University/Schools Alliance
Executive Meeting Minutes
February 18, 2009 3:30 PM
@Arcadia University

Attending:

Linda Brasel, Arcadia University, Building Bridges
Rosemary Brooks, Sanford School Parent
Cindy Genau, UD Cooperative Extension
Howard Isenberg, Open Door, Building Bridges
Fred MacCormack, DHSS
Erica Melman, OPEI
Yvonne Nass, Parent Education Consulting Services
Jo-Ann West, Salesianum School

Staff Attending:

Roberta Gealt, Project Director
Mary Perno, Project Coordinator

Discussions:

January minutes were read, changes will include:

· Change to 9^th year for USA grant

· Spell Greg Micolucci correct

OPEI-TAAG- (Technical Assistance Grant) was not awarded to USA this time. We should still have the money for the town Hall Meetings.

Media-Roberta received a phone call from a Metro Kids media person about substance abuse and youth. Please let us know if you are having any events that we can publish or tell this reporter.

Town Hall Meetings-are rapidly approaching. OPEI is not doing a meeting this year; they are considering participating in Reach Out-Teach-In for 5^th & 6^th graders, instead, which is being supported by the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, which has supported both programs in the past. USA could provide support for schools for food or speaker expenses for the town hall meetings. Sanford School (April 1^st at 7:00 PM) & Building Bridges (April 8^th) will be holding town hall meetings. Lisa Shaw from the Office of Highway Safety gave Building Bridges $500 towards their meeting.

SIG Grant-no word yet on this grant, but we should know by the end of March if we will receive it.

DFC Grant-the application for re-applying is due March 2^nd. Roberta should have it completed prior to that date. She has to enter the things that we are working on, things that we didn’t accomplish but plan to do, etc. We will be going into our 9^th year of this grant. We have history and need sustainability. Comments on proposed work plan that was passed out:

· Our board thinks that we need more materials to hand out, i.e.; give the parents the consequences; do a “frequently ignored” fact sheet

· We need to mobilize the parents, hold a mandatory meeting before their kids participates in sports or go to the prom.

USA web-the DDATA group web site should be linked to the USA web site.

USA Parent Chat-“Transition to College” will be held at Newark High School on March 4^th at 6:00 PM. We will have lots of information to hand out to parents. We have about 35 people who said they would attend. Our speakers are:

· Holli Harvey, UD Judicial

· Skip Homiak, UD Executive Director of Public Safety

· Cathy Skelley, UD Residence Life

· Nicole Solomon, UD Wellspring

· Plus we have 7 UD Students coming

Policy Summit Meeting-has been postponed until further notice.

Physicians/Pharmacists-Linda Brasel, at Arcadia University, has applied for a CDC grant for the symposium along with Christiana Care Hospital System and Adolescent Substance Abuse. It will be held either late October or early November at the Ammon Center at Christiana Hospital—the site was donated the site for this event. PA-C’s, RN’s, Doctors and Pharmacists will be invited to attend, as well as school counselors and nurses, Wellness Center staff and others. The YRBS results will be presented and there will be a discussion of the current legislation and political context around this issue. There will be a pre and post test and also a 3 month post test conducted. Vendors and treatment centers will be present.