Prevention Works! Minutes 

Minutes for May 14 Meeting of Prevention Works!
Olympic Medical Center, Linkletter Auditorium 4:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Jane Shefler.

Liane McGarvie mcgarvie@tenforward.com, a Crescent School Board member and parent, came for the first time and introduced herself.  The rest of the people introduced themselves.  Jane Shefler jshefler@olympus.net, Nita Quan fstep@olypen.com, Diana Assumpcao assumpcao@tenforward.com, Connie Hyatt chyatt@tenforward.com, Patty Hannah unitedway@tenforward.com, Cherrie Reeves-Sperr zydeco3535@hotmail.com, Janet Williams jwilliams@co.clallam.wa.us, Brenda Butterfield brendabutterfield@juno.com, Florence Bucierka fbucierka@co.clallam.wa.us , Mel Melmed mmelmed@jamestowntribe.org, Jan Laine jlaine@olypen.com , Lynne Saddler lsaddler@co.clallam.wa.us, Fiona Hert fiona@olypen.com, Susan Evich-Gibson oscweos@olypen.com, Jody Jacobson jjacobson@co.clallam.wa.us and Cynthia Martin pmf@olypen.com.

Nita Quan talked about First Step Family Support Center services.  Growth has been great over the last years.  She handed out list of winter/spring activities.  
            Maternity Case Management:  Case managers from First Step meet with participants each month usually in the client’s home.  This portion of the program is funded by First Steps.  They see between 130-140 people per month.
            Program for developmentally delayed parents:  Video taping parents has been found to be effective in catching people doing things right.  Nita said they hope to expand it to 10 families next year.  It now is 8-10 hours per month.  They use a lot of pictures instead of words.  The goals is to try to help them keep their kids healthy and safe.
            Aunties program:  This is a volunteer based home visiting program to match people with mentors or aunties.  Currently they are working with about 10 families.
            Drop-In Centers in Sequim and PA:  They meet on afternoons four times a week in PA and 2 times a week in Sequim.  This is a resource and referral for parents with small kids to feel welcome.  There are usually between 150-190 people per month in Sequim with children 5 and under.  During this time, parents can use the clothing and equipment closet.
            Family night out:  This event, funded by the Children’s Trust Fund in Seattle, takes place once a month during the evening with free supper, infant childcare, and transportation. 
            Protective Payee Program for families referred by DSHS.  This may help them get into another area of assistance.  Nita explained that it was like a program with many different ways they can go.
            Support Group for Middle School Girls:  This is a support group for teen girls which runs 6 weeks and looks at self-esteem, friendships, guidance, communication tips, and what makes success.  Common factor in many teen pregnancies is early sexual abuse.  Follow-up evaluations are being done.  This is trying to prevent the teen pregnancies. 
            Second Steps is a low-income high-risk support program involving home visiting for children one to three years.  Focuses on promoting healthy child development, problem solving, and expanding parents’ support.  As of next year they will have more funds through the Carolyn Foundation grant.  These are parents with drug and alcohol, developmentally delayed, not DCFS involved, teen moms, and others.  This is to fill in the gap in services.  This is just one additional tool.  Home visiting in connection with other programs can be effective.

            First Step began between family planning, help from the Health Department, and United Way.  Patty Hannah said it originally was set up to deal with developmental delays, which ultimately was picked up by the school districts.

 Nita will discuss more next meeting on the Second Step program.

The business meeting was called to order.

Children’s Day Grants
Florence Bucierka discussed this WCPCAN grant.  Diane Assumpcao said the Park and Recreation may already be doing this.  The application is due June 8.  Florence checked and found that Port Angeles was not represented last year.  Florence will call the city, Mark Connelly.  Florence said Lutheran Social Services might be interested.  No other group expressed an interest in doing this at the time of the year this is being done.

 Moses Lake Substance Abuse Conference

            Florence discussed the Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse in Moses Lake will have a 20 minute presentation on Prevention Works.  Anyone interested in attending contact Florence.  Florence and Jane Shefler will give a presentation.

 Satellite Trainings

Florence discussed the several satellite teleconferences that will be coming up.  “Prescription Drugs: Misuse, Abuse, and Addition” will be on Thursday, May 31 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Human Services Conference Room in the Courthouse Basement and at West End Outreach across from Forks Hospital.  The second one will by on “Relapse Prevention Therapy” on June 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will be presented by George A. Parks, Ph.D. at the Port Angeles City Council Chambers.  “Ecstasy: What’s all the rave about?” will be held on Thursday, May 24 from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Health & Human Services Conference Room and at West End Outreach. These are well worth the time.  If you aren’t on the list to receive these flyers, just let Florence know.

 Maria Cantwell’s visit

The visit went very well.  Jane reported that excellent presentations from Florence Bucierka and Chris Borchers.  Jane indicated little chance of government help from Washington.  Senator Cantwell was interested in justice things and mental health issues.  Nice of the county to include us as part of the presentation.  Steve Tharinger had extended the invitation.  Lynne talked about the need to help them begin to see that prevention is the key.  The issue of our successes working against us was discussed.  As the government sees numbers of crimes or mental healthy problems being successfully decreased, it cuts back on the funding. This was pointed out to Senator Cantwell.

 Child Abuse Prevention Week

Jan Laine brought everyone up to date on the Child Abuse Prevention Week.  The signs have been returned and are now in storage for next year upstairs at Healthy Families and should be fine for many years to come.  Renee Martinez and the group did a super job.

Booth at Juan de Fuca Festival

Mel Melmed said there was no report since there was no more room for us. 

Website

Cynthia discussed our new website (www.preventionworkscc.org). We have a good start on getting things in - including a calendar of meetings, upcoming agenda, the minutes of recent meeting, purpose, and information on each of our areas of emphasis, parent education opportunities, a beginning list of community links and a member list. We are interested in expanding by adding community links.  Contact Shaine Schramling at shaines@nwinet.com . We also want to get an historical perspective on the site.  We will be sending out membership lists on a hard copy to each person who attends the next meeting and to new members.  We will check with Olypen and Olympus Net about free listings on their sites.  Links for websites were discussed.  Anyone wishing to have a link with us needs to get in touch with Cynthia Martin cynthia@firstteacher.org or Shaine Schramling (above).

Non Profit Issues

Nita discussed a workshop she attended for non-profits dealing with the legal issues.  She said she had a booklet anyone can borrow it.

 United Way Report Card

Patty Hannah discussed United Ways 2001 Report Card.  This will be a meeting at the Port Angeles Library at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22.  This will be followed by facilitated, tabletop discussions of community needs.  United Way will use the information gathered to assess their role in addressing community needs and priorities for funding for next year.  This is an open meeting.  You can visit 2 tables and are encouraged to come.

 Family Friendly Businesses    

Lynn Saddler talked about the problems with the childcare committee not finding businesses being open to meetings or forums.  We decided we should look at ways to determine family friendly businesses.  Kind of like the Prevention Works Seal of Approval for Family Friendly Businesses.  This would keep Prevention Works in the eye of the public, emphasize the importance of businesses being family friendly, and encourage others to look at ways to promote healthy families.  It was agreed we need to show them an economic impact to show that it works for businesses.  Patty Hannah suggested we should start with businesses with a lot of women.  We need some that will be open to helping.  Might be interested in having employees to have input.  First Federal might be one of the groups.  (Volunteers to help on this group include Patty Hannah, Jane Laine, Nancy Martin, and Cynthia Martin).  Several businesses were suggested.  We may even think about a luncheon honoring these businesses.  

Committee Report
            Big Event:  This group met and came up with ideas.  We will do some similar things to what we did before since it was such a success.  Considering some nationally know speaker and someone from the state such as Brad Owen or Christine Gregoire. We want to focus on idea of strengthening families.  Looking at one man out of Arizona who is Native American and a good speaker.
            Home Visiting: Lynne Saddler said they were supposed to meet last week and it didn’t work out.  Reschedule for June hoping to diagram out the three systems of home visiting.  Looking at data from home visiting summit.  Seem to point toward an annual summit and wanting a resource guide.
            Parent Education-This group is working on the Parent Education Summit.  Looking into gathering some material electronically.
            Membership-Mel Melmed went to Safekids event.  Good learning experience.  Need a banner so when we are at table for future events.  Get a vinyl waterproof sign with grommets.  It was moved and seconded that we get the cost of purchasing a banner.  It was passed.  We also need a little packet to give out.  We need a brochure.  Cynthia will check into starting a brochure. 
            Strategic Planning Meeting-This group will meet again since only 2 were there for the last meeting.
            KEYS-This group is being very active.  It is working on putting together collection boxes for books.  Larry Welch from First Book is also on the committee.  Many different groups involved.  The first activity is the Juan de Fuca Festival where they will have readers to read to children and then they give books.  Mary Morgan is developing the list of people who will.  Contact her for further information. 
            Rock and Roll –Jody Jacobson said they would be meeting on Thursdays, 4rd one of each month.  They are working on some grants at this time.

 The meting was adjourned. 

Upcoming Events:


May 23, Wednesday, KEYS, at Monroe School (107 Monroe Rd) at 3:30 p.m.  Call Elna Kawal (683-3027)
May 24, Thursday, Rock and Roll at 4-5:30 at Juvenile Services.  Call Jody Jacobsen 417-2282, ext. 240  (4th Thursday of month) 
May 24, Thursday, “Ecstasy: What’s all the rave about?” will be held on from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Health & Human 
      Services Conference Room and at West End Outreach. 
May 24, Sequim Incredible Years Training (First Teacher office 220 W Alder St)

May 25, La Push Incredible Years Training.
May 31, Thursday, “Prescription Drugs: Misuse, Abuse, and Addition” from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Human Services Conference 
      Room in the Courthouse Basement and at West End Outreach across from Forks Hospital.  


June
June 1, Friday, Prevention Works! Parent Education Committee meeting 9:30 a.m.  Call Fiona Hert (417-6496).  
June 4, Monday, Prevention Works! Executive Board Meeting 8:00 a.m., DHHS Meeting Room
June 8, Friday, WCPCAN grant on Children’s Day is due
June 11, Monday, Prevention Works! at Olympic Medical Center at 4 p.m. 
June 21, Thursday, KEYS - 9-10:30 a.m. Clallam County Health & Human Services (Telelink to Forks)
 
June 28 and 29, “Relapse Prevention Therapy” from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will be presented by George A. Parks, Ph.D. at the 
       Port Angeles City Council Chambers.