Prevention Works! A Community Coalition of Clallam County
Our Mission: Prevention Works! A Community Coalition of Clallam County advocates, educates and invests in our children.
Through prevention efforts, we work to end child abuse and neglect, substance abuse and violence.
General Membership Meeting Minutes
December 10, 2007
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Olympic Medical Center, Linkletter Auditorium
In Attendance: Minnie Whalen, Pamela Arnott, Tom Stokes, Iva Burks, Barbara Clampett, Kim Leach, Bill Todd, Valerie Brooks, Michael Bucierka, Mary Kay McCabe, Todd L. Kent, Elizabeth Clark, Elna Kawal, Cynthia Martin, Norma Turner, Jody Moss, Colleen Robinson, Jennifer Charles, Patty Bell, Wally Seelye, Ellen Fetchiet, Florence Bucierka, Jill Dole, Ida Carroll (via tele-link from Forks).
1. Welcome and Introductions (10 minutes)
o Greeter – Pam Arnott
2. Business & Updates (10 minutes)
o Approval of November’s Minutes:
Moved (Florence Bucierka), seconded (Pam Arnott), passed unanimously
o Report on three (3) November Trainings: Florence Bucierka reported on successful, well-attended trainings held in November:
- Cultural Competency: Working with Sexual Minority Populations
- Take Your Passion and Make it Happen
- Meth 360 Training
o Upcoming 2-day ASIST Suicide Intervention Skills Training, 12/12 – 12/13/2007
Florence reported that registration is almost full, 28/30 participants enrolled
o Upcoming Integrating Nicotine Dependence Interventions in Chemical Dependency Treatment Training, 12/14/2007.
o Upcoming 3-day Incredible Years Facilitator Training, January 23-25, 2008.
o Congratulations to Jim Borte- Florence Bucierka reported about Jim’s earning the Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the Washington State Prevention Summit.
There were eight (8) total awards given out by the Lieutenant Governor, and only two (2) Lifetime Achievement Awards. After reading the list of Jim’s accomplishments, the Lt. Governor said “Does Jim Borte ever sleep?”
o Treasurer’s Report – available on PW! website
o Other Business
1. Pam Arnott asked for new members attending their first meeting to fill out a Welcome to PW! Form in order to be put on email list. First time members are: Mary Kay McCabe – , Valerie Brooks - , and Todd Kent –
2. Minnie Whalen reported on Committee meetings – committees are open and invite new members to serve. Next committee meeting will be Thursday Jan 10, 2008 – Parenting Education Committee.
3. Todd Kent, Tobacco Control Coordinator, American Lung Association of Washington (15 minutes)
o Todd moved to Seattle in July, 2007. He previously spent five (5) years in Yakima, working with six (6) coalitions through ALAW. His new job with ALAW is a 10 hour per week position, covering Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap counties. He also coaches women’s basketball at WSU.
o TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) was first implemented in 2000. It has 3 steps:
(1) Adult Facilitator Training – Adults are trained by Todd, who then conduct
(2) Teen TATU Teacher Training- teenagers are trained, who then
(3) Present the TATU program to younger school children and peers.
o In Forks Laura Hahn of OESD114 had a success rate of 18/19 trained teen facilitators who went back to give presentations. She has been doing TATU for several years with great success in Forks.
o Goals of TATU are to develop skills to teach younger children to become advocates for tobacco prevention. Peer to peer training develops self-confidence in teenagers, and helps them to understand their audience. Certain skill sets are presented with every lesson plan. Teen facilitator may train as many as 70 students at a time. There are several opportunities for practice. Presentations are 45-60 minutes at a time. Students do presentation in groups of 2-3. Student facilitators do contact information themselves.
o Certain high schools will allow community service credit for presenters. The program is free of charge. Schools may apply for $350 grant to help cover costs, once there is a trained adult in that location.
o Wally Seelye reported that he has done TATU in the past, but no longer has teen presenters. The program is free of charge. Schools may apply for $350 grant to help cover costs, once there is a trained adult in that location.
o Todd is hoping to get enough interest to conduct an Adult Facilitator Training in the area within the next few months. Any interested parties can contact Todd at
(206) 708 6127 or by email at -
4. Prevention Efforts Concerning Child Abuse and Neglect (45 minutes)
o Valerie Brooks, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program Coordinator
Casa has three (3) paid staff and 42 volunteers. When a child is removed from a home we are the child’s advocates, making sure that their needs are met. We monitor if their parents are doing what they are supposed to be doing. We’re a resource for the kids. Volunteers stay with the same case throughout, if possible. CASA started in 1971 in Seattle. We are always in need of more volunteers.
o Michael Bucierka, Social Worker III with Children’s Administration/Division of Children and Family Services/Child Protective Services.
CPS is a reactive agency, not proactive. We’re not funded for proactive work. Our role does help families in many different ways. If we could eliminate substance abuse we would have half as big a caseload, and ending domestic violence would eliminate the need for CPS. We have large and small band-aids, but not long term solutions. We are short term. Housing, employment issues, instability in families - these are intergenerational systemic problems. Here on the west coast we have different needs than they do on the east coast where the decisions for CPS are made. More money needs to go into prevention works through the legislature. Healthy Families, when referred by CPS, is not trusted by families. It would be beneficial if we could incorporate TATU kind of training for healthy lifestyle choices, beginning in the early grades. The role that CPS plays is helping families. We’re not mandated to do proactive work like 911. There’s a broad need for people who are not CPS involved. Educational programs started in schools are needed. Not all parents are going to want their kids educated on family life issues in schools. Our community does not have domestic violence provider. Now we are sending DV offenders off the peninsula. How can the PW! help to get a DV provider in this community?
o Mary Kay McCabe, Foster parent, and secretary of the North Olympic Foster Parent Association (NOFPA).
Mary Kay became involved in foster care five (5) years ago. She took the training because she works at PAHS with detention students, and felt that the training would be beneficial. She now has 3 foster daughters, a senior, junior, and sophomore. All been involved in abusive situations and are in counseling. They’re not considered “foster children,” they’re just like the natural children in their family.
o Bill Todd, Program Manager Trainer for DSHS
Bill trains people to become foster parents. It’s a 30 hour class, Friday/Saturday. It can be very educational, whether people become foster parents or not. We try to scare people away, but we hope they stay. Children in our system have serious issues that need to be paid attention to. Our class enables people to take better care of kids. Relative care givers take this class also. There’s a new group starting Jan 15, 2008 5:30 – 8:30 at DCFS. There is an orientation and seven (7) more evening sessions. And it’s FREE! Through the Resource Family Training Institution.
o Colleen Robinson, foster parent
Would does a foster family look like? Hold up a mirror when you ask this question. Colleen works to recruit and retain foster families. Her goal is to obtain 24 new foster families a year. Out of 20 new families who went through training and were approved this year, only 6 were retained. Why? People moved, or changed their minds, and lots of burnout. 14 homes closed last year. Licensed foster homes need to feel supported and appreciated. Foster families are not getting rich doing this. There is a $441 stipend for one child age 6-12 years old. The media showed negative portrayals of foster families. We need to work on prevention. Here are some statistics about foster children aging out of care: 20,000 age out every year nationally. Within 18 months- 2% obtain BA, 54% earn a diploma, 84% become parents, 51% are unemployed, 25% are homeless, 30% go on public assist, and at least 30% have no health insurance.
5. Sharing Information (10 minutes)
o Wally Seelye reported that the life skills teacher at PAHS left the school district and now there’s a gap. We need to start teaching life skills earlier, by the 4th grade. There are no elementary school counselors in PA.
o Cynthia Martin asked what is being done to shorten a child’s stay in foster care? There should be limits so that children are available for adoption.
Response from panel: It’s a legislative issue. Parents have rights. The pendulum of public opinion is moving away from parents rights to children rights. Moving from family reunification to safety of children.
o Jody Moss commented that funding may be coming through that looks at child abuse prevention.
o Norma Turner reported that the YMCA has officially started a Big Brother program. Y buddies are modeled after Big brother.
o Ida Carroll from West End Outreach Services reported that weird things happen in systems. Systems abuse is horrifying. Highly trained people need to be in systems in order to provide appropriate services.
o Minnie- thanks to panel for their presentation. Please send papers electronically to be distributed to the email list.
o Announcements regarding upcoming events
Cynthia Martin: Guiding Good Choices workshops will be held in January and February. They have had trouble finding families to take the training and may cancel if there is not sufficient participation. Ellen Fetchiet has childcare lined up. Flyers go to the school districts but personal contact is best. The trainings are free, including dinner, free childcare, free classes for five (5) weeks. Subjects include anger management, refusal skills, family cohesion, and moral and values.
Social Norms Project to assist students perceptions of peer’s behavior. More information to follow about training next month.
Next Prevention Works! General Meeting: Monday, January 14, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm at OMC
Future Prevention Works! General Meetings: February 11, March 10, April 14, May 12, and June 9.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Dole,
Member