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Integrated County Planning: Olean County Building - January 6, 2005

1. Dr. Anthony L. Evans, Executive Director of the Cattaraugus County Youth Bureau, opened the meeting by talking about celebrating all the "newness" around the county. He allowed everyone to introduce themselves around the room (35 in attendance, which is wonderful on such an icy wintry day)

2. A NEW FACILITY: Olean Family YMCA, Laura Whitford and Connie Cooper

   The YMCA maintains a generous scholarship program for those in need of financial assistance.

   Two of out every three American have been to the YMCA. Their mission is to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. Memberships are available to the public regardless of their financial situation. The YMCA maintains a generous scholarship program for those in need of financial assistance.

   Memberships include:

   • Complete access to the Olean YMCA facility
   • Use of YMCAs across the county through the A.W.A.Y. Program
   • Quality programs geared to your needs offered by professional, educational, courteous staff
   • Special member rates and early registration on all programs
   • Continuous adult lap swim
   • Free Wellness Center orientation
   • Activities focused on all age groups
   • Family theme nights
   • Guaranteed total family programming offered during Prime Time hours
   • Discounts on child care at the YMCA child care facilities
   • Commitment to your satisfaction

   The facility features:

   • State-of-the-art, climate controlled facility
   • Professionally trained staff providing support and education through quality programs and services
   • Aquatics Center that includes a heated 6-lane, 25-yard pool with zero depth entry, a therapy pool and sauna and steam rooms
   • Wellness Center that provides cardiovascular and strength training equipment and strength training equipment specifically for youth.
   • Collegiate-size gymnasium
   • Indoor walking/running track
   • Climbing wall
   • Family Adventure Center
   • Racquetball Court
   • Group Exercise Studio- Surround sound audio and shock-absorbing floor
   • "The Skyline" Teen Center & Kids' Club
   • Nursery School and Preschool
   • Locker rooms for men, women, boys, girls, Family/Special Needs
   • 139 Convenient Parking Spaces
   • Easy access off Interstate 86
   • MUCH MORE!

   Their programs include:

   • Aerobics
   • Cross Trainer
   • Fitness Yoga
   • Morning Madness
   • Kickboxing Aerobics
   • Fitness Cycling
   • Personal Training
   • Pilates Plus
   • Prenatal Fitness Yoga
   • Hip Hop
   • Family Prime Time
   • MANY MORE!

   "The Skyline" Teen Center is free of charge and is open to all teens in grades 6-12 from Cattaraugus County. It offers a safe and fun atmosphere for teenagers to interact. Teens can enjoy activities such as Ping-Pong, pool, and air hockey. Special activities are planned throughout the year. Qualified staff will supervise and interact with the teens. Teen clubs include:

   • Adventure Club
   • Art Club
   • Cooking Club
   • Teen Singers Club
   • Y Leaders Club
   • Youth & Government Club
   • The YMCA also offers "Ysports" for the youth.
   • Midnight Basketball- Boys Grades 9-12
   • Youth Basketball- Boys/Girls Grades 1-8
   • Youth T-Ball League- Boys/Girls Ages 4-5
   • Youth Golf Lessons- Boys/Girls Grades 6-12
   • Youth Indoor Soccer- Boys/Girls Grades 1-8

   The YMCA also offers a Youth Weight Program, which is in collaboration with the Olean Community Schools. This program is for children who are "at-risk" and who are recommended by the school nurse. Membership is free to them, through the scholarship program. Half of the membership is paid by the Department of Social Services and the scholarship program pays the other half. There are currently a couple hundred children and parents who participate in this program.

   As for other exciting news from the YMCA:

   • There are about 2,000 new members at the Y. They have almost reached their goal for 2009.
   • There are about 300 JCC students with memberships to the Y. JCC students have free memberships.
   • The YMCA is open from 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
   • They have a program called "Active Older Adults" for the seniors in the community.
   • There is a "N.E.W." Kids' Program that focuses on Nutrition, Education, and Weight Management. This program is for the "at-risk" for overweight youth. (School Nurse referral)
   • Kid Zone is free to all middle school students and it provides enrichment activities, homework help, crafts, music, and more.
   • Total membership is currently 5,380, which is 67% more than last year. There were 200 new memberships in December alone (remember that memberships include family memberships, which could be 4 people).
   • There is also a new program called "Sight for Students." This is a school nurse referral program also. This program provides students with free eye exams and glasses through local opticians that the YMCA has collaborated with. This program is for children K-12 grade.

3. A NEW PROGRAM: S.T.A.R.T.: JoAnne Snyder, Program Coordinator

   AmeriCorps members mentor "at-risk" youth and assist with problem solving techniques.

   S.T.A.R.T. = Southern Tier AmeriCorps Resource Team. We watched an 8-minute video called "Getting Started" that talks about AmeriCorps and what it's about. AmeriCorps has been in Cattaraugus County since 1996 (due in part to Kathy McGoldrick). Kathy spoke briefly about when AmeriCorps first started. She said that the first member had a "heck of a time" trying to get cooperation from the local schools. JoAnne began by stating that this is the first time that Cattaraugus County has had its own program. There are members across the Southern Tier in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties. AmeriCorps members mentor "at-risk" youth and assist with problem solving techniques.

   A few of the Olean Community Schools AmeriCorps members joined us for our meeting. Jessica Scanlon works in three of the five elementary schools. She helps the youth by giving them "a little extra attention." Robyn Taylor works mainly in Washington West. She helps the youth by finding their needs and letting the youth express themselves. Robyn and Jessica assisted the youth in putting together a float for the Santa's Lane parade. They won first prize. Courtney Hall works in the middle school as well as in a couple of the elementary schools. She has been working in eighth grade English classes helping the youth with their homework and letting the youth open up to her. The main goal with AmeriCorps is to reduce violence in the schools. The schools decide which youth they feel are "at-risk" and the AmeriCorps members help by mentoring them.

   A big topic of discussion has been bullying.

   A big topic of discussion has been bullying. One youth that JoAnne works with told her that one of the main reasons she dropped out of school is because of bullying. Dominic Russi is the fourth AmeriCorps member who works at Olean Community Schools. He is a retired teacher from the Buffalo area. The S.T.A.R.T. program has many members who are all different ages and come from many different backgrounds. One member is a graduate from the International School of New Guinea. Members are selected by their backgrounds (which are run through the State Central Register and the Sheriff's Department) and references. There are 15 AmeriCorps members at 10 different schools in the Southern Tier.

   Current Members are:

   • Matthew Berryman, Franklinville Central
   • Michael Casey, Allegany-Limestone Central
   • Connie Hadley- Randolph Central
   • Courtney Hall- Olean Community Schools
   • Katrina Hubbard- Salamanca Alternative Education
   • Mark Levine- Cuba-Rushford Central
   • Sarah Lewis- Scio Central
   • Kristen Loucks- Wellsville Central
   • Rebekah Maul- West Valley Central
   • Sue Putt- Allegany-Limestone Central
   • Dominic Russi- Olean Community Schools
   • Jessica Scanlon- Olean Community Schools
   • Monica Simons- Wellsville Central
   • Robyn Taylor- Olean Community Schools
   • Robert Washington- Archbishop Walsh

   These members are located at schools that opted to collaborate with the Youth Bureau. They paid $3,000 to have these members located in their schools. The government pays their benefits and the Youth Bureau provides them training. Another reward that these members receive, other than mentoring youth, is an educational award worth $4,750 that is awarded to them once they have completed their one-year membership. These members were recruited through advertisements in the local papers, as well as web-sites and television commercials on the BOCES channel.

4. A NEW REASON TO CELEBRATE: ACT FOR YOUTH, Jodi Fuller

   • ACT Evaluation and Sub-Committees

     Prior to the last ICP meeting, Jutta Dotterweich from Cornell University presented the results of our 3-day on-site review to our partnership. That PowerPoint is available if anyone would like a copy. Based on that material, and on the fact that the ACT II RFP has not been issued, the group was then asked to identify ACT accomplishments that they would like to see continue, regardless of future funding. The identified aspects are Family Support Centers, Community Outreach, Mini-grants, and Youth Engagement. We have formed sub-committees for each of the four topics, and those committees are charged with exploring means by which the County can maintain these services. If you are interested in serving on one of those committees, please sing up, and Jodi will contact you the dates of future meetings. We also hope to be reporting to the partnership on the progress of those committees at future meetings.

   • Places to Be and Places to Belong

     This booklet contains the results of a study of students in one Upstate NY community, and details their perceptions of their school and community. It contains some valuable insights into what young people think about their schools, community, and the adults they interact with, as well as some practical suggestions for both schools and communities on ways that they might foster an increased sense of "connectedness" among youth. Janis Whitlock from the Upstate Center conducted the study. There are still copies of this worthwhile resource left. If you would like a copy, contact Jodi.

   • Youth Involvement Incentives

     Please remember that the Youth Involvement Incentive Program is available to anyone wishing to reward young people for playing an active role in their community. Application forms are available. There is no age range.

   • ACT Partnership

     We are proud to announce that DOH has selected Cattaraugus County's ACT for Youth program as the most successful partnership in the state. This means that evaluators will be coming to Cattaraugus County on Friday, January 28th to talk with some of our key stakeholders. They are hoping to gain an understanding of the factors that have contributed to our success. Additional information will be forthcoming.
   • Jodi Fuller
   • ACT for Youth
   • Cattaraugus Community Action
   • (716) 945-1041 extension 135

5. What's New with You?

   • Sheriff's Department: The new Christmas program that they started this year is called Santa's Sheriffs. This program was thought up by Undersheriff Timothy Whitcomb and his brother, Dana Whitcomb, Assistant Director of the OCFS of Limestone, and modeled after a Christmas Program in Texas. With help from Community Action, DSS, and OCFS, the Sheriff's Department raised money to provide underprivileged children with Christmas packages. The underprivileged incarcerated children, of OCFS of Limestone, helped with the shopping, the packaging and the delivery of the packages to over 40 youth.
   • Department of Social Services: In conjunction with JCC, the Olean Community Schools, and Salamanca Alternative Education, there will be a new Alternative Education located at JCC. Alternative Education is for students who have dropped out of school and would like to finish their education so they may go to college.
   • Olean Rotary: Mary Vahl, Saint Bonaventure University, will be going to Rotary International to inoculate some outlining villages of India of polio. They are raising money so that they have a couple thousand dollars so that Mary and her partner on the mission will be able to help fund programs in India.
   • Mental Health: Audrey Powless, Program Director, talked about how Mental Health provides family support services for parents of children with social, emotional, and behavioral problems so they can function successfully in the community as a family. Parents may refer themselves or be referred by another child-serving agency. One support group that has been in existence for 17 years is Parents Who Care. This group is a confidential support group for parents of children with social, emotional, and behavioral problems only. Parents of these children often feel alone, frustrated, and helpless. In a non-judgmental setting, Parents Who Care offer support, renewed strength, shared parenting experience, and hope. The main goal of this group is to empower parents to overcome the stumbling blocks they encounter in raising their children.
   • Directions in Independent Living: Lenny Liguori of Directions in Independent Living talked about the grant for statewide systems advocacy for funding laws that impact the disabled, such as Timothy's Law. This funding will be for disabled people who make too much money for Medicaid and not enough for medical insurance. They have also received a grant from Cornell Cooperative Extension to develop a cook book that is color coated and complete with pictures so that people with learning disabilities can learn to cook.
   • Cattaraugus Community Action: Candy Plants, CCA, said that the Youth Council has a new RFP for the Workforce Investment Board is going to be released soon. There are two applications; one in Cattaraugus County and one is Allegany County, which will be pooled together. If you have something to offer as to youth employment services, please contact Michelle Hoffman at the One-Stop (373-1880). The Youth Council will also be accepting new members soon so if you interested in encouraging youth employment, you may want to become part of this council.
   • Youth Bureau: Cheryl Ebert reported that $300,000 was distributed to local municipalities for recreation purposes. Pat Siminski reported that there are currently around 370 children in the Children with Special Needs Program and have a variety of collaboration with therapists and transporters around the county.
   • ACCORD: Pat Peterson reported that they are currently working in Portville Central School in the Health Classes with the new "Be Proud, Be Responsible" Program. They are using the "Baby Think it Over" dolls and other materials to help with this program. There is a high needs population with this type of program.
   • FAST Program, Community Action: Wendy Lord reported that they currently have 25 opened files with youth on pins or probation.
   • Olean YMCA Teen Center: Danielle Kielar talked about the Teen Fun Night that will be going on Saturday, January 15 (from 7-11 p.m.) at the YMCA. It is for all students in grades 6-12th grade from all schools in Cattaraugus/Allegany counties. It is free to attend. Activities include:
     • Swimming
     • Climbing Wall
     • DJ and dance
     • Gym activities
     • Teen Center Activities-pool table, air hockey, foosball, ping pong, karaoke
     • Free Pizza donated by Pizza Hut (North Union St. Olean)
     • Reality Check will be giving out prizes throughout the night when students answer specific questions. Every hour we will give statistics about tobacco, health risks, tobacco industry, etc. Students are required to be there the entire time unless parents want to pick them up early.
   • Reality Check: Megan Davis has only been part of the Reality Check program for about a month (Welcome Megan). She has been working with Danielle Kielar on the Kid Zone workshop at Olean Middle School and Allegany Central School. She has been also helping with the Teen Fun Night and has been going to Saint Bonaventure games to get messages out there. She has been doing a lot of outreaching and getting know the community.
   • Community Services: Bob Dobmeier reported that Joan Brady will be leaving the department and that Community Services will be hiring a new person in place of her soon. The Department of Community Services has been having conversations with the Department of Social Services to figure out how they can prevent foster care placement. They will be keeping us updated over the new three to four months.
   • Cattaraugus County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse: Hillary Jahnke reported that the Youth Development Coalition is sponsoring a Youth Summit (which is coming up on March 11 at the YMCA) to show youth in the community how to give back. There will be a health fair and awards for youth that are involved in the community.
   • The Journey Project: Mike Williams reported that Janine Fodor has left the Saint Bonaventure Journey Project so that she can continue with her law degree. He has been running this program as an intern. He currently has two marketing/journalism students who he is trying to find internships for.

Next Meeting:

February 3, 2005 at Ellicottville Central School's Family Support Center. An agenda is forthcoming!