Date:  

October 16, 2008

Facilitator:  Courtney Lamport

Location:

3 Blue Streak Blvd., 2^nd floor, School District Administrative Offices

Recorder: Becky De Witt

Attendees:

Materials Distributed:

 n/a

Overview

Discussion

Decisions/Actions

News &
Announcements

·  On November 7^th from 9:30 -11:30 the Health and Human Services Coalition will host a “Problem Gambling Prevention Program” showcasing the Ballston Spa Problem Gambling Prevention Crew.  This will be held at Cornell Cooperative on West Ave in Ballston Spa. Please contact Mary Zlotnick for further information at 518-581-1230.

·  Strengthening Families began at Maple Ave. Middle School on October 16^th.

·  Girls Inc. will be hosting a Money Management Workshop at the Saratoga YMCA on Saturday October 18, 2008.

·  National Teen Drive Week was October 20 - 24, 2008. State Farm donated cars to Saratoga High School for events on driver safety. Trooper McMann also offered programs where students were able to try the fatal vision goggles as well as programs on wearing seatbelts.

·  The Partnership's bi-annual youth survey will be administered in late October and early November at Saratoga Springs High School and Maple Avenue Middle School.  The parent survey will be administered later this winter, possibly via Internet.

Partnership Updates

·  Courtney broke down the logic model in the grant Work Plan to better define our goals for the year.  We are looking to recruit new Partnership members, so there was discussion on who and where to reach out for recruitment

·  We are also looking for parents and businesses to join.  We had discussed having parents and/or businesses be members of the sub-committees this way they will not always need to attend the Partnership meetings. 

 Suggestions made included: for youth members (under 18 years old) the YMCA, the youth committee and the Reality Check program. The Elks have attended coalition meetings in the past and there was discussion on trying to get them back involved, including the religious/fraternal component.

Committee
Updates

·  The Parent Resource Committee:  The group is looking into ordering workbooks for Parenting Wisely, an online course for parents. We would like to pilot the program to see how well the online format works.  The program could be used in place of existing parenting programs when parents are unable to commit in the evening or outside the home. One drawback to the online version is the lack of discussion with other parents.

Group discussed piloting it in places like the computer room at the YMCA. This gives parents the opportunity to focus on the various components while their child is busy with a class.

The group is also looking into Parent University, which might be held via Continuing Education. 

·  Youth Committee:  We are looking to recruit peer opinion leaders from the high school in an effort to lower the number of kids drinking underage. These peer opinion leaders would voice (out loud) their stand on not drinking to underscore the fact that a lot of kids don't drink despite the perception is that everyone does.

·  High School Transition Committee:  The Partnership supplied agenda books for the entire freshman class and any new incoming students to Saratoga High School.  They have received great feedback from the school and guidance counselors. Faculty was trained to mentor students considered “at risk.” This program is running strong. School administrators hope to expand it next year.
 

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Next Meeting

The next Partnership meeting will take place on Thursday, November 13 at 12p.m. in the high school administration building at 3 Blue Streak Blvd.