Members Present 

Dr. Wilcox
Joe Catrambone
Harry A. Yates
Elizabeth Whittles

Sheriff Crowder
Jim Vojcsik
Chief Morley

Vern Melvin
Bruce Colton
David Collier

Others in Attendance

Kelly McIntyre
Beth Stone
Donna Hosang
Dr. Anita Cocoves

Marie McKenney
Cheryl Bass
Carol Jones
Maureen Simmons

Bill Connolly
Robyn Cleghorn
Eric Miller

Welcome and Introductions

Dr. Sara Wilcox welcomed meeting participants and guests.  Because of a recent injury, Mr. Russ Blackburn, Executive Roundtable Chair, was unable to attend today’s meeting.   Executive Roundtable members and guests were invited to introduce themselves and did so.

Review/Approval of Minutes from October 8, 2003

ER members reviewed the minutes of the October 8, 2003 meeting.   Joe Catrambone moved to approve the minutes as presented.  Harry Yates seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

SSN Alliance Update: Community Based Care Initiative

Mr. Vern Melvin was invited to address the Roundtable to update attendees on the status of the Shared Services Alliance of Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast.  Mr. Melvin gave an update on the Department of Children and Families’ initiative to privatize foster care and adoption.  Martin County was the first county to transition to Community Based Care. The transition took place on 12/01/03.   The January 23 agenda included an update on the transition process (Okeechobee is the second county that will transition services).  Additionally, DCF and United For Families, the private agency that is the lead agency for foster care and adoption, addressed the Alliance with an update on recruitment of foster homes.  The goal is to recruit enough foster homes to keep children in their local communities if it is necessary to remove children from their family home.  Mr. Melvin also added that District 15 has developed a photo database to track and identify children in their care. This photo identification process has been adopted statewide and has been attributed to the safe return of several children.   

There was further discussion regarding how Executive Roundtable members could assist with foster care recruitment.  Dr. Wilcox sited an example of including an article in the Superintendent’s newsletter.  Additionally, Mr. Catrambone added that it might be possible to include a flyer about recruitment in the Chamber calendar mailing.  Mr. Melvin will ask Hibiscus Children’s Center, the agency contracted to recruit foster homes, to provide written information about foster care recruitment.

Communities that Care Mobilization Planning:

·         Strategies for Plan Implementation

·         Sub-Committee reports

Elizabeth Whittle, Steering Committee Chair, provided the report on the strategies for the Communities that Care Mobilization Planning efforts.   Ms. Whittles indicated that the SSN Steering Committee developed four sub-committees, one for each risk factor domain outlined in the Action Plan. Below is a list of the sub-committees:

1.        Personal Transitions and Mobility

2.        Family Attitudes Favorable toward substance use

3.        Peer Attitudes Favorable toward substance use

4.        Community Attitudes favorable toward substance use 

Ms. Whittles indicated that the sub-committees have met twice, once on December 16, 2003 and once on January 20, 2004.  Ms. Whittles updated the Executive Roundtable on the progress of the sub-committees to date (an overview of the work of the committees to date is attached to these minutes).   

Highlights of the sub-committees work includes the following: 

1. working collaboratively with 211 Help Line (information, referral and crisis information) to promote the use of the 211 telephone number and the their excellent website (www.211treasurecoast.org ).
2. developing a fact sheet telephone list which lists pertinent contact information for people who are interested in assisting with the substance use prevention efforts (a draft was distributed)
3. developing a pocket card for distribution to Martin County youth that will have information regarding signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug overdose with 911 information and also information on the 211 Help line.
4. working collaboratively with the State Attorney’s office, Safe and Drug Free Schools and MADD to kick-off an anti-alcohol campaign called Parents Who Host Lose the Most.
5. developing a plan to distribute developmental asset newsletters to agencies to use and share with parents.
6. working collaboratively with MADD Martin County and SADD/SWAT to prepare a booth for the county fair and survey citizen regarding their knowledge of social hosting laws.
7. producing a final video of the winning PSA products from the last two PSA contests.
8. working collaboratively with city and county government to review social hosting and administrative penalty ordinances.

Agency Prevention Activities in response to the FYSAS 2000 and 2002

Over the course of the last several months, SSN personnel have worked diligently to update the “Agency Prevention Activities in Response to the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey:  2002 and 2003”. This document outlines the substance use prevention activities that the Shared Services Network agencies are currently providing.  In addition, there is a section that outlines the prevention strategies that are in place in other community agencies.  This document is a comprehensive look at the ongoing and updated prevention activities that are available to protect the children in Martin County from involvement in substance use.   The updated document was distributed to all Executive Roundtable members present, as well as other individuals in attendance. 

Shared Services Network Annual Report: 2002-2003

Ms. Whittles distributed the Martin County Shared Services Network End of the Year Report: 2002-2003. In addition to distribution, Ms. Whittles highlighted pertinent points of the report, including updates on the measurable goals and objectives for 2002-2003.  Mr. Vojcsik thanked Ms. Whittles for the comprehensive report and indicated that he would share the publication with his Board of Directors as evidence of the work currently being done by Shared Services Network (a portion of the SSN budget is contributed by the United Way of Martin County.)  Mr. Vojcsik asked if it would be possible to link the annual report to the SSN website so that other SSN agencies could link to the report.  The address for the link to the SSN annual report is as follows:  http://ssn.sbmc.org/ssn_annual_report.htm.  Any SSN agency wishing to reference the SSN annual report can do so by referencing the link that is provided.

Steering Committee Presentation:

¨       Measurable Goals for 2004

The measurable goals for 2004, as developed by the SSN Steering Committee, were distributed to the Executive Roundtable members present.  Ms. Whittles briefly reviewed the document and indicated that the emphasis for 2004 will continue to be to work toward the two identified priority issues, increasing school attendance and reducing youth substance use.  All objectives outlined are in accordance with the two identified priority issues.  Executive Roundtable members approved the document by consensus. 

Announcements from the floor

·         Sheriff Crowder indicated that his department continues to increase enforcement to keep the pressure on those retailers who sell alcohol to minors.

·         Dr. Cocoves mentioned that all concerned need to work on changing the attitudes of parents regarding providing and/or allowing children under 21 to consume alcohol.

·         Mr. Catrambone indicated that he has been appointed to the Community Health Care Coalition which will meet twice a month for six months.  Abuse of alcohol is a health issue and will be addressed by the Coalition.

·         Mr. Colton added that the Parents Who Host Lose the Most is a powerful anti-alcohol campaign and should be supported by all Roundtable members.

Adjourn

With general business concluded the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.  The next meeting of the Executive Roundtable will be held on Wednesday, April 21 from 2:00 -4:00 p.m.  Ms. Hosang indicated that there is a possibility of a location change because MCTV 20 may tape the meeting.  Announcements will be sent well in advance of the meeting indicating any location change.