PLEASE NOTE UPCOMING MEETING DATE
 

The next meeting of the Roane County Center for the Advancement of Youth & Communities (RCCAYC) has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 1997, at 4:00 PM, at the Center building. It will feature an educational program on the "Causes of Addiction" cosponsored by Chuck Conner, West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnership/Winding Roads Health Consortium, and Connie Taylor, Substance Abuse Prevention and Cessation Nurse for Roane County Schools.
 

A meeting of the members of the Roane County Center for the Advancement of Youth & Communities (RCCAYC) was held on Tuesday, October 14, 1997 @ 6:30 PM at our new "Center", housed at the former "Professional Development Center (PDC)" across from Willard Starcher's. We are proud to announce that a new sign has been placed upon this building, designating it's new purpose.
 

We discussed several topics that will have great impact on the success of this new organization, which we hope will become a statewide model for serving "at risk" children and youth through an innovative, community-based approach. Highlights of the October 1997 meeting are summarized below:
 

MINUTES
 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Please see attached "attendance log" for the October 14, 1997, meeting. We wish to thank those who were in attendance for their participation, and extend a warm welcome to those who were unable to attend to consider the upcoming November 4, 1997, meeting at 4:00 PM.
 

1. Introductory Comments Regarding the Roane County Center for the Advancement of Youth & Communities (RCCAYC) - Dr. Jerry Jones, Assistant Superintendent/Roane County Schools
 

Dr. Jerry Jones, Assistant Superintendent/Roane County Schools, opened the meeting by explaining the rationale for creating the Center, developing community wide [substance abuse] prevention strategies and developing action plans for "at risk" youth. The Center is designed to promote "prevention strategies" similar to the "Washington State University model", which was informally researched prior to its inception in Roane County.
 

2. Announcement/Introduction of New Personnel Serving the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program - Steve Goffreda, Director of Student Services/Roane County Schools
 
 

Steve Goffreda, Director of Student Services/Roane County Schools, announced appointments by the Roane County Board of Education of the following personnel who will staff key positions in the county's Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program initiative:
 

a. Director of Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program - Steve Goffreda

b. Coordinators of Student Assistance Programs - Sheila Jones-Geary School, Tammy Roberts-Reedy Elementary, Kathy Whoolery-Spencer Primary, Greg Hamric-Walton Elementary/Middle, Greg LeMaster-Spencer Middle, Larry Greathouse-RCHS, Thomas Barnes-Alternative Learning Center; [NOTE: Greg Hamric has resigned his position effective 10/16/97, and the "vacancy notice" was reposted 10/27/97.]

c. Secretary to the Director of Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program - Ravenna Boggs

d. Substance Abuse Prevention and Cessation Nurse - Connie Taylor
 

3. Comprehensive Drug and Violence Prevention Program County/Consortium Application for Funding: 1997-98 (Update) - Steve Goffreda, Director of Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program
 

Steve Goffreda announced that Roane County Schools has been awarded a grant of $200,259.67 from the West Virginia Department of Education to fund its Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program initiative. He described the Roane County Center for the Advancement of Youth & Communities (RCCAYC) as an "interagency substance abuse prevention and cessation clearinghouse that interfaces with many members of other organizations with a social service orientation [such as the Family Resource Network], and that spawns [substance abuse prevention] programs throughout the county with representation by educators, counselors, substance abuse specialists, health professionals, and the clergy. The employment of a Substance Abuse Prevention and Cessation Nurse and Coordinators of Student Assistance Programs in each school is hoped to translate the Center's mission into action.
 

4. "Roane County Tobacco Free Teens" Program - Chuck Conner/Wendy Romine, West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnership/Winding Roads Health Consortium
 

Chuck Conner announced that Wendy Romine/AmeriCorps member, West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnership/Winding Roads Health Consortium, had written a $1,000.00 grant to train teenage students from Roane County High School to work with younger students (mostly middle school-aged adolescents and pre-adolescents) on tobacco abuse awareness activities. The Consortium has undertaken several grant initiatives on the topic of tobacco abuse. Candace Westfall, an RCHS teacher, has offered to serve as Faculty Advisor to sponsor Wendy Romine's program as a "school club". The "Tobacco Free Teens" will be staffed by Student Council and Health Sciences & Technology Academy (H.S.T.A. Program ) volunteers. Chuck Conner also noted that WVRHEP provides a number of students in professional preparation for a variety of health fields to work in the community on substance abuse prevention.
 

5. "Get Tuf" and "Teens Against Tobacco Abuse (T.A.T.U.)" Programs - Steve Goffreda, Director of Student Services/Roane County Schools
 

Steve Goffreda explained that Wendy Romine's "Get Tuf" initiative, supported by the West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnership/Winding Roads Health Consortium, would begin in the near future, targeting 6th graders, first. "Get Tuf" entails students voluntarily signing a "tobacco free" pledge, which entitles them to mailing list privileges for a variety of tobacco abuse awareness materials and a membership card enabling discounts at participating/sponsoring area merchants. State representatives of the "Get Tuf" program report that Roane County merchants' support for this project is high, attributed to the "teen volunteers" who helped recruit supporters. Mr. Goffreda added that the "Roane County Tobacco Free Teens" program would most likely assist with the promotion of the "Get Tuf" pledge cards. He also noted that he had received training in the American Cancer Society's "Teens Against Tobacco Abuse (T.A.T.U.)" program, which now entitles the school system to free materials which may be shared with Wendy Romine's group.
 

6. Members' Progress Reports of Community-Based or School Site-Based Projects
 

The need to become task- and goal-oriented was stressed. It was suggested that each RCCAYC member leave the September 1997 meeting with a realistic task to complete to support the "Center's" mission. The designated task was as follows:
 

By the October 1997 meeting, each of the RCCAYC members attending should return prepared to explain at least one program they intend to plan and implement at their community-based or school-based site to prevent substance abuse. In so doing, the "Center" will have spawned at least ½-dozen programs around Roane County by October 1997.
 

RCCAYC members reported progress being made at their individual school or community/work sites:
 

Connie Taylor - Securing materials from the American Heart Association, including "Heart Power" kits for Grades K-12, for use within Roane County Schools, as well as preparing an order for a variety of curricular materials dealing with substance abuse and prevention. [NOTE: The first orders for curricular materials will be placed in late October/early November 1997.]
 

Greg Hamric - His Student Assistance Program at Walton Elementary/Middle is interested in inviting the "Roane County Tobacco Free Teens" in to work with his students.
 

Woody Wilson - Concentrating on Student Assistance Program [Team] training. Also working with the Local School Improvement Council at Reedy Elementary on a combination of two or three grants to create/enhance a "fitness trail" and "health center" at the school to be shared with the community. Estimated cost to be funded by grants: $1,500.00. Woody also recommended that all community initiatives include the principal's knowledge and involvement if they are to be scheduled within the school under the leadership of the principal.
 
 

Chuck Conner - Described the wealth of resources available to the community through the West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnership/Winding Roads Health Consortium, and the "Planned Approach to Community Health (P.A.T.C.H.)" program. Chuck's students have already been actively involved in community activities which support the Center's mission. Chuck also recommended having community agencies wishing to share resources with the schools to channel their requests through Connie Taylor, Roane County Schools Nurse, to coordinate efforts.
 

Anita Freeland - Described the "Beginning Alcohol Addiction Based Education Studies (B.A.B.E.S.)" program, and its use of approximately seven "skits" to teach alcohol prevention skills in Grades K-4. She is interested in expanding program offerings across the county; the program is sponsored, in part, by Community Resources, Inc. [NOTE: Planning is underway to involve the B.A.B.E.S. program in observance of the "Great American Smokeout" in November 1997, with the target group being Roane County Schools 4th graders.]
 

Jerry Holder - Interested in writing a grant for an after school program for working with "at risk" children at the Spencer Primary Center. Noted that Family Health Care now has Roane County High School "student representation" on its Board of Directors. Jerry also described the "Quality Assurance Program" being undertaken by Family Health Care, which focuses upon health-related issues to insure that proper protocols are being followed for the highest quality health care.
 

Ellen Carpenter - As Family Resource Network (F.R.N.) Vice President, she is interested in having the FRN promote more "after school" activities for youth. She also invited Center member to attend monthly FRN meetings. [NOTE: Upcoming FRN meetings are Tuesday, November 18, 1997, at 4:00 PM, to be held at the "Center for the Advancement of Youth and Communities" building, and on Tuesday, December 16, 1997, at 4:00 PM, tentatively scheduled to be held at the Roane County Library.]
 

Curtis Moore - Described the "Bible Club" that formed at Spencer Middle School; about 65-85 people are involved in some way. Also described "Standing the Gap", which teaches "positive peer pressure". Curtis recommended the need for more cessation programs in Roane County.
 

Alastair Izat - Reported that Geary School will soon be sponsoring a "Just Say No Club", according to School Counselor Alice Starr. [NOTE: As of 10/20/97, Principal Paul Ashby has ordered the materials for this club, which have been approved by Mr. Goffreda.]
 

Thomas Barnes - Is interested in creating a Safe and Drug-Free Schools "web page" on the Internet, which will include links to valuable resource materials. Mr. Goffreda advised that he contact Debbie Jones at the Roane County Schools Central Office, who has been coordinating our schools' "web page" efforts.
 
 
 
 

Larry Greathouse - The Student Assistance Program [Team] will be active in updating the program's operational handbook. "Student Assistance" was a topic at a recent RCHS Faculty Senate meeting. Larry has recruited two new counselors to support his efforts. WRCH-TV Cable Channel 2 will be used as a valuable resource to communicate substance abuse awareness activities to the public. Larry will be working cooperatively with Connie Taylor, Roane County Schools Substance Abuse Prevention and Cessation Nurse. Mr. Greathouse also described the "Fellowship of Christian Athletes" and its compatibility with the Center's mission.
 

7. Miscellaneous Comments, Questions and Discussion
 

Center members reviewed a publication by The Ambassador Company entitled "The Way to Go", whose distribution to 4th graders would be cosponsored by area businesses if local principals were to approve participation with Central Office sanction. [NOTE: This project will be "placed on hold" and "suspended" by the school district upon receipt of technical advice from the district's Director of Finance and Administration.]
 

Center members recommended continuing the operation of the organization without electing officers for the time being. Instead, the Center will operate collegially under its current school district leadership and facilitation. The next meeting of the Roane County Center for the Advancement of Youth & Communities (RCCAYC) was scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 1997, at 4:00 PM, at the Center building. It will feature an educational program on the "Causes of Addiction" cosponsored by Chuck Conner and Connie Taylor.
 

For additional information, please feel free to contact me at the Roane County Board of Education Office. My extension/phone number is 927-6412.
 

SFG 10/97

E-mail me for additional information or comments.

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