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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Information Memorandum 06-21-1989CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BLVD., PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 TELEPHONE (612) 559-2800 MEMO DATE: dune 21, 1989 TO: dames G. Willis, City Manager �%� FROM: Laurie Rauenhorst, City Clerk►`" SUBJECT SCHOOL DISTRICTS' CHEMICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS On April 3 the City Council directed staff to obtain general information on the four school districts' chemical health programs. This was prior to discussions on the D.A.R.E. Program, and the information was requested in an effort to become better informed of area resources and to aid the Council during budgeting so they are aware of what programs are available. Attached are responses from Districts 284, 281, and 279. District 270 did not respond. Also, Gary Swedberg of District 284 stated in his materials that this information is released for the City's internal use only. Please provide any information that would better inform us of your chemical health program in the elementary, middle/Jr. high, sr. high grades. Call me at 559-2800 extension 204 if you need clarification. Laurie Rauenhorst, Clerk SCHOOL DISTRICT: Chemical Health Program (Name and Director): Total Chemical Health Program Budget: $ Budget Breakdown - Elementary $ Or./Middle $ Sr. High $ Budget Breakdown by Service, e.g. Staff,.Supplies, etc. Description of Staff and Services Provided in Elementary Grades and Priorities and Goals of the Program: Description of Staff and Services Provided in Jr. High/Middle School Grades and Priorities and Goals of the Program: Description of Staff and Services Provided in Sr. High Grades and Priorities and Goals of the Program: Participation in Program Number/Percentage of Student Population: 1986 / 1987 / 1988 / 1989 / How well is the program working? Statistics? CITY C� April 14, 1989 PLYMOUTH+ Sohn Rudin Independent School District No. 270 1001 Highway 7 Hopkins, MN 55343 Dear Mr. Rudin: In an effort to become better informed of area resources, the Plymouth City Council has requested that I contact you regarding your district's Chemical Health Program. I would appreciate you completing the attached form regarding the School District No. 270 Chemical Health Program, as well as any other information about your program you feel would be beneficial. Thank you for your assistance. Please return to me by May 15 and I will share the information with the City Council. Sincerely, L4aur Rauenh rst City Clerk S.F. 5-15-89 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 559-2800 June 5, 1989 CITYOF PLYMOUTIt Mr. John Rudin Independent School District No. 270 1001 Highway 7 Hopkins, MN 55343 Dear Mr. Rudin: In mid April I sent you a questionnaire regarding your district's Chemical Health Program. The Plymouth City Council requested this information in an effort to become better informed of area resources. I am enclosing another copy of the questionnaire in hopes that you can supply all or some of the information requested. If you cannot supply this Information, would you please return the questionnaire with that information by June 19, 1989. Thank you. Laurie Rauenhorst City Clerk 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE ;F121 559-2800 TO: Laurie Rauenhorst, City Clerk FROM: Gary Swedberg `\ -✓ Re DATE: May 8, 1989 C/%� v 7989 RE CHEMICAL HEALTH PROGRAM The attached is in response to your request for information regarding the program. This information is released for your internal use, only. cc: Bruce Halgren Attachment NAME OF DISTRICT---------------------- Wayzata School District #284 NAME OF PROGRAM------------------------- Chemical Health Program CONTACT PERSON ------------------------------------- Gary Swedberg ADDRESS---------------------------------------- 305 Vicksburg Lane Plymouth MN 55447 TOTAL PROGRAM BUDGET $105691.00 BREAKDOWN Elementary $32,000.00 Junior High $17,758.00 Senior High $55,933.00 Salaries $98,831.00 Supplies $ 6860.00 These figures represent direct cost in terms of personnel and supplies. The term "indirect" would reflect the costs for the Health Curriculum, tobacco prevention, Health teachers, the teaching of the Health Curriculum in Elementary, special programs designed by teachers in their classroom, tobacco and chemical abuse policy enforcement (Assistant Principals, Principals, activities personnel such as Coaches, advisors, Athletic Director), volunteers who design chemically free parties such as the graduation and post prom parties, and so on. Indirect and direct costs have not been determined. ELEMENTARY DESCRIPTION: The program begins with Early Childhood/Family Education and the Early Childhood screening process. In essence, the current priorities are to develop further programming through Early Childhood, continued development of Teacher Assistance Teams (TAT) which also functions as the Chemical abuse Pre -assessment Team (required by Chapter 691) at the elementary level, intervention strategies and support systems for elementary children at risk, training of elementary staff in issues of what puts children at risk, the development of friendship groups, family change groups, and other special programming for working with elementary children identified as being at risk plus programing which includes the parents of children at risk. A major goal also includes working with each of the elementary Parent-Teacher Organizations to develop special programs for all parents of elementary students. An additional goal is to establish funding for each of the TATs to develop programming specific to each school's needs as identified by staff. Page 2 JUNIOR HIGH DESCRIPTION: In addition to the support groups for young people (concerned persons, family change, recovery, grief, behavior goal groups etc), special programs such as those provided by Illusion Theatre on such issues as sexual abuse, physical abuse, and personal awareness play a significant role. Current goals include identifying children at -risk, providing services for children at risk, developing TATs, development of a self-care program (specially developed programming based on an informal needs assessment), abusive relationship prevention curriculum, "Drug Free" program with parent nights for follow-up sessions, and working with the PTSOs to develop specail programming for parents and students. SENIOR HIGH DESCRIPTION: In addition to the support groups for students in recovery, concerned persons groups, grief groups and so on and some other duplication of programs listed above, there are some additional programs: Leadership programs, Action for Drug Awareness (AFDA), Students on Sobriety (SOS), training for captains and leaders of teams, policy development for teams and activities, and parent education programs. Within each of these programs are additional activities such as SOS holds workshops for parents, has worked with the area to educate parents staff and students, etc. AFDA has developed programming for elementary students and junior high students, has worked with parent groups, and has developed alternative parties for special events that are designated as "chemically free". Staff and students have worked with the Wayzata -Plymouth Area Chemical Health Commission to bring awarenesses to the adult community and to the young people. SOME THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS: The notion that schools can fix the problems of chemical abuse is, at best, absurd. Intervening in and coming between the problems of chemical abuse is more than showing a movie, more than creating signs that say "Tobacco Free" and more than what a school can accomplish. It is a known fact that a small percentage of the chemicals used are used on school grounds during the school day. Most chemical use occurs in the community. The quote from a study by the Search Institute sums the problem up in a few sentences: Page 3 CHEMICAL USE HAS BECOME SO COMMONPLACE AND SO WELL ENTRENCHED IN AMERICAN SOCIAL LIFE THAT IT SEEMS NAIVE TO EXPECT ANY SINGLE FORCE (FAMILY, CHURCH, SCHOOL, LAW, COURTS, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS) TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY INTERVENE. ONLY STRATEGIES WHICH ARE BASED ON COOPERATION AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AMONG MANY COMMUNITY FORCES ARE LIKELY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. In one sense of a "shared responsibility", we are a community. The Chemical Health commission, the commitment by churches, the on-going particpation by adults and youth, and the enactment Chapter 691 and the communication between police and school only a few examples of how the school is working with the community and the community with the school. To continue to address the "drug of the month" (crack this month, steroids next month, and so) and to continue to disregard the impact that drugs and alcohol are having on each of us --adults and young people --is to continue to perpetuate the myth that if we put our "finger in the dike" (or address the addictive nature of one chemical) that the problem will go away. The biggest problem facing young people is alcohol; the substance for which students are most often referred is alcohol; the substance most often ignored in terms of its impact on human lives --not just young people --is alcohol. PROGRAM PARTICIPATION: There are no exact numbers available. As a way of responding, over 50 students have been referred to the program via Chapter 691 Advisories and over 50 by staff, parents, peer, and self referral. Approximately 124 elementary students have been identified as "at -risk" for learning, approximately 560 parents and elementary students participated in a specially developed prevention -program, every eighth and tenth grade student must complete a health course with chemical abuse prevention as one of the units, all students and adults in the community are subject to the "Tobacco Free" policy, over 70 students have participated in a support group experience at the high school. This added to over 125 students who participated in AFDA, plus the 120 who participated in the Spring Leadership conference, plus the number of students who participated in athletics and activities, and so on. The number of students this program works with, directly and indirectly, is "everyone". r innesota nstitute of Public Health 2829 Verndale Ave., Anoka, MN 55303 612-427-5310 February 23, 1988 Mr. Gary Swedberg c/o Wayzata High School 305 Vicksburg Lane Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Gary: Congratulations for being one of 142 in our state to complete a Community Prevention Inventory. On behalf of the Attorney General's Alliance Against Drugs, our staff at the Minnesota Institute of Public Health is pleased to give you this feedback. We're sorry your community was not able to be represented at the recently held regional Mini -Conference in your area, which shared the basic findings of the Prevention Inventory process. If you did not receive a Prevention Resource Guidebook and wish to do so, please complete the enclosed card and return it to us by February 29, 1988. We hooe you find our feedback to your Prevention Inventory productive to your continued prevention efforts. Your completed Inventory booklet is enclosed. Clearly, as you obviously are aware, the Wayzata area has an impressive history or prevention programming activity. There are few community respondents for example, that have indicated involvement of local schools for the past fourteen years. One hundred twenty (120) of 142 respondents indicated local schools had policy in place for students. Fifty-three point six percent (53.6%) of respon- dents indicated policy in place for faculty. Only 67 of 135 of 48.9% indicated an employee assistance program to be in place for school staff. Again, Wayzata is fortunate in this regard. Chemical free parties at graduation and/or prom time for students are very popu- lar, according to our Inventory results. Like Wayzata, 76% of respondents indi- cated such events to be occurring in their communities. Eighty-two percent (82%) of these told us these events had occurred for three years or less. Fully 85% said these events were effective orevention, in their opinions. As with many of the respondent communities in our Inventory, Wayzata community education has sponsored parent education in chemical health and awareness. Eighty-six (86) of 140 respondents indicated this to be the case. Community education has sponsored senior citizen education on chemical use/misuse in only 15% of respondent communities. Wayzata is not one of these. In view of the fact that people over age 55 comprise the largest single group of pharmaceutical users in our society, senior citizen education on chemical health issues can become an important part of prevention programming. Programs such as the MPRC's ChemCare series and many other locally developed programs like this exist. Please consult the Prevention Resource Guidebook for details, should you be interested. It's encouraging that business and industry in Wayzata are involved in chemical awareness efforts. Like 26% of our respondents, Wayzata has employee education on chemical awareness operating at some level within local employers. Sixty (60) of 137 respondents indicated employee assistance programs were available locally. Only 8% of our respondents -- 11 of 136 -- said drug testing programs were instituted by local employers. The hospitality industry in the Wayzata area, through server training, offering nonalcoholic beverages, safe ride programs as well as monitoring sales to minors, exhibits a concern for safe and healthy practices in the community. If the industry has not been given some sign of support, it would appear to be a well earned gesture. The community -wide participation in chemical health awareness in your community in enviable. It is our belief that often such broad based prevention is made possible in part by a local task force for chemical health. As you are no doubt aware, a local task force helps share the responsibility for prevention as well as ownership for making it work. Forty percent (40%) of our respondents indi- cated the existence of a task force, and 58% of those described its existence as effective for prevention. There appears to be some level of involvement of local churches and synagogues. While it is understandable that you lack the time to discover their specific levels of involvement, perhaps this is something that may interest the local task force. Local media has been supportive in the Wayzata area as well, according to your Inventory. In fact, we confirmed that media in our state has been very suppor- tive and helpful to communities undertaking prevention. Your Inventory also indicated that law enforcement gets involved in chemical health education and awareness. Our Inventory indicated that 94 of 136 respon- dents said law enforcement participated in this way, and that of this group, 72% saw the involvement as effective prevention. Local health care providers in Wayzata appear to have contributed to prevention as well. Thirty-five percent (35%) of our respondents indicated local phar- macists assisted in community chemical awareness efforts. You are fortunate in this way. Also, like Wayzata, the majority of community health professionals now share information on the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Service and civic organizations have played a role in prevention fqr a long time. As section I of the Resource Guidebook describes, some have ventured into the area of prevention curricula for youth. It appears from your Inventory that Wayzata enjoys involvement and support of local service groups. In summary, Gary, it is again clear that the Wayzata community enjoys a broad- based, sensible and community -owned prevention effort. We continue to want to cite Wayzata as a model community effort in this regard. Congratulations on some outstanding prevention efforts, and please call on us if we can assist in some way. Sincerely, Gerald F. Jake Executive Director Minnesota Institute of Public Health on behalf of the Attorney General's Alliance Against Drugs Enclosures GJ:cs M, , EDUCATION AND AWARENESS Staff *New Staff Orientation for new staff to inform them of policies and procedures and program components. *Inservice ,programs for identifying young people in trouble with chemical use, affected by chemical use, referring to the program, chemical abuse legislation, group leadership skills, community resources, Crisis Intervention, etc. *Specific lesson plol involving decision making, information, discussion, refusal skills. *Employees Assistance Program for providing staff with a confidential access to counseling, intervention, or crisis assistance. *Outside consultants providing training and education through programs. Students *Health Education Units --K-12. *Supplemental education/prevention units K-12. *Resource speakers --students as well as community resources *Audio visual material available through each building or the Technology Office. *Workshop raining programs conducted by school staff and outside consultants. *Leadership conferences emphasizing the importance of a chemically free life-style and the importance of role modeling as leaders. *SReclal programs regarding child abuse, sexual abuse, sexuality, chemical abuse conducted by organizations such as the Climb Theatre and the Illusion Theatre. *Student hand book outlining the policy and procedures. *Actlylly program workshops to develop team policies and procedures for confronting chemical abuse. *Action for Drug Awareness -young people educating their. peers and the community about chemical abuse -involvement in community services. *Students on -Sobrie --recovering students speaking to their peers and the community about the consequences of their use and their decision to be chemically free. "Drug a_ -a special program for junior high students recognizing their choice to be chemically free. Page 2 (Program summary: Education and Awareness continued) Parents and Community *Panels for parents and students emphasizing the choices and consequences. *Parent education programs through Community Education. *Presentations such as "Drug Free Kids" in conjunction with the Aid Association for Lutherans. *Brochures --"Learner's At Risk", "Please Don't Do Nothing." *Awareness Q,rgrams- coordinating the school program with the Wayzata -Plymouth Chemical Health Commission as well as the development of shared programming in the community such as the "Please Don't Do Nothing" community program, community activities such as "Music in Plymouth" and programs at community shopping malls. *Parent/Team/Activity meetings outlining rules regarding chemical abuse, lettering, training expectations, and general information regarding competition and roles parents can play in helping a team/activity be successful. *Principal's newsletter, with awareness "minders" regarding the importance of supporting young people in chemically free choices --especially around special holidays, spring break, prom, graduation, and the end of sports seasons. *Parent access to policies and procedures regarding chemical abuse violations. *Funding of PTSOs/PTOs to conduct parent/student awareness sessions in each of the elementary/secondary schools. *Parent Communication Networks through each of the respective schools; coordinated through each of the PTSO/PTOs. For parents who want to work together to support one another, communicate with each other, and/or develop supportive activities for young people. *Early childhood education for parents regarding what puts kids at risk, the role parents can play in responding to at risk issues, and providing resources within the community for parents. Page 3 (Program summary continued) IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL Staff. Students. Parents. and Community *Chemical Abuse Pre -assessment Teams in each building accepting referrals from parents, staff, students, and police. *Inservice programs/classroom lessons/parent awareness 2rograms for referring students to the Chemical Health Program, Crisis Intervention Team, or other appropriate resources within the school and community. *Chemical Health Counselors at each of the secondary schools. *Chemical Health Counselors assigned to all elementary and secondary Chemical Abuse Pre -assessment Teams. *Parent/Staff programs for identifying students "at -risk." *Liaison with area Employee Assistance Programs for responding to and working together to assist families in need or at risk. *Utilize community resources to educate staff/parents/ students regarding characteristics and resources. *Liaison with area agencies regarding types of referral for their programs. *Liaison with inpatient and outpatient programs to assist young people in the educational reentry process. TREATMENT AND COUNSELING ff regarding programs/specialty programs. *Liaison with treatment centers to advocate for students who are receiving care. *Provide education for students at centers. *Recognize the educational credits earned at the center. *Provide accurate information regarding accessing treatment especially when referring families with prepaid health programs. *Provide referral resources for parents, staff, students and community. Page 4 (Program summary: Treatment and counseling, Staff, students, parents, and community continued) *Provide information and resources regarding State and Federal laws: Rule 25 which outlines a process for persons seeking treatment; Chapter 691 and 295 as it describes the relationship between school and police; Data privacy as it relates to the keeping of records and the release of information. *Conduct reentry conferences for students returning to the school setting from treatment. SUPPORT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES Staff. Students. - Parents. and Community *Support Groups for recovering students, grief groups, family change groups, concerned persons groups, captains groups, socialization groups, and other groups as needed. 'Chemically free extracurricular programs including all sports. `Chemically free graduation oma. 'Chemically free post pr�pa . *Chemically free dances. *SOS-" Students on Recovery" -recovering students supported . by school and community. *AFDA-"Action for Drug Awareness" chemically free students being supported by school and community. *Net working ,programs with other school districts who have chemically free programs. *Participation in the "Drug Free Schools Program" established by the federal government. 'Participation in the "Alliance Against Drugs" established by the Attorney General. *Tobacco free campuses 24 hours a day. *Alcohol and drug free camluses 24 hours a day. 'Policies and procedures outlining the consequences of using, possessing, and selling substances. 'Compliance with Chapters 295 and Chapter 691 regarding the working relationship between school and law enforcement, establishment of Chemical Abuse Pre -assessment Teams, established means for staff to report concerns, -'and so on. Page 5 (Program summary: Support and other Activities, Staff, students, parents, and community continued) *Support the Wayzata/Plymouth Area Chemical Health Commission to develop community wide prevention programs such as "Please Don't Do Nothing." *Coordinate activities with other community organizations such as the Wayzata/Plymouth Ministerial Association, the Wayzata Chamber of Commerce, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Illusion Theatre, Community Education Services, and to develop and/or bring special programming into the community. *Work closely with other programs such as the Attorney General's Alliance Against Drugs as well as programs directed by private industry such as Project Lifesaver, Arrive Alive, and MADD's "Tie One on for Safety". *Functions as a resource to the community for developing programs in education and awareness, identification and referral, treatment and counseling, and support and other activites related to developing chemically free choices. Please provide any information that would better inform us of your chemical health program in the elementary, middle/Jr. high, sr. high grades. Call me at 559-2800 extension 204 if you need clarification. Laurie Rauenhorst, Clerk SCHOOL DISTRICT: Independent School District 281 - Robbinsdale Area Schools For further information, contact Chemical Health Program (Name and Director): Lorna Rohach, Department Chair Chemical Awareness Program Phone: 533-2781 Total Chemical Health Program Budget: $ see attached Budget Breakdown - Elementary $ Or./Middle $ Sr. High $ Budget Breakdown by Service, e.g. Staff,.Supplies, etc. Description of Staff and Services Provided in Elementary Grades and Priorities and Goals of the Program: Description of Staff and Services Provided in Or. High/Middle School Grades and Priorities and Goals of the Program: Description of Staff and Services Provided in Sr. High Grades and Priorities and Goals of the Program: Participation in Program Number/Percentage of Student Population: 1986 / 1987 / 1988 / 1989 How well is the program working? Statistics? ►6y �,�„- Il r- v PROGRAM PACKAGE PROGRAM COMMITMENT LEVEL CURRENT SALARIES CURRENT FRINGE BENEFITS CURRENT PURCHASED SERVICES CURRENT SUPPLIES/MATERIALS CURRENT PROGRAM COST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 281 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM REVIEW TECHNIQUE 1988-89 Chemical Awareness III 282,212 58,006 6,500 2,850 349.568 - 55.640 - 293.928 REIMBURSEMENT CURRENT COST I. PROGRAM OUTCOMES: The Chemical Awareness Program will o Communicate appropriate expectations and provide the necessary activities to students, staff and community regarding chemical choices and their effect on healthy lifestyles. o Provide support and information to students whose lives have been affected by someone' chemical use. o Use early intervention and assessment methods and provide referral resources to assist students and their families when a student's performance is being affected by chemical use. o Provide aftercare and support for recovering students. o Participate in jointly planned interventions as part of the team process in each building. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES o Program development. o Prevention activities (classroom, parent, professional and community presentations; student leadership activities). o Group, individual and crisis counseling. o Data gathering, assessments and interventions with students and families. o Communication and consultation (parents, staff, chemical dependency resources, human service agencies and law enforcement). o Support services (student assistance team, special education team and crisis team; record keeping; committees; supervision). III. PROGRAM EVALUATION o Informal feedback from parents and staff. o Evaluation forms from group participants. o Year-end evaluation survey from principals, psychologists. o Gathering of statistics on a yearly basis. IV. PROGRAM EXPENDITURES: Salaries8� 2.212 Fringe benefits 58.006 Purchased services 6.500 Supplies/materials 2.850 349,568 counselors, nurses, social workers and SALARY COMPONENTS FTE tchrs FTE paras FTE classified FTE admin 5.5 39 weeks 0 2.0 _ 39 weeks 0 0 LEVEL DIFFERENTIAL COST District 0 OSSEO AREA SCHOOLS April 27, 1989 Ms. Laurie Rauenhorst City Clerk City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 Dear Ms. Rauenhorst: DR. MARL RAMSEY Superintendent of Schools Telephone: (612)425-4131 . 26 1989 This letter is in response to your request for information concerning our school district's efforts in chemical abuse prevention. There are two major areas which we view as our role, therefore, I will address them separately: Curriculum - A K-12 Chemical Health Curriculum tailored to our district program has been developed over a period of years. Since this curriculum is currently in a maintenance phase, we have spent in the neighborhood of $5,000 during this fiscal year. Support and Intervention - 1) We employ five certified chemical awareness counselors. One at each of our secondary schools. Cost is their salaries; 2) We receive approximately $30,000 in Federal Drug Free Schools Funds which support programs for identifying students -at -risk programs in nine of our 23 schools. It is our hope to expand the number of schools next year; 3) We have designated about $10,000 from our general fund as required by the state to support the purchase of materials, staff inservice, and other writing and development activities. We periodically receive small gifts from community organizations to support such student activities as SADD or for special designated materials purchases. I am not sure how helpful this is, but do feel free to call me for clarification. Sincer , kmi1�4�ereck,ervisor Guida c Counseling & Pupil Personnel Services MJJ/sal INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 279 Educational Service Center, 11200 93rd Avenue North P.O. Box 327, Maple Grove, MN 55369