Seneca County Substance Abuse Task Force

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1 DiPronio Drive, Waterloo, NY 13165 315-539-5655

Co-Chairs

Christopher Manasari, Superintendent Romulus Central School

Patricia Amidon, Chair
Seneca County Board of Supervisors

Seneca County Staff

Mary P. Grace, Prevention & Treatment Prog. Dir. Seneca County Community Counseling Center

Janice B. Griffin, Director
Seneca County Youth Bureau

Attendees for May 18, 1999 meeting

Representative	Representing Agency
Acquilano, Nelson	Council on Alcoholism
Amidon, Patsy	Senca County Board of Supervisors
Burger, Tina L.	Finger Lakes Council on Alcoholism
Burrows, Sherry	Mobile Youth Program, South Seneca School District
Fox, Bill	Finger Lakes Alcoholism Counseling and Referral Agency, Inc.
Gable, Teresa	Seneca County Public Health
Grace, Mary	Community Counseling Center
Griffin, Jan	Seneca County Youth Bureau
Lemmon, D.	Parent
Manaseri, Chris	South Seneca School District
McConnell, Marty	Seneca County Alcohol Clinic
Smith, Toni F.	Seneca County Sheriff's Department
Van De Moortel, Mary	Parent

Minutes of Meeting of 5/18/99

Meeting called to order at 5:10 p.m. by C. Manaseri, P. Amidon - See attached attendance.

Networking Items

M. McConnell, SCCCC ATP - Discussed a facts checklist put out by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics. Also advised group of a family education group, for families affected by alcoholism/substance abuse, starting 6/1/99.
C. Manaseri discussed "Stand for Children" events 6/1 at Sampson and Cayuga Lake State Parks.
M. Grace distributed and discussed recent State reports (PRISMS; Kids Count) that pin point factors that put Seneca County Children at risk for using alcohol and other drugs. For copies please contact Mary at 539-9258.
S. Burrows advised group of follow up meeting at SSCS, Interlaken, 6/14, to continue "Planning Strategies for Community Well-Being". Contact Supt. D. Chappell at 607-532-8395 for details.
J. Griffin reminded the group of the Children's Safety Fair, Saturday, 6/12, 10-3 p.m. Volunteers are needed. Contact Jan at 539-5655 for details.

III. Strategies to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse - The Hobart/William Smith approach - David Craig, Ph.D.

Dr. Craig can be reached at Craig@hws.edu. To download information regarding this initiative, contact http://academic.hws.edu/alcohol. Dr. Craig noted that he and his colleague, H. Wesley Perkins, Ph.D., are using theory to reduce alcohol abuse in the college setting. Both professors are willing to assist the Seneca County Substance Abuse Task Force in any way they can. The professor's approach involves educating students regarding the students' perceived notion that drinking on campus is worse than it really is. (ie as bad as the alcohol problem is, students think that it's worse). Over the past 2 years the professors have been collecting data at various points along a student's academic career via surveys. This data regarding alcohol use is then publicized via the school newspapers, handouts, computer screen savers in "catchy" ways. The positives about students' decline in alcohol use are publicized and promoted. Once the perception of alcohol use is seen as lower then students feel "they don't have to keep up with the Joneses". Binge drinking is statistically significantly lower over the last 18 months. A credit course has also been developed that explores the bio, psycho, social aspects of alcohol abuse. These students then assist the professors with education of all students. Dr. Craig notes that students taking the course could be available to help our Task Force.

There were questions and discussion by members regarding what could be replicated at the public school level.

Manaseri will discuss replicating these with the three other supts., aiming toward 1999-2000 school year action

NEXT MEETING SET FOR JUNE 15^TH AT 3:30 P.M.

AGENDA:

Presentation by students from Mynderse Academy - Maggie Abbott and Lori Beals regarding Youth and Tobacco - Policy.
Follow up regarding Dr. Craig's Presentation - Where Do We Go From Here.

M. Grace

Notetaker

MG/cs