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Tuesday, October 07, 2008

GCAT Meeting

GCAT (Gardner Community Action Team)
Minutes
October 6th 2008

Attendance- Joshua Tackett (LUK), Cathy Apostoleris (MOC), Mariah Harding (SADD), Tim Gamache (SADD), Gabby Istivan (SADD), Josh Caron (SADD), Jim Kraskouskas (Anthonys Liquors), Amy Whitney (MADD), Gene Farrell (GHS)

Items Discussed

Membership Expansion
We discussed the list we formed and as I send these minutes out with a copy of the list could people highlight and name people from the areas specified and return it to me. We also talked about the importance of one-on-one interviews and if people need another copy of that along with this email please let me know. We are shooting for 50 one-on-ones and need to get going on them soon. If anyone needs any further clarification I will make myself available to them.
Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF)
We have some forms of data to work with from the police and hopefully the YRBS. Along with these we feel that any further data from the schools disciplinary section would be helpful. In terms of analyzing the data in the broadest ways it has been put on the table to have an open discussion around analyzing the data collectively.
Planning and Timelines
The plans that are up coming are the PSA around the Thanksgiving game. To that end we arte attempting to contact Oakmont in the hopes of collaboration for the PSA as well as the rotary club of Westminster and the venue of the game. By the next meeting Gene Farrell will let us know where we stand with Gardner High and the kids will discuss plans for a table or something to be printed in the program of the game.
We also discussed ideas for a social host liability training. The problem we see is getting parents in a captive audience where both they and the kids could be both engaged and educated. Some ideas were floated around about hosting a talent show, including it in a drivers ed aren’t portion or around prom or parent conferences.
Mission/Vision Statement
In keeping with our expected outcomes I would like to once again broach the subject of mission and vision. As a group with the hope to be sustained after we are all gone we really need to create the direction and outcomes we would like to see for Gardner. To that end I would once again ask that we engage in an Email conversation. I will be releasing everyone email address unless otherwise asked not to. It will be only within the confines of the GCAT member list and I trust no one will include it otherwise. I will do so Wednesday afternoon to give people time to respond to my email in case they have an issue.

Future Happenings
Thanksgiving Game
GCAT Meeting at 2pm Mon. November 3rd @ Gardner High

Other Points of Interest
If people can’t make the next meeting could they shoot me a quick email. Also if they could include any pertinent information they have regarding data collection, the mission statements or the membership expansion list and anyone they can talk to from it. Thanks.

Next Meeting- November 3rd @ 2:00pm at Gardner High School
I scheduled it this day to prevent anyone from missing out on their chance to vote November 4th
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Social Host Liability

What Is A Community Action Team?

LUK, Inc.’s Community Action Team (CAT) represents an initiative, funded by DPH Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, to help organize and mobilize select communities to reduce rates of underage drinking. CATs utilize a model known as Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA). Local data is used to inform activity selection. CATs look for trends in both school and police data. After identifying local trends, CATs plan activities from a menu of interventions with each option designed to decrease underage access to alcohol or to increase community awareness. Community teams monitor their actions by conducting surveys and/or examining the data for new trends. If/when selected activities don’t contribute to desired changes, CATs may adjust their respective action plans.The CATs employ environmental strategies to prevent underage drinking. Environmental strategies focus on increasing community protective factors while deceasing risk factors that influence underage drinking.

Strategic Prevention Framework

Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) is a five step process (see below) developed by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to assist communities in building the infrastructure necessary for effective and sustainable prevention of substance use and abuse. Programs currently funded by BSAS in Massachusetts utilize this framework.SPF: The Five Step ProcessStep 1: AssessmentStep 2: Capacity BuildingStep 3: PlanningStep 4: ImplementationStep 5: monitoring and evaluatingKey Principles of the SPF· Follows a Public Health Approach· Focuses on change for entire populations (collections of individuals who have one or more personal or environmental characteristic in common)· Considers an entire range of factors that determine health· Is outcome-based· Follows a strategic planning process· Uses data throughout the process to make informed decisions.

CATs In Action

While each CAT is unique, they share common approaches, group maintenance functions, and responsibilities to BSAS. Shared group maintenance functions:

Agenda setting
Meeting facilitation
Minute-taking

Common responsibilities to BSAS to a shared set of activities (some examples include, but are not limited to):
Compliance Check
Shoulder Tap
Social Host Liability Training
Sticker Shock
One-on-one Interviews

Compliance Check
A Compliance Check usually involves the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission (ABCC) or the local Police Department. The purpose of the compliance check is to make certain that establishments selling alcohol are checking identification and selling responsibly according to Massachusetts State Law requirements. To complete a compliance check, preplanning is conducted around the partnership between CAT team members and out-of-area youth. The youth enter alcohol vending establishments and attempt to purchase alcohol. If the bar, restaurant or liquor store finalizes the transaction between the vendor and the youth under twenty-one years of age, the youth must walk with the item in hand and give it to the officials waiting outside the establishment. The youth reports the outcome of the transaction to the ABCC/officers and identify the establishment employee who served them. This person is informed by a ABCC/local Police Department representative that they have just committed a crime. A citation is immediately issued to the person and/or the establishment under the name of the license holder.

Shoulder Tap
A Shoulder Tap campaign involves youth (specifically anyone under twenty-one years of age) in association with liquor store owners and the local Police Department.To perform a shoulder tap, the youth position themselves outside the entrance door of a liquor store establishment and ask customers hypothetically: “We are under the age of twenty-one and cannot buy alcohol ourselves. If we were to ask you to buy us alcohol would you?” Depending on the answer from the customer the youth themselves would issue the person either a “YES” card or a “NO” card, along with a short verbal explanation about why purchasing alcohol for youth is wrong and against Massachusetts State Law

Social Host Liability Training
Social Host Liability Training is an activity usually accomplished in cooperation with the District Attorney or the local Police Department. The training includes reviewing the laws and regulations of regarding serving alcohol to minors on personal property and the liability that comes from alcohol being served on one’s own property without owner awareness. The District Attorney/local Police Department reviews the consequences of the Social Host Liability Laws.

Sticker Shock
A Sticker Shock campaign is an activity that involves adults and youth under age twenty-one entering stores to help raise awareness of underage drinking. With permission from the liquor store owners, youth and adult volunteers enter stores and apply stickers, specifically targeting cases of beer, and all alcohol beverages (excluding single bottles). The sticker must not obstruct the label. The stickers say things like “Hey You! It’s Illegal to Provide Alcohol to Anyone Under 21” and “Buyer Beware Don’t Provide Alcohol for Kids.”

One-on-One Interviews
One-on-One Interviews are an integral element of the CAT project. In a One-on-One Interview, a designated CAT member asks a series of questions to members of the community to get insight into the community at large. The questions are also designed to raise awareness and solicit feedback on project activities.