HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-YB-1996-12-09 ITHACA YOUTH BUREAU
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ADVISORY BOARD
December 9, 1996 Minutes
Attendance: Cathy Currier, David Delchamps, Deb Traunstein, Than Spielholz
Staff: Sam Cohen, Marilyn Hall Guest: Sara Hess, County Youth Bureau
Excused: Sally Grubb, Gino Bush
I. The meeting was called to order by Sam Cohen at 7:37 p.m. in Jack Sherman's absence.
Revision made to include Joan Spielholz attending the November meeting. Minutes
unanimously accepted after correction was made.
II. Special Item: Review of Report on Children and Youth in Ithaca presented by Sara
Hess, Tompkins County Youth Bureau
The following points were overviewed with a brief discussion following each point:
• The data gathered in this report describes problems. We must learn how to better
measure the strengths, assets, and wellness of young people and their families within the
community.
• There is a great need to figure out how to help all students. A disparity exists in school
achievement test scores in low versus high income students. When analyzed a similar
disparity shows between race/ethnicity which is completely not acceptable.
• One good news item is the teen pregnancy birthrate is not skyrocketing for the 15-17 yr.
Olds. The pregnancy rate has been dropping over the last 4 years while the Tompkins
County Health Department statistics show the birthrate dropping even further.
• Child care services are a tremendous asset for this community. Every elementary school in
• the county has an after school program, and many child care advocates provide good
quality care at affordable prices (expecialy pre-K support for families).
• A shared concerned that all people have is the problem of increased trafficking,
availability, and use of heavy duty drugs (cradk/heroin) in our town. However it is the
adults, not young people, accounting for this high increase in drug arrests over the last 5
years. Substance abuse among parents is the most prevalent reasons for removal of
children. Discussion followed on how do you measure families in distress, and use of the
term "gateway" substances to drug use. Real education, good courses, and drug
prevention programs dealing with life skills are valuable resources.
• Sara summed up by using the following illustration, picture teamwork as a triangle with a
young person inside the triangle who needs support of all three sides - family, school, and
community-based organizations.
Members would like to invite Eloise Barrett, Supervisor of the Paul Schreurs Memorial Program,
to a board meeting to discuss academic success. Eloise has a wealth of experience and knows the
struggles the children experience with some of the disparities discussed tonight.
III. STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
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Director's Report
• Budget Summary Update - the good news is the budget is intact with no substantial
cuts. The County approved.$48,285 additional funding to help support IYB's youth
development programs. The City must cone up with the`remaining $48,000 needed to
find the programs for the first 6 months of 1997. Board members Joanie Spielholz and
Cathy Currier have agreed to participate in a task force to explore program priorities and
alternative sources of funding. ..
Youth Development (Sam reported in Allen's absence)
• City/County Task Forece will have a preliminary report ready by March. Suggestion
made to present one Youth Development program each month to Community Issues
Committee to inform the City what these programs are about and the effect they have on
our youth.
Recreation
• There will be a Community Issues Forum on Downtown Ithaca on Thursday,
December 12th at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. A Cornell team is facilitating this
coalition in which different interest groups included youth can present their concerns and
begin dialogue to build harmony and pursue their visions.
• Suggestion to publicize more to media the Saturday Family Swim Program from 3-5 p.m.
at the IHS pool.
• See attachment A for more Recreation updates on Tot Spot, Youth Network, winter
programs, and Recreation Partnership.
• Copies of Speak Up, Listen Up a Yofuth Network `Zine publication by and for Ithaca's
teens. Youth Network has been working on murals for the Youth Bureau, finding support
for skaeboarders, and looking for a teen community center space downtown. Youths are
encouraged to send their articles to Youth Network do Ithaca Youth Bureau. Meeting
times for teens grades 8-12 is set every Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian
Church basement, 306 N. Aurora Street.
• Cass Park- the newly formed Cass Park Facility Study Group has come up with a long
list why the rink should stay open. They will put together a recommendation to Common
Council and Board of Public Works.
Election of Officers
• It was moved, seconded and carried to accept the Slate of Officers for 1997. Since there
was not enough members present this evening for a quorum, phone calls will be made to
members for their individual vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.