Saratoga Partnership for Prevention

Partnership Meeting Minutes

   Date:  

December 9, 2004

Facilitator:      Kelley Bayer

   Location:

3 Blue Streak Blvd., 2^nd floor, School District Administration Building

Recorder:       Robin Ambrosino

   Attendees:

R. Ambrosino, K. Bayer, B. Boehmke, M. Cary, G. Cottrell, B. Dixon, J. Ekman,  
D. Greene, N. Karas, J. Kelly, B. LaBarge, S. Lang, R. Lavigne, T. Moon,
J. Murphy, T. Parisi, K. Pettigrew, M. Seeman, J. Tirelli, J. Weyand, D. Wilmot, N. Wilmot.

   Materials Distributed:

REACH for Girls flyer, Saratoga County Youth Court materials.

   Upcoming              Events

·     The Ballston Area Community Center will host a weekly program for girls aged 13-18, called REACH. Girls will discuss healthy relationships, good decision-making, friendships, self esteem, body image, and other subjects. The program will run Tuesdays from 6:15 – 7:45 p.m. from January 27 – April 5, 2005. For more information, call Dianne 583-0280 or Cathy 885-3261.

·     New Partnership Coordinator, Maureen Cary, introduced herself. She will be calling members over the next month to check in about their involvement with the Partnership, goals for the future, etc.

·     It’s the 18^th year for MADD’s Tie One On for Safety Red Ribbon campaign to remind everyone not to drink and drive. Karen Pettigrew has plenty of extra ribbons. Please take some to your office to distribute to others. If anyone needs more ribbons, call 583-3600.

·     The Saratoga Springs Police and Fire Departments hosted a party for nearly 60 underprivileged kids on Saturday, December 4^th. It was a big success, and John Kelly thanked staff at The Prevention Council and Partnership for Prevention for their help wrapping presents.

·     The Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office is beginning a Road to Recovery program as an extension of Drug Treatment Court. Non-violent repeat offenders are required to enter a day treatment program for at least six months as an alternative to prison. When they return, they then begin Drug Treatment Court.

·     The 10-county group discussing the possibility of launching a “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” awareness campaign around the Capital District held their second meeting in Cohoes on Friday, December 3^rd to discuss how to get media involved. A sub committee will meet in December to identify logistics, and the big group will get back together in January. Since the 10 counties share the same media market, the goal is to promote the criminal nature of hosting parties for underage kids around the Capital District.

·     Free ballet lessons are available for boys and girls at the William H. Ford Neighborhood Center on Saturdays, December 11 & 18, and January 8 & 15 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Siobhan Dunham, former professional ballet dancer, will teach beginner skills such as stretching, barre work and center movement. Students will hear the story of The Nutcracker and learn short dances and signature movements from that ballet. For more information, call 587-0864.

·  Anyone interested in participating in these meetings should call Tim or Judy at 581-1230 for information.

   Probation/Youth         Court

     Presentation

·     Kelley Bayer works in the intake unit for first time, non-violent offenders at the Saratoga County Probation Department. Youth under the age of 16 come to her as a result of criminal behavior or as a PINS referral (Person In Need of Supervision) after showing a pattern of defiant behavior within the household. Depending on offenders’ behavior in the community, at home, and at school, she refers 80% of her intakes to the Youth Court program, run by Prevention Council staff.

 

·     Youth Court provides criminal justice and citizenship training to teen volunteers who serve as officers and jurors in a real court and oversee the sentencing of their peers. There are youth judges, defense attorneys, prosecutors, court clerks, and five or six members of the jury. All officers take a confidentiality oath. Officers’ initial training is 12 hours, and students rotate among the different officer positions. There’s an average of one trial per month.

·     In order to attend Youth Court, offenders have to admit their guilt. A judge has to accept their plea, then Youth Court acts as a sentencing court. There are 11 city and town court sites around Saratoga County that refer to Youth Court. Offenders have to follow the rules of their sentences under the supervision of their probation officer or referring court. Being sentenced by Youth Court is completely voluntary.

·     Punishments vary and can include at least 10 hours of community service plus other duties, such as administrative tasks, tours of jail, serving as a juror for another youth court session, picking up litter on highways, cleaning cars for the Police Department, writing an essay about classes they attend, etc.

·     Current Youth Court Officer Garrett Cottrell answered a variety of questions about the program. He sees defendants in school, and believes most are satisfied with their sentences. He finds that defendants want to do their community service and have their cases closed, since many cases are mistakes as a result of peer pressure.

·     The alternative to Youth Court is Family Court, which is a more formal process. Some say Youth Court is the more difficult and rigorous of the two. Family Court judges usually adjourn cases in contemplation of dismissal (ACOD) if offenders stay out of trouble for six months.

·  Anyone interested in becoming a Youth Court Officer should call Lisa Chamberlain at 581-1230 ext. 20.

    Committee            Meetings

Media Action Team

·     Group reviewed format of the Community Calendar summaries (the collection of events going on among partner agencies) that Robin Ambrosino drafted for placement of the Partnership website.

·     Robin also asked about who should write a short summary about their program or special event for next month’s feature in The Saratogian.

Community Forums Team

·     Committee had a brief meeting, but needed more time to discuss logistics of bringing forums to the community.

Maintenance and Success Team

·     This committee may want to call a meeting of the business community about issues facing them – or possibly raise the issue at a Chamber of Commerce or DBA meeting. Discussed Navy’s interest in underage drinking

Data Team

·     Did not meet this time.

·  Group agreed that instead of just prose, the calendar should also show activities taking place during each quarter in a calendar format.

·  Robin will make suggested changes and put them up on the website. Committee members can review info at the January meeting.

·  Group suggested Roland Lavigne for something about the YES! program. Robin will contact him and ask if he’s willing to write a summary.

·  Partners suggested bringing a blank  calendar to next month’s meeting so people can sign up for specific topics in advance. Tim Moon will find the list of national recognition days and months for the January meeting as well, so partners can match their causes to the appropriate months.

·  Barb Lombardo of The Saratogian will work with Judy or Tim to get the first “Parenting Q&A” column ready.

·  Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 4^th at The Prevention Council at 11 a.m.

·  Becky Dixon of Saratoga County Drug Treatment Court will run the next meeting.

    Next Meeting

The next Partnership meeting will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Thurs., January 13^th at the district offices on the high school campus.