River Valley Meth Project
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Arkansas Tech University
Chambers East Cafeteria, 7-8:30 a.m.

Agenda

7:00-7:10 Welcome, Introductions, Announcements & Marti Wilkerson, Associate
Updates Professor-Rehabilitation
Science& IV-E Coordinator, Academic Partnership in Public
Child Welfare

7:10-7:20 Workgroups Work
Treatment & Drug Court B. Hefley & G. Hubbard
Early Intervention & Faith Based J. Cook & S. McDougal
School Administration J. Winters & L. Anderson
Medical/ARVAC/Freedom House G. Rhodes
Juvenile Services J. Coleman & P. Hubbard
Retail/Business/Industry J. Hamrick & D. Gibbon
Real Estate/Housing J. Bearden & S. Strait
Child Protection C. Scott & J. McMillian
Law Enforcement L. Johnson & T. McMillen
Media/Public Relations P. Latta & M. Benefield
Research/Evaluations S. Huss


7:20-7:35 Workgroups Report


7:35-7:40 The Behavioral Sciences Research Scholarship: Lindsey Thurman, Recipient What it has meant to student, project & community BSRS
Bob Adkison, Executive Director-
ARVAC, Inc.

7:40-7:50 2007 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment: Janet Cook, Community Service, Inc.
Pope County

7:50-8:15 Specialized Women’s Services Garland “Sonny” Ferguson, Director,
Treatment Services, Alcohol & Drug
Abuse Prevention Services (ADAP)
8:15 Questions/Answers
Adjourn
 

River Valley Meth Project
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Arkansas Tech University
Chambers East Cafeteria, 7-8:30 a.m.

Minutes


Submitted by: Amanda Paterak, Research Assistant

29 members from 16 community organizations were in attendance.

Marti Wilkerson began the general meeting with introductions of all members in attendance.

Marti Wilkerson noted the full agenda.

Workgroups Report:

Treatment/Drug Court (Workgroup Co-leaders: Bill Hefley & Glenda Hubbard)

Bill Hefley reported the following:
There was a Drug Court Graduation last Monday, April 21, 2008.
Freedom House is still exploring avenues to bring about new medical detox to the area
Work is being done on the continuance of the Behavioral Sciences Research Scholarship
Freedom House now has more clients than they have ever had in the past with 29 people in residential treatment, 20 in chemical free and 17 in outpatient
A treatment committee is being set up under the River Valley Prevention Coalition
This is the last week before the second run of the M.O.D.E.L. Project ends. During the summer, the project will be evaluated.
Nelda Alexander reported that Celebrate Recovery is full and does have a waiting list. The meetings are continuing on Friday nights and now meetings have been added on Thursday nights as well.

Early Intervention/Faith Based (Workgroup Co-leaders: Janet Cook & Stan McDougal)

Janie Worsham reported the following:
A flyer has been developed that will help recruit volunteer transporters for the Pope County DHS/DCFS office. (see attached)
Right now the flyers are targeted toward church bulletins. If there are any requests to speak to any group, please contact Janie Worsham.
Flyers have been distributed at the senior citizen center
Volunteer packets are available

Retail/Business/Industry (Workgroup Co-leaders: David Gibbons & Jerry Hamrick)

Jerry Hamrick reported the following:
May 8 is the next River Valley Safety Association worker safety training. Janie Worsham has agreed to speak to this group.
This RVSA training would be a good opportunity to re-introduce the drug use tracking of business/industry
Marti Wilkerson noted that the RVSA continues to pay for the renewal of the RVMP website

Gary McElligott gave the following updates on the Yell County Drug Coalition:
There has been a change in leadership with John Foster taking over
They are in the process of reorganization and new committees are being formed to help with the education competition between the schools and the community
Media coverage is increasing
The Dardanelle schools will be getting a terrorism/HAZMAT demonstration
Strengths of the Coalition are its involvement from the schools, law enforcement and other community representatives

Law Enforcement (Workgroup Co-leaders: Larry Johnson & Tom McMillen)

Chief Tom McMillen reported the following:
Drug arrests have decreased
There was an incident in the middle school, but this was handled by the school resource officer
A drug program will be started, key players are being selected

Aaron Duvall reported the following:
Arrests have decreased in the county
Although drug arrests have decreased, the number of daytime burglaries has increased

Research/Evaluation

Dr. Sean Huss reported the following:
The response at the Virginia conference that was attended by ATU staff and students along with former ATU faculty was well received.
A presentation was made to the River Valley Prevention Coalition on Community Attachment
Media coverage has been increasing and student groups have become more vocal and active

Marti Wilkerson gave a special thank you to representatives from St. Mary’s and CASA for attending the meeting.

Lindsey Thurman spoke to project members about her experiences as recipient of the Behavioral Sciences Research Scholarship. She distributed to members a handout of her data from interviews conducted at Freedom House of counselors. She gave a special thanks to Mr. Bob Adkison and Mr. Gary Rhodes for their help with her work at Freedom House/ARVAC.

Mr. Bob Adkison commended Ms. Thurman for her work as the BSRS recipient. He has recommended to the board the continuance of the scholarship.

Janet Cook spoke about the 2007 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment: Pope County. A handout was distributed to members.
Ms. Marti Wilkerson presented a PowerPoint on data received from distribution of an information survey on meth and cases held by Area V DCFS caseworkers.

Mr. Garland “Sonny” Ferguson, of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Services spoke to the group about Specialized Women Services. A handout was distributed.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 am