HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Drug Task Force ReportDedicated to the more than 200 original members of the
Community Drug Task Force who gave their time and energy
Compiled by Mayor Alan Cohen
April • 1999
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Table of Contents
Community Drug Task Force Mission Statement 2
Youth Education Action Team 3
Parent Education Action Team 9
Treatment Action Team 11
Community Action -Action Team 15
School Culture -Environment Action Team 21
School Culture -Policy Action Team 27
Public Outreach Action Team 31
Government Initiatives (& Environmental Factors) Action Team 34
Justice System Action Team 38
Survey Action Team 45
Appendix 46
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The Community Drug Task Force recognizes that the sale and use of illegal
drugs and the misuse of legal drugs are having a serious, destructive impact on our
community, particularly our youth. Successful efforts to address this problem will
require open communication, a sustained community effort in the future and an
effective working relationship amongst many individuals and organizations,
including neighborhoods, schools; and government.
Community Drug Task Force Mission Statement
We are committed to forging an alliance between our schools, government
and neighborhoods, and together developing strategies to reduce alcohol and other
substance abuse in Ithaca and Tompkins County by:
1) Involving families, schools, and the community in a constructive dialogue
about alcohol and other substance abuse;
2) Developing initiatives designed to teach young people about the risks of
using illegal drugs and abusing legal drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, and
providing positive activities for youth;
3) Ensuring that people who need substance abuse treatment can get effective
help when they need it;
4) Empowering citizen initiatives and actions, including encouraging further
organization of neighborhood associations and neighborhood watch groups;
5) Supporting enhanced enforcement of existing laws and passage of new
legislation to combat drug abuse; and
6) Working with area school districts and, universities to develop and enforce
campus -wide and district -wide substance abuse policies.
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Youth Education Action Team
The members of the Youth Education Action Team met regularly to discuss
how they can most effectively improve the education of young people about the use
and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs (which, for the purposes of this
report, will be referred to collectively as "drugs"). The Action Team has undertaken
the task to educate itself, first, on the prevalence and kinds of drugs being used in
the community, as well as what types and frequency of education are already offered
by and through the public schools. The Action Team has been fortunate in having
many of the members who are directly involved in providing drug education to
students. The Action Team has also called upon other community residents who
help the classroom teachers to educate our students (i.e. DARE officers and BOCES
PREP/SAS personnel).
While the Action Team initially considered the possibility of writing a new
drug curriculum for the school district, or choosing one from those available for
purchase, the Action Team became convinced that Ithaca's schools already have a
great many knowledgeable and creative teachers and programs, and the community
has some excellent resources. The Action Team decided to look at the programming
that other districts are using at a later date, and for now focus on the resources that
already exist in our district. What is lacking is a forum for the sharing of those
resources and ideas, so that educators are sensitized to the issues and energized by
their collaborative efforts.
The community must also train and support the teachers so they can feel
confident in their role. The community must also not rely on teaching merely
factual information about the dangers of drug use, which has consistently been
shown to be ineffective, but rather on the "life skills" necessary to make informed
decisions and healthy choices.
Furthermore, the community must not put the entire burden of educating
students on the teachers; we must collaborate with all the people who are involved
with mentoring young people, such as business people involved in the School -to -
Work program and people at GIAC, Southside, Northside, and the Youth Bureau
who run after-school and teen programs.
The community's message to young people should be consistent: "We love
you, we believe in you, we will teach you what you need to know in order to make
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good, healthy, life -affirming choices and decisions, and we will give you the
resources you need to solve the problems that come with being a young person in
today's society." Students with these skills, and the self-esteem and self-confidence
that come with them, will be much less likely to use and abuse drugs.
To this end, the Youth Education Action Team made the following specific -
proposals for the Community Drug Task Force:
(1) Development of an educational/resource booklet for Middle School
students. Modeled after the Youth Bureau's "Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice," the
booklet would be age-appropriate in terms of language, concepts, consequences, facts,
and design. The Action Team would contact local agencies, including law
enforcement, for information and suggestions, and details about them -- address,
phone number, the type of services they provide -- would be contained in the
booklet. Rather than imposing a "Just Say No" attitude, the Action Team hopes to
present the information in such a way that readers will understand that substance
abuse begins and ends with choices and decisions made by the individuals
themselves. Following this decision-making concept, the Youth Education Action
Team would design the booklet so that readers can use it as both an educational tool
and as a valuable resource, should they or someone they know ever need guidance
or assistance. Funding for this project will be sought from community resources.
(2) Survey students and teachers to gather current, community-based data on
local conditions and trends. (NYS surveys are not specific to Ithaca.) These would
also be used to create a baseline from which to assess the success of new educational
efforts. A new action team was formed to work on this project (see Survey Action
Team report).
(3) Improved drug education in the ICSD. The health/Life. Skills/DARE drug
prevention education, particularly in middle school and high school, need to be
augmented in order to meet the New York State mandates, and to improve the
quality and availability of substance abuse education being taught in our schools.
The New York State Health Education Mandates pertinent to drug education are as
follows:
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a. Health Education regarding alcohol, drugs, and tobacco abuse is
required for all students by section 804 of the education law.
b. The coverage for grades K-6 is annual and sequential and must
include, but is not limited to, instruction concerning the misuse of alcohol, tobacco,
and other drugs.
c. Students in grades 7-12 are mandated to pass a one-half year course
in both junior and senior high that must include, but is not limited to, instruction
concerning the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Additionally, the .
middle schools are mandated to have a health coordinator to oversee and help
implement the health program; these coordinators in turn work together to ensure
consistent delivery of the curriculum in all the middle schools. In high school the
Health Department chairperson is responsible for the mandated drug curriculum.
The Youth Education Action Team makes the following proposals for the delivery
of drug education at the various age levels:
Elementary School
The health education program will be taught sequentially to grade levels K-5
following the Ithaca City School District health curriculum. BOCES Prevention
Resources & Education Program (PREP) will be utilized to provide training,
materials, and instruction. The classroom teachers, who are responsible for
facilitating this instruction, will be held accountable by the building -level
administrator. Fifth graders will receive the DARE
Program taught by local law enforcement officers. Middle School BOCES
Student Assistant Services (SAS) will be utilized to provide training, materials, and
instruction. In addition, we propose the following grade -specific changes:
Sixth Grade
All 6th -grade students will receive Life Skills Curriculum in regularly
scheduled Physical Education and/ or Home and Career Skills classes, taught by
trained Life Skills Educators. The health coordinator will ensure delivery of this
curriculum.
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Seventh Grade
Since it has been proven that risk behaviors begin early, it is essential that
health be taught consistently at seventh grade, which will include, but not be
limited to, drug education. Health should be taught on consecutive days for one-
half year to improve student -teacher interaction and consistency of curriculum.
Eighth Grade
It is recommended that a drug education component utilizing either DARE or
the Life Skills Booster Curriculum be required of all 8th -grade students. This could
be offered in a variety of ways, such as during Physical Education or Home and
Career Skills classes.
High School
It is recommended that students continue to take the required 0.5 credit
course in their sophomore year. It is also recommended that a 12th -grade class be
offered that would reinforce decision making, refusal skills, and wellness activities.
Additionally, there should be school -wide forums, which could take many forms, to
continue to educate students concerning issues surrounding drug and alcohol use
and abuse.
(4) Improve training and support for teachers. Because our classroom
teachers are the front-line educators on the issues of drug use and abuse, they need
to receive adequate training and support for this challenging task. 'There are two
ways, in particular, that we would like to see this accomplished:
a. Send more teachers for Life Skills training at BOCES. In the ICSD,
there are currently only 3 teachers that we know of trained in the Life Skills .
curriculum (offered only at Boynton M.S.). Life Skills training is considered to be
one of the most effective for dealing with drug issues because of its holistic approach
to the individual and those issues.
b. Provide forums for sharing information, strategies, and energy.
i nis might be done, for teachers within the district, by organizing a
Superintendents Conference Day around the issues of drug use and abuse.
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Workshops organized to educate all teachers could provide opportunities for
emphasizing the importance of integrating drug education (and those necessary "life
skills," which help kids to resist drugs) into all subjects, for brainstorming on how
this could be done, and for networking with teachers already involved in drug
education who could be resources for those who are not. By raising everyone's
awareness that this is not just the job of the health teachers, and by providing all
teachers with innovative models for integrating discussions on the drug culture
into their classrooms, perhaps we can change the prevailing atmosphere of
hopelessness among those currently responsible for confronting these topics.
(5) Coordination and collaboration of public school teachers with other
community-based educators. In order to expedite the presentation of the most
thorough drug education to our students, we propose that those people responsible
for teaching drug education at the various grade -levels share their knowledge and
resources. Those involved, in addition to the classroom teachers, are the DARE
educators from the Ithaca City Police Department, the Cayuga Heights Police
Department, the Sheriff's Office, the BOCES drug educator, and PREP/SAS
elementary drug educators. All have expressed interest in learning more about
what the others do, so that they can give a more informed and consistent
presentation to the students. Additionally, there are many people at the various
community centers in the City who interact with our youngsters and deal with the
issues of drug abuse every day. There needs to be collaboration with these youth
workers so that educators can be more fully informed about the realities of drug
abuse in our city, and cooperate with these community resources to improve the
guidance and support we can offer our children.Among the groups that should be
involved in this collaboration are the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Southside
Community Center, Northside Community Center, and the Youth Bureau.
(6) Inclusion of drug education in the School -to -Work program. The goal of
this program, which is state -mandated and for which the Ithaca City School District
has already received funding to develop, is to join into partnership employers,
human service agencies, unions, municipalities, colleges, and individuals in order
to provide "opportunities for all students (Pre -K through 12) to develop, attain and
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demonstrate a mastery of the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed as
productive citizens and workers." An essential part of School -to -Work is the
development of personal qualities such as responsibility, self-esteem, sociability,
self-management, and integrity. These are, of course, directly related to the
prevention of drug abuse. The deleterious effects of drug abuse on success in the
workplace and in life should be included in the School -to -Work curricula that
involve the collaboration of employers, labor and community agencies. This broad-
based inclusion and pervasive message will be more effective than any single "drug
education" program.
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Parent Education Action Team
This Action Team's main focus was to educate, and provide support for
parents in the Ithaca City School District and throughout Tompkins County about
drug and alcohol use among children and teenagers. This support includes
information about how to talk to young people about alcohol and drugs before they
become a problem. The Parent Education Action Team has been able to focus on
three main initiatives:
1) The Team's first focus was the establishment of a parent support group
which began meeting in September, 1997. This group was comprised of parents
interested in sharing their experiences with, and feelings, concerns, and experiences
about drugs and alcohol with other parents. The group met the second Wednesday
of each month in the second floor conference room at City Hall, at 7 PM. The group
sponsored presentations at some of the meetings, which included- the Circle of
Recovery_(a local downtown Ithaca group of recovering alcoholics and addicts who
seek out and mentor youth in trouble with, or at risk of drug and alcohol abuse),
Candle House (an adult women rehabilitation program that spreads their
experiences with addiction to interested parties in the area), and the Tompkins
County Alcoholism Council (within the council there is a discussion group
exclusively for teenagers).
The Action Team appealed to the Site Base Council at Ithaca High school to
incorporate the parent support group meetings as part of the high school's offerings.
A meeting with the Principal was arranged to discuss this possibility.
2) The Team's second focus was on providing information to parents through
the Ithaca City School District. This was accomplished by a number of methods.
a) A Parenting for Prevention workshop was provided for parents at
each school's open house at the beginning of the 97-98 school year (from fifth grade
to middle school, eighth grade to high school).
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b) A parent hot line was developed, involving parents who
volunteered their phone numbers so other parents could call for support,
information, and advice about drug and alcohol issues.
c) All information about the Community Drug Task Force and the
Parent Education Action Team was made available in the packet of school
information mailed to ICSD parents during the 97-98 academic year.
d) Two members of the Parent Education team appeared on Public
Access television's Finger Lakes Forum to speak about parenting concerning drugs
and alcohol, and members traveled to Groton to appear at a parents program on
substance abuse at Groton High School.
The Team explored other possibilities for communicating with Tompkins
County parents to help them understand and cope with issues of drugs and alcohol
use and abuse. Two possibilities are 1) appealing to the Ithaca City School District
PTA for an opportunity to speak about the Parent Education Action Team's
activities at PTA meetings, and 2) hiring the Cayuga Role Players for a presentation
at the junior high/high school involving parents and students on drug and alcohol
issues.
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Treatment Action Team
The Treatment Action Team's goal was to increase and improve outpatient
services for youth. The primary target group is youth under the age of 18 in the
Ithaca City School District. The secondary target group is anyone under the age of 22
in Tompkins County.
During the eight months that the Treatment Action team met, several tasks
were accomplished. First, the Action Team collected information on identified out-
patient services specifically for adolescents with regard to alcohol and other
substance abuse treatment within Tompkins County is limited. The community
does have access to acute detoxification emergency and referral services through
Cayuga Medical Center. Outpatient counseling services in the Ithaca area that serve
youth under the age of 21 are; the Alpha House, Alcoholism Council, Ithaca College,
Cornell University, Family and Children's Services. Individual therapists
specializing in substance abuse treatment are also an option. One of the Action
Team's members is compiling an inventory of these services for publication and
distribution to school and human service workers. The Treatment Action Team
has also estimated the number of youth who need varying levels of drug treatment
within the Ithaca City School District, based on research by NY State and national
experts. We still need to gather current, community-based data on local conditions
and trends, and await the results from the work of the Survey Action Team.
The Treatment Action Team's activities over the past months included a
review of proposals from the School Culture -Policy Action Team to add two new
school employees to the secondary school, for the purposes of drug education and
counseling. The Treatment Action Team suggests that these professionals hold a
Master's Degree with a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor
(CASAC). The Team suggests that these professionals have a solid understanding of
youth who struggle with Mental Health problems and struggle with Cross Addiction
(MICA) issues. Further, the Treatment Action Team prepared an analysis
comparing 1) the current available services, 2) the services offered with the two
proposed positions, and 3) an alternative Student Assistance Program plan (SAP) in
which additional services could be offered by,a service external to the school. The
Action Team's members discussed their recommendations with school officials and
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with the School Culture -Policy Action Team. ,
The Recommendations of the Treatment Action Team are discussed below.
1) The first recommendation and accomplishment was the community
conference on drug issues with youth to be presented by Michael Nirney. The
County Youth Bureau, Alcoholism Council, and others co-sponsored the event
October 7th and 8th, 1998. The theme was on the intervention strategies and how
the community adults (including school professionals and others) can help
motivate and support youth who are in treatment or who should be in treatment.
2) The Team recommends that the training, education, counseling and
treatment services in the community should all include the concepts of family and
culture. Training, education counseling, and treatment must include attention to
the youth's family as a system, as a support network, and as a force of intervention.
Training and education must enable professionals to work effectively in cross-
cultural situations. Counseling, referral, treatment, and residential services must be
responsive to diverse populations.
3) Our third recommendation stresses the importance of advocating to the
community's political and religious leaders their responsibility for alcohol and drug
related treatments for youth. These leaders must be informed that services need to
be improved with the goal of serving youth more effectively. The political and
religious leaders (Pastoral Counselors) would benefit from the future community
conference.
4) The Treatment Action Team recommends the establishment of a syringe
exchange program. Exchange programs are the first step in a harm reduction
program for intravenous drug users (idu's) that engages them into long term
treatment for their addiction. Harm reduction programs for idu's also provide
needed psychological and social services, public health information on a risk
reduction and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The goal is to help them
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be successful in drug treatment and to support their recovery as they become non-
users while reducing their risk of contracting a disease in the interim.
5) We recommend the establishment of a youth list serve for youth who are.
at various stages of drug treatment/rehabilitation. They would be referred to the list
serve when they engage the treatment system.
Our youth have a powerful influence on one another. By linking up youth
that are in recovery, they can share experiences with peers who they might feel will
understand what they are saying. They can help teach one another how to cope and
get through the difficulties of reintegration.
A list serve is an email list that allows the participants on the list to post
messages to everyone else on the list. It is much like a chat room concept, but not in
real time. This lack of real time allows for more thoughtful responses of the
participants by eliminating the time pressures of an immediate response in a real
time conversation. Participation on a list serve can be completely confidential for
any participant, and participants can simply read the conversation without feeling
like they have to participate.
Note: A similar list serve to network treatment and other service providers to
youth would also be beneficial. It would facilitate the exchange of ideas, and could
allow services providers to confidentially brainstorm on individual cases.
6) The Team recommends the establishment of neighborhood based support,
prevention and intervention resources. This would be done by educating
community leaders about assessments, intervention strategies etc.
By bringing awareness and education into neighborhoods, community
leaders, clergy and others who interact with families on a regular basis can be better
equipped to recognize and act on substance abuse problems. In order to do so, they
will have to overcome the obstacles of shame, family pride and insular thinking.
Because of their stature, these individuals will often have the best chance of
reaching out to and engaging family members in efforts to address a substance abuse
problem of another family member.
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7) The most important recommendation made by the Treatment Action
Team is the need for a treatment model which includes a residential treatment
option. There is currently no residential treatment option (i.e. halfway house)
within Tompkins County. The Treatment Action Team recommends that a
subcommittee be appointed to pursue research on the feasibility of establishing a
supportive residence within the community which is closely aligned with intensive
outpatient (IOP) services in order to ease reintegration issues (relapse prevention)
for adolescents receiving substance abuse treatment.
The Treatment Action Team reviewed current treatment trends (which
emphasize maintenance of the adolescent within the community while undergoing
Intensive Outpatient Treatment Services / IOP) and cost efficiency (payer no longer
reimbursing inpatient treatment options). The current and future trends of the
Behavioral Managed Care (BMC) and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
industry are driving all treatment options. Children, adolescents and young adults
are often short changed when payers (BMC, HMO) review treatment options. The
Treatment Action Team strongly recommends that a subcommittee be formed to
assess this current human service industry trend.
For some 65 years the Twelve -Step Recovery Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) support groups have been operating in this
community. The Treatment Action Team stresses that these support groups are
essential for long-term recovering and relapse prevention in the community.
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Community Action -Action Team
Since the inception of the Community Drug Task Force, the Community
Action -Action Team met in both large and small group settings. All of the
members have been part of the issue discussions and offered solutions to the drug
problem in Ithaca. The entire Action Team shares the same commitment and
vision to strengthen Ithaca's neighborhoods.
The three major focus areas of the Community Action -Action Team were: (1)
Work to empower all community residents; (2) Foster the networking between
residents, neighborhoods, social, religious and cultural centers; (3) Identify and
strengthen neighborhood organizations and assist other residents in joining existing
associations or forming their own. Upon examining each of these focus areas in
depth, the Action Team made the following observations and recommendations.
1) Creation of a Neighborhood Council - Over the past year and a half there
have been a number of initiatives brought forward by a variety of groups that
include neighborhoods. Between the Community Action -Action Team, the
Community Drug Task Force, Drug House Task Force, and I.N.H.S. Neighborhood
Initiatives, residents have become tired and confused with all of the red -tape
bureaucracy. While all agree that the work each group does is valuable, it has also
been confusing trying to follow each group and is impossible to make the time to
keep up with each separate meeting.
Many areas of the City are already represented by a watch group, civic group,
block association, or neighborhood association. This Action Team recommends that
there be some way to establish one neighborhood council or consortium to which
smaller neighborhood groups may have representatives. In this way energy can be
focused more efficiently and results seen sooner.
The council would meet on a regular basis with organizational assistance
from the City. The council would have one or two representatives from each
neighborhood association as members. Common problems and/or neighborhood
specific issues could be brought to the table as could information about problem
properties or current event issues. Another function of the proposed neighborhood
council could be assisting those residents that are looking to create their own watch
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group or association. Using seed money from the neighborhood incentive fund,
associations could get assistance with neighborhood clean ups, area events, meetings
and block parties. Whether city, town or village, the neighborhood council could
hold seminars on how others are organizing and running their own associations.
2) Publishing of Neighborhood Association Directory - The Action Team
recommends the creation of a directory of the active neighborhood associations and
watch groups. Contact names, numbers and e-mail addresses. 'the directory could
contain information submitted by the active groups regarding neighborhood specific
information or promotional literature. Also contained in the directory should be a
map that shows areas of the city each neighborhood association covers. This
directory should be created, maintained and updated by the City of Ithaca
Neighborhood Planner. Utilizing the world wide web and software that identifies
property owners in the City would help to connect people better and allow the flow
of thoughts, ideas, problems, solutions etc.
3) Improving the Relationship between Neighborhood Associations and the
Landlord Association - This recommendation for the inviting and encouraging of
landlords or their representatives to be involved in the neighborhoods they own
and/ or manage property in. Currently there is no networking of the renters,
landlords and homeowners. If all lthacans have an interest in the neighborhood,
the community should be communicating to each other in some positive way.
Information about rental properties available could be shared with the
neighborhood. Residents would want to refer their friends, family or new comers to
landlords that work to promote healthy neighborhood values.
4) Publishing of a Citizens Handbook on How to Fight Drugs - This Action
Team recommends an informational booklet be published that would give
community residents assistance in fighting drugs in their neighborhoods.
Information in the booklet would include:
a) How to recognize a drug house.
b) Who to call if there is suspicion of illegal activity in a home or rental
property.
c) How to deal with landlords and property managers that rent to
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people who use or sell drugs out of the property.
d) What to do if one witnesses illegal street activity.
e) A progress report from the Drug House Task Force.
f) Information on community police officers.
5) Reporting Tools of Suspected Drug Activity
The IPD Dispatcher - Currently citizens have a number of ways to report
suspicious activity to police. Calling the 1PD dispatcher at 272-3245 is one way of
filing a concern. However, it has come to the attention of the Action Team that
there have been inconsistencies in the way the dispatcher has taken calls and as a
result some residents have reported it is not a comfortable way to alert officials of a
problem. The Community Action Action Team recommends the dispatchers be
trained in communication skills and sensitized to the needs of some residents to
remain anonymous. A more streamlined phone reporting system should be
developed so phone reporting can be accomplished more easily.
Neighborhood training - The Action Team also recommends local seminars
at the neighborhood level on "how to report a crime". This could be taught by
community police officers and would serve to introduce the officer to residents,
promote good will, and increase the good working relationship between city
government and residents.
Hot Spot Cards for the Community - The Hot Spot Card provides a safe, easy
way for neighborhood residents to anonymously report to the police any specific
information they may have about a drug-related incident. Although Hot Spot Cards
are available, many residents have never heard of them, and others find them too
complicated. The Action Team believes that if residents know more about the cards
(i.e. where to pick them up and drop them off), and the easier they are to use, the
more effective the cards will be as a reporting tool.
The Action Team proposes that the card be streamlined, and a marketing
campaign be conducted that is supported by city officials, neighborhood associations
and the media to promote this tool. Publishing the card in the newspaper, or
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inserting a "How to Use the Hot Spot Card" guidance piece in bulk mail would be
very effective ways to make it more feasible. Sending a packet of cards to each
neighborhood association would also increase card use and provide additional
information to officials.
Hot Spot Cards for the Schools - Residents believe and understand that it is
very difficult for a student to share information regarding possible drug use in the
high school or junior high schools. If there was an anonymous and safe way for a
student to report illegal activity like drugs or weapons in the schools, it would
become a desirable tool for students. Possible questions on the student cards could
be; Do you know anyone dealing drugs in school? Their name, grade, kind of drug,
when, and where. The locked drop-off boxes could be located in the library, medical
office, cafeteria, and locker rooms. These tips would be handled by the police
department and not by school officials.
Section 8 Hot Spot Card - Section 8 Housing Programs at Tompkins County
EOC have put together a card that residents can fill out to report suspicious activity
in a Section 8 subsidized housing unit. The Action Team recommends that the
Ithaca Housing Authority be encouraged to also provide these cards to their Section
8 subsidized housing residents.
6) Increased Community/Police Interactions
Building Neighborhood -Police Relationships - The community and
neighborhoods have welcomed community policing in Ithaca. Seeing an officer
standing on the corner by Conway Park talking to children or listening to a .
community police officer at the West End Breakfast Club serves to strengthen the
police -community bond. All existing neighborhood associations are encouraged to
set up a gathering of residents to welcome and meet. with their community police
officer as soon as possible. Community Police information should be published and
included in the Neighborhood Directory
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IPD Satellites in City Neighborhoods - The Action Team recommends
establishing more IPD satellites in city neighborhoods. Many residents see an
increased physical police presence as a very effective deterrent to crime. It also
greatly increases the perception of safety in areas that have a drug sale or use
problem. Establishing more satellites in the community will send a very strong
message to those contemplating illegal activity.
Mobile Police Satellite - The Action Team recommends IPD investigate using
a mobile police satellite, perhaps acquiring a mobile home for this purpose. It could
be transported to different locations, increasing visibility and reducing costs by not
having to maintain a physical structure like a store front.
7)Police Canine Unit - The Action Team recommends IPD maintain a canine
unit. The Action Team realizes that training a dog and officer will take some time
before they are out in the street. Why not use the existing state canine unit at
known drug entry points like the bus station now?
8)Improved Lighting - The Action Team recommends that neighbors survey
their blocks to identify dark areas or areas where lighting is less abundant and have
them contact DPW to request the installation of additional lights.
9) Creation of a Community Watch Program for Municipal Employees- New
York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) has a program where their employees who are
out and about in neighborhoods everyday are trained to report anything out of the
ordinary to the local police department. Because of this training and the on -board
communications of two-way radios and cell phones, NYSEG employees can
promptly report unusual, unsafe or suspicious activities. The Community Action -
Action Team recommends the City of Ithaca incorporate a similar program with the
employees of the Department of Public Works. The addition of more eyes and ears
able to report potential problems would serve to increase the quality of life in our
communities while potentially decreasing criminal activity.
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10) Eviction Ordinance, Nuisance Laws and NS Real Property Law 715 - New
York's Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law Section 715 enables residents as
well as others to bring action to evict against tenants who engage in illegal activities.
This existing law requires proof of drug activity and basically requires physical proof
that is very often difficult to obtain. A county drug eviction ordinance has been
drafted by members of the Community Drug Task Force - Governments Initiatives
Action Team that fills the gap in existing landlord -tenant law by authorizing
eviction if illegal drugs are also being used or possessed on the premises. This
Action Team strongly supports an ordinance that serves to empower local residents,
landlords and municipal authorities to evict tenants who use or posses illegal drugs
in rented properties.
The Community Action -Action Team recommends this proposal be given
top priority. Many of the existing neighborhood associations have been waiting for
this kind of legal tool and await its adoption.
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School Culture -Environment Action Team
All members of the Action Team agreed that the single most important issue
regarding the use of, and the selling of drugs or alcohol in our schools is the issue of
safety. Therefore, this issue has been the basis for all of the Action Team's research,
deliberations and recommendations.
1) The Action Team recommends the installation of an Ithaca High School
(IHS) parking lot gate to monitor student arrivals and departures to and from
campus and to prohibit unauthorized access to the IHS parking lot. The goal of this
is to ensure student safety and accountability for student's whereabouts during
school day to limit, A) non -student access: anyone who might be using, distributing
drugs, alcohol or weapons, B) student access to vehicles to smoke, drink or use drugs
during the school day, C) students' ability to leave campus to secure drugs or
alcohol for use or distribution on campus.
Interviews with current and former IHS students suggest the above activities
occur with regularity. Calls were made by team members to surrounding school
districts of similar size. The Action Team suggests controlling motor vehicle access
is important to limiting drug use and distribution on the IHS campus. The Action
Team hopes to establish one point of entry into the parking lot that is monitored by
staff and install automatic gates at all exits to prevent entry at those points.
2) The Action Team recommends a closed campus, where all students enter
campus and remain for the period of their academic engagement and then leave for
the day. The goal is to ensure student safety and accountability of students'
whereabouts and help students manage their time productively by, A) reducing
students' access to off campus sources of drugs or alcohol, B) reducing students'
nonacademic time which encourages drug use during the school day, C) reducing
students' time on campus to engage in illicit pursuits, D) students having each
period supervised by staff that take attendance, with consequences for
nonattendance, E) encouraging efficient use of time for students who have
legitimate off campus responsibilities such as jobs, educational pursuits, religious
organizations, volunteer work or family needs.
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Interviews with current and past IHS students indicate that unsupervised free
periods provide opportunity for drug and alcohol use and distribution. Students
have also indicated that current scheduling practices include as many as three to
five study halls during the school day. When these are scheduled back to back
students are more likely to engage in drug use out of boredom and peer pressure.
Interviews have also shown that students have classes on and off throughout the
day rather than having a free afternoon to engage in positive off campus activities.
Review of current IHS schedules indicates that many students do not have
classes scheduled to provide uninterrupted academic classes. The students that have
full schedules, some without a lunch period, indicated they see little or no drug
activity because "We don't have time for drugs." The Action Team recommends
that schedules should be arranged to provide an uninterrupted academic course
load. If students have free time they should receive counseling about electives or off
campus work or volunteer pursuits. All study halls during the day should be
assigned periods with mandatory attendance with consequences for nonattendance.
When possible, students without a full course load, should have their course load
arranged as to allow free afternoons to engage in productive off campus activities.
Students should not be allowed to return to campus without approval.
3) The Action Team recommends that students sign agreements to abstain
from use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol in order to be involved in all sports, clubs and
other activities.(student government etc.). The goal of this is to foster a proactive
non -drug use atmosphere by targeting students in high visibility groups which
represent the school in the hopes of having all students eventually sign the same
agreement. The same type of pledge should be specifically used for special events
like the prom.
This document will promote positive choices by having highly visible
students choosing to demonstrate a non-use lifestyle, promote self-determination in
students in regard to drug, alcohol non-use and healthy lifestyle and help to
reinforce school drug policies.
ICSD already has such a document. However, students interviewed report a
callous attitude toward signing the document, rather than true commitment, due to
a lack of enforcement even when violations were known to have occurred. The
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Action Team wants to require any student who represents ICSD to commit, in
writing, to a non-use lifestyle. Ithaca should empower coaches and staff to facilitate
enforcement of this document by demonstrating a clear non -tolerance for
violations. Provide class time when teachers will review the document and its
importance. Also require coaches to devote a time period to discuss what this
means to each team member. Use this educational period to provide students with
information and support for a non-use lifestyle.
4)The Action Team recommends an increase in funds and support for
intramural sports and after school activities. The goal is to promote positive
student participation in before and after school activities by, A) provide staff to
supervise intramural sports before school because some buses arrive as early as 7:15
a.m. Similar situations are present at elementary and middle schools, B) provide
more after school alternatives to sports, and C) find creative ideas to encourage
active and voluntary staff participation to support these activities.
Students attending meetings of this Action Team have cited a lack of
activities in the morning provides the opportunity for students to use drugs or
alcohol prior to the start of the school day.
There currently exists very little funding for supplies for clubs. Many
students are interested in these clubs but are not able to participate because of
financial hardship. Future initiatives should increase funding for after school clubs
to buy supplies for students who can not otherwise buy them on their own in order
to actively participate in the activity.
5) The Action team recommends working with the school district to provide
a later after-school bus route schedule, or work with Tompkins Consolidated Area
Transit (TCAT) to provide discount or free youth passes to facilitate access of after-
school activities by more students.
Students have said that the late bus departs too soon at the end of the day to
make participation in after school programs feasible. Furthermore, late buses have
more limited drop points that are sometimes too far from their homes to make
walking safe, especially in the winter months when it's dark and the weather is
inclement. Students who live closer to the school and typically walk home also face
this problem in the winter months.
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The school district should move the departure time of the late bus to 4:00 or
4:15 p.m. to allow more time to engage in activities. The district should also look
into expanding the number of late bus drop-off points that are within a reasonable
safe walking distance of students' homes.
An alternative to this would be free or subsidized youth passes on TCAT.
TCAT's routes cover all the municipalities in the school district, and operate well
into the evening hours. This would also work well for students who live closer and
typically walk to school.
6) The Action Team believes that a no open container rule should go into
effect. This would prevent students from getting drunk or getting other students
drunk on campus while school is in session or during school related activities (i.e.
football games, sports events). Past experiences show that students bring alcohol
into school and pour it into everyday non-alcoholic beverage containers and get
drunk. Making a rule that prohibits open containers on campus may help to reduce
the risk of other students' academic programs being disturbed by students who are
intoxicated.
The Action Team leader has contacted other area schools to find out what
policies, if any, they had concerning open containers. It was found that Groton and
Cortland do not allow open containers. Binghamton "discourages" open
containers. Lansing, Homer, and Dryden schools allow open containers but the
beverage must be consumed in the cafeteria area. Trumansburg schools have no
policy and Newfield says water bottles are okay. This policy needs to define open
containers and areas of consumption.
7) The Action Team recommends the use of drug dogs to inspect student
lockers. This recommendation results from a dialogue with students, parents and
Action Team members. Our research has indicated that the use of dogs in other
school settings has been very successful. The Action Team has contacted a local
person, who works with 21 area schools with his dogs. His services would be
available more than 20 times during the school year. He seems to have a working
knowledge of the legal ramifications of search and seizure, and is willing to work
within these guidelines as well as the policy set up by the school. The Action Team
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will be receiving a Search and Seizure Guidelines from the law office of a
Binghamton firm that addresses these issues in the school setting. It is possible that
the school system will receive a free demonstration as well as an inspection of the
school to determine risk factors.
8) The Action Team recommends an increase of staff intervention of students
suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs. Several parents sat at our table and
expressed anguish regarding this topic. They indicated that students were sent
home impaired with little or no school staff intervention. We have come to the
conclusion that the lack of response by the staff is due to fear, lack of knowledge and
experience and perhaps ignorance of signs and symptoms of impairment. The
Action Team recommends that all staff review standing policies and procedures.
The team further recommends that additional training be made available for
staff. Our research has revealed that there is an excellent program provided by the
NYS Troopers regarding field assessment of impairment. At the Action Team's
request a training session was arranged. This training session occurred on
November 24th, with a NYS Trooper. The trooper, a drug recognition expert,
advised the Action Team that further instruction is necessary and he took
suggestions from all present and will advise about further training sessions. The
Action Team will research further resources for other training.
Another way to address the need for intervention is covered by the
recommendation of the School Culture -Policy Action Team to hire substance abuse
prevention counselors. We strongly support this recommendation.
9) One other very specific recommendation developed from the Action
Team's research is that there is strong indication that drug trafficking takes place in
school rest rooms and in the cafeteria. Staff responsible for the supervision of these
areas should be made aware of this situation and heightened supervision should be
established. One very simple measure would be to inform staff responsible for hall
monitoring to position themselves near restrooms and to periodically inspect these
areas.
10) The Action Team recommends that a reintegration program should be
established for students returning to school after drug rehabilitation. This program
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might also address similar issues of other students who are receiving services and
counseling but who continue to attend school. Again this need was identified by
parents who "are there" or who "have been there". The Action Team is aware that
there are reintegration programs that already exist and there is a need to do further
research into these programs. The second step would be considering implementing
such a program in the schools. Once again, the hiring of substance abuse prevention
counselors will assist in this effort.
The Action Team also believes there is the need to devote some additional
time and research regarding the unique problems that might exist at the elementary
level.
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School Culture -Policy Action Team
This Action Team focused on District policy covering alcohol and other drugs
in the schools and on procedures to implement the policy. Members read policy and
procedural statements from ICSD and other districts and talked with administrators,
students, teachers, parents, and other community members. The Action Team did
not believe that reviewing programs to further policy objectives was part of its
charge. Nevertheless, it does believe that programs that counsel/educate students
and train/educate staff are an integral part of the task of reducing substance abuse in
the schools. Although District policy covers all schools, the Action Team inquiries
concerned only the secondary schools.
Dealing with substance abuse in the schools must be part of a general project
of reducing disorderly and disrespectful behaviors in general. As with the task of
reducing substance abuse, four elements are essential to this broader goal of
improving the general climate of order and respect within the schools: clear and
known policies, established and publicized procedures, consistently and equally
applied consequences, and support and participation by District and community.
The Action Team understands that administrators and teachers share this
viewpoint and have been working together on the problem. Clarified expectations
of conduct and explanations of consequences and processes have been published in
District and school handbooks that were distributed to students and parents. The
Action Team has not attempted to monitor the process of working toward change in
the schools, but it recommends that the School Board do so.
1) The Action Team feels that a clear policy regarding the use of alcohol and
other drugs in the schools is the necessary starting point for action and change.
Change will occur only if the policy and its related regulations are known and
understood by staff, students and parents, and only if enforcement is consistent. The
Action Team agreed with the administration's opinion that the policy being
presented to the Board of Education was clear and sufficient to allow effective action
in dealing with substance abuse in the schools and chose to propose only the
modification of adding tobacco to the list of prohibited drugs. The Board adopted
the policy with that change; it forbids possession, use, sale, or distribution of tobacco,
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alcohol, and other drugs on school property or at school -sponsored events and
denies the right to be in school or at school events to persons who are under the
influence of drugs like alcohol.
2) Failures of administrative support, the absence of clear procedures, and
erratic enforcement have all been reported to us as common in past years, especially
in Ithaca High School. The Action Team supports the current efforts of both the
superintendent and the high school principal to bring clarity to school policies and
to consistently enforce those policies. The Action Team emphasizes the need for all
staff, students, and parents to understand the policies and the consequences of
violating them. This will require regular and repeated promulgation and
discussion in the schools and among parents and central administrators. The
Action Team also emphasizes the need for consistent enforcement, because it is
clear that occasional or selective enforcement amounts to a public announcement
that the policy is a sham. This will require the participation and support of central -
office and building administrators, teachers, other staff, parents, and School Board
members.
Most people have heard that in adult society "ignorance of the law is no
excuse." In the schools, ignorance has been an effective excuse for failures to curb
drug abuse, as has uncertainty. Administrators and teachers who are ignorant of the
symptoms of drug use do not remove students who are under the influence from
school events. Teachers who are uncertain that administrators will support their
actions in removing a student who is under the influence from a classroom will not
enforce the policy. Staff members who are ignorant of established procedures for
removing students from class for a drug -assessment cannot enforce policy properly,
resulting in erratic enforcement. Procedures that are cumbersome or impossible to
follow in some situations have the same effect. This Action Team emphasizes that
it sees failures to enforce policy not as failures to punish students but as failures to
help them, both those who use and those who suffer the effects of a school drug
culture.
The Action Team reiterates that workable procedures for implementing and
enforcing policy are essential. The Superintendent circulated draft working papers
on procedures to implement drug policy. Action Team members asked questions
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and made suggestions regarding clarity, purpose, and process. A version of the
procedures shown to the Action Team in August 1997 reflected Action Team
suggestions and appeared to be potentially effective. As with the policy itself,
procedures must be known, understood, supported, and consistently used by all
teachers, administrators, and other staff members. Recent observations from IHS
suggest that desirable levels of consistency or workability have not yet been
achieved.
The consequences of violating the policy must both deter violations and
promote alternative behaviors. In other words, consequences cannot be limited to
punishments like suspension, but must offer help like counseling, group
discussion, and mentoring. After discussions with administrators, the Action Team
concluded that the process of refining consequences is on the right track. It has
neither proposed specific consequences nor monitored further action.
The effectiveness of procedures and of consequences depends on consistent
and equal application in terms of both situations and individuals. All
administrators express support for this principle and the intention to act
accordingly, although as noted earlier, reports from previous years indicate
inconsistency and inequality are common. Students will not take the policy or its
promulgators seriously if, for example, athletes escape from application of the
policy, or if one ethnic group is treated with more flexibility than another, or if a
persuasive parent manages to modify consequences meted out to his or her child.
This Team believes it is essential that all teachers, administrators, other staff, and
School Board members support and participate in this effort consistently and
equitably.
3) The Action Team recommends the establishment of a Drug Free School
Zone, which extends District policing authority beyond the boundaries of its
property up to a certain distance, but the Superintendent pointed out that federal
regulations on Drug Free Zones apply only to policies covering drugs other than
tobacco. This prevented adoption in the manner proposed at that time. The Action
Team will reintroduce this proposal after further study, and will explore with the
appropriate municipalities other ways to include tobacco to the district's oversight
authority.
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4) Students must be helped with assessment, support, and counseling relative
to substance abuse issues through well designed programs, knowledgeable
personnel, and adequate staffing. Such programs provide the alternatives to
punishments mentioned earlier, as well as offering services to those who have not
been convicted of violating policy. Secondary administrators expressed the desire to
increase staffing and improve program delivery regarding substance abuse. The
Team strongly recommends that at least two substance abuse prevention counselors
be hired by the district to work in the secondary schools. The Action Team has
publicized this interest and presented it to the School Board.
The Action Team drafted a statement whose purpose was to inform the
public of the conclusions of the Action Team and the actions of the District and
schools as noted above, in hopes of increasing community awareness and support
for these efforts. After consultation with the larger Task Force, the statement was
published as an opinion piece in the Ithaca Journal of October 17, 1997.
The Action Team voted to express its conclusions and its active support of the
ICSD School Board. The Action Team drafted a memorandum to the Board
outlining its conclusions, presenting the request for counseling staff, and stating
team members' ready support of Board actions in pursuit of effective action in the
task of curbing the abuse of alcohol and other drugs in the schools. This was
circulated to Board members in October, 1997. This report adds the following to that
statement: Action Team members believe that the Board could and should express
interest in and support of change in the area of substance abuse by routine and
informed inquiry into the conduct and progress of policy enforcement and program
delivery, perhaps through regular, meaningful reports from the Superintendent.
The Action Team explored with District administrators further useful actions
with regard to drug policy and its implementation, as well as looking at other ways
of achieving our goals --for example, the inclusion of trained peer educators in the
program delivery team mentioned above. This Action Team finds the
recommendations that are being made by the Action Team on School
Culture/Environment in their section of the report of the Community Drug Task
Force consistent with the points made above and concurs in their
recommendations.
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Public Outreach Action Team
The Public Outreach Action Team's focus to date has been on bringing
visibility to the efforts of the Community Drug Task Force and to raise awareness in
our community regarding drug use and abuse, and ongoing drug prevention efforts.
The team worked with other Action Teams, interviewing members and soliciting
information to include in press releases.
1) An informative cable access program was organized by the Public Outreach
Action Team, which featured members of other Community Drug Task Force
Action Teams talking about the problems our community faces and the work of
their respective teams.
2) The team hopes to organize a Drug Awareness Street Fair focused on
downtown, involving college and high school students, GIAC and area businesses
and individuals. On an ongoing basis, awareness raising at all area festivals and
fairs can be accomplished by setting up a booth that distributes information on area
services and is staffed by individuals knowledgeable about those services.
3) The Action Team recommends the development of a local media/public
relations campaign designed to increase awareness of the issues of substance abuse,
to educate youth and adults about the dangers of substance abuse, to inform drug
users of the services available to help them and to inform the loved ones of
substance abusers about the support services available to them.
Awareness raising is important to raise public consciousness about the issues
of substance abuse. For example,parents who are aware that drug activity occurs in
our community are in denial when they contend that their own children are not or
could not be involved. Parents should know that the possibility of their own child
being involved with drugs is very real. They should be equipped with the skills to
talk with their child about substance abuse and be prepared to help their child if they
are already involved with drugs.
While there are already nationally prominent campaigns designed to
discourage drug use, they are counterbalanced by both advertising campaigns for
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nicotine and alcohol products, and by some programming presented by the
entertainment industry. In television shows, movies and advertisements, popular
media and sports personalities are seen either promoting the use of nicotine and/or
alcohol products, or actually using these and other substances.
The team recognizes the mixed messages that community members,
particularly our youth, receive from the media. The need exists to develop a clear,
coherent message for our community, and most likely tailor that message for the
different constituencies in our community, particularly our youth.
National and state public relations campaigns will be evaluated for their
applicability to our community. The opportunity also exists to collaborate with a
college level advertising and public relations course to help develop a message and a
comprehensive advertising and public relations campaign. This campaign will
most likely cover print, radio and television, in addition to other targeted efforts
like direct mail.
4) The development of social norms for our youth would be beneficial in
raising their awareness about the numbers of their peers that do not engage in
substance abuse activities. Nationally renowned expert Alan Berkowitz, who
resides in Ithaca, has found in his research that youth tend to greatly overestimate
the amount of alcohol and other drug use that is going on amongst their peers. By
communicating the facts and accentuating the positive (eg 90% of sixth graders do
not smoke cigarettes) rather than the negative (eg 10% of sixth graders smoke
cigarettes), youth will take notice. Berkowitz has found that youth will conform
their behavior to the more moderate, actual norm if they know what it is.
5) Another team focus is in the area of advocacy. The task force report
contains a number of recommendations that need to be implemented. This will
require speaking before legislative bodies, the Board of Education and community
organizations. There is a need to develop spokespersons who can serve as
advocates. They will make presentations before these various entities to secure the
passage of policies and legislation designed to enhance drug prevention efforts
throughout our community.
They will also work to raise community awareness of substance abuse issues
33
and of the service providers who are addressing the problem. For example, there is
no established community presence of drug treatment providers. While the
Alcoholism Council and Alpha House both provide critically needed services to our
community, their work is practically invisible. Consequently, not only the problems
they are dealing with but the successes they are achieving are relatively unknown to
the general public.
6) The team also recommends that task force advocates meet with the
editorial board of the Ithaca Journal. The Journal is a good vehicle to maintain
ongoing awareness raising through the publication of stories on substance abuse
issues. Educating the Journal staff on substance abuse issues and establishing a
relationship with the newspaper will be important to maintaining a sustained
awareness raising effort.
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Government Initiatives (& Environmental Factors) Action Team
The purpose and goal of this Action Team was to propose ordinances, laws,
and programs at any level of government to help further the mission of the Drug
Task Force and to reduce substance abuse and drug trafficking in the Ithaca area.
The Action Team's particular emphases were on ordinances at the local level (City
of Ithaca), and on improvements in the local environment which would improve
local quality of life and would in turn affect the environment for substance abuse.
The work was primarily focused on drafting new or modified ordinances for
consideration by the City of Ithaca (Mayor's office and Common Council). The
Action Team has also given some consideration to proposing new local programs to
be funded through government grants,and to develop initiatives for higher
government levels (state or federal). Practical resource limits however have
required the Action Team to concentrate on local ordinances first. The Action Team
is investigating issues such as anti -noise laws, anti -loitering laws, drug-free zones,
forfeiture laws, eviction laws, curfew laws, truancy laws, improved lighting laws,
anti -graffiti laws, anti -litter laws, possession of nicotine by minors, drug-related
activities, public health laws, emancipation & parental responsibility.
1) An anti -noise proposal has been prepared and is ready to forward to the
Common Council. The Action Team feels that there are clear and specific penalties,
but a question remains as to whether a police officer can act as the complainant.
2) An anti -loitering proposal is also ready to be passed on to the Common
Council. Some Action Team members have expressed concern about the anti -
loitering law, arguing that it invites misuse by police.
3) A drug-free zone proposals are still under active Action Team
consideration. The main issues are whether to establish drug-free zones in Ithaca
beyond those established by federal law (around schools, playgrounds, and youth
centers), and whether to post signs in drug-free areas as a preventive measure
against drug traffic. A law in Portland, OR, that expands drug-free zones is
35
li being considered as a possible model. The County D.A. has meanwhile been
presenting ideas for "targeted drug zones" to neighborhood associations, and has
pointed out that his office can get court orders to declare specific areas of the city off-
limits to specific people as a condition of probation. One Action Team member
proposed that the downtown area be designated as a drug-free zone.
4) A proposal for a new forfeiture law was rejected by the Action Team, and
an improved version is expected at a later date.
5) The County District Attorney sent his proposed Eviction Ordinance with
our endorsement to the County Board and the Common Council. This law is an
expansion of the provisions of section 715 of the New York State Real Property Law,
which provides a mechanism to evict tenants who are involved in the sale of illicit
substances. The D.A. explains that his version is a "proposed local ordinance that
fills the gap in existing landlord -tenant law by authorizing eviction of tenants if
illegal drugs are being used or possessed on the premises." Common Council
recently passed the law, and the County Board is expected to review it soon.
6) The Action Team spent a great deal of time investigating curfews and
truancy laws. The facts on effectiveness of curfews were researched by the Action
Team. Curfews may be imposed for people on probation and can only apply to
youth ages 16 and under. Curfew law effectiveness is controversial with many
advocates on both sides of the issue.
The main issues in truancy laws are in the hands of the school board and
school administrations, establishing an environment in which current truancy laws
can be effectively enforced. The open campus of Ithaca High School significantly
impacts enforcement. In the meantime, the Action Team researched what
additional laws and methods may have proven effective in other municipalities.
The possibility of strengthening truancy laws on a local level is being investigated.
7) The Action Team found no relevant city or state laws found dealing with
improved lighting. The building code has requirements for lighting at exits for new
residential buildings, but their ability to enforce them is limited. The Action Team
36
researched what kind of lighting ordinances could help deter drug activity.
8) The Action team looked at other municipal ordinances that require private
property owners to remove graffiti in a timely fashion. Questions remaining
include the role of the municipality in cleaning graffiti for private property owners
and the imposition on private property owners of fines for noncompliance. The
Mayor will bring the work done to date to the City Attorney's office to facilitate the
drafting of a local ordinance.
9) The required research assignments on anti -litter and public health laws
were not assigned to Action Team members. It has been suggested that public
health laws might be applied to drug abuse as a type of epidemic.
10) Possession of nicotine by minors is another issue that concerned the
Action Team. The development of a local ordinance seems possible as it does not
appear that state law supersedes in this particular area.The school board has
discussed a possible ban on possession of cigarettes by minors.
The Action Team questioned what kind of punishment would be involved
for those founding breaking the rules, and what if any search and seizure issues
might arise. It is recommended that search and seizure be precluded as part of any
local ordinance. The main suggested remediation for first time offenders is required
education on the dangers of smoking (similar to that of community service work
hours assigned by a judge). Alaska has a statute stating that possession of tobacco by
a minor is a violation (AS 11.76.105), but punishments are not specified.
The question of punishments led to the discussion of parental responsibility.
The availability of emancipation for 16 -year olds in New York undermines the
ability of parents to be fully responsible for their 16- and 17 -year old children.
However, since local ordinances cannot supersede state law, it appears that little can
be done at the local level, and a change at the state level would be necessary to rectify
the situation.
11) The Action Team drafted a proposal for an ordinance to limit drug-related
activities based on a model from Portland, OR. However, this proposal was shelved
by the Action Team. Several Action Team members did not support the ordinance.
They argued that it made too many "normal" activities illegal, and would make
37
virtually all citizens into criminals. They pointed out that its main purpose would
be to allow police to detain drug dealers based on suspicious actions, which is a
power already permissible under current law. For example, the police can arrest
someone who swallows something that an officer has demanded to see, or who has
passed something to another person and refuses to show what it is.
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Justice System Action Team
The Justice System Action Team was composed of representatives from the
Ithaca City Police Department, Ithaca City Court, Ithaca City Prosecutor's Office,
Tompkins County District Attorney's Office, the local defense bar and a number of
community members. During its initial meetings, the Action Team reviewed the
list of concerns generated by the Community Drug Task Force as a whole. From that
list, three topics were selected: (1) Youth Court; (2) Support for Community Groups;
(3) Analysis of Judicial System Resources Targeting Drug Abuse.
Note: A number of people wanted the Drug Task Force to address a concern
that local judges were 'soft' on drug dealers, and thus contributing to the drug
problem. This topic was passed on to the Judicial System Action Team for
consideration. The Judicial System Team discussed the issue and several ideas were
generated. Team members were in favor of citizens expressing their concerns to
judges directly, by letter or in community forums. They also favored making it
easier for people to find out the status of a particular case as it made its
way through the court system. Finally, team members noted that judges are elected
officials, thus ultimately could be held accountable for their actions through
elections.
1) At its essence, a Youth Court or a Teen Court involves teenagers handling
all aspects of judicial proceedings involving teenagers who have committed minor
crimes. Many Youth Courts are successfully operating around the country. In fact,
Ithaca had such a Court a number of years ago. Through research, the Action Team
was able to locate and obtain a newly published guide to establishing a Youth Court
prepared by the Probation and Parole Association. This comprehensive guide
provides a step-by-step process for establishing such an initiative. The
guide also contains a listing of New York State Youth Courts. Subsequently, three of
the New York State Courts that exist in similarly sized communities were contacted
for information about their programs and experiences. An invitation was also
received to attend at least one of these Courts.
39
2) The Justice System Action Team has communicated with and worked with
the Community Action Action Team to avoid duplication of efforts. Both share a
common goal of supporting neighborhood groups and strengthening programs such
as neighborhood watches. The specific proposal developed by the Justice System
Action Team involved organizing a series of neighborhood forums. Participating in
these forums would be the District Attorney, City Judge, Police Chief, Mayor, and
City Prosecutor. These individuals agreed to make themselves available for
neighborhood discussions specifically related to alcohol and drug abuse and the
enforcement of laws related to those issues. The plan involved having an open
dialogue with individual neighborhood groups with questions or concerns of this
nature.
A decision was made by the Action Team to convey the willingness of these
officials to meet with neighborhood groups via a City wide meeting of
neighborhood groups organized by the City Planning Office, and the Mayor. That
meeting was held in October at City Hall. After a general discussion about the goals
of such a forum, the idea was generally endorsed by the participants at the meeting.
The representatives then agreed to take the invitation back to their respective
groups and to contact the Action Team if they were interested in hosting such a
dialogue in their neighborhood.
3) The Justice System Action Team consulted with a number of local offices
and agencies in an effort to assess their current ability to address issues related to
drug enforcement and to identify additional resources that may be needed.
Ithaca Police Department - Members of the Justice System Action Team met
with the police department to assess their resources for drug investigation. The
discussion covered these areas: 1) personnel, 2) equipment, 3) training, 4)
leadership, 5) arenas for citizen participation, and 6) new ideas.
The police department's most important resource is personnel, and there are
too few at the present (only 2 persons dedicated to drug investigations). Two
additional drug investigators will be hired in the near future. Due to this lack of
resources, the department is more reactive than proactive, as it would like to be.
40
The limited number of available undercover officers greatly hampers
investigations. Suggested possible solutions: 1) trading time with other
departments in the area on a quid pro quo basis (would require some Ithaca officers
to be absent, thereby reducing their effectiveness); 2) a civilian core of specially
trained drug buyers.
The quantity and quality of IPD's equipment is adequate (the only need
appears to be a canine unit). However, training programs could enable more
effective collaboration among units of the justice system (i.e. investigators, patrol
officers, the D.A.'s office). It's hoped that new leadership will set clear priorities for
the department and lead to greater collaboration among investigators and patrol
officers. The police chief has expressed his very positive commitment to
community policing. It was mentioned that the priorities of the department seem at
times to be Cornell Collegetown parties, public urination, and fireworks rather than
drug investigations. All agreed on the need to reconsider and focus priorities in the
city.
The Action Team learned that there are several arenas for citizen
participation, such possibilities include a civilian core of specially trained drug
buyers and home videotapes of illegal activity. Currently, there is a phone number
for citizen reporting, but is questionable if it is useful or effective. Landlords can
participate in the fight against drugs by evicting tenants for drug use. Of course,
there is always a need for citizens to speak out (i.e. letters to the editor).
New ideas for IPD are needed and are very welcome. The following concepts
were brought up in discussion with IPD: (1) Collaboration with the schools needs to
be strengthened, (2) Jail overcrowding drives many justice system decisions, and(3)
What is Ithaca's drug problem, and is it any worse than anyone else's?
Speaking from a long-term perspective, the investigators pointed out that the
most serious problem at present is crack cocaine. It's new, has increased a great deal
in the last couple of years, and brings with it other kinds of crime, often violent:
robberies, fights, turf wars, prostitution, serious littering, etc.
County Probation Department - The probation department role begins after
conviction: 1) pre -sentencing evaluation, looking at the whole picture to weigh a
person's needs against history, then 2) make a recommendation to the judge, for
41
restitution, counseling, or other aspects of probation, and 3) If a sentence of
probation is given, the department supervises.
After careful analysis of the Probation Department's resources, the following
conclusions were reached: (1) With regard to training, there is not a lot of good
training dealing with substance abuse.(2) Case loads are often too heavy. At any
given time, each probation officer handles 55-60 cases + 4-5 investigations.
Probation cases are assigned "geographically," rather than to specialists in
particular issues or crimes. The idea of the drug court initiative has raised hopes to
lift some of the case loads (the City has just gotten a $300,000 government grant to
get started).
The Probation Department sees several trends affecting youth: (1) away from
cocaine and towards heroin use; (2) being offered and becoming involved with
drugs and alcohol at an earlier age; (3) weapons at the high school.
County Attorney - In continuing assessment of justice system resources
available for drug issues, the Action Team in November met with representatives
from the County Attorney's Office. The Action Team learned that gangs or cliques
exist at the high school, which powerfully influence the student body behavior. The
Attorney's Office claims that approximately 70% of the cases they see are
drug/alcohol-related. The County Attorney would like to refer kids to something
that helps free themselves from drug-related activities, but they aren't sure what
that might be.
Cornell University - In November the Action Team met with the Cornell
University Judicial Administrator to discuss problems, procedures, and resources in
dealing with alcohol/drug-related cases. The Action Team learned that at Cornell,
alcohol is a significant issue. The percentage of alcohol-related cases has dropped
this year (from 25% to 17%), which may or may not accurately reflect the degree of
alcohol abuse. The JA's office only reviews those cases referred to them, and
residence hall activities are almost certainly under reported. The JA's office worries
about enabling destructive student behavior, and in no way denies the scale of the
problem.
The Action Team discussed a number of frequently asked questions,
42
beginning with: Do students suffer any consequences? Yes, they suffer
consequences similar in degree to those imposed by the City Prosecutor. Particularly
effective is referral to a 10 -hour alcohol education course, run by the Alcoholism
Council. Other consequences include community service and in many cases a
disciplinary record which remains until a student graduates. Last year, 11,000 hours
of community service were imposed.
What cases should be kept on campus? The courts have limited resources,
and shouldn't use them dealing with minor cases. The decisions to send cases
"downtown" or refer them to the JA are made by the Cornell Police.
What else could be done? Cornell would like to see the Alcoholism Council
(or a similar agency) funded to provide further education programs, so that they
might be more broadly-based, and include first-time offenders,
Other questions, probably unanswerable but often raised: Should the
drinking age be 18? What can be done about fake ID's? Police officers make the
decision about whether to write them up as felonies, violations, or misdemeanors.
The Cornell Police have 40 officers --not enough personnel to shut down an event
such as Slope Day.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest will collaborate with Cornell and
the University of North Carolina on a multi-year project about binge drinking,
which, it is hoped, will lead to effective tools for persuading students to alter
behavior.
4) Next steps - The Justice System Action Team worked to arrange
neighborhood forums. Letters were sent to all of the neighborhood groups
describing the forums.
The Youth Court project is also starting to "gear up." A letter has gone. out to
a number of local agencies who provide services to Youths informing them of the
project and seeking their input. The next step will be to form a small working group
in advance of the formation of an advisory board, should the decision be made to go
forward with the project.
The Action Team discussed a new initiative somewhat related to the Teen
Court concept. With the help of a Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE)
Officer, the Action Team is exploring the possibility of adding some additional
43
components to the current D.A.R.E. curriculum. These might include the
participation of judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys in classroom discussions
regarding the legal system.
Justice System Action Team Recommendations:
(1) Support programs that teach students about the legal system.
a) Supplementing the DARE program by having judges and lawyers
speaking to classes about their roles.
b) Continue exploring the formation of a Youth Court Program in
which youth ages 10-15 would be "sentenced" (e.g., given community service work)
by their peers for minor offenses.
c) Develop a school district wide program that would teach children
more about the legal/judicial system as well as providing them with information
about the work of the people in the system. For example, lawyers and judges could
speak in classes in connection with constitutional law discussions, and could
culminate in a mock trial program with mock trials in real courtrooms.
d) The Action Team supports the recently announced goal of
expanding DARE into the middle schools.
(2). Increase the opportunities for the public to learn the outcome of drug cases
specifically and drug enforcement policies generally.
a) Encourage the District Attorney and City Prosecutor to develop a
formal process by which concerned citizens could receive updates regarding
prosecutions.
b) Periodically hold neighborhood meetings at which community
leaders would answer questions regarding drug enforcement policies.
44
c) Support efforts to have the public report suspicious activities to the
police.
d) Support continued expansion of neighborhood groups, including
neighborhood watch programs.
(3) Support efforts to increase funding for drug enforcement.
a) The Action Team recommends that the community give priority to
increasing law enforcement budgets to combat drug trafficking.
b) The Action Team supports ongoing assessment of new law
enforcement tools in this area.
(4) Support increased training for professionals working with alcohol and
drug addicted clients.
a) The Team recommends that expanded training be considered for
probation officers and DSS caseworkers.
b) Continue support for the Ithaca City Drug Court Team.
Final Update on Youth Court
A working group was established and met monthly from April 1998 through December 1998
to consider the feasibility of establishing a Youth Court in Ithaca and/or Tompkins County.
After meeting for several months and examining several models, the group decided against this
idea. Instead, a decision was made to pursue creation of a community appeal panel with
substantial youth representation. This panel would be charged with imposing alternative
sentences such as community service on youth who admit to committing the charged offense. In
addition to young people, this panel would include other community members and the victim of
the offense (if any and willing.) Families would also have a significant role. The recommended
model was then submitted to the Restorative justice Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the
County Alternatives to Incarceration Advisory Board where it is now under active
consideration.
45
Survey Action Team
This team's goal was to produce a survey of drug usage and attitudes towards
drugs amongst our youth that is credible to and supported by all interested parties.
The survey is meant to serve multiple complementary purposes. The team that has
been assembled includes at least one person from each of the following groups:
students, parents, teachers, principals, District administration, BOCES, the City of
Ithaca, and the Board of Education.
Detailed minutes were kept expressly so that anyone joining our group can
come up to speed quickly, and so that in future years people can avoid covering the
same ground we are covering. We hoped to avoid a long drawn out process both
now and for future teams that may address the various issues.
The team agreed that we have multiple goals for the survey. One is to get a
baseline on behavior with our kids so we can decide how to proceed and to measure
future progress against this baseline. We recognize that some trends that might be
"uncovered" by future comparison surveys might not be a result of what actions
we're taking, but the information will be useful nonetheless.
A second goal was to provide information that might guide curriculum
development and to help target scarce resources where they will do the most good.
Out of the survey we are hoping to gather what the problems are "out there", how
serious the problems are, the nature of the problems, and to highlight suggested
starting points for our future efforts.
The team has decided to focus on a national survey due to the self -
consistency, internal validity checks, and more sophisticated analyses that can be
done for us by a professionally designed instrument compared to a locally generated
survey. The merits of a locally designed survey include the ability to tune the
vocabulary used and the questions asked to what is important in our local
community. However, it is felt that this benefit is outweighed by the advantages of
a national survey. Current action items are focussed around obtaining national
surveys to evaluate and contacting other schools in the region using National or
State of NY surveys.
Appendix I
How it all began...
The agenda and meeting notes from the
first two meetings of the Community Drug Task Force
46
Community Drug Task Force
Agenda 5/12/97
Opening remarks
Vision and mission of CDTF
Group breakout discussions
Stakeholders (who should be at the table)
Individual visions (what should be done)
Assets & obstacles analysis
Draft blueprint for action
Next meeting
Possible focus areas
Environmental factors -lighting, grafitti, garbage, noise, loitering, facilities (rec and
school)
Socio-economic factors -poverty (access to resources), health care, living conditions,
nutrition, support structures (youth & family services), economic development
Education/ advocacy -curriculum (K-12), DARE, Life Skills, Head Start, Success by Six,
truancy, pre-school, parent education, outreach (PSA's), visibility
Treatment -mental health & medical services, availability (treatment &
professionals), insurance, drug court, pre -natal, alcohol & other drugs
Enforcement -legislative initiatives (local, state & federal), neighborhood watches,
community involvement, Safe Homes, Safe Havens, police presence in schools, IPD
47
agenda
Community Drug Task Force
Agenda 5/19/97
`To holistically examine drug use and abuse in our community, and
develop a strategic action plan to address the issues'
1) Welcome, who's here stand-up, table intros
2) Review handouts -assets, obstacles, stakeholders, what needs to be done, action
teams
3) Break out into action team(s) of choice, select facilitator, discuss topics in depth,
select and prioritize 'what needs to be done' items to action teams, identify what
resources/research are needed for team's work, turn in one copy of team results
4) Next meeting -Monday, June 2, 7pm, IHS cafeteria
Community Drug Task Force
`To holistically examine drug use and abuse in our community, and
develop a strategic action plan to address the issues'
ASSETS
48
Diversity/multicultural community (5)
Cops on bikes
Low unemployment (3)
Nutrition
Environment at school
Well educated community/intellect(3)
Monday night 7 p.m. Southside NA for youth
Tuesday night, First Presbyterian Church, 7:30 Ala -Teen (2)
We have a whole range of youth services, agencies and resources (5).
Small enough community to make a difference.
Some substance abuse counselors providing pro bono.
Community organizations(3)
Service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis) (3)
Philanthropic organizations
Ability of our community to organize/work together
Community involvement/ adult volunteers /Strong tradition of volunteerism/ activism(4)
Community awareness
Social service talent/Diverse service agencies
Intergenerational interest
Natural resources (2)
Student assistance team
Available resources/expertise (5)
- Ithaca is a college town/Cornell/Ithaca College/TC3 (9)
DARE (2)
BOCES
Cooperative Extension
Middle School Honor Society
Our youth/students(lots of great kids)(4)
This task force/ one hundred people at this first meeting (3)
Concerned school staff (3)
Alternative activities
Drama Productions, Athletics, Music Performances, etc.
GIAC
12 -Step Program (2)
49
Concerned Parents (2)
Neighborhood Groups
ACT: Area Congregations Together
Hot Spot Card
Active recovering community reaching out in the high school
The majority of young people act responsibly/peer role models
Abundance of recreational facilities
Lots of concern for the problem (5)
Most (not all) university/college students are good role models
Treatment programs and their clients as educators
Community policing (2)
West End Breakfast Club
Media
Neighborhood Watch
RIBS - Recycle Ithaca Bikes
Free Community Workshop (510 W. Clinton St.)
Bob Leathers Vision
Cornell Coalition for the Homeless
Neighborhood Kids
Willard Drug Treatment Program
People willing to make changes and willing to take consequences whether good or bad
Changes in the School Board and District/New administration committed
Alternative activities plentiful
Well-to-do community (2)
Reasonably safe community/schools (2)
Kids want to be in school (not suspended)
Good therapists
Teen Center
Strong AA and drug addictions (2)
Skate park with sober events
Straight Edge Group
Excellent Music (2)
Spiritual avenues
Commons
Geographically isolated/location
Good health care
Compassionate law enforcement
Elementary and two years middle school
Opportunities for younger children
Teen Center as a model. Need money/leadership.
Good school system
Strong religious community/houses of worship(4)
50
OBSTACLES
Problem Landlords (2)
Lip service by politicians /Elected officials accountability(2)
Recidivism
Weapons
Youth resources need coordination, a joint strategy
A lot of money for recreational drug use (2)
Need more services/ treatment facilities for substance abuse issues (5)
We do not hire within city / community to provide services
Human Service Providers
Law enforcement is overwhelmed
Money / economy /poverty (3)
Cornell - Ithaca College (3)
Lack of Family Time
Past History
Courts/Criminal Justice System (Too lenient, misdirected):(11)
Geographical makeup of District
Lack of school spirit and pride
Poor school reputation
Not enough health education - starting at kindergarten
Teacher - student distance
Not enough outrage!
No re-entry process
Overall attitude about drugs
Misinformation and lack of information
Drugs/Dealing is big business (2)
Being high feels better than harsh reality(3)
Disconnected organizations
Reinventing the wheel
Lack of training of volunteers
Fear of confrontation, retaliation 2
Cleanliness of city
Treatment vs. Consequences
Lack of coordination of services/Duplication of services
Turf issues (2)
Confusion between consequences and punishment
Quick decisions - no one willing to take a risk
Glamorize alcohol and drug use (athletes, models etc)
No drug-free hangout place that is safe (2)
51
Deebs
Funding - including insurance restrictions.
No halfway house
Little group support for youth
Lack of identity of developmental problems
Lack of consensus/knowledge of what to do
Lack of established expectations (what is acceptable in Ithaca?)
Collegetown, Slope Day, number of bars
Number of bars that serve minors - fake IDs.
Lack of proper realistic drug education - not D.A.R.E. and Drug Free America
Religious groups barred from school
External influences
Size of IHS (3)
Some laws restrict enforcement, discipline
Lack of clear school policies and procedures
Stress in students lives
Lack of financial resources to direct at problem(3)
School failure for students, dropout rate.
Teachers
Turnover of administrators ICSD/IHS
Lack of results for effort
Complacency/malaise
Teen needs and culture - belong, boundary testing (2)
Cornell University wages are substandard
Outreach centers for outside Ithaca areas
Focus on individual rights to a point that is too permissive
Access to substances easy (e.g. fraternity parties) (4)
Indecisiveness
Lack school rules on cell phones, pagers, etc.
Police afraid /constrained from enforcing laws (e.g. truancy, loitering, possession) (4)
Families who abuse themselves
Lack of mission statement that emphasizes school's purpose rather than rights
Small percentage of students requires high percentage of teacher resources
Limitations on some tools (e.g. drug sniffing dogs)
Too much tolerance for drug and alcohol use (4)
Open campus (6)
YMCA is not community accessible - too expensive
The Haunt - cultural environment that accepts and expects drug use
blaming others, school blames home; home blames school; schools blame each other
Lack of education for school staff re: symptoms and signs of drug use
Lack of information within the school - including all staff/parents/children.
52
No safety valve for families/schools - to address problems before explosive
Guest speakers not age-related (school systems)
Enabling laws (sixteen year olds can be out all night) curfews (2)
Race bias/ stereotyping
Unsupervised social activities
Self-interest
Title laws
Lack of access to the community centers
Difficulties making social connections
Drug awareness program not available during orientation
Poor role models
Diversity
DARE Program - based on fear and unrealistic stereotypes
Unclear messages from adults
Commons
Heterogeneity
We say all drugs are bad, then see alcohol/pot smoking at home.
Loss of budget money for youth programs
Working partnership between school/community cut off due to money/turf issues
Lack of decent jobs, service opportunities for teenagers
Money - many kids have more money than they need
The schools themselves (physical layout, inept security guards, inaction of school board)( )3
Population (college, transient, immigrant): 4
Parents (inaction/acceptance/sanctioning of behaviors, unwillingness to talk):(7)
Lack of parental supervision (6)
Media/cultural acceptance (coolness of drugs)(6)
Apathy/ tolerance/ denial(16)
Law enforcement (Lack of serious effort/dedication of resources by IPD, Sheriff):(5)
Lack of volunteerism
Low self-esteem among youth
53
WHO NEEDS TO BE HERE
Journalists/media(4)
College educators/college students(14)
More youth/at-risk youth/high school & middle school students/Youth who are involved
in drugs/youthwho hang out on the Commons(18)
Board of Education (5)
Labor/Unions
Reflect diversity of community(race, ethnic, socio-econ, geography(rural &urban)(8)
Parents/grandparents/blended families/foster care parents (11)
Service providers(those working with teens) / teen therapists/ child activists (4)
Police officers / community police officers/ DARE / IPD / State Police / Sheriff / IC / CU(13)
Politicians/legislators/policy makers/Common Council/TC Board of Reps(7)
Family development specialists
More teachers/teacher's union reps(6)
People who are in recovery /Rehab vets (3)
People who are in economic, emotional pain/ low-income community
Neighborhood Watch groups/neighborhood organizations(4)
Recreation dept./City and County Youth Bureau(10)
Planning Board /Zoning Board /Building Dept
Clergy/youth workers in religious institutions (11)
Bar owners/club owners/liquor shops/Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association (7)
Landlords(3)
Inner city folks - Southside
Mental Health (2)
Senior Citizens(3)
Someone to explain what is in use now to deter and/or punish drug use
Area businesses (downtown(BID), mall, collegetown), Chamber of Commerce, Realtors(14)
Treatment (includes recovering addicts, drug abuse counselors, psychologists, al anon, al a
teen, narc anon, treatment center reps, ex -offenders, drug/health educators)(10)
DSS, EOC, Child Protective Services, ITIA, Family & Children's Services)(10)
Agencies (Suicide Prevention, OAR, INHS, CDRC, Homes,YAP & L Web. S Army)(7)
Youth Centers (includes GIAC, South Side, YMCA, Teen Center, La Forza)
Legal (lawyers, judges, law guardian's office, prosecutors, probation, city attorney)(8)
Service organizations (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Elks, Masons(4)
Youth Coaches/Athletic Booster Clubs(3)
Medical Community (includes physicians, hospital,managed care representatives)(5)
Advertisers (tobacco & alcohol)
Advocacy groups (including NORML at CU, THINK at IC), civil libertarians
Youth Homes (including George Junior, Lansing School for Girls)
Jeff Furman
54
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
Parents / caretakers must set examples - expectations
Increase education for parents (e.g. Step program)(3)
Peer intervention (hot line, self-analysis programs, forum for clean & sober kids to connect)
Drug programs at middle and high schools, not just elementary/ start them earlier(7)
Educate kids about morals
Life Skills Program/independent living skills programs(5)
Increased involvement, accountability and consequences for parents, educators(8)
Close campus/Keep non -students off school grounds/improve security around school (14)
Increase after-school activities
Special tax, use to focus on task force issues
Exit interviews for all students/parents
Money for early identification of high-risk students
Stop use of entry level drugs - nicotine, alcohol
More structure in high school
Use 'lice' procedures for medical health programs
We need to define what has been done
Expand hours, increase volunteers
Publicity to increase visibility (free if possible)
Transportation - free, school buses, Cornell buses, Gadabouts, church vans
To make it safe for young people to participate (not just police - willing, loving concerned
adults, neighbors)
Beef up neighborhood watch programs(3)
Identify why young people use drugs
We lie to our kids, we should be educating them to differences in destructiveness of drugs
Mentors/kids need positive role models, teaching and modeling personal responsibility(14)
Provide work related training
More adult involvement in teens' lives
Reallocation of money; from incarceration to preventive education
Affordable family activities
Treat cigarettes as drug/ smoking elimination(2)
Promote more peer education/get more youth involved(5)
Provide incentives to promote families, establish environment for 1 parent to stay home
Jail programs for youth
Provide musical education
More youth centers/more youth & teen programs(3)
Clinics, colleges (Ithaca, Cornell) active in the community drug problem
Improve living standards of parents who work at Cornell
Strict rules(school), consistent rules, drug enforcement policy
Communication with users, and dealers
55
Mandated drug programs (treatment/ community services.)
Approach with more truthful discussions/do not sugar coat it
Offer to help others.
Consistency/zero tolerance
Use dogs in school (2)
Urine tests legal
Agency collaboration and roles known - mentoring/ supportive relationships in IHS
Parent -teacher support
ICSD policies to empower teachers
Prevention - end alienating environment, too impersonal, big
Hear more from students and what they're facing; pervasiveness and level of threat to
them/ environment
Change in climate and severe consequences
See what other communities are doing - successes elsewhere?
Staff development for those working with kids
DARE -like programs or better programs; more information/less propaganda
Education --messages that kids can hear and be involved with, personal testimonies(2)
Take a look at the values of the family
Make time for kids
Look at what other countries are doing, (i.e. Youth Corp., giving back to their community)
Looking at making the dealing less profitable
Flyers handed out; individuals personalize the outreach.
Look at living conditions --homeless, directionless young people
Develop stronger structure of behavioral expectations and consequences in schools
Do not try to address the entire world of social problems, (At least in this task force)
Teachers to receive more information on known problem students
Examine some way of having administrative punishment for possession - either school or
via court/law enforcement agencies.
Beef up treatment programs (Alcoholism Council does not treat kids)
A kind of support system - teachers, families, friends
Pressure colleges to control/monitor campus activities
Pressure fraternities/sororities to be more strict about high school students at parties
No more silent parents about drugs to kids
Better communication between parents and children, youth and community
Ways to make IHS & ACS campus drug free and safe
Support for kids who are or choose to be drug free
Disciplinary committee - We need more severe consequences; holistic program (2)
Change Senior Week
Media coverage -more visibility, realistic about drug use, truth about deaths, accidents
Inner school (interschool) drug incidents, Sharing - no sweeping under the rug - within
school - promotes blame and shame
56
Program for kids (rehab returnees) to meet and reconnect when corning home. Sober room,
SAFE houses for kids.
Make a building a pullout school for those who are kicked out - intensive rehabilitation in
place they grew up and live in.
Mandatory meeting - weekly/bi-monthly with at risk kids. Kids and facilitator
Boundaries! Adult enforced
After 11 p.m. better responsiveness from police, et al; no fear of reprisals
No returns to seven years but reduce demand
Condemn drug usage, criticize/public condemnation/moral judgement, stigmatic
Task force needs to establish power/need organization to continue
Rents
Facilitate communication between youth, parents, recovering addicts(2)
Run a column by addicts to tell about their tragedy/addiction
Get together with one another and communicate(4)
Unified front against parents who condone/ tolerate drug use(3)
Educate yourself about drugs and signs of drug use and the consequences(2)
Invite speakers to talk to youth about their experiences with addiction/ recovery/ tragedy(5)
Cut-off access/supply of drugs to schools & community(4)
Community service initiatives(4)
Investigate alternatives to DARE (Life Skills), what works?(2)
Identify use/sale areas near the school(5)
Positive alternatives to drugs (generate a sense of ownership among youth, parents, others
thru community service initiative, build self-esteem, teen center)(13)
Curfew(3)
Local drug rehab center/ treatment options for youth/addiction agencies(3)
Ongoing communication between all parties/work together/establish network(7)
Make MD aware of drug use /sale areas(5)
Educate self/ Peer groups to change coolness of drugs(4)
Alternatives to jail (community service)(3)
Drug hotline(3)
Better communication between IPD & communities regarding what's going on(4)
Get tougher/increase arrests(4)
Pass new laws to address the problems(5)
Community service as alternative to jail(3)
Recognize that 'Just say No' does not work(3)
No blame(2)
Regional approach (not isolated to the City of Ithaca)(2)
Survey of use in our community necessary
Reduce truancy
57
Community Drug Task Force
'To holistically examine drug use and abuse in our community, and
develop a strategic action plan to address the issues'
Updated draft blueprint (based on task force input to date 5/19/97)
Youth education -comprehensive curriculum (PK -12), DARE, Life Skills, others to be explored
School culture -policies, truancy, open campus, interdiction, teacher support & education
Treatment -medical services Sr mental health, availability of (programs & professionals)
Community action -neighborhood watches, drug houses, drug hotline
Justice system -courts, prosecution, probation, alternatives to incarceration, IPD agenda &
methodology
Support structures(for families, individuals), Safe Homes, Safe Havens, peer
programs(education, & intervention), services & programs
Public outreach -media, p.r., advocacy, community involvement & culture
Parent education -awareness, knowledge, communication, support
College influences -fraternities & sororities, Slope Day, college bars
Government initiatives -local, state & federal, what other communities are doing legislatively
and programmatically
Environmental factors -quality of life issues/lighting, grafitti, garbage, noise, loitering
Socio-economic factors(access to resources) -health care, living conditions, nutrition -
individual components to be addressed by working groups and another task force
Alternative activities -youth programs & services -to be covered by another task force
58
Community Drug Task Force
`To holistically examine drug use and abuse in our community, and
develop a strategic action plan to address the issues'
Action Team Priorities 5/19/97
Parent Education -did not order their priorities but chose the following:
•Parents/caretakers must set examples --expectations
•Increase education for parents.
•Educate kids about morals.
•Increased involvement, accountability and consequences for parents, educators.
•Close campus. Keep non -students off school grounds/improve security around
school.
• We need to define what has been done.
•To make it safe for young people to participate (not just police --willing, loving,
concerned adults, neighbors.
•Identify why young people use drugs.
• We lie to our kids. We should be educating them to differences in
destructiveness of drugs.
•Mentors --kids need positive role models, teaching and modeling personal.
responsibility.
•More adult involvement in teens' lives.
*Affordable family activities.
•Provide incentives to promote families, establish environment for 1 parent to
stay home.
•Strict rules (school), consistent rules, drug enforcement policy.
• Communication with users and dealers.
•Approach with more truthful discussions/do not sugar coat it.
•Offer to help others.
Justice System -not ordered by preference:
*Increased involvement, accountability and consequences for parents and
educators.
• Close campus, keep non -students off school grounds, improve school security.
•Stop use of entry-level drugs, nicotine, alcohol.
• We need to define what has been done.
•Beef up neighborhood watch groups.
•Identify why young people use drugs.
• Reallocation of money from incarceration to preventive education.
•Jail programs for youth.
•Mandated drug programs (treatment/community services).
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Public Outreach:
1. Publicity to increase visibility (free if possible, i.e., reporters to newspapers,
media coordination with other groups.
2. Approach with more truthful discussions/do not sugar coat it either in paper
or in person.
3. Communication with users and dealers.
Support Structures -not ordered by preference:
•Increase education for parents (e.g., Step program).
•Peer intervention (hot line, self-analysis programs, forum for clean & sober kids
to connect).
•Increased involvement, accountability and consequences for parents, educators.
•Increase after-school activities.
•Use 'lice' procedures for medical health programs.
• We need to define what has been done.
•To make it safe for young people to participate (not just police --willing, loving,
concerned adults & neighbors).
•Identify why young people use drugs.
•Mentors/kids need positive role models, teaching and modeling personal
responsibility.
• Reallocation of money; from incarceration to preventive education.
•Affordable family activities. Drugs are cheap, not much else is cheap in winter.
•Approach with more truthful discussions/do not sugar coat it.
•Offer to help others.
College Influences:
1. Strict rules (school), consistent rules, drug enforcement policy.
2. Clinics, colleges, (Ithaca, Cornell) active in the community drug problem.
3. Mentors --kids need positive role models, teaching and modeling personal
responsibility.
School Culture -not ordered by preference:
•Policies to empower teachers & parents.
•Structure, rules, discipline, expectations, consistency, consequences.
•Hearing from students (input into solutions).
•Ways to make campuses & schools drug-free.
•Proactive, positive supportive school activities.
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Youth Education -not ordered by priority:
•Parents, caretakers must set examples.
•Peer intervention (hot line, self-analysis programs, forum for clean & sober kids
to connect).
•Drug programs at middle and high schools, not just elementary --start them
earlier.
•Educate kids about morals.
•Life Skills Program /independent living skills program.
• Increase after-school activities.
•Stop use of entry-level drugs, nicotine, alcohol.
•More structure in high school.
•To make it safe for young people to participate (not just police --willing, loving,
concerned adults, neighbors).
•Identify why young people use drugs.
• We lie to our kids. We should be educating them to differences in
destructiveness of drugs.
•Reallocation of money, from incarceration to preventive education.
• Affordable family activities.
•Treat cigarettes as drug/smoking elimination.
•Promote more peer education. Get more youth involved.
•Provide incentives to promote families, establish environment for 1 parent to
stay home.
•Jail programs for youth.
•More youth centers & more youth programs.
•Communication with users & dealers.
•Approach with more truthful discussions. Do not sugar coat it.
Government Initiatives : 0 = lowest priority, 5 = highest
5. Stop use of entry-level drugs --nicotine, alcohol, enforce current laws.
5. Treat cigarettes as drug/smoking elimination.
4. Special tax, use to focus on task force issues.
4. Use 'lice' procedures for medical health programs. (research current public
health laws).
2. Provide work-related training.
2. Reallocation of money from incarceration to preventive education.
1. Provide incentives to promote families, establish environment for one parent
to stay home.
0. Money for early identification of high-risk students.
0. Publicity to increase visibility (free if possible).
0. Transportation--free-school buses, Cornell buses, Gadabouts, church vans.
0. Jail programs for youth.
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0. More youth centers/more youth and teen programs.
0. Strict rules (school) & consistent rules, drug enforcement policy.
0. Mandated drug programs (treatment/ community services).
Community Action -not ordered by preference:
•Parents/caretakers must set examples --expectations.
• Increased involvement, accountability and consequences for parents &
educators.
•Increase after-school activities, such as GIAC.
•Stop use of entry-level drugs --nicotine, alcohol.
• We need to define what has been done.
•Expand hours and increase volunteers.
•Publicity to increase visibility (free if possible)
•Beef up neighborhood watch programs.
• We lie to our kids. We should be educating them to differences in
destructiveness of drugs.
• Mentors --kids need positive role models, teaching & modeling personal
responsibility.
•Provide work-related training.
• Reallocation of money from incarceration to preventive education.
•Affordable family activities.
•More youth centers /more youth & teen programs.
• Communication with users & dealers.
Treatment -not ordered by preference:
•Increase education for parents, e.g. Step Program.
•Peer intervention (hot line, self-analysis programs, forum for clean and sober
kids to connect.
•Drug programs at middle and high schools, start elementary earlier.
•Money for early identification of high-risk students.
•Stop use of entry-level drugs --nicotine, alcohol, marijuana.
• Transportation--free--school buses, Cornell buses, Gadabouts, church vans.
•Identify why young people use drugs.
• We lie to our kids. We should be educatingthem to differences in
destructiveness of drugs.
•Provide work-related training.
•More adult involvement in teens' lives.
• Reallocation of money --from incarceration to preventive education.
•Jail programs for youth.
•More youth centers/more youth & teen programs with peer counselors.
•Mandated drug programs (treatment/community services).
•Offer to help others.
Appendix II
Cornell University
Community Involvement
in Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Prevention
62
Cornell University Community Involvement in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
Prevention
Cornell University takes an environmental approach to reducing alcohol and
other drug (AOD) abuse. The environmental model recognizes that AOD behaviors
are shaped by the social, legal, economic, educational, recreational and physical
environments in which people live. In particular, drinking behavior is influenced
by factors such as: 1) perceived social norms; 2) availability of alcohol; 3) the extent to
which laws and school policies are enforced; and 4) the availability of alcohol -free
recreational options. Effective prevention therefore requires the use of multiple
strategies. In addition to prevention efforts, intervention and treatment services for
individuals with clinically significant problems related to AOD are central to the
University's approach.
The environmental model seeks to cultivate cultural change around AOD
use and therefore requires collaboration between the campus and local
communities. Cornell is engaged in a partnership with the Ithaca community to
coordinate and expand efforts to reduce AOD problems among Cornell students and
local residents. Strategies include the following:
issues:
• Cornell representation in the following organizations that address AOD
- Community Drug Task Force
- Tompkins County STOP -DWI
- Collegetown Neighborhood Association
*Representation by the Mayor's office and Ithaca City School District on the
University's task force managing a project to reduce heavy drinking. The project is
being conducted in conjunction with the Center for Science in the Public Interest
and the University of North Carolina.
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•Representation by local law enforcement agencies and the Ithaca Fire
Department on the University's Community Outreach Task Force. This group
primarily coordinates services related to fraternity and sororities including social
events involving alcohol.
• Coordination between the Mayor's office, local law enforcement agencies,
and the University administration regarding major alcohol-related events such as
Senior Week and Slope Day.
•Provision of an educational class entitled "Opening Minds" by the
Alcoholism Council of Tompkins County for local college students referred from
City Court for alcohol-related violations. The Council also delivers educational
presentations for Cornell student groups.
•Cornell students' volunteer work with local youth coordinated through the
University's Public Service Center.
• Cornell's alcohol policy requiring that official University events held off -
campus must be catered if alcoholic beverages are to be served.
Appendix III
Ithaca College
Alcohol and other Drug Education Efforts
1998-1999
64
Alcohol and Other Drug Education Efforts at Ithaca College 1998-99
The most visible efforts in the area of alcohol education this year has been
through the formation of the President's Task Force on Alcohol and Other Drugs.
This group of faculty, staff and students has been charged by President Williams to
gather information from the Ithaca College community in regards to behaviors,
attitudes and norms concerning alcohol. In order to accomplish their charge, the
task force held two campus wide forums in late January that were open to the entire
community.
Participants were asked to identify perceived problems associated with alcohol
use, their knowledge of the current alcohol policy and its effectiveness and strategies
to address problems on campus. The task force also distributed the CORE Alcohol
and Drug survey to 1500 students and 1000 faculty and staff members during the
Spring 1999 semester. The results have just been received from the CORE institute
at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
In addition, three members of the task force attended a national conference
on Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking at College Campuses and brought back
valuable information that will provide resources in the areas of programming,
marketing and policy development.
Finally, the task force has worked cooperatively with the Ithacan to promote
alcohol education and inform the campus community about their goals and
activities.
There are also several on-going alcohol education efforts occurring on
campus. One of the most effective groups is the Alcohol Peer Educators. This group
of students present programs in the residence halls and classrooms through a
variety of scenarios about alcohol use and abuse and its consequences. The group
has also developed a board game called "College Daze" that is designed to get
students thinking about the choices they make around alcohol use.
The group members also attended the national BACCHUS AND GAMMA
peer education conference this year in their continued efforts to gain resources for
the campus community. They have purchased the Alcohol 101 CD-ROM program
created by the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. This interactive program
assists students in learning the symptoms and proper response to cases of alcohol
65
overdose, factors related to Blood Alcohol Count, and other realistic facts about how
much their peers drink (positive norming). This program has the potential to be
used in the halls and as a supplement to the Alcohol Education Seminar next year.
There were 80 students assigned to the Alcohol Education Seminar this year.
This two hour program is facilitated by members of the Office of Residential Life and
Judicial Affairs staff and is attended by students who have been involved in an
alcohol-related incident. The seminar is designed to challenge students to think
about their values and attitudes around alcohol use. Additionally, the seminar
provides students with a framework for understanding problematic behaviors.
The Student Affairs and Campus Life Safety Awareness committee presents a
Safety Awareness Fair during the fall and spring semesters. A main focus of these
programs is to provide the campus community with resources on alcohol
education.
The staff from the Office of Campus Safety works in conjunction with the
New York State Police, Sheriff's Department and Ithaca Police to provide
information on drinking and driving, consequences of D .W.I., etc. The staff from
the Health Center, Judicial Affairs Office and the Alcohol Peer Educators are also
present to provide information at these programs.
The Fountain Jumping Day task force which is made up of staff, faculty and
students is in its second year. The group was formed in an effort to address this
unsanctioned event that occurs on the final day of classes where members of the
senior class jump into the Dillingham fountains. The members of the task force
work with the senior class to inform students about responsible use of alcohol and
other safety issues.
Finally, the Resident Assistants play a vital role in the education of their floor
communities and present a number of programs. These programs are an integral
part of the Drug and Alcohol education at Ithaca College.
Appendix IV
Consolidated List of
the Recommendations and Proposals
of the Community Drug Task Force Action Teams
66
Recommendations and Proposals
of the
Drug Task Force Action Teams
Youth Education
1. Development of an educational/resource booklet for middle school students
about substance abuse.
2.Improve drug education at ICSD to meet state mandates.
3. Coordination and collaboration of public school teachers with other community
based educators.
4. Include drug education in the School to Work program.
5. Improve training and support for teachers through school district forums that
facilitate the sharing of resources and ideas so that educators are sensitized to the
issues and energized by their collaborative efforts.
6. Send more teachers for Life Skills training at BOCES.
7. Offer a 12th grade class that reinforces decision making skills, refusal skills, and
wellness activities.
8. Survey students and teachers to establish baseline data.
Parent Education
1. Allow the Parent Education Action Team to speak at ICSD PTA meetings.
2. Hire the Cayuga Role Players to perform at schools on drug related issues.
3. Form a support group comprised of parents interested in sharing their experiences
with, and feelings, concerns, and experiences about drugs and alcohol with other
parents.
4. Organize a informational workshop for parents on substance abuse prevention.
5. Send information home to all parents in school packets.
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Community
1. Publish a directory of the active neighborhood association and watch groups.
2. Develop an informational booklet to give community residents information on
how to combat drug activity in their neighborhoods.
3. Provide local seminars at the neighborhood level on "how to report a crime."
4. Streamline the Hot Spot Card and promote its use.
5. Create a Hot Spot Card for the school district.
6. Encourage the Ithaca Housing Authority to follow the example of the Tompkins
County EOC, which has created and distributed a Hot Spot Card to its Section 8
housing program participants.
7. Establish a consortium/council of neighborhood associations and watch groups.
8. Invite and encourage landlords to be involved in the neighborhoods where they
own and/ or manage property.
9. Train IPD dispatchers in communication skills and sensitize them to the needs of
residents.
10. Promote and build neighborhood -police relationships.
11. Establish more IPD satellites in city neighborhoods.
12. Establish a mobile police satellite office.
13. Establish an IPD canine unit.
14. Create a community watch program with the City of Ithaca Dept. of Public
Works.
15. Survey neighborhoods and install new lighting where appropriate to.
16. Pass legislation that expands the scope of NYS RPA&PL §715 to allow for tenant
eviction for reasons of drug use and/or possession.
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Survey
1. Locate and distribute a national survey on drug issues for the Ithaca area, due to
the self -consistency, internal validity checks, and more sophisticated analyses that
can be done with such an instrument.
2. Establish a baseline on drug behavior/activity for our youth.
3. Use survey information to assist curriculum development and to help target the
allocation of scarce resources.
Government Initiatives
1. Establish a consortium/ council of neighborhood associations and watch groups.
2. Support the passage of an expanded RPL&PL §715 for tenant evictions.
3. Pass legislation making possession of nicotine products by minors illegal.
4. Develop legislation to combat graffiti.
5. Develop legislation dealing with noise, loitering, littering, lighting and other
areas that focus on improving quality of life.
Treatment
1. Advocate to community political and religious leaders to take responsibility for
drug related treatments for youth.
2. Incorporate the concepts of family and culture into training, counseling and
treatment services provided in the community.
3. Create a treatment model which includes a residential treatment option.
4. Organize a community conference on youth drug issues.
5. Establish a syringe exchange program as a way to get more users into treatment.
6. Create a youth list serve for youth who have entered the treatment network.
7. Establish neighborhood based support, prevention and intervention resources.
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School Culture - Policy
1. Establish a drug free zone around schools, extend District policing authority
beyond its property boundaries and expand federal guidelines to include tobacco.
2. Support the Superintendent's drug policy recommendation to the Board of
Education, with the addition of tobacco to the list of prohibited drugs.
3. Bring clarity to school policies, communicate them and ensure consistent
enforcement of policies and rules regarding drugs.
4. Hire substance abuse counselors for the secondary schools.
School Culture - Environment
1. Create an agreement to abstain from the use of all drugs to be signed by all
students, starting with those involved in sports, clubs and long standing activities.
2. Provide a later after-school bus route schedule, or work with TCAT to provide
discount or free youth passes to facilitate access of after-school activities.
3. Adopt a no open container rule in the ICSD schools.
4. Monitor rest rooms and cafeteria in the schools more often for drug trafficking.
5. Create a clear policy regarding use of drugs in schools so that all staff, students and
parents understand the policy and the consequences of violating them.
6. Create a "closed campus" and arrange student schedules that provide an
uninterrupted academic course load.
7. Establish an IHS parking lot gate to monitor student arrivals and departures.
8. Increase funds and support for intramural sports and after school activities.
9. Bring drug dogs into the schools to inspect student lockers.
10. Increase staff intervention of students suspected of being impaired by drugs
through training and empowerment.
11. Create a reintegration program for students returning to school after drug rehab.
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Justice System
1. Expand DARE into the middle schools and supplement the DARE program with
judges and lawyers speaking in classrooms.
2. Develop a school district wide program that would teach children more about the
legal/judicial system.
3. IPD: trade time with other departments ona quid -pro -quo basis.
4. Develop a civilian core of specially trained undercover buyers.
5. Establish a canine unit.
6. Create a "Youth Court" with sentencing of community service by a jury of their
peers and implement a a school wide mock trial program to teach students about the
legal system.
7. Encourage the District Attorney and City Prosecutor to create a formal process
where concerned citizens would receive updates regarding prosecutions.
8. Place priority on increasing law enforcement budgets.
9. Expand training for probation officers and DSS caseworkers.
10. Continue support for the Ithaca City Drug Court team.
11. Periodically hold neighborhood meetings at which community leaders would
answer questions regarding drug enforcement policies.
12. Support efforts to have the public support suspicious activities to the police.
13. Support continued expansion of neighborhood groups including neighborhood
watch.
14. Support ongoing assessment of new law enforcement tools in this area.
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Public Outreach
1. Organize a Drug Awareness Street Festival, and staff booths at other area festivals
to distribute information and raise public awareness.
2. Arrange for Community Drug Task Force representatives to appear on local cable
access programs to talk about the work of the various action teams.
3. Develop a local media/public relations campaign designed to inform, educate and
increase awareness amongst youth and adults.
4. Develop spokespersons who can serve as advocates for task force
recommendations and other substance abuse prevention activities.
5. Establish social norms for our youth and promote youth awareness of them.
6. Meet with the editorial board of the Ithaca Journal to increase their coverage of