v      Article, p.1, 2

v      Did You Know That…, p. 2

v      Meeting Minutes, p. 3-6

v      Calendar, p. 7

THE ADVOCATE

The Newsletter of the Greater Taunton Health & Human Service Coalition (GTHHSC) and the Greater Attleboro Taunton Health & Education Response (GATHER)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE ROUNDTABLE IX

   On Thursday, March 11, 2004, the 9^th Substance Abuse Round Table, Violence: There’s No Excuse: A Forum for Local Solutions, was held from 7:45-3:00, at the Taunton Holiday Inn. Vincent Eagles and Jim Ross welcomed the 176 adults and youth in attendance.

Keynote Address

   Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Associate Professor & Chairperson of Psychology, Bridgewater State College, and the Director of the Massachusetts Aggression-Reduction Partnership, delivered the address, Understanding Violence. She explained that today’s topics: domestic violence, dating violence, and bullying, were not recognized as significant problems until recently. Traditional views have held that violence is relatively rare, usually a one-time occurrence, related to mental illness, and just happens without reason. But there are always precursors and warning signs to stop the violence before it happens. After addressing several myths and misinformation that prevent us from understanding the consequences and causes of violent behavior, she recommended several steps both adults and youth can take, in order to prevent violence. Some of these included having a “Code word” that students can use to alert teachers to potential problems, a school-wide awareness campaign on bullying, encouraging and teaching students who interpret neutral events as hostility to adopt a different point of view, learning the warning signs of dating violence and becoming a role model by practicing non-aggression.

Panel Discussion

   An introduction to Bullying in the Schools (Tim Smith, Martin Middle School; Steve Turner, Taunton Police), Teen Dating Violence (Leslie Leahey, Assistant District Attorney; Josie Sperry, New Hope; Susan Dykas, Taunton Police Major Crimes Division), and Domestic/Family Violence (ADS Major Richard Cardinal; Lisa Brown, Massachusetts State Police Domestic Violence and Abuse Unit) was given by a panel of experts They encouraged all to use and share the tools and skills gained today.

Mentors In Violence Prevention

   Mayor Nunes stressed the importance of working together as partners to solve the violence problem. He thanked all for making this roundtable happen, and offered his support of the effort. Mentors in Violence Prevention facilitated a moving demonstration and discussion about the four kinds of violence: Verbal, physical, Sexual and Emotional. The audience was instructed in how to diffuse potentially abusive situations as empowered bystanders, by distracting people from violence.

Conclusion

   Reports, recommendations and next steps were facilitated by Dan LeBrun, New Hope, Inc., and Deb Brown, Taunton Public Schools. For a full report log on to GATHER’s website at  www.oocities.org/gathercoalition/SARTIX.htm. For further assistance, call Lorraine Rosa, 508-823-4822.                       ♠

Did You Know That…?

Morton Hospital and Medical Center presents Issues in Women’s Health, 4/21/04, 6:30 pm, Margaret 

Stone Conference Room, Morton Hospital, Free, registration required; Arthritis Update, 5/7/04, 8:00 a.m., 

Free, Silver City Galleria Community Room; CranioSacral Therapy, 5/12/04, 6:30 pm, Margaret Stone 

Conference Room, Free. Registration required. For information/registration, please call 508-828-7777. 

 Heroin: What Parents Need To Know, will be held 4/26/04, 7:00 pm, Stoughton High School Auditorium, 232 Pearl St. Free. For information, please call    781-830-4800, x285.

 When Dad Hurts Mom – Children’s Healing and Recovery, will be held 5/7/04, 8:00-3:00, Coonamessett Inn, 311 Gifford St., Falmouth. Fee: $50 (CEU/Nursing contact hours) or $30. Call Louise Patrick, 508-539-2542.

 3^rd Annual Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Conference, Caring Communities Save Lives: Suicide Prevention Across the Lifespan, will be held 5/18/04, at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester. For information, call Alan Holmlund, 617-624-5476, or Alan.Holmlund@state.ma.us

 4^th Annual New England School of Prevention Studies will be held July 25-29, at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I. For information, please call    207-621-2549, or visit www.neias.org.

Massachusetts In Danger of Losing $9 Million Federal match to Substance Abuse Services Block Grant 

due to the continuing cuts endured over the last few years.  By restoring 4.5 million dollars to the Substance 

Abuse Line Item (4512-0200), we assure that we receive the federal match.   Please call your representative to 

help restore substance abuse funding! For information please call     617-423-6627/627-534-9674.

Professional Development Scholarships of $1000-$5000 are available from the Office for Victims of Crime. For information, please log on to www.ovcttac.org or you may call 866-682-8822.

COALITION/COMMITTEE MINUTES 

Discussion Highlights:

How does SEMA-VAV and GATHER DV fit together? Southeastern Massachusetts Voices Against Violence, like GATHER, partners with New Hope. SEMA-VAV is a grassroots organization that can adjust to whatever the need is, and then apply for grants. (Grants are received for collaborative efforts) Their reimbursement grant covers the April activities (www.oocities.org/gathercoalition/domesticviolence.htm). Through My Eyes: Voices Against Violence, Voices of Hope will be a fund raising collection of poems, posters/art work and essays, that will help support the SEMA-VAV. They wish to disseminate public awareness information in Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties.

Where do we go from here? – The Substance Abuse Round Table IX (SART IX) (www.oocities.org/gathercoalition/SARTIX.htm) was a kick-off event for awareness of gaps and services, and connection with the appropriate groups. The following points were highlighted:

v     A great deal of information was brought out, such as the misinformation about 209As.

v     Does Bristol Elder Services have programs we can host in our area?

v     The District Attorney’s Office provides a 4 session bullying program.

v     School funding dictates more documentation on individual incidents of violence or substance abuse

v     The Committee wants to keep all the SART IX components going, from infant to elder, but we don’t want to spread ourselves too thin. Can GATHER DV, SEMA-VAV, and the Bristol County Roundtable join forces in working on just a few of the issues?

v     GATHER DV Committee is a Taunton entity that addresses domestic violence, and a subcommittee of an inactive coalition. It is also in collaboration with a number of entities.

v     Police departments collect data on arrests, calls and violence data that help in writing reports and grants.

Are there ongoing projects? Do we need to initiate some?

v Safe Families/Safe Pets was established by GATHER, and is now a New Hope service. The Hairdressers’ Project did a training for Attleboro/Taunton area salon operators, and the GATHER website continues to grow at www.oocities.org/gathercoalition. Other awareness projects include the Retail Project and Police Trainings.

v     New Hope is doing 30,000 resource cards and a “Covenant Campaign” to build relationships with the 500 churches in the 52 cities/towns covered by New Hope. The campaign asks for education and/or financial support of New Hope’s DV and Rape Crisis services to the community.

Next Steps:

Investigate MRI funding for 2004.

Encourage membership to attend next meeting.

Next Agenda: 4/13/04, 3:30, A.H.S.

Structure of the organization

How we see ourselves

How we affiliate with SEMA-VAV and DVRT

Next steps from SART ideas

Help and support of the SEMA calendar.

Next Meetings:

GATHER DV Committee: 4/13/04, 3:30, A.H.S.

Bristol County Domestic Violence Round Table: 5/18/04, 3:00, Fall River Location TBA

Contact Person:

Lorraine Rosa, 508-823-4822

Discussion Highlights:

SEMA-VAV – Southeastern Massachusetts Voices Against Violence extended an invitation to contribute to a collection of poems, posters and essays entitled Through My Eyes: Voices Against Violence, Voices of Hope. Anyone in Southeastern Massachusetts who has been the victim of crime, has witnessed a crime, or wishes to speak out in support of victims” rights were asked to submit a poem, essay or art work/poster, from 3/12/04-4/12/04.

SART IX – 176 of the 182 who registered for SART IX attended the event on 3/11/04. Highlights are as follows:

v     Teen attendees had different aspirations. Suggestions included an Attleboro round table, or a ½ day event for students addressing Teen Dating Violence.

v     The United Way is doing a needs assessment. Drugs and teen dating violence may be high needs. Youth wanted more group discussions, with youth input.

v     MA statistics are high for teen alcohol and drugs. This Committee and/or the United Way may want to pursue this.

v     Kids are not as forthcoming when school personnel are present, yet they need adult facilitation. They felt they didn’t get to tell what’s going on.

v     Teachers felt that parents should come, as they did in the past. Parents and kids could participate separately, as well as separate sessions for boys and girls.

v     Because so much funding is gone, we have the same problems we had 11 years ago. Parents were unaware, but funding raised awareness. Now there are parents that allow destructive behaviors, and fight against intervention.

v     Massachusetts and North Dakota tie for #1 in heroine use, mostly with younger people. Oxycontin and other pill forms are used locally. Insurance companies report younger detox outpatients. Treatment for youth is very different from adult intervention, and is compounded by lack of funding.

v     The Committee is interested in looking for funding to address student use of drugs, alcohol and addiction as a way of life. A Boston.com article “I got caught up in the moment” states that Massachusetts has the worst teen addiction problem in the nation, with an estimated 4% of 12-17 year olds dependent on an illicit drug. There is no Taunton schools survey scheduled for this year that addresses the drug problem. Without data, Safe and Drug Free Schools and OJJDP funding could be impacted.

v     Congratulations to all who made the event successful!

The full report is available at the GATHER website, at http://www.oocities.org/gathercoalition/SARTIX.htm.

 Attleboro Component was underrepresented from the SART IX, although the Sun Chronicle did a good article. GATHER is the only CHNA in the state that embraces 2 hubs, which totals 13 communities. (Fall River contains only 4). With so many agencies, including the United Way, covering most or all of CHNA #24 (GATHER), benefits to increased collaboration include more funding opportunities, concurrent energies sharing information, and the sharing of resources, ideas, networking, and people power. This Committee can be a motivational group to involve Attleboro more fully by fostering relationships.

Next Steps:

To set our direction using the SART IX Report recommendations

Bring a structure map and mission statement of this Committee to the next meeting

Reexamine who we are and what we’re going to do.

Invite representation from Project YELL

Suggestions from the SNI Fairfax Gardens survey for this committee focus on includes: Someone to talk about ADHD and how to handle it with your child, Programs that will help us better ourselves and get off of welfare, Someone to help parents get jobs and help provide transportation. Help with Child Care and some parents with schooling, orientations on drugs and the dangers.

Next Meeting:

4/28/04, 3:00, High Point.

Contact Person: Phil Shea, 508-824-7224.

 

 Discussion Highlights:

Taunton Emergency Taskforce

v     Salvation Army is no longer doing “deliverable fuels” (Oil and propane)

v     Kennedy Oil Fund is closed for applications.

v     DHS received FEMA money, can assist with 1 month’s back rent and 1^st month’s rent. However, the applicant must show evidence of ability to continue to pay after the emergency is addressed.

v     St. Vincent de Paul still has coats. Sign ups for summer camp will be in April and May

v     Commonwealth Family ChildCare still has availability for subsidized childcare in the Teen Parent Program.

v     Healthy Families is training staff as Childbirth Educators. Classes will be open to other teen parents. The program is still slated for budget cuts.

 Headstart is recruiting and serves children ages 3-5 years old. For information, please call 508-822-5388.

 Associates for Human Services expects to be in the new Alison Avenue building (behind Home Depot) by the end of the summer.

 Dental Clinic at Bristol Community College is accessed by appointment by calling the Fall River college. They do a variety of prevention services, such as proper home care, cleanings, x-rays and sealants. Services offered to adults and children during the academic year are offered without charge, although donations are accepted. Call 508-678-2811, x2139.

 YELL is working on Youth In Action trainings, and finalizing a school survey to include perception questions.

 Budget is currently at $1490.10.

 Next Steps:

Send Coalition dues in April.

Next Meeting: 4/20/04, 9:00, A.H.S., 29 Broadway, 3^rd floor.

Contact Person: Richard McMahon, 508-979-7160, x3010

 

 Discussion Highlights:

Obesity Prevention

v     Salute To Health Newsletter will be shared at both the Taunton High School and Silver City Galleria Health Fairs.

v     Coalition member representation to the 5-2-1 Go, 5-A-Day group meetings was encouraged.

v     Walking Trails would be possible at A.H.S. new location on County Street. Community members could volunteer to make trails, and possibly cross-training stations.

Safety

v     Advocate Feature – The Newsletter will have a safety feature on issues that do not include “Salute to Health”.

v     Seat Belt Pledge Card will be featured at upcoming health fairs, and will include a drawing for a grocery gift certificate.

 Next Steps:

Contact Taunton Police about next Community Police Safety Day

 Next Meeting: 4/20/04, 10:15, A.H.S.

Contact Person: Lorraine Rosa, 508-823-4822

 

 Discussion Highlights:

Criminal Justice Committee – Eleven individuals are on fast track. The recent murder in Taunton was discussed at the Gang Information Network meeting.

Crisis Intervention Team will hold a training on May 4, 5 and 6, at the Galleria Mall. The Taunton Police Department was invited to conduct a workshop on crisis intervention.

Treatment and Prevention – A total of 176 adults and youth attended the recent Substance Abuse Round Table (SART IX). Greater outreach into Attleboro was one of the recommendations found in the full report at the G.A.T.H.E.R. website: www.oocities.org/gathercoalition/

 Community Crisis Spiritual Response Team has received I.D.s and Chaplain vests. They have begun a series of drills. In May, they are planning for a mock family assistance center drill, to look for the issues involved.

Education Committee – A presentation was held by the Assistant Police Chief of Raynham to discuss an on-line package on how to deal with rumors, how to substantiate or refute, who would have access to information and who would disseminate information.

Program Update – Neighborhood survey results were discussed. Resident comments were divided into the four committees, and recreation needs. Committees are to prioritize needs and develop a plan on addressing them.

Neighborhoods is focusing on how to allocate resources. A 5-year plan must be developed and will be used to determine CDBG priorities. They are working with the Taunton Housing Authority to develop youth and family services at THA housing sites.

Other:

v     The Department of Social Services (DSS) is going through an evaluation process. Questionnaires were distributed.

v     Concerns about unsupervised juveniles, recent school related behavior, and gangs were discussed.

 Next Meeting: 4/28/04, 8:00, Fairfax Gardens Community Room.

Contact Person: Robert Cammarata, 508-821-1420