SCRATCH Meeting Minutes

April 8, 2015

Welcome and Introductions

Old Business

Meeting with Assemblyman Andrezejczsk

Cory and Gloria met with Assemblyman Andrezejczsk March 17. He was very receptive to everything the

coalition stands for. The meeting was about 15 minutes long, but a lot was accomplished in those 15 minutes. A

SCRATCH folder was given to the Assemblyman Andrezejczsk, acknowledging the achievements that

SCRATCH has made over the years. Assemblyman Andrezejczsk mentioned that he works closely with returning

veterans. Gloria from PFS will reach out to invite Assemblyman Andrezejczsk to speak at an upcoming military

conference this summer. He was very impressed and wanted to know why hadn’t heard about SCRATCH sooner.

There are no further meetings currently setup for legislators. There were a total of six, and this was the 4th

meeting with local politicians that Cory and SCRATCH members have attended.

Prom Initiatives

Cory passed around the complete Prom Card that was distributed at Pennsville Memorial High School for

members to see. The coalition focused on the Pennsville area, due to having a good report with the high school

and have worked with them in the past. Through brainstorming, it was decided The Parents Who Host Lose the

Most cards would be sent out to all students throughout the school. On the back of the card was a link to a survey

with three key informant interview questions about underage drinking. In exchange for parents completing the

survey, they could enter their child in a drawing to win a free tux, hair style, boutonniere or corsage. SCRATCH

was able to partner with local business to donate prizes for the drawing and the will receive free advertisement.

Thus far we have 29 surveys completed.

Don Palmucci, SAC for Pennsville School District, has been taking charge making sure the survey gets

out to parents. A copy of the card was sent home in back packs and was also emailed to parents. The deadline to

enter the drawing is this coming Sunday, April 12, and the drawing will be on Monday. Cory will reach out to

Don to send a follow up email reminding parent the deadline is fast approaching. Cory shared with members an

article from the South Jersey Times that was featured announcing underage drinking efforts around the region.

The article is titled, “NJ High School Students Speak Out On Dangerous Reality of Underage Drinking.” The

article can be found at:

http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2015/04/nj_high_school_students_speak_out_on_dangerous_rea.htm

NJ Prescription Monitoring Program Training

The coalition, along with Inspira and the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, is planning a training

about the NJ Prescription Monitoring Program April 21 at the Luciano Conference Center of Cumberland County

College. Cory and Mark met with the college yesterday to work out the final details. About ten people have

signed up for the training, the coalition was expecting about 80 prescriber to register. There is still two weeks left

before the training so hopefully more will register. Cory noted the training will be open to anyone that want to

attend. Cory encouraged members to get the word out to organizations and anyone that would like to attend the

training. Cory will send out a digital copy to members to distribute. Cory will post the training on The Southwest

Council and SCRATCH Facebook pages. Members who would like to are welcome to table at the event as well.

PRIDE Outreach

First strike at PRIDE outreach was to mail all the principals packets about the PRIDE survey. The PRIDE

survey is a one-page scan-tron sheet that gauges students beliefs about and use of alcohol, smoking, marijuana,

and prescription drugs. The survey collect valuable local data that can help secure funding for more drug and

alcohol prevention programs in the schools and community. The survey was done in Cumberland County

successfully in previous years. This year middle schools in Salem County will be targeted for the PRIDE Survey.

Salem County schools have been slow to sign up. Three weeks ago Cory sent out the PRIDE survey packets to

principals of all middle schools in Salem County. Two weeks ago Cory emailed the packet about the PRIDE

survey to guidance counselors and SAC counselors and contact school-based programs. One principal responded

by saying he would be stepping down this year, but to email the new principal. The next step is to do face to face

visit to the schools. The main obstacles of administering the PRIDE survey in the past have been getting

permission from the principals and getting parental consent for students to participate. Cory asked members to

contact her with suggestions or any inside connections they may have with a middle school.

Hospice Update

The funeral home policy project has wrapped up. Some funeral homes in Salem and Cumberland counties

have agreed to distribute information about how to properly dispose of medication and the locations of

prescription drop boxes to their clients. SCRATCH is now in the process of reaching out to hospice and long-term

care facilities to get the same information out. So far the response has been good. Cory has a meeting scheduled

for next week with Golden Rehab Center and Friends Village in Salem County to speak with and give them

information and materials to be put in their information packets. The Inspira Clinical Care Coordinator will be

stopping by Southwest Council to pick up information as well. Coalition members recommended Cory contact

Holy Redeemer, Salem Hospital and Compassionate Care.

DEA, NJ Prevention Network and Partnership Drug for NJ

Announced April 25, 2015 as “Spring Cleaning: Get Rid of Your Unused Medications” day. Regional

Coalitions were asked to do something for the day that would give the prescription drug collection efforts in their

region a boost. The SCRATCH Coalition decided to create lawn signs to put out in front of drop boxes locations,

to remind people to drop off their unused medications.

Key Informant Interviews Result

A summary of Key Informant Interview data was distributed to coalition members. The number of people

interview was lower this time around, but the results were good. Members are encouraged to look through the data

on their own. Cory thanked members for their participation. The next round of data collection will take place in a

few months.

New Business

Getting to know SCRATCH Members —Chelsea Welch, City of Vineland Department of Health

Chelsea spoke about what the City of Vineland Health Department offers to families in the community.

She mentioned the Healthy Kids Champion campaign, which involves schools participating in an online self-

assessment. Chelsea distributed the City of Vineland Department of Health Directory of Services brochure to

members.

Coalition Chair and Co-Chair Nominations and Elections

The SCRATCH Coalition annually elects its leading officers. Opportunity for nominations for the

positions of Chairperson, Co-Chairperson and Communications Officer was given. It was decided that Connie

Cossaboom will continue as Coalition Chairperson and Beth Thomas was nominated to be the new Co-

Chairperson. Gloria will continue to serve as Communications Officer and record the SCRATCH minutes.

Salem County Freeholder Proclamation

Cory and Michelle attended the Salem County Freeholder Meeting on April 1 to receive a proclamation

declaring April as Alcohol Awareness Month. Regina Traini from the county municipal alliances accepted the

proclamation. Cory and Michelle were later invited up to the front of the room by Freeholder Director Julie Actin

to speak about Pennsville MAPSA and the SCRATCH Coalition. A copy of the proclamation will be mailed to

Cory.

Radio Broadcast on 1270am WMIZ

It was brought up at the last coalition meeting to get on the radio to announce Parents who Host Lose the

Most campaign information during this prom season. Coalition members suggested Cory contact religious leaders

who have their own radio shows. However, because of the tight timeframe, the coalition thought it would be best

to wait until the CCHCC Youth Network members professionally record their PSA at Rowan and air those

instead.

However, because of the recent outreach efforts to religious leaders, Cory was offered the opportunity

from Pastor Ben of Rock of Salvation Church in Vineland to broadcast live on his radio show on April 10 from 9-

10am. Unfortunately, Cory is unable to attend that day, so instead Janine from The Southwest Council will doing

an hour long show that is in Spanish that will be translated in English get the word out about what the coalition’s

work.

Cumberland County College Spring Fling

A fun Spring Fling event will be held on Cumberland County College campus Wednesday April 29th from

11:30am-2:30pm. The CCHCC will be doing a mocktail table where they will be making mixed drinks without

the alcohol and giving out the recipes. SCRATCH will be doing wheel of fun with trivia questions about drugs

and alcohol. If anyone is interested in volunteering at the events please let Cory know.

Also, the college will be having a community event the following Saturday where SCRATCH has been

invited to table and share information. Connie has volunteered to man the table at the event.

Rutgers Annual Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GYK7WSK

Coalition members are encouraged to take the Rutgers Annual Survey, which helps Rutgers track our

progress throughout the length of the grant. Only members who have been active the past year should take the

survey. Members can contact Cory if you need further assistance.

PFS Update

Gloria thanked members for putting in the effort with the Prescription Drug Abuse Survey. Eighty one

people have taken the survey thus far. Four more posters were distributed in Salem and Cumberland County. The

poster is now also available in Spanish. Gloria informed members about the upcoming military conference this

summer. Members are encouraged to come out and table at the event. Gloria will let members know a date,

location, and flyer to be presented at an upcoming meeting.

Pennsville Project Graduation Brainstorming

The coalition has been invited to participate in some way in the upcoming Project Graduation for

Pennsville Memorial High School. This year the event will be held at the Boys and Girls Club. The group

brainstormed possibly ideas for how it could contribute to the fun, as well as educate the youth. Beth

recommended doing something geared toward students who go down to the shore after graduation. Cory

suggested sponsoring a snack and attaching an educational fact or message to the snack. Quinn suggested stapling

a brochure to chips for underage drinking. Coalition members suggested maybe sponsoring a bouncy house,

karaoke machine or photo booth for the event. Last year SWC participated at Glassboro high school and presented

the Fatal Vision Goggle training and it was successful. However, since Project Graduation events take place until

the early hours of the morning, coalition members wanted to come up with an idea that could be implemented

without a member present.

Member Roundtable

Beth Thomas (Cumberland County Health Department): There will be an open house event for the Penns Grove

SBYSP on April 27th from 7:45am-4:30pm at Penns Grove High School. Holy City Family Success Center will be

hosting a Spring Fling event on April 25 from 11- 3pm.

Cory Gilden (The Southwest Council): Camp YEY will be sending out applications for campers soon. Cory

distributed “Save the Date” forms to be completed by families who want to request an application packet.

Registration packets will be sent out in early May. It is open to 4-8th graders in Cumberland, Gloucester and

Salem Counties. The first week of August will be for the 7th and 8th grades and the second week of August will be

campers in for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. Camp is run by The Southwest Council with lots of fun events. Contact

Cory if you know of anyone interested.