Putnam County Youth Bureau

1. Putnam County Youth Bureau Collaboration and Sustainability October 2011

2. Agenda • Background • Programs of the Youth Bureau • Challenges Facing Youth Bureaus • Collaboration with Community Sectors • Discussion

3. Background on the youth bureau • The Putnam County Youth Bureau was established by the Board of Supervisors in 1979 and is part of the Departments of Mental Health, Social Services and Youth Bureau and a liaison to the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. • Responsible to the County Executive for coordinating and supplementing the activities of public, private and religious agencies devoted in whole or in part to the welfare, development and protection of youth. Through the Integrated County Planning process, the Youth Bureau coordinates the allocation of resources to meet those needs.

4. Responsibilities • The Youth Bureau has the primary responsibility of advocating for the youth of Putnam County. The Youth Bureau promotes positive youth development based upon the belief that families and extended families are the fundamental sources of care, support and guidance for children and youth. Our schools and other community-based services, both formal and informal, are appropriate and effective complements to this foundation.

5. Services to the community • Information • Education and Training • Referrals • Coordination of Resources • Advocacy for Youth and Families

6. SERVICES TO SCHOOLS, RECREATION DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITY AGENCIES and COMMUNITY GROUPS • Comprehensive Planning for Youth Services • Prevention Programs • Speakers Bureau • Assistance in Grant Writing and Program Development • Referrals to the Entire Network of Youth Services in Putnam County • Clearing House for Statistics

7. Programs of the youth Bureau Programs funded by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services and the County of Putnam

8. COORDINATED CHILDREN’S SERVICE INITIATIVE OF PUTNAM COUNTY • CCSI is a partnership between family members and service providers designed to assist families whose children have mental health needs. Our goal is to keep families together by creating linkages to community based services.

9. Runaway and Homeless Youth Program • This program provides shelter for runaway and homeless youth and serves as a community-based referral and counseling network. • Ensures that services to runaway and homeless youth and their families are provided in accordance with runaway and homeless youth regulations.

10. Pegasus • A confidential Program of Hope for youth ages 6-14 whose lives are impacted by loved ones suffering from alcoholism and/or other drug dependencies. A parent or guardian must attend a simultaneous adult group. • Through arts, crafts, and games participants learn they did not cause the problem and how to develop coping skills. • Runs for 8 weeks, twice a year, one day a week. • Pegasus is a safe place for kids to talk about their feelings and learn that they are not alone.

11. Reality check • A Youth Empowerment Program meetings once a week that allows teens the opportunity to… Reach Everyone And make them aware of Lies that the big Industry of Tobacco is feeding Youth and also to Challenge not only the Horrible enemy but Even yourself to Chip in and Kick some big Tobacco Ash

12. Youth awards • Annual Spring dinner designed to recognize outstanding youth volunteers whose community service efforts benefit the residents of Putnam County. • Planned annually by the Putnam County Youth Board.

13. Youth board • The youth board may be composed of a maximum of 28 voting members, which must include a minimum of two youth members under the age of 21 years. • Membership is open to adults and students who work, reside or attend schools in Putnam. • Potential members submit a youth board application and are invited to attend our Youth board meetings, normally held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 4 PM.  After attending three board meetings, the board votes to recommend that the County Executive appoint the person to the board for a two year term.  Each December, the Youth Board elects a President, vice-president, a Secretary and other officers if deemed necessary and appropriate. Each officer serves a one year term. • The Youth Board assists with developing and recommending effective policies, programs and projects for positive youth development and the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency and youth crime. In addition, the Youth Board takes the responsibility for the planning and presentation of the Youth Awards Dinner at which youth who have provided significant work as volunteers in their communities. • The Youth Bureau is responsible for developing and implementing the comprehensive plan for youth services in Putnam County.

14. youth court • Youth Court is a peer court program established to reduce incidents of juvenile crime by serving as a community based alternative to Family Court. Volunteer members throughout Putnam County participate in a 10 week training program that prepares them to serve in the roles of Judge, Defense Attorney, Prosecuting Attorney, Court Clerk and Officer in actual cases of first time offending youths under 16 charged with a crime. • Youth court members must reside or attend school in Putnam.

15. Youth forum • A collaborative effort between Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Putnam County Youth Bureau. This is a one day conference planned and run by high school students for High school students. • The forum offers a variety of workshops lead by speakers on teen-chosen topics. A Planning Committee of teen volunteers begins to meet early in December to plan for the Spring event.

16. Challenges facing youth bureaus in new York state

17. challenges • Budget • Consolidation • Lack of collaborative activities • Money must be used wisely • Not enough of an established presence in the community.

18. Collaboration achievements and advocacy Measures to assist in facing challenges Collaboration helps to ensure sustainability and recognition within your community! Diversity issues must be a constant consideration. Youth Bureaus must create structures that will foster unity within the community and facilitate the joint work of all sectors of society,

19. Governmental agencies and leaders • Putnam County District Attorney – we work closely with this department on legal ramifications of Bullying, underage Driving While Intoxicated or Possession of Marijuana cases. Collaboration is achieved through school and community based prevention. Pictures from 2011 Bullying Hope Forum

20. Governmental agencies and leaders • New York State Senate: work with your representatives to highlight achievements and the importance of maintaining funding. January 11, 2011: The Putnam Youth Bureau visited Senator Ball on Tuesday to discuss Reality Check, and receive Certificates of Recognition for their successful campaign to make Town of Carmel parks and playgrounds smoke-free.

21. Governmental agencies and leaders • Local Legislature: work with your local Legislature on Proclamations for public observances (such as Recovery Month, Children of Alcoholics week, etc.). Advocacy is essential! • Attend Legislative meetings, hearings, and health committee evenings to stay current on local updates. Establish a presence. Joseph DeMarzo discusses the dangers of teenage drinking at the meeting while Kristin Cafiero listens.

22. Governmental agencies and leaders • County Executive and County Legislature: • Example: Putnam County was the first in New York State to achieve the Social Host Liability Law in all of its towns. This was achieved with the inclusion of the Putnam County Youth Bureau, the Putnam County Drug Task Force, the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition, and local government buy in.

23. media • Send press releases on a consistent basis on Youth Bureau and collaborative activities. Remember to always get consent from students/parents on photos taken.

24. Media continued

25. Additional media psa’s as an environmental strategy Collaboration with Putnam County Communities That Care. On Billboards, the DMV, and print PSA’s.

26. Non profit organizations • The Youth Bureau works closely with the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition. • The coalition, funded by the Drug Free Communities grant, follows a strategic prevention framework that addresses risk and protective factors associated with substance abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school dropout and violence.

27. Non profit organizations • Examples of collaborative work with Communities That Care and the Putnam County Youth Bureau: • Pre Prom Presentations: mandated training for parents to enable their children to attend the prom. Approximately 3000 parents attend the training annually. Trainings take place at three large school districts in the County. • Simulated Impaired Driving Experience Trainings: Focuses on alcohol, drugged and distracted driving. 15 three hour trainings a summer for students who want to attain senior parking privileges. Year round trainings for PTA’s, school boards, and businesses. • Collaboration on PSA’s • Medication Take Back Days (awarded the Fred Dill Award for networking excellence by the Putnam Community Service Network in September 2011. Medication Take Back Days: Sheriff Donald B. Smith, Pat Varveri, Pharmacist Alfred Dioguardi, Jason Chen, and Naura Slivinsky

28. Non profit organizations • The Coalition is responsible for the Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, which is completed every two years by all school districts in the County. • The survey is completed by students grade 8-12 through passive consent and is voluntary, confidential, and anonymous. • Community partners, including the Youth Bureau, base its activities on the survey results.

29. Treatment organizations • Ex: Putnam Family and Community Services: • Provides chemical dependency services • Does school based prevention with the Youth Bureau • Ex: Green Chimneys: • Arbor House - Green Chimneys Children's Services: Provides crisis intervention, counseling and case management services to runaway and homeless youth or youth at risk of running away or becoming homeless and their families. Arbor House also offers emergency shelter through a six bed Safe House or through a network of Interim Families. Youth Bureau provides referral services.

30. Local law enforcement • Work closely with Student Resource Officers on school based prevention. • Local law enforcement is a necessity for safety at public events. • Work with your Probation Department when working with juvenile delinquents.

31. Youth, parents, and schools • School based prevention trainings on: • Bullying • Suicide • Healthy relationships • Alcohol and Other Drugs • Teen Pregnancy • The Truth About Energy Drinks • Prescription Drug Abuse • Social Host Liability Law • Feature substance abuse speakers such as Michael Nerney, Ty Sells, etc.

32. Recreation departments • Youth Bureau’s should work with local recreation departments that provide structured, supervised leisure time of teens. • Recreation Centers can be a great source of healthy fun as it relates to camps, sports clinics, and community programs. They can also offer pizza nights for middle school aged children, pilates, kickboxing, martial arts, volleyball, inter-town youth basketball, men’s basketball, after school bowling. • Pro: Recreation Departments have active and passive recreation.

33. Faith based organizations • Regardless of religious background, religious or fraternal organizations are a strong way to reach word to parents and youth. • Ask faith based leaders to advertise youth bureau family oriented programs in their newsletters and websites. • Faith based organizations often volunteer and even provide childcare during events.

34. Large scale Community events • Community events with numerous stakeholders increases the value of the Youth Bureau. Example: the Putnam County Annual Recovery Walk was a collaboration between treatment facilities, not for profits, businesses (who provided vending), law enforcement, and local government agencies.

35. Questions and discussion

36. Presented by: Joseph A. DeMarzo, Director of the Putnam County Youth Bureau/Mental Health Bureau Contact: 110 Old Route Six, Carmel, NY 10512 Joseph.DeMarzo@putnamcountyny.gov or call (845) 808-1600