January 2017 McK-UDOS Newsletter

Coalition Meeting Notes

On December 14, 2017, we had our coalition meeting.  We had 10 members attend.  Below are the Meeting Minutes:

Called to meeting at 6:16pm

Presentation by Dr. Meme Wang-Schweig (Program Evaluator): Opioid Crisis - Overdose news

• Video: National Safety Council about a media advertisement campaign to bring awareness to the opioid problem
• Meme explained how people get addicted to opioids
• What do you know about opioids?
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Heroin
  • Opioidshave been linked to 63% of drug overdoses in the US
  • 58% of 12^th graders have tried using opioids

• Facts
  • Addiction is rare
  • Anyone can be addicted and overdose on drugs
  • One of the most common misconception is pain relief medications prescribed from doctors are safer to take
  • Heroin affect your brain and causes addiction physically and psychologically

• What are opioids?
  • Opioids are drugs which come from opium poppy plant
  • Types of opioids
    • Natural opioids, e.g. Morphine and Codeine 
    • Semi-synthetic man made, e.g. Hydrocodone end Oxycodone
    • Man made, e.g. Fentanyl

• How does it affect the brain?
• Statistics about opioid deaths in Illinois
  • 11000 people have died from opioid overdoses since 2008
  • 2700 people died from prescription drugs overdoses
  • 5% of high school students used prescription drugs not prescribed to them in the last year
  • In comparison to alcohol and marijuana, opioid addiction is a growing problem and prevention is needed even though the percentage is relatively lower.
  • Yan Chen (from Project Vision) stated IYS survey number may be under reported and the percentage of prescription drug may be higher than 5% since kids usually do not share if they have overdosed

• Goal by the state is to reduce opioid 5%

• Strategies:
  • Increase prescription monitoring program by providers
  • Reduce high-risk opioid prescriptions through provider education and prescribing guidelines
  • Increase accessibility of information 
  • Increase the capacity of deflection and diversion program statewide
  • Decrease the # of overdose deaths after an at-risk individual release from correctional facility

• MAHA  and McK-UDOS Coalition are working together to develop strategies and apply for the Community-based Coalition Enhancement Grants to address Local Drug Crises (CARA Local Drug Crises Grant). The proposal is due on January 29, 2018. This is a 3-year grant, starting on June 15, 2018 if funded.
  • Open for ideas about using grant.  

• Site Visit Report from Project Officer
• Purpose of site visit for PO to learn about coalition effort, what work has been done in past, and in compliance
• Results from site visit report
  • Technical assistance – follow-up – things to work on
  • Few recommendations - focused on capacity building
  • Keep current and future coalition members using technology
• Dial in conference call Ada Tong, from Rep. Theresa Mah’s office
  • Will send meeting minutes
• CIA – in place, agreement with organization – stated what needs to be done, why we are collaborating, and what needs to be delivered
• Utilize resources from Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

• Illinois Youth Survey
  • We need to recruit schools to participate in 2018 because it’s not mandated by CPS for schools to administer

• Review of brief – underage drinking and marijuana use

Coalition Strategy in 2018

• Work with parents and children – change their misconceptions
• Parent workshops with Project Vision
• 2 workshops – one in Jan and other in Feb
  • Underage drinking
  • Cyber bullying

• Create social norms campaign
  • First draft
  • Not majority of students are not drinking alcohol and marijuana
  • Show positive to messages to youth
• Another strategy – partner with community based organizations for parent workshops

• Coalition Logo is 6 happy children holding hands in a circle, forming a star found on Chicago flag
  • Logo has been added to IYS briefs

Announcements

• We received another grant, STOP ACT, on underage drinking – 12 to 20 years old
  • Focusing on collaboration with local community organizations to reduce alcohol use among youth
  • Eligibility to be DFC grantee
  • Started in October
  • Up to 4 years
• Next meeting on March 22, 2018
  • Asked about time, afternoon vs evening
  • Project Vision, around spring break, should be fine
  • Time: 6 to 7:30 PM 

• Ada Tong from Theresa Mah’s office - Constituent services coordinator for Theresa Mah, office in McKinley Park
  • Open house on Janurary 20
  • Health fair in March 24^th – location is setting up right now – park district/ Saturday
  • Connect me to the students that you worked at your health fair – physicians or medical students who speak Chinese 

• IYS Briefs
  • Breakdown by race/ethnicity
  • McKinley Park – mostly Latino
  • Need to recruit more Latinos to coalition
  • Most low-income
  • Three Bar Charts           
  • Average age of first alcoholic drink is 14-years-old.
    • McKinley Park avg first age is higher than state average from 2014
• Social norms campaign
• Coalition members like the positive message to youth
• The colors on the second poster on marijuana – use the same color tone
• Coalition members think the message of campaign materials are clear 
• Parents are very important.
• Asian parents think their kids will never use it – data is important to raise awareness and educate them about underage drinking

 
Called meeting to end.

Sign In Sheet

Welcome our New Program Coordinator

Vernalynne De La Rosa completed her graduate work at Wheaton College in 2007 with a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology. She is currently in the process of obtaining her licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Vernalynne has worked with individual couples, children and families. Her experiences in Central and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa have enhanced her talents in cross cultural competency. Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, she is highly skilled in providing therapy for families dealing with acculturation issues. Vernalynne is dedicated in helping people become self-aware and creating healthy relationships through effective communication. Her experience working clients with substance abuse issues has also given her an ability to empathize with clients. Vernalynne is excited to be use her passion to educate and support youth and families as the Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coordinator position.

We Need Your Help

We have been working on campaign materials which will be distributed at upcoming parent workshops, local school councils, health fairs, and other events. We need your help in looking over the materials and providing us feedback on any changes you believe will make them more effective.

Below are the material for your review
**Please email [email protected] for your feedback.**

Illinois Youth Survey 2018

We are working to recruit schools with grades 8 - 12, to sign up for the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS). 2018 is a testing year and we are looking at schools in McKinley Park and the surrounding areas, including:

Upcoming Events

Project Vision Parent Group

Monday, January 15, 2018 or Monday February 19, 2018
4:00 - 5:00 pm
236 WW 22nd Pl, Unit 1, Chicago, IL 60616

McK-UDOS Coalition Meeting

Thursday March 22, 2018
12-1:30 PM
230 W Cermak Road, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60616

State Rep. Theresa Mah's District Open House

Saturday, January 20, 2018
11:00am - 1:00pm
2108 W. 35th Street
Chicago, IL 60609
RSVP encouraged
872-281-5775 or
[email protected]

Please let us know if you have any events you would like us to add in our next newsletter