COVID-19
While the state of Illinois has ended its mask mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions, we want to continue to advocate for precautionary measures and guidance to help reduce the spreading of COVID-19 through proper hand washing, social distancing, respiratory etiquette and cleaning and disinfecting regularly. We are currently fully reopened with all programs and services available for in-person and virtual access.
McK-UDOS Coalition Meeting Minutes
Date: March 9th, 2023
Time: 11:30 am- 1:00 pm via Zoom
- Student and Parent Workshop
- Expanded the grade levels we work with to include kindergarten through 12th grade (previously only 4th-12th)
- Kelly HS Small Group sessions
- Working with a small group of students who use substances to discuss their use, alternative coping mechanisms, and provide a space for them to talk freely about their use
- Benito Juarez – working with students and parents
- Working with Juarez BHT to educate on substance use to build their capacity
- We’ve joined 9 parent groups and have collaborated with them to expand their education on substance use
- Now offering Narcan Training Workshops for Parents Groups who are interested
- Narcan Distribution
- Distributed over 200 Narcan kits in partnership with Rush at the Pilsen Food Pantry
- Youth Coalition
- Meeting in person on March 26th, 2023 at our 230 W Cermak Office and will be facilitating a peace circle (led by one of our new youth coalition members)
- Justin Kerr will likely join our meeting and discuss featuring our youth coalition in the McKinley Park News
GUEST SPEAKER: Luis Agostini from Drug Enforcement Administration, Chicago Division
- DEA is not meant to target people with SUDs, but more so of the organized crime involving substances
- Mission is more so prevention focused, but also support treatment
- Support medication assisted treatment (MAT)
- Partner with SAMHSA
- Community Outreach
- Education and awareness
- Working within university and college campuses within Chicago
- To educate on substance use (specifically fentanyl)
- One Pill Can Kill campaign
- Counterfeit pharmaceutical pills – laced with fentanyl
- Manufactured in Mexico and trafficked/distributed in the US
- Counterfeit pharmaceutical pills – laced with fentanyl
- Red Ribbon Week
- Community engagement
- National Prescription Take Back Day
- Upcoming April 22nd
- Have various drop off locations
- DEA Chicago Family Summit (occurred last summer) to highlight stories and educate
- Working within university and college campuses within Chicago
- Luis A. mentioned using DEA connections to promote visibility of partner organizations through media coverage
- Justin K. discussed McKinley Park News and their coverage within the McKinley Park area
PARTNER SHARING UPDATES
- West Care Illinois - Carlos Rodriguez
- Discussed the 7 Challenges and seeing 72 students currently
- Provide substance use prevention training to students and staff (have added new schools)
- Discussed a bit about Reverend Walter Jones from Fathers Who Care
- Discussed the 7 Challenges and seeing 72 students currently
- Fathers Who Care & West Garfield Park Youth Council - Reverend Walter Jones
- They have a TV show broadcasted
- Possibly interview coalition members
- Have funding for youth internships
- https://fatherswhocare.org/fwc-%26-wgp-youth-council
- Prevention First - Jake Levinson
- Discussed a product similar to Deterra (locked bags for substances disposal, but for cannabis), someone will be reaching out soon to MAHA and other organizations
- Can contact Robyn for more info [email protected]
- Student advisory board (statewide) – membership application will be open soon, looking for broad membership
- Discussed a product similar to Deterra (locked bags for substances disposal, but for cannabis), someone will be reaching out soon to MAHA and other organizations
- McKinley Park News - Justin Kerr
- Justice Cannabis Co. Representatives at Community Meeting to discuss their dispensary possibly opening at the corner of W 35th St and S Ashland Ave
- Read more about here: https://mckinleypark.news/news/3795-residents-stakeholders-query-cannabis-dispensary-reps-at-community-meeting
- Justin wants to connect us to the dispensary representatives
- A clinic for mental health and substance use is coming to McKinley Park area
- Cannabis infusing business (meeting to discuss below)
- Justice Cannabis Co. Representatives at Community Meeting to discuss their dispensary possibly opening at the corner of W 35th St and S Ashland Ave
- TASC - Tanya Bibbs-Smith
- Will be facilitating SUD and problem gambling presentations at senior living facilities
- March 14th at Haris Casino to give out resources
- March 22 – Winners Circle – podcast to speak on problem gambling at 7pm (can look them up online or on Facebook)
- If interested in doing a podcast interview contact Toy Beasley, Winners Circle, [email protected]
- March 30th – Tabling at Bloomington for SUD and problem gambling
- Drug Enforcement Administration - Luis Agostini
- Our coalition meeting will be featured on the their Twitter page
LOGO CHANGE
- Since we have changed our name to McKinley Park Underage Drinking & Other Substances Use Prevention Coalition, we would love to update our logo
Suggestions on how to improve the logo
- Justin K: adding more of a square shape to allow for larger font, font around the edges is too casual (maybe using one font family – utilizing italics or bold but same font for everything), what do we want to brand to be? Font and logo should represent that.
S.W.O.T. ANALYSIS
- A survey will be sent out to coalition members to fill out
- Survey results will be summarized and discussed at the next meeting in May
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
- MAHA will be doing National Gambling Screening Day on March 14th
Next Meeting: May 11, 2023 at 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
