A. Expand student participation and involvement in prevention activities

B. Develop parent and community involvement in substance and violence abuse awareness and responsibility

C. Provide teacher training for substance and violence abuse awareness and implementation of substance/violence abuse curriculum

D. Provide curriculum materials for grades K-8 early prevention

E. Annually disseminate substance and violence abuse/prevention policy

A. Continue Strategic Asset-Building and CHARACTER COUNTS!SM Initiatives

B. Utilize the current data (i.e. Spring 2002-03-04 Character Survey/Bully Results) to help focus new and experienced Wellness Council Members on current goals

C. Continue Intergovernmental Committee - "Youth Master Plan" (Leadership and Involvement)

OLD BUSINESS

Aug/September - Responsibility

October - Trustworthiness

November - Citizenship

December- Caring

January - Fairness

February - Respect

March - Respect

April - Trustworthiness

May - Caring

June / July - Fairness/Citizenship

The survey prompted us to ask 5 key questions:

a) What does the data tell us?

b) What accomplishments or positive aspects can we celebrate?

c) What emerges as needs/improvement?

d) What does the data not tell us?

e) What other information is needed?

From our brief overview, the following were points to celebrate:

· 70% of youth indicate that parents know their friends

· 68% of youth indicate that if they knew something dangerous was going to happen, they would go to an adult for help

· 65% of youth indicate that people would help someone who is new feel accepted

· 60% of youth indicate that there are adults to talk with youth about problems that are bothering them

More analysis is forthcoming at the school level and will be shared with the community, as more results are shared with the administration and teaching staff.

Things to keep in mind - there was a low number of parents taking the survey. The 5th grade survey is possible going to be revised, as is the Spanish version for youth and adults.

COMMUNITY SHARING

A. Village of Woodridge - (J. Cedillo) CultureFest 2005 is September 9-10, 2005. They are looking for ways to involve children. There is music, food, dance, sharing of cultures with families and kids. Call Julia with ideas (630) 719-4709

B. School District 68 -

· Woodridge 68 School Board (L. Pollack) The Woodridge School Board is aware that the district's staffing pattern does not reflect the community demographics. The Board is aware and this is a priority issue

· Sipley (C. Sanders) CHARACTER COUNTS!SM (CC!) Activities: Tsunami candy fundraiser, in December students sent US soldiers in Iraq cards, collected items to send to soldiers in February '05, Grade 5 went to a retirement home

· Meadowview (R. Leppert) They did a project "Band Together" for Tsunami relief

· Willow Creek (L. Wardlow) They also did Tsunami relief, morning announcements on the topic of name-calling

· Goodrich (B. Hall) Coins for Kids - Tsunami relief, one Goodrich student will participate in the summer "Ambassador" program in Germany - World Youth Day

· Murphy (L. David) CC! Monthly Pillar Activities, Student Council raised over $1000 for Tsunami relief

· Edgewood (L. Marszalek) Every Friday afternoon teachers have a lesson on a pillar with examples

· Jefferson Junior High (J. Marten) Jill distributed the list of after school extra-curricular activities. Research has shown that youth involved in positive activities between 3 and 6 PM are more apt to build personal assets. In February they will be holding their talent show. (R. Freed) Project Care for soldiers in Iraq, Quarterly recognition breakfasts - 5 a quarter - parents, community leaders invites to recognize students on the honor roll and for CC! "pillar" accomplishments, Career Day with the Chamber is March 24th , NEW: Transition nights for 6th grade parents the night before their child visits JJH, parents and students can come together before school starts to find their lockers, rooms, etc.

C. Center Cass District 66 - (A. Conley) IL Youth Survey results indicate Lakeview Junior High students have one of the lowest drug/alcohol usage in IL. They do CC! every day in "home base". Their Tsunami relief project raised $6000.

D. St. Scholastica School - (L. Pistilli) CC! efforts include staff giving out cards for the pillar of the month. As a reward students can be out of uniform but wearing the pillar color of the month. Prizes are given. Primary students have sent cards and projects to those in home hospice. They have a military wall of prayer and have contributed to Tsunami relief in India.

E. Community Resource Center - (B. Johnson) They have increased enrollment (Gr 1-6). DuPage County has come in three times to do anti-smoking presentations. They value "service" by kids: April - National Youth Service Day, October - Make a Difference Day, and they partner with PADS by making placemats. They partner with businesses for violence prevention, cultural diversity emphasizing tolerance twice a week.

F. Metro DuPage Family Services - (P. Nugent)

· They maintain a Senior Respite House for seniors whose care-givers need to get away for up to a week. Respite workers help the care-givers. (784-4978).

· Their counseling program covers all ages

· Parent University - Downers Grove South HS on March 12 from 8:15-12:30. Includes breakfast - $15/ adult early registration and $20 at the door. Watch for flyers to be sent home from school.

G. Parents as Teachers Program - (P. Nugent) For parents of children (aged 0 - 3 years) to learn school readiness. They have a couple of openings in both the English and Spanish programs. Their evening programs have been very successful - police officers have been resources. Their family nights are packed. Participants have identified a need - they have commented that there are few Spanish-speaking adults in the schools; therefore they bring their children to translate - which is not always successful.

H. DuPage County Health Dept. - (S. Crowder and S. Roberts) Sharon works with Tobacco Prevention which includes smoke-free programs in the schools. They hope to have curriculum kits available through the Audio-visual Institute of DuPage (AVID) and also online. Their DuPage County Health Department resources are: "DuPage Smoke-free Restaurant Guide", "DuPage Services Guide (Spanish and English)", and "DuPage Medical Reserve Corps" www.citizencorpsdupage.org or call (630) 682-7979 x7126

I. Church Faith Community - (P. Distacio) Christ Church is a new church moving into the area and they want to become involved in the community. They already are doing food pantry drives (January through March). They would like to get youth involved in community service - -i.e. car washes, community center, and volunteer opportunities.

J. Abraham Lincoln Center for Character Development - (E. Caprel)

· The DuPage Character Coalition is hosting a lunch meeting February 9th at Aramark (11:30-1:30) on "Character is Good for Business".

· NCLB has come out with a position statement on Character Education (41p)

· The training brochure for spring 2005 is on their website: http://www.healthydupage.org/LincolnCenter/index.htm

· They have a High school essay contest (national and county) Middle schools are welcome to participate. · May 6th they are hosting a High school program "Smart and Good Schools".