Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug Coalition Meeting
ADAMHS Board Meeting Room
Friday, February 14, 2020

Present:

Diana Smith, Personal & Family Counseling Services
William Harding, CIC of Tusc Co
Connie Limbacher, Secretary
Al Landis, Tusc County Commissioner
Jodi Salvo, Personal & Family Counseling Services
Rita Lahmers, Tusc Co Farm Bureau
Kristin Macaulay, Community Mental Health
Kiersten Heckel, OSU Extension
Miles Riley, Community Mental Health
Zachary Mitchell, Society for Equal Access
Michaela Madision, Newsymom
Brock West, Y2Y & TCC Student Rep
Gerald Sanders, Community Member
Peggy Leslie, Harcatus-RSVP- Civic Rep
Hannah Yoder, Personal & Family Counseling Services- Youth Serving Rep
Kerry Metzger, ADC Chairman
Cheryl Ramos, Community Member
Erica Dalton-Stafford, Tusc County JFS
Rachel Light, Tusc County JFS
Larry Stitt, Pastor Lake Drive Fellowship
Veronica Spidell, ADAMHS Board
Kelly Snyder, Tusc Co Health Dept
Nicole Dorsey, Tusc Co Health Dept
Adam Wilgus, Tusc Co Juvenile Court

Meeting Summary:

Kerry Metzger called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 14, 2020, with 24 members present. Since some people were new we went around and did introductions. Larry Stitt made a motion to accept the November 2019 minutes with the correction to the spelling of Cheryl Ramos. Peggy Leslie seconded and all voted yes.

Committee Reports:

Executive Committee:

Kerry reported that the Steering Committee met on January 24th. 1. An ad hoc committee of Connie Limbacher, Veronica Spidell and Michaela Madison was appointed to put together a volunteer packet. 2. Discussed the need for recruitment. We especially need an attorney on the ADC; actively increasing our advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels. Our goal will be to do this on a quarterly basis. Standing committees have been asked to develop a 2020 action plan with at least one new project each year along with recruiting 2 new members to each committee.

Alcohol Committee:

Veronica Spidell reported that the ASK training would be held at the ADAMHS Board again in April. See Attached Report.

Marijuana Committee:

Kerry reported that the Marijuana committee, along with targeted community members, have been assembled to develop a marijuana whitepaper to guide the coalition when discussing our Coalition marijuana efforts in the future. The Coalition wants to have all its members speak with “one voice” when speaking with the community. The meeting for this group will be on Wednesday, February 26th.

Media Committee:

Michaela Madison reported that the Newsletter that is being sent out monthly is all Diana Smith’s doing and thanked her for that. If you aren’t receiving, please first check your SPAM emails. If still not, let Diana know and she will add you. With the program we are using, she can tell who has received and opened them. We are averaging 4-6 press releases a month and directing people to the website. Next meeting will be held immediately following this meeting on February 14th. Meetings are usually immediately after the ADC meeting to act on anything that has been brought up during the meeting.

Prescription Drug Committee:

See Attached Report. Jeff Neidig reported that two grants have been received. There are window clings now for businesses and agencies that are passing out the Deterra bags. Still discussing syringe cutters and pill bottle locked lids as a 2020 project.

Tobacco Committee:

See Attached Reports. Nicole Dorsey and Kelly Snyder reported that the committee has met several times. On March 19th, they will be talking to the Dover City Safety Council. The Health Department has received a grant for a Vaping Task Force will actually be the Tobacco Committee plus several community members.

Old Business:

CADCA Washington DC Event: Kerry, Jodi and Diana attended the training in DC last week. Both Kerry and Jodi graduated from the National Leadership Academy and received a plaque for the ADC. Congratulations to them for all their hard work! What an achievement!

New Business:

Youth:

Hannah Yoder reported that the Youth are planning to attend Advocacy Day on February 25th in Columbus. They will meet with both Senator Jay Hottinger and Representative Brett Hillyer. They will use talking points on both E-cigarettes/vaping and teen mental health. Kerry spoke to the youth at the last Youth To Youth meeting on what to expect and how to advocate. Anyone wanting to go needs to let Jodi or Hannah know ASAP. The Big Brother Big Sister mentoring is going well. Currently 3 schools are participating. Brock West shared how Tuscarawas Central Catholic has a vaping display that the students worked on. The students will actually be making a video next month in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Health Department. The Ezekiel Project will do the taping and the students will be using the script and idea from SAFE Coalition in Northern Michigan on e-cigarettes/vaping.

Faith Based Efforts:

Larry reported that Jodi and him met with the Tusky Valley then the Strasburg Ministerial Associations. They presented ways in which their churches could get engaged. Strasburg would like 50 yard signs for the ”Parents Who Host, Lose the Most” (PWHLTM) campaign and have HOPE Sunday become a city affair for them with possibly a rally. Larry will be attending the Newcomerstown Ministerial Assoc next. He would like to have at least one representative from each Association attend monthly Faith-Based committee meetings. Currently they have 2 volunteers committed already to the committee.

Legislative:

Commissioner Al Landis reported on the opioid settlement proposal and how funding could be divided up. Kerry asked for some of the funds to be given to the ADC to continue with our efforts and Al recognized that we are would be high on their list. Al also explained the importance of the census that is being taken this year and that every “belly button” be counted. Tuscarawas County receives $1800/per person. The hardest to count is the seniors and children under the age of 5. We need to encourage all to fill these forms out and they will NOT be used for anything else so people do NOT have to worry about immigration. The other item Al mentioned was in regards to redistricting and how we could lose a local congressman. We need to understand what this will do to us locally. Advocacy Day is Tuesday, February 25th at the Statehouse in Columbus. We will be taking approximately 20 area students and adults to participate. Kerry shared how we need to also make this an important quarterly trip so we become well known and aren’t afraid to bring more awareness to our cause.

Learning Opportunity:

Kerry shared a PowerPoint on advocating effectively. Larry made a motion to adjourn and Bill seconded. The meeting adjourned at 11:05 am.

Next Board Meeting will be held at the ADAMHS Board meeting room, 119 Garland Dr SW, New Phila, on March 6th from 10:00-11:30 am.