Empower Tusc Coalition Meeting
- Friday, April 14, 2023
- Meeting Minutes
Present:
- -*Dawn Abrams, Clinical Nurse Mgr, CCF
- -*Ron Bond, Tuscarawas Co Farm Bureau
- -Robert Bray- WBTC Radio
- -Lakyn Craig, Tusc Co Health
- -Dick Gooding, TV School Board Dept
- -Katelyn Gorius, Tusc Co Health Dept
- -Bill Harding, Citizen Member
- -Bill Houglan, Citizen Member
- -Gail Houglan, Citizen Member
- SPCF Koffa, Ohio National Guard
- -Peggy Leslie, Harcatus, Civic Sector
- -*Connie Limbacher, Citizen Member; Coalition Secretary
- -*Mary Marshall, Citizen Member
- -*Katie Maurer, OhioGuidestone Access Navigator/Hope line Tusc & Carroll Counties
- -*Samantha May, Liaison, Windsor Laurelwood
- -*Terri Miller, OhioGuidestone, TTS
- -Piper Olsen, TCC Student, Y2Y
- -Carson Norris, TCC Student, Y2Y
- -Miles Riley, Springvale Health Marketing
- Jason Rissler, St John UCC Pastor
- -Jodi Salvo, OhioGuidestone, Dir of SUD Prevention
- -Gerald Sanders, Citizen Member
- -Sierra Schweitzer, OhioGuidestone
- -*Kane Tarrance- Bright View Community Outreach Mgr.
- -*Michaela Thomas- Newsymom
- -*Robin Waltz, Tusc Co United Way Dir
- -Fleishia Wahlin, Social Worker JFS
(-) Members
(*) Present Virtually
Meeting Summary:
Meeting called to order at 9:05 AM by Jodi Salvo. 27 were present (17 physically & 10 Hybrid); (25 members & 2 Non-Members) Had introductions. Approval of Minutes– Bill Harding made a motion to accept March 10, 2023 meeting minutes, Miles Riley seconded and all voted yes.
Committee Reports
Executive/Steering Committee – How do we get more community members more involved? Struggling with this. Everyone is having this issue.
Alcohol Prevention Committee: Jodi reported on the Parents Who Host Lose the Most campaign—officially launched on April 10 as Buckeye Career Center’s prom is Saturday. Robert Bray reported that the PWHLTM campaign has been placed on the 250 billboard and WBTC has recorded youth and law enforcement PSA’s that has been shared with WJER and WTUZ. A WJER conversation has been recorded Bill & Gail Houglan were able to Allied Machine to disseminate signs get and Katie Maurer has secured banner placement in the New Philadelphia square. Other signs are available for pick up at OhioGuidestone’ s Prevention Department in the United Way building. Ron Bond will pick up more signs to be placed by Boy and Girl Scouts, and 4-H clubs. The campaign should run through-June 9th. Katie and Veronica Spidell attended the Ohio Alcohol Conference on March 22nd along with several others.
Faith Based Committee: Jodi reported that Pastor Jason Rissler & Larry Stitt will be heading this committee; Jason was here for the first time.
Marijuana Committee – The committee was unable to meet in March. Kerry and Jodi continue to closely follow SB 9 (the expansion of Ohio’s Medical Marijuana program). Conversations in the Senate General Government committee are concerning. Conversations and proponent testimonies are around Ohio needs more customers. This indicates that promoting the program through advertising will be a strategy to increase customers but raises a major concern for decreasing youth perception of risk and also has the potential to increase the availability of marijuana in our communities. As far as the ballot initiative, Representative Hillyer told a coalition member for sure that the ballot issue will pass, the committee will need to meet with Representative Hillyer.
Media Committee – Robert reported that the committee is in discussion around the creation of an email address that could be used to send the media committee on areas of consideration. This email can streamline information that members would want to share and promote through Empower Tusc. Consequence data, as of April 1 176 students received a total of 150 suspensions for vaping in Tuscarawas County minus Garaway and TCC. The committee discussed needing a summer monitoring campaign. Target the idea that youth initiation spikes in the summer month. The committee brainstormed some ideas for a social media campaign to run May-July and will work to launch messaging before the end of school and will showcase summer protective factors. Piper Olson talked about an event we could do next year to address summer initiation. Carson Norris talked about Y2Y meeting with younger students and promoting Y2Y.
Prescription Drug Committee The next Drug Take Back day is Saturday, April 22nd from 10-2 at both area hospitals. We are still in need of volunteers at Trinity Twin City.
Suicide Prevention Committee-Lakyn presented on the attached. Next meeting is April 24th and should have the info and data together at that time. Miles reported on the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support group. Dick asked about possible data and info to others on active shooters. Gerald asked for info on what pastor’s, fire departments and EMS services could receive so they have information and resources when faced with suicide. Miles discussed that he has a lot of info and shared information about the difference between the Crisis line and the national 988 number.
Tobacco/Vaping Committee– Advocacy Through Art Project – Lakyn and Katelyn brought the Advocacy Through Art projects to display to the coalition. First place judging was completed by a 3-person panel blind judging. People’s choice judging was completed by community members at the “Don’t Be Fooled by Big Tobacco” event. Winners will be announced on Facebook next week and will receive a plaque. Piper and Carson from TCC provided an overview of their art project. TCC wants to showcase a catchy slogan while providing eye opening facts and images. Leadership Tusc Project with Newcomerstown High School – has ended with a Spirit Week March 27-31 that culminated in an all school assembly on Thursday March 30th. The Assembly featured randomly selected students who had to complete 2 rounds of quizzes, then the top 4 students completed an obstacle course of a matching game, cornhole bag toss, and puzzle. The week was finished with the “Don’t Be Fooled by Big Tobacco” event that was held on April 1st. Jodi has been working with Indian Valley High School to do some targeted media for their school district before summer break that features stall-talks, social media posters on school TVs, and video messaging on the morning announcements.
Youth Sector – Sierra & Y2Y School Representatives. Y2Y School Updates – Groups are currently working on the Prom Promise campaign. Each group is creating a poster that says “I promise to have a safe and healthy prom” then will ask students attending prom to sign it and display at their school. Had a proclamation for National Drug and Alcohol Facts week. Carson said he enjoyed getting to meet one of the new County Commissioners and they seemed very interested in the work they are doing. Groups are looking at doing a final push to educate other students before summer and recruit for Y2Y next year. Advocacy Day is May 10th and they will be visiting Senator Landis. A group will be going from Empower Tusc and Y2Y. TCC is currently working to get some newer faces of current Y2Y members to start participating in these events. After CADCA Congressmen Johnson and Balderson both reached out to Empower Tusc & Jodi to talk about our efforts due to the great impression made on them during Capitol Hill Advocacy Day during CADCA. Congressmen Balderson will be at Dutch Valley in the coming weeks.
Old Business – no update
New Business/Upcoming Coalition Events
Public Speaks/Organization Share—Robin Waltz with United Way shared that they completed 940 tax returns this year for Tuscarawas County residents. They had 25 volunteers including Gail Houglan. On May 5th the United Way will be having their Day of Caring with volunteer opportunities at non-profits across Tuscarawas County. Jodi shared that Empower Tusc will have an station and volunteers will paint and repair the silhouettes for Project Hope.
Mary Marshall with Eva Women’s Clinic shared that the clinic offers faith based clinical support for all women. They provide pregnancy testing and ultra sounds.
Miles with Springvale Health Center shared they are offering Spravato treatment for individuals with chronic depression and HEP C treatment through their pharmacy. They have a new nurse practitioner that will be providing primary care and a new mobile health unit is in the works.
Leadership Tusc Project for Empower Tusc – Jodi shared an update on the Play Tusc sports closet for youth sports. Currently wrapping up a community survey to help determine need, what sports, and what equipment would benefit the community. They have received a large number of survey responses. She will be putting the implementation stage of this project in for next year’s Leadership Tusc class to work on. The plan is for Empower Tusc to help establish the sports closet, but it will be run/maintained by another county organization.
Adjourn– Katelyn made a motion to Adjourn at 10:45 A.M
Next Board Meeting – Visitor & Convention Bureau (hybrid option will be available)
124 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia- Friday, May 12, 2023
