

Call to Order - Introductions

Treasurer Report – Rachel Anderson . . . Passed around a balance sheet – Prevention Works made about $250 on Medina event after all expenses. Nita mentioned how staff and clients came back so motivated from Medina event.
We are still working with non-profit application. Currently going to use Jane’s home address on the Prevention Works! Application – matter of just filling it out.

Announcements

·         Parent ed event in Sequim – Dr. Len Fellez (April 27) – principal of many levels spoke at Sequim School District with their Title I program. PW co-sponsored. Dr. Fellez had strong feelings about parent involvement. Peak of parent involvement in kindergarten could be a big error. Had a lot of things to say and encouraged a lot of parents to be really involved. Thought it was a good broadening of focus for Prevention Works! (Cynthia)

·         Have invited Clallam County Literacy Council – Kristen Jackson. Goal is to make sure that we don’t have illiterate children in the county. Literacy Council has been providing books to Peninsula Children’s Clinic for 3 years – well child check-up book. By the time they are 5, have 5 books. Sponsoring events throughout the year – Kids Fest, Festival on the field. Family Literacy Day – November 6 – got to choose book. Creating awareness of literacy events – getting list of tutors in all areas – who do parents call if they want help. 4 Person play on literacy will be Sept 25 PA, Sept 26 Sequim (Cynthia/Kristen)

·         Emily Marcus – Serenity House Homeless Kids Task Force – Saturday Night Bonfires. Approached Chuck Brown in IBC – would they let them feed homeless kids several nights a week. (From Susan Hillgren)

·         Underaged Alcohol Use Curriculum purchased by Family Planning (Susan)

·         Monday, June 21 Grantwriting Training with Karen Bosley – 20 spots – 20 agencies – can have a team with 2 or something. (Florence)

Committee Reports

• Tobacco Coalition - Rachel Anderson – New smoke free restaurant and lodging guide – 68% of restaurants are smoke-free. To meet smoke-free, must be sit-down – 100% (bar, patio, restaurant). Framed certificates – going to all smoke-free lodging and restaurants in county. Also in process of doing compliance checks – Rachel works with teen, who asks for cigarettes. Ordinance draft – proposing to prohibit smoking on county owned or operated properties (County Courthouse, Juvenile Services). Next step is to present to commissioners, then hold public hearing, then commissioners will vote. Effective 30 days after vote. Nita asked about billboards – Rachel replied they funded by the Washington State Department of Health.
• Parenting Education-Karen Meyer – Meeting tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. at United Way Conference Room – develop comprehensive list of parent ed opportunities for next year or 18 months. Be sure to be coordinated – for purposes of publicizing. If you have anything within realm of parent education, please pass along to Karen Meyer – Karen_ctc@tenforward.com or to Shaine. Also, Barbara Clampett and Fiona and Karen have been talking about parent education summit type event. 30^th year for Family Life Education at Peninsula College – submitted application to the Foundation for Michael Gurian to speak. He was too expensive. Resubmitted for $3000 – to have literacy focus. College wanted more than one event – involving current students and alumni. Still very open-ended. Dates have not yet been established. One idea – had been a well-known children’s author to come speak. To utilize funds not to exceed $1500 to support  and co-sponsor a Family Life Education Parent Education Summit.
• Rock N Roll-Fiona Hert & Susan Hillgren – Working on Youth Yellow Pages. Modeled after something in Vancouver, WA. Wallet size, easy to carry around and use for High School students with social services needs. Rock N Roll trying to get a template off the ground. Ellen mentioned a previous version done by the PASD. Lynne Sharp from Sequim High School has a Sequim version. Came up at board meeting to have a youth  review it. Jody Jacobsen and Barb Ward had done one previously. Next meeting Tuesday, May 18 at 3:30 p.m. at Northwest Services Council (Armory Square basement).
• KEYS-Elna Kawal & Kathleen Dionne – Kids Elementary Years for Success - No meeting last month.
• ***It was recommended that we get out a Thank You out to the Clallam County Literacy Council for their supplying books for John Medina Event.
• Membership-Gwen Cole – Nothing to report. Send a plea out to get some input.
• Home Visiting-Pam Arnott – Janet Proebstel – nice recommendation about Home Visiting Summit presenter – will call meeting of Home Visiting Committee. Grant that United Way funded grantwriter, Federal Healthy Start – haven’t heard back. 1.6 million dollars over 4 year period. Should know by end of the month. March of Dimes grant – decrease pre-term labor and birth in our nation – contracting with Lynette Brown to implement grant – identifying anyone at risk or experiencing pre-term labor. It would be universal – women already eligible for Maternity Support Services will get additional information and support or treatment. Offer all women who may have insurance, but not billable for pre-term labor care – can provide care. Lynette has met with each physician clinic – also improving communication and awareness of other home visiting programs with physicians and their staff. Referral base has diminished due to impact of staffing from DSHS. Pregnant women referrals have decreased – no longer know that – needing to work with First Step. Referral has changed from local enrolled to 800 number at State Level. Hoping that physicians that see these women prenatally – hoping to be referral source. Submitted proposal for cutaneous scanning device for jaundice – instead of heel poke – can use scanning device. Asked Guild – May 26 invited to their luncheon.
• Publicity-Jim Borte – No report.
• Strategic Planning-Connie Hyatt & Norma Turner – Will likely reconvene after today’s meeting.

Garrison Kurtz – Foundation for Early Learning has selected Clallam & Jefferson Counties to have some coupons or support for Child Care Providers. Foundation for Early Learning – has previously done this in Spokane, Clark, Skamania counties. One committee to evaluation multiple projects – supplies – tied in with TEACH.  Nancy contacted director of Resource and Referral – requirements. Still some unanswered questions. Cynthia continues to be a contact along with Nancy. Nancy not yet willing to be a part of it until she gets more information. Norma will talk with Cynthia after today’s meeting. Barbara Clampett.

Continued Discussion from Annual Meeting on Priority # 1- Family Management Issues - Facilitated by Karen Meyer

Pick up from where we left off at Annual Meeting

Scott Waller from DASA – give us some framework for Strategic Planning. Last Strategic Plan – done for 2002-2003. Moved into discussion within Risk Factor – Family Management – what resources are currently available – identified by the County group about a year ago.

Prevention Works – is about the prevention of substance abuse, and violence, child abuse and neglect. Age group expanded from 0-4 to 0-18. Focal point for directions – goal of healthy development and functioning of children/families – this is related to our vision.

Nita – in looking through minutes of strategic planning notes – Family Management Issues is a Risk Factor – seems to be an emphasis.

Venues for promoting protective factors –

For new strategic plan – take each protective area – look at different committees/venues.

Venue # 1 - Parent Education

Florence talked about maybe having committee do some preliminary work. Norma talked about having a draft. Patty talked about not just having it be internal – outputs separate from outcomes. Is all the activity making a difference? If strategic plan is too internal it can become activity driven. Norma – start with big vision and narrow down. If we start with specifics, it can be hard to broaden. One of the values is to encompass a larger vision. What’s an approach we never tried? Nita talked about the format of the handout – what worked, what didn’t work, what do we not have funds for anymore, we forget that a lot has happened as a result of Prevention Works – federal grant to the Hospital, Communities that Care and so much more. This planning process may also tell us what more information we don’t have rather than evaluations.

Karen – what about having committees take a look at the planning document. It would then be up to committee chairs to get the information done and back to the Board. Sue reiterated Patty’s to look at evaluation. Florence reminded folks that Prevention Works has spent a lot of money on evaluation. Pieces like having best practices in each school district – part of a bigger picture that is making a difference. Need to be able to show members and community. Patty – our efforts are so focused so difference may not be percentage – in population you are working with, may make a large difference – how are they doing when they get to Kindergarten. Things we’ve been doing the past few years – may need to change. Very difficult to measure. 

Nita talked about – taking all the research that science says- if you build their protective factors and reduce risk factors. Are you doing a good job increasing protective, reducing risk factors – that is measurable. Can’t say what Prevention Works is doing is impacting Head Start kids. Are you doing what science says is “Best Practices.” We’ve been doing it for 4-5 years.

Patty – if we are increasing protective factors/decreasing risk factors – shouldn’t there be something measurable?

Nita talked about financing of measurable projects – so expensive.

Sue – ESD has process evaluations – what happen – outcome and impact. What are these kids doing?

Pam – if science says Breastfeeding is known with replicated research studies – that it improves protective factors for parents and children – what if PW made a plan to become baby friendly community as per World Health Organization – we can evaluate those programs – we’ve achieved certain standards.  

Norma asked the group to keep in mind – that when PW started – it was about changing community norms.

Committees – by August 1 – report from committees. 3^rd week in July.

Vision of Prevention Works!
 Clallam County is a community where all children and families are healthy and safe.

Announcements

Ellen F – email that came through PASD – she will pass it along to Shaine.

Prevention Works did presentation for Christine Gregoire (Mike Doherty asked PW to do this) – she was caseworker in Child Abuse and Neglect cases. Very impressed with work of Prevention Works!

Meeting adjourned.

Next Prevention Works Meeting – Monday, June 14.

Respectfully submitted,

Shaine Schramling

Secretary
If there are corrections, please e-mail Shaine Schramling (shaines@nwinet.com)