Participant Evaluation Summary

 Number of respondents: 32

Average rating listed in bold italics

 

 

Excellent

Adequate

Unhelpful

 

Topics chosen for discussion:	1.44 1		2		3		4		5
Meeting format:	1.47 1		2		3		4		5
The following meeting objectives were rated according to the level respondents thought they were met.  (1 being “fully met,” 5 being “not addressed at all”)
To raise awareness of the “mobility” approach to economic deprivation	1.72 1	2		3		4		5
To learn about the Individual Development Account model and explore its feasibility to address poverty issues in Siouxland	1.57 1	2		3		4		5
To network with colleagues	1.62 1	2		3		4		5

 

An “ah-ha” for me during this session was…

• Hearing about “be friend” program in Norfolk from people @ my table
• It is good for the right person but it is a small group & it is costly
• Some programs provide greater benefit to program developers and facilitators than to the targets of the program – in this case the impoverished.
• The current like-mindedness and drive to move forward – something big is about to happen!
• How IDA’s can be used for youth aging out of the system
• IDA
• Continuing to partnership for outcomes in our community
• Having credit union, financial advisor & other business contacts here today!
• Hearing bout potential partnerships for IDA’s
• How impacting the program could be
• IDA’s – I had no idea about this program
• Realizing how many agencies could work together
• How dependent even the IDA award is on govt. funding – supplemental $$ from assets for Independent Account

I would suggest that in future sessions we…

• Where are or how can we develop low skill employment for the caretakers with children living in poverty
• The education piece is such a value and keeps everyone up-to-date.  Thought there was a more “get-stuff-done” attitude @ this meeting.
• Take action steps
• Wasn’t aware of the program
• Have more opportunity to discuss questions about programs
• Importance of increasing education for youth to slowly pull them (and the community) out of poverty.  The importance of education on financial advancement.
• Focusing on most critical needs in the community

 Other comments:

• Thanks
• Too many of there sessions avoid issues of impoverished children
• Just trying to learn about C.S. Today this session was good for that.
• Helpful to meet individuals and network around table
• Great location!

 

“Attendance List”

 

Name	Organization
Barbara Aalfs	Community Volunteer
Mary Bertram	Community Action Agency
Abby Buckhouse	Briar Cliff University
Deb Burnight	Burnight Facilitated Resources
Paul Campbell	Presbytery of Prospect Hill
Thomas Clark	Sioux City BOOST
Jim Cole	Siouxland Youth for Christ
Katie Colling	Women Aware
Cheryl Connot-Perez	Wooddbury County Extension
Heather Craig-Oldsen	Briar Cliff University
Linnsey Davison	Siouxland Community Health
Rita DeJong	Sioux City BOOST
Sara Fay	St. Luke’s Hospital
Sister Shirley Fineran	Briar Cliff University
Linnea Fletcher	Jackson Recovery Centers
Jennifer Gomez	Sioux City Community Schools
Jeff Hackett	Boys Town
Sue Harder	Mercy Home Care
Ed Huff	Crittenton Center
Rev. Pat Johnson	Micah Project
Chris Jones	Sioux City BOOST
Dawn Kimmel	Siouxland Aging/SIMPCO TAG
Bruce Kolbe	Community Member
Sally Kolbe	Comprehensive Strategy
Herb Kuehne	Community Volunteer
Michelle Lewis	Siouxland District Health Depart.
Linda Madison	Sioux City Community Schools
Jade Meier	Briar Cliff University
Ivy Menke	Sioux City BOOST
Stephanie Mohrhauser	City of Sioux City/ Housing
Regan Murray	Briar Cliff University
Amy Munderloh	Northast Nebraska Community Action Partnership
Callie Naylor	Sioux City BOOST
Brenda Noll	Eckerd Youth Alternative
Matt Ohman	SHIP
John Parks	Sioux Valley Credit Union
Linda Phillips	Siouxland CARES
Joy Reuss	Lutheran Services of Iowa
Chrissie Reynolds	Boys and Girls Home
Andrea Rohlena	Jackson Recovery Centers
Dewey Sloan	Woodbury County Attorney
RoxAnn Smith	Jackson Recovery Centers/ River Hills
Dusti Storm	Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership
Abbie Susie	Big Brothers Big Sisters
Mark Stuck	R.W. Baird
Jason Wagner	Transitional Services of Iowa
Jenna Walsh	United Way of Siouxland
Ted Wilson	Briar Cliff University

 

Documentation
Comprehensive Strategy/Siouxland Healthy Initiative
Quarterly Community Meeting
September 28, 2012
Northwest Area Education Agency

Topic: “Economic Deprivation: A Prescription for Change”

Focus Question: “If indeed poverty is a significant root cause of problem behaviors (and our research indicates this to be true), how can we mobilize the community to impact extreme economic deprivation in Siouxland?”

Meeting Objectives:
• To raise awareness of the linkage between problem behaviors, risk and protective factors and the environmental strategies that can impact them
  To identify priority community environmental strategies that could reduce risk and build protection around our community goal for “Extreme Economic Deprivation”
• To network with colleagues

Agenda:
• Welcome/Introductions
• Partner Spotlight
• Online Comprehensive Strategy Partner Satisfaction Survey Results
• Impacting Economic Deprivation – A Comprehensive Approach
• Community Conversation
• “Offers and Requests”
• Evaluations and Adjournment
*************************************************************************************
Welcome and Introductions
Comprehensive Strategy Chair Barbara Aalfs welcomed the participants and led brief introductions. (For a list of attendees, see pages 7 & 8.) The facilitator confirmed the agenda.

Partner Spotlight
Jenna Walsh, United Way of Siouxland, presented information related to United Way’s current efforts related to addressing issues of economic deprivation. United Way raises community funds and distributes them to 30 agencies. They have three impact areas, one of which is focused on families. Examples of agencies providing programming to address poverty issues are:
• The Center has financial counseling, payee services, and transitional housing assistance.
• Mary Treglia Community House serves refugees, and helps with transitioning people into
the community.
• Women Aware helps clients create action plans.
United Way also partners to support the Earned Income Tax initiatives, helping people with tax preparation, which returned $400,000.00 locally last year, adding to the $1million returned since the program began. This is money that would have otherwise gone unclaimed and would not have come back to the Siouxland community. All United Way partners influence poverty in some way.

Satisfaction Survey Report
Allyson Olson, Comprehensive Strategy Council member, presented data from an online survey intended to provide direction for Comprehensive Strategy’s future focus and activities. The survey was distributed in July and August in order to assess partner satisfaction levels with Comprehensive Strategy’s process, outcomes, and opportunities for engagement. 58 partners responded to the survey. Overall, levels of partner satisfaction were very high. If anyone is interested in the full results of the survey, please contact Allyson at Allyson.olson@ssccardinals.org.

Impacting Economic Deprivation
Three members of the Comprehensive Strategy Council – Kevin Grieme, Linda Phillips, and Herb Kuehne – presented education intended to raise awareness of the Comp Strategy model and its approach to reducing risk and building protection around the risk factor of “extreme economic deprivation.” (See Appendix #1, page 9) Also included was information derived from geomapped
census data for the Siouxland area, illustrating pockets of poverty in our tri-state region.

Community Conversation
Four questions were asked in order to share group knowledge and insights related to the topic of poverty in Siouxland:
• What strategies related to poverty issues are you aware of currently being utilized in Siouxland that focus on the individual?
• What specific environmental strategies related to “extreme economic deprivation” are you aware of that are currently in use in the Siouxland area?
• What are other environmental strategies we could focus on (as a community)? Whatdifference would that make?
• What are our recommendations for action? What would it take to make that happen?
What are our next steps?

Participant responses recorded from table conversations are listed on page 3 – 5.
What strategies (related to poverty issues) are you aware of currently being utilized in Siouxland that focus on individual behaviors?
Table 1:
• Backpacks for meals being taken home by students for weekend meals
• Summer lunch program – being under-utilized
• Food Bank service opportunities for helping to pack programs
• Medical access for children – free to sliding fee scales
• I-Smile program – working to get students into dental homes, especially for Title IXX
• Free dental services provided by local dentists on identified days
• WIC program – nutrition education and food benefits

Table 2:
• Available information is given to school counselors
• The key is always going to be education and jobs in Siouxland, good paying jobs to be more specific
• Bring in awareness of the poverty level, where did stats come from

Table 3:
• Programs to help people help themselves
• Fed SS – Family Development – help to get off FIP
• Beyond Poverty – Salvation Army
• Women Aware programs
• CSADV programs
• Family team meetings – Crittenton
• Boys Town model
• Need hands-on intense services
• Need to remove barriers
• That congregations
• Move from acts of charity to systemic change

Table 4:
• Access to transportation
• Shopping cards
• Individual plans to access community supports
• Rental Assistance (family self sufficient through education and training
• Increase savings, build escrow (75 families)
• Educational plans
• Determine eligibility for certain programs for support

Table 5:
• SHIP – scholarship funds for low income families
• Family team meetings – connect to resources by choice, not dictated by court system
• Love and Logic parenting classes
• Siouxland Beyond Poverty classes

Table 6:
• Job retraining/training – DHS
• Churches work closely with schools and with children in poverty – fundraisers to raise money for families in need – Ponca
• Food assistance, cash assistance – DHS, nutrition education for individuals

What specific environmental strategies related to “extreme economic deprivation” are you aware of that are currently in use in the Siouxland area?

Table 1:
• Job retaining strategies – skill development for new
• Health care – training for high school students (CNA) program
• Career academies

Table 2:
• The funding for state and federal funds are decreasing. Programs will need to downsize and merge
• Also discussed helping people who are afraid to ask for help

Table 3:
• Scholarships to receive education
• Bus/taxi vouchers – for targeted clients
• Boost
• Swis program
• Hopes program
• Food pantries, banks

Table 4:
• Urban revitalization
• Siouxland Community Health Center – based on income so people can get affordable health care

Table 5:
• TANF – policy allows states to fashion own Welfare to Work – some have better
employment rates
• Pierce Street Corridor development – heart of inner city

Table 6:
• Low-income housing
• Sliding scales at Jackson, Health Center, Siouxland Mental Health Center

What are other environmental strategies we could focus on (as a community)? What difference would that make?

Table 1:
• Have a conversation with “poverty” individuals to determine what is needed – barriers
that are encountered by them to self-sufficiency

Table 2:
• More youth earlier to develop educational and leadership skills
• An environmental problem is a need for good low income housing options for the community. A focus needs to be affordable housing.

Table 3:
• One stop shop for all needs

Table 4:
• Concentration of poverty – segregation of children in neighborhoods
• Need a true integration where people are willing to live in neighborhoods with diversity in economic status
• Microloans
• Integration
• Skill-based education
• Community needs assessment
• Start a conversation!

Table 5:
• Habitat for Humanity – policy – assist with substandard housing by giving interest-free loans
• Low equity loans – promote own ownership
• Need policy for guaranteeing associate degree enrollment to every high school student –payment for tuition to school

Table 6:
• Ask them what THEY need – Platinum Rule – Educating families on what and where to get assistance

What are our recommendations for action? What would it take to make that happen? What are our next steps?

Focus Question: “If indeed poverty is a significant root cause of problem behaviors (and our research indicates this to be true), how can we mobilize the community to impact extreme economic deprivation in Siouxland?”

Recommendations for action:
1. Participants were encouraged to attend the upcoming Micah Project community meeting
(see Offers and Requests for details). The purpose of the Micah Project is to more
effectively alleviate poverty in our community.
2. A task team formed to design and implement a survey tool that can be used to assess families’ true economic needs, as seen through their eyes (i.e. “Platinum Rule” – “Do unto others as they would have you do unto them”). Sally Kolbe, Comprehensive Strategy Coordinator, will coordinate the work of the group.

Volunteers include:
• Amy Tooley, City of Sioux City
• Dewey Sloan, Woodbury County Attorney
• Margaret Sanders, CSADV
• Jenna Walsh, United Way
• Paul Olson, Briar Cliff University
• Mary Bertram, Community Action Agency of Siouxland

Based on the outcomes of the Micah Project meeting and the needs assessment task team, the Comprehensive Strategy Council will consider continuing this conversation at the next community meeting, to be held in December 2012. Those with suggestions for the agenda are encouraged to contact any Council member.

“Offers and Requests”
The following announcements were made:
The Micah Project Community Meeting: Thursday, October 11, 2012, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Scottish Rite Temple, 801 Douglas St., Sioux City. Breakfast and lunch provided, off-street parking available. RSVP for meals, please. Contact: Rev. Patricia Johnson, Director, 712-547-6020, Michaproject525@gmail.com. During these difficult economic times, with substantial funding cuts affecting programs and services, how can congregations partner with business, government, and social services to more effectively alleviate poverty.

Slavery: It Didn’t End with the Civil War (Human Trafficking): Patrick Atkinson for the Sister Muriel Ford Lecture presentation, 7:00 Sunday night, September 30, Briar Cliff University, Saint Francis Center. Open to the public. Human trafficking impacts our community today!

Cold Stone Creamery Fundraiser: Briar Cliff students – Sunday, September 30, noon – 4:00 pm, Cold Stone Creamery, 18th and Hamilton, will donate ½ profits to house building funds for service learning project in Guatemala in January 2013.
Domestic Violence Vigil: CSADV, Wednesday, October 3, 6:00 pm, Library Gleeson Room.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Community Family Team Meetings – Serving all of Siouxland: Sponsored by Community Partnership for Protecting Children. Contact Audrey at 712-252-8262, email alarson@crittentoncenter.org .

SPFSIG Coordinator Position Available: Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant Woodbury County position through Jackson Recovery Centers. Apply online to Jacskonrecovery.com or call Priscilla Anderson at 234-2314.

Red Ribbon Week Kickoff: Sponsored by Siouxland CARES, Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission, Sioux City Elks Lodge 112. Positive youth development – alternative activity at Long Lines Family Rec Center, 5:30-7:00 p.m., October 15, 2012.

Evaluations and Adjournment
A participant evaluation will be distributed with the documentation and participants are asked to return for ongoing performance improvement to Sally Kolbe at Sally.source@yahoo.com

Those in attendance were thanked for their participation and insights and the meeting officially adjourned at 10:59 AM.

Respectfully submitted,
D. Burnight, Facilitated Resources
October 2, 2012

Participant List (those who signed in):
Barbara Aalfs Community Volunteer
Mary Bertram Community Action Agency
Kathy Boman BCU student
Abby Buckhouse BCU student
Deb Burnight Burnight Facilitated Resources
Becky Carlson Siouxland District Health Dept.
Katie Colling Women Aware
Cheryl Connot-Perez Woodbury County Extension
Riley Cowell BCU student
Heather Craig-Oldsen Briar Cliff
Linda Cron NWAEA
Rita DeJong, BOOST-Bridging & Overcoming Obstacles thru Service and
Training
Nene Diallo BCU student
Jo Fokken, Western Iowa Tech Community
College
Jennifer Gomez SCCSD
Jody Graham Community Member
Kevin Grieme Siouxland District Health Dept.
Jane Griesel CSADV
Tammy Hovde
Pat Johnson Micah Project
Sally Kolbe Insight Source.org
Herb Kuehne Sioux City Police Dept.
Brian McCorthy BCU student
Leesa McNeil Woodbury County Courts
Mark Monson County Supervisor
Gary Niles Juvenile Court Services
Brenda Noll Eckerd Youth Alternative
Paul Olson Briar Cliff University
Jennifer Paulsen BCU student
Linda Phillips, Siouxland CARES

Paige Reinning Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Margaret Sanders CSADV
Dewey Sloan Woodbury County Attorney
RoxAnn Smith River Hills recovery
Paul Speidel Westlaun Presbyterian
Abbie Susie BBBS
Tina Tassler BCU student
Amy Tooley City of Sioux City
Gabriela Valdovinos BCU student
Jenna Walsh United Way of Siouxland
Sara Wester Siouxland District Health Dept.

APPENDIX #1 – Provided by Linda Phillips
Communities That Care Model for Comprehensive Strategy for Positive Youth
Development Vision: Our community will provide opportunities for youth and families to be healthy and resilient contributors to society.

Mission: To facilitate the creation of resource tools for positive youth development.

Five Objectives:
1. Reduce the availability of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs for illegal purposes.
2. Provide opportunities and support so families will be safe, healthy and nurturing.
3. Provide early opportunities and motivation for youth to develop positive meaningful relationships with their community
4. Provide early opportunities, motivation and support for academic success for all youth.
5. Foster economic growth that will enable families to achieve financial independence.

Specific individual and interpersonal risk factors for Objective 5 above:
• Lack of prenatal care
• Lack of health, dental and mental health care and/or coverage of medical insurance
• Unable to meet basic needs: food, housing, etc.
• Lack of quality early education and care programming
• Inadequate caregiver abilities
• Violence (child abuse, neglect, domestic violence)
• Poor children who live in old apartments or homes-high rates of accidental injury or
exposed to toxics-lead/asthma
• Lack of networks and support increases family isolation
• Children not living with two parents
• Child living with parent(s) who do not have steady, full-time employment
• Unengaged fathers
• Family income below the poverty level
• Family receiving welfare benefits
• Household head is high school dropout
• Minimum entry level job skills
• Lack of job-seeking skills
• Lack of coordinated, comprehensive school to work efforts
• Lack of basic work readiness and/or occupational skills
• Low paying wages to meet basic family needs
• Decline in employer healthcare benefits
• Lack of flexible work schedules, family-friendly businesses, corporate childcare
partnerships
Effective Approaches-Strategies
• Prenatal and Infancy Programs
o Perinatal approaches – Ensuring healthy pregnancies and healthy infants;
Preparing all young people for parenthood; Meeting demands of a high-needs
infant; Making family planning services available
o Scope of Health Care for Very Young Children – Providing well-child care
programming; Counseling and support services for children with chronic or
handicapping conditions; Providing dental services
o Dependable Caregivers – Ensuring quality child care choices; Providing
affordable child care options; Developing networks of family-centered child care
programs for infants and toddlers
o Mobilize Community to support Young Children and Families
• Youth Employment with Education
o Collaborative Relationships – wrap around services
o Skill Training Opportunities
o Job Mentoring Opportunities
o Meeting Basic Needs
o Leadership Development – opportunities for leadership development and civic
participation

 

Documentation

 Comprehensive Strategy

Quarterly Community Meeting

June 19, 2012

Topic: 

 “Data Review – Resetting the Targets”

 

Meeting Objectives:

• To provide community partners with current data impacting youth development
• To explore current data trends and provide anecdotal information to inform what the numbers are telling us
• To make community recommendations for 2015 target outcomes, based on current trends
• To network with colleagues

Agenda:

• Welcome/Introductions
• Partner Spotlight
• Data and Trends Review/Community Conversation
• 2015 Target Outcomes
• “Offers and Requests”
• Evaluations and Adjournment

*************************************************************************************

Welcome and Introductions

Comprehensive Strategy Chair Barbara Aalfs welcomed the participants and led brief introductions.  (For a list of attendees, see page 7.)  The facilitator confirmed the agenda.

Partner Spotlight

Through a short presentation and video, BriarCliffUniversity representatives Regan Murray and Paul Olson provided a brief history of the institution and information related to the Siouxland Social Science Research Center.  The Siouxland Social Science Research Center is an organization which designs and conducts affordable social science research in order to provide information needed by private or public agencies, non-profit organizations, and other community groups.  The Center can generate useful information for policy analysis, program evaluation, social impact studies, needs assessments, or action-orient ed research.  Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques are used, including but not limited to questionnaires, interviews, case studies, focus groups, polls, content analyses, and unobtrusive data-collecting strategies. 

Data and Trends Review/Community Conversation

Northwest AEA representative Marlin Jeffers led the group in an electronic response exercise to review current key data indicators related to the five Comprehensive Strategy problem behaviors: 1) Substance Abuse, 2) Teen Pregnancy, 3) School Dropout, 4) Delinquency, and 5) Violence.  The results of the exercise can be found in the PDF attachment entitled, “Comprehensive Strategy Clicker Report.”  Table and plenary conversations revealed the following insights from the participants:

What surprises you about this information?

• Dropout rates (improved by 1% inSioux City, decreased in SSC)
• Teen pregnancy rates (alarming compared to state rate for bothIowaandNebraska
• Difficulty at which teens can obtain alcohol or drugs
• Other things going down & marijuana use is up
• Drink more in a shorter time
• Binge drinking going down along with alcohol use in general
• Lower numbers in all categories
• Marijuana use was dipped in 2010
• Not surprised
• Not reflective of ten years ago – suspect that there is underreporting
• Some surprise at high use of marijuana by seniors

How does this information relate to your observations or experience working with your target population/client base/constituents?  What do you see happening in your world?

• Trends look good, but what data aren’t we tracking (K2)??
• JacksonRecovery – numbers are steady
• Big Brothers Big Sisters – Not seeing much with substance abuse, Younger “littles” (5% are age 14-18)
• Perhaps youth who fill out surveys are underreporting or youth with problem behaviors aren’t in attendance

What do you think is behind the numbers?  What are current trends, events or anecdotal information that helps to explain what’s going on here?

• Rural vs. urban areas
• Lower SES vs. higher SES areas
• Lack of parent involvement
• Behavior model/generational
• Social stigma of marijuana use as diminished with increase in medicinal marijuana
• (Our) Table does not believe that the drop in alcohol is actual
• We have alcohol problem.  We have special unit – but also high alcohol rate
• Child abuse high – and these children grow into adults with problems
• Drop in drug screening state – perhaps due to changes in hospital staff, mothers going to smaller or out-of-state hospitals, mothers using new drugs that are not tested
• Binge drinking – You can get very drunk without “binging” depending on what you drink.  “One drink” size is changing as portions get larger
• Dropout – many factors make it complicated to track (late graduation, early, graduation, alternative schools, state versus local policies)

 Questions raised:

• Survey should be administered at end of school year.  Are they?
• Why is there such a difference from year to year?

  • Why is Woodbury County so high compared to rest of state?

(Note: Data sheets included in the participants’ packets included: 1) Comprehensive Strategy Annual Progress Report, 2) Updated Risk Factor data (including data fromDakotaCounty), 3) Urban 8 comparisons, 4) County Health Rankings, 5) Metro Area Youth Survey, and 6) Previous 5-10-15 year Goals for the Problem Behaviors. Community partners wishing to access the current data reports are encouraged to visit the Siouxland CARES website link for Comprehensive Strategy at:

 http://siouxlandcares.org/comprehensive-strategy/data/ )

2015 Target Outcomes

Following a short networking break, the participants self-selected into problem behavior teams to re-set 2015 target outcomes, based on key indicators for each of the five problem behaviors.  The teams reported back on the following recommendations for target outcomes:

 

Problem Behavior:	2015 Target Outcome:	Rationale:
Substance Abuse (30 day prevalence)
Alcohol             Binge drinking             Tobacco             Marijuana	30% 20% 18% 18%	Current positive trends How low can it realistically go? Sends the message that there is still work to do
Teen Pregnancy	115 per birth rate per 1,000	Previous rate 100 Minimal resources – 3-5 year grants Small target is hit with grant $$ – not entire community/schools Not much change expected without change in attitudes, funds, awareness Top program – PP Capp dollars – PP, LSI, Girls Inc. Value systems/SES of our community Generational
School Dropout	Public (7-12)  2%             (9-12)  3%	Graduation coaches Career academies Legislative issues (Consistent definition of “dropout”, 5 years to complete diploma, count GED completion and training)
Delinquency and Violence	Be at the state average for juvenile simple arrests and larcenies 50%	We believe there will be a downward trend over the next 5 years due to the resources and increased collaborative efforts in the community

The participants indicated their levels of agreement with the proposed targets using the “clicker” response system.  Their responses are documented as item numbers 15-22 in the attached document entitled “Comprehensive Strategy Clicker Report.”

At the next Comprehensive Strategy quarterly community meeting, the new target outcomes will be reviewed, confirmed and/or adjusted, and environmental strategies that can help achieve these targets will be discussed in preparation for the annual Comprehensive Strategy legislative (public policy) forum in December.

 “Offers and Requests”

 The following announcements were made:

Jackson Healthy Kids and Communities Newsletter:  Send your email address to pandersen@jacksonrecovery.com to be added to the mailing list

Jackson Recovery Centers – Prevention Job Opening:  SPF SIG coordinator for PlymouthCounty.  Apply to Jackson Recovery Centers, jacksonrecoverycenters.com – Pricilla Andersen, 712-284-2314

Evaluations and Adjournment

Participants were asked to fill out evaluations of the community meeting.  (Note: A summary of evaluation responses is found on pages 5-6 of this document).  Those in attendance were thanked for their participation and insights.   The Data Collection Team was thanked in particular for all the hours of time and energy spent in collecting and organizing the 2012 data report.  The meeting officially adjourned at 11:00 AM.

 

 —————————————————————————————————————————

Comprehensive Strategy/Healthy Siouxland Initiative Joint Community Meeting
March 12, 2012

 

Topic:  Environmental Strategies–“Strategies that target the broader physical, social, cultural, and institutional forces that contribute to problem behaviors.”

Meeting Objectives:
.. Raise awareness of the potential for how environmental strategies can support lasting community change
.. Identify possible strategies that partners can implement (as individual organizations or collectively) that can significantly impact positive youth behavior
.. Network with community partners in the interest of positive youth development

Agenda:
• Welcome/Introductions
• Context-What are “environmental strategies?”
• Partner “Spotlight” – Priscilla Andersen, Jackson Recovery Centers; Holly Keegan, Monona County SPF SIG Coordinator; Katie Brannen, Woodbury County SPF SIG Coordinator; Andrew Dutler, Plymouth County SPF SIG Coordinator
• Small Group Discussion
• Debriefing of Small Group Discussion
• “Offers and Requests”
• Evaluations and Adjournment
*************************************************************************************
Welcome and Introductions:  Comprehensive Strategy Chair Barbara Aalfs welcomed the participants and led brief introductions.

Linda Phillips, Siouxland CARES, and Michelle Lewis, Siouxland District Health Department, defined “environmental strategies” and gave examples of some currently being used in their work.

Partner Spotlight
Four representatives (see list in agenda) from Jackson Recovery Centers presented information on the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant environmental strategies currently being implemented in Monona, Woodbury and Plymouth counties.

Small Group Discussion and Debrief
Tables were asked the following questions and given time to share answers with each other.
1. What do you see going on related to environmental strategies in your world? Where are you using or observing environmental strategies? What is the impact/result on individual/family/ organizational/community behaviors?

2. If you see evidence of environmental strategies in your work or experience, what is driving a push in that direction? (i.e., funding opportunities, marketing, competition, etc.?)

Following plenary discussion, each table was asked to write 5-10 environmental strategies that had been listed at their tables on sheets of paper (color-coded to indicate whether the strategies were at the Home/Family level, the Workplace level, the Community level or the State/Federal level). The examples were collected and organized into eleven different focus areas (see “Appendix 1” for detail on the resulting work product). In debriefing the exercise, the participants noted that areas of strength included “Food Selection Choices” and “Physical Activity and Exercise.” Areas that were noted for needing more attention included:
• A need for less disconnect between those who want to eat healthier and cost of healthy food
• Supporting positive sustainable policies for all facets of Life
• More workplace strategies at all levels (Note: Michelle Lewis shared information related to local efforts to support workplace wellness – anyone wishing to get involved in the initiative or find out more about it is encouraged to call Angela Drent at the Siouxland District Health Department.)

When asked what should be done with the work product created, the participants suggested sharing the information with the Blue Zone team (considering the good programs and strategies that are already in place) and emphasizing the message that this work will continue to move forward.

“Offers and Requests”
The following announcements were made:

MARY TREGLIA HEALTH FAIR: April 19, 9 AM – noon at 900 Jennings. Purpose is to educate immigrant families on health services and related programs. Looking for more providers who have information to share with this new population.

MULTICULUTRAL FAIR: Everyone is invited Sunday, March 25 from Noon – 4 PM at Long Lines for food, entertainment and education.

“GREAT HURT:” Awareness of historic trauma and impact on Native American families, children and youth. March 25 at 7:00 PM at the Briar Cliff University Stark Center. Open to the public.

JACKSON RECOVERY CENTERS: Annual banquet, March 24th at the Marina Inn. National speaker to present – for more information, contact www.jacksonrecovery.com

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS: Presented by CSADV and the Iowa Department of Public Health on Friday, May 18, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, at the Northwest Area Education Agency. Free – Contact Deb at 277-0131 for more information.

AGENCY SUMMIT: For all service providers on Friday, March 30th at St. Thomas Church (12th & Douglas) to share and gather info. Appropriate for line staff to learn about services available to clients. Call Mary at Community Action Agency to register.

KIDS FEST: For kids 0-5 in IDA County – Booths, fun education, and prizes. Ida Grove Skate Palace on April 12, 3:30 – 6:30.

NEEDED: Information on who can put healthy food in vending machines
Evaluations and Adjournment
Participants were asked to fill out evaluations of the community meeting and leave them at the door as they left (Note: A summary of evaluation responses is found on page 4 of this document). Those in attendance were thanked for their participation and insights. The meeting adjourned at 10:55 AM.

Respectfully submitted,
D. Burnight, Facilitated Resources

Participant Evaluation Summary
Number of respondents: 24
Note: A formatting issue neutralized available information from the quantitative evaluation component – therefore, no quantitative scores are included in this summary.

Narrative responses included:
An “ah-ha” for me during this session was…
• Seeing what was offered in the community as environmental strategies currently
• We operate in a bubble
• Learning what other agencies’ strategies are – some great ideas. Getting everyone involved.

I would suggest that in future sessions we…
• Include clients as part of meeting
• I like the meeting format

Other comments:
• Need to focus on what inhibits behavioral change
• Allow more time for large activity – felt too rushed
• Excellent
• Excellent!
 

Legislative Forum

Friday, December 9, 2011, 9:00 a.m.

Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center

Hosted by Comprehensive Strategy

 Welcome:  Barbara Aalfs, Comprehensive Strategy Chair

Introductions/Process:  Kevin Grieme, Director, Siouxland District Health Department, (712) 279-6119, kgrieme@sioux-city.org.

ACADEMIC FAILURE  Mandatory attendance until successful graduation or 18 years of age. Presented by Dr. Linda Madison, Associate Superintendent, Sioux City Community School District, 712- 251-5882 (cell), madisol@live.siouxcityschools.com.

Background: A few points made through the research….

•     Economic future of our states/country and the dropout problem are related.

•     Suggests as much as a 12% increase in earnings post-high school.

•     Students less likely to report being unemployed, having health problems, being depressed, and working in lower-skilled jobs.

•     People with more schooling report higher levels of satisfaction with their lives overall.

•     A compulsory school age helps raise expectations among students, their parents, school authorities, and the general public.

 Current Law/Regulation

 Iowa

Iowa Code, Chapter 299, covers compulsory school attendance and truancy:

“The parent, guardian, or legal or actual custodian of a child who is of compulsory attendance age (6-16 years old), shall cause the child to attend some public school, an accredited nonpublic school, or competent private instruction.”

 Nebraska

July 1, 2005Nebraskalegislation made attendance at school compulsory until age 18. The rationale behind this enactment was a strong commitment to all students earning a high school diploma. More importantly is the new legislation that requires each district to report attendance to the state on a monthly basis and requires that students with excessive absences to be reported to and prosecuted by the County attorney.

 South Dakota

Effective July 1, 2008, South Dakota passed legislation making attendance compulsory until age 18 unless students have earned a high school diploma or have completed a school based GED program passing the GED test from the Dept. of Labor.

 TEEN PREGNANCY

 Background:

• Page 5 of Comprehensive Strategy June 2011 Progress Report—percentage of teen pregnancies for Woodbury County, State of Iowa, Dakota County and State of Nebraska
  • Handout: Sioux City’s rate of teen childbirth compared to Urban 5 in Iowa 
  • Handout: The Cost of Teenage Pregnancy
  • Handouts (3): The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota
    • Handout: Other Information Related to Teenage Pregnancy

 Data Highlights:

• Teen pregnancy rates have been increasing since 2007 in both Woodbury and Dakota counties.
• According to a Geo-mapping Study using grant funding that was completed using teen births in 1997-1999,
  • The race breakdown of “urban” teen mothers was:
    • 85% Caucasian
    • 8% Native American
    • 5% Black
    • 2% Asian
    • The race breakdown for “rural” teen mothers was:
      • 93% Caucasian
      • 7% Asian
      • Public Costs of Teen Childbearing in 2008:
        • $99 million in Iowa
        • $67 million in Nebraska
        • $23 million in South Dakota
        • In 2008 costs to taxpayers in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota associated with the children of teen mothers were:
          • $36 million for public health care
          • $64 million for child welfare
          • $28 million due to increased rates of incarceration
          • $49 million in lost tax revenue
          • Teen pregnancy coincides with other problem behaviors being addressed by Comprehensive Strategy for Positive Youth Development:
            • Economic deprivation
            • Availability of alcohol and other drugs
            • Academic failure

 What works to reduce teen pregnancy:

• • Comprehensive sex education:  curriculum-based education that encourages both abstinence and contraceptive use.
  • Service learning programs that engage youth in their communities.
  • Youth development programs that encourage participants to plan for their future.
  • Parent programs that involve parents and youth and seek to improve communication.
  • Community-wide programs that encourage involvement from the entire community.

 Current Human Sexuality/Development Education Begins:

• Iowa: Sioux City Public Schools’ current curriculum is to introduce puberty via fifth grade human growth and development class. The Sioux City Catholic Schools do teach human sexuality courses and their curriculum is abstinence-only.
• Nebraska: South Sioux City’s current curriculum is 4-6 grade girls get information on menstrual cycles and body changes associated with puberty. All 5-6grade boys are educated about body changes associated with puberty. No additional education is completed.   
• South Dakota: Dakota Valley’s current curriculum is to introduce puberty and male/female development during an informational talk during fifth grade science class.

What We Know and Want You to Know…and Continue to Fund:

• Prevention education is key:
  • While teen sexual activity is down among most teens, it has risen among girls younger than 15. Terry, E., & Manlove, J. (2000). Trends in Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use Among Teens. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
    • We recommend broadening the span of human sexuality education within schools’ core competency—starting early and provide ongoing education.
    • We also recommend that schools and parents allow the surveying of students to help target more effective programming and education. (For example: Substance Abuse survey/decreasing usage; new Mental Health screening/identifying depression)
    • Parents have a definite role (and are vital) in reducing teenage pregnancy.
      • Teenagers want to talk to their parents about sex, love, relationships and birth control:
        • A study showed that 7 of 10 teens interviewed said that they were ready to listen to things parents thought they were not ready to hear.
        • Another study found that when asked about the reasons why teenage girls have babies, 78% of white and 70% of African-American teenagers reported that lack of communication between a girl and her parents is often a reason teenage girls have babies. Premarital Sexual Experience Among Adolescent Women – U.S. 1970-1988. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 39, Nos. 51 & 52, (January, 1991). Princeton Survey Research Associates for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (1996, June). The 1996 Kaiser Family Foundation Survey on Teens and Sex: What Teens Today Say They Need to Know, and Who They Listen To. Menlo Park, CA: Author.
        • According to TheNationalCampaign.org,age-appropriate conversations about relationships, sex, love, and intimacy should begin early in a child’s life and continue through adolescence. Having the stereotypical “talk” once with your child is not enough and often occurs too late.
          • We recommend somehow integrating core competency and parental engagement—possibly having parents determine level of education and when, etc. Reinforced communication and education from both schools and parents will only aid in preventing teenage pregnancy.

Siouxland should prioritize funding to conduct a new geo-mapping study as well as begin a study of “best practices” from other Iowa counties and states where teen pregnancy rates are low to better understand teen pregnancy in our area and to help target more effective programming and education.

• Investing in programs that provide education and prevention of teenage pregnancy and that allow teen parents to continue to gain independence, will save taxpayers in the long run.  An effective example is the child care center for Sioux City high schools.

 SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ADDICTION, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

 Children:

• 11.9% of children live with a parent that is addicted or abuse alcohol and/or drugs.
• Children are the largest growth population and most children are being raised in poverty and by a single parent (mother).
• 28% ofUSchildren, between the ages of 12-20, on average drink 6 times per month and have 5 or more drinks per drinking episode.
• 50% of all mental illness begins by age 14.
• 20% of all children suffer from mental illness.

 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation calls Addiction the number one public health problem.

• Costs the American economy $275 billion a year.
• Total expenditures for treatment only $18 billion.
• Cost benefit ratio (without cost of corrections) is for each $1 spent on treatment there is a $7 return.
• If you count corrections savings – the ratio is for each $1 spent on treatment results in a $12 return.

 Recommendations:

1. Fund in-jail Treatment:  The Phoenix Program inWoodburyCounty works!  All State and Federal funding has been eliminated after October of 2012.  The Phoenix Program has demonstrated its effectiveness by outside objective evaluation conducted by theUniversity ofIowa Substance Abuse Consortium.  The Phoenix Program has been credited with helping prevent the need for a new jail. 
2. Utilizing tax credits as a way to incent business to grow or invest in capital does not work for not-for profits.  The substance abuse treatment and prevention system would benefit from a sales tax exemption like those already provided hospitals, schools, etc.
3. The Mental Health System inIowaneeds to be redesigned and funded adequately. 
4. A standardized set of core mental health services need to be available to all Iowans.
5. Substance abuse treatment is a specialty that demands highly trained professional staff.  Addiction is a diagnosis historically that does not respond to general mental health or physical health intervention.  It is imperative that the addiction treatment specialty not be lost in any attempts to redesign the mental health system or state government realignment.  We strongly believe that the SA system is best placed in the Department of Public Health and that the payment system should not be merged with the mental health system in the redesign.  We believe both systems are underfunded and the merger of two underfunded systems only creates a new exceedingly underfunded system without focus and priority.
6. A full continuum of substance abuse and mental health treatment should be included as an essential benefit in any health care reform benefit design inIowa. 
7. Regional child and adolescent crisis stabilization and evaluation units are essential services that are missing in the current continuum of care.
8. In-school mental health and substance abuse programs need to continue to be funded.

 

AVAILABILITY OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS  Increase Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota’s Beer Excise Tax to $0.73 per gallon.  Presented by Carolyn Goodwin, Adult Advisor, Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission, (712) 251-4502, goodwin.mk@gmail.com.

Background: 

Alcohol abuse results in deaths, injuries, violence, teen pregnancy, school absenteeism, and crime, to name a few. Many times cities, counties, and states bear the burden of alcohol abuse in the form of law enforcement, court and health care costs. 

Research has shown that implementing alcohol environmental strategies as part of a comprehensive plan is effective in reducing costs associated with the alcohol abuse as well as underage drinking.  Locally, our alcohol environmental strategies include keg registration, enforcement of underage drinking laws, holding adults responsible for teen parties, compliance checks, party patrols, and responsible beverage server training.  Another equally important environmental strategy is the raising of the beer excise tax.  Raising the beer excise tax will reduce youth access to alcohol and will provide much-needed funds for prevention, treatment, corrections, and enforcement services, all of which can help reduce the use of alcohol and the associated costs.    

Iowa 

Current Beer Excise Tax Rate:  $0.19 per gallon (ranked as the 26^th state from the top-Alaska is 1^st at $1.07 per gallon).  Wine tax inIowa is $1.75 per gallon.  The beer excise tax inIowa has not been raised since July 1, 1986.  Inflation adjustment is not built in so we continue to lose revenue.  In 2010,Iowa’s Beer Excise Tax was $14,488,000, compared to $14,657,000 in 2009.

Impact:  An increase in the beer tax of 54 cents per gallon would be about a 5 cent per serving increase in a typical 12 oz. serving of beer (128 ounces in a gallon divided by 12 oz. serving is approximately 11 of the 12 oz. servings=5 cents per serving).

• The proposed tax would add $0.60 to the cost of a 12-pack of beer.
• The proposed tax would cost a light drinker (two beers a week) $5.20 per year.
• The proposed tax would cost a heavy drinker (twelve beers a week) $31.20 per year.
• The proposed increase would generate approximately $41.6 million dollars annually based upon FY2009 beer sales of just over 77 million gallons of beer statewide.

 Nebraska  

Current Beer Excise Tax Rate:  $0.31 per gallon (ranked 14^th state).  Wine tax inNebraska is $0.95 per gallon.  In 2009,Nebraska’s Beer Excise Tax was approximately $14,380,000.

 Impact:  An increase in the beer tax of 42 cents per gallon would be about a 4 cent per serving increase in a typical 12 oz. serving of beer (128 ounces in a gallon divided by 12 oz. serving is approximately 11 of the 12 oz. servings=4 cents per serving).

• The proposed tax would add $0.48 to the cost of a 12-pack of beer.
• The proposed tax would cost a light drinker (two beers a week) $4.16 per year.
• The proposed tax would cost a heavy drinker (twelve beers a week) $24.96 per year.
• The proposed increase would generate approximately $19.5 million dollars annually based upon FY2009 beer sales of just over 46 million gallons of beer statewide.

South Dakota

Current Beer Excise Tax Rate:  $0.27 per gallon (ranked 16^th state).  Wine tax inSouth Dakota is $0.93 per gallon.  In 2009,South Dakota’s Beer Excise Tax was approximately $5,900,000. 

 Impact:  An increase in the beer tax of 46 cents per gallon would be about a 4 cent per serving increase in a typical 12 oz. serving of beer (128 ounces in a gallon divided by 12 oz. serving is approximately 11 of the 12 oz. servings=4 cents per serving).

• The proposed tax would add $0.48 to the cost of a 12-pack of beer.
• The proposed tax would cost a light drinker (two beers a week) $4.16 per year.
• The proposed tax would cost a heavy drinker (twelve beers a week) $24.96 per year.
• The proposed increase would generate approximately $10.4 million dollars annually based upon FY2009 beer sales of just over 21 million gallons of beer statewide.

Utilization of revenue:  The increase in revenue could be used to fund drug enforcement, corrections, treatment, and prevention services.  These services might include, but are not limited to, drug courts, jail-based treatment, multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, prevention programs, and other treatment services.