Attending:

Doug Michael, Vanessa Tillmann, Susan Covino Buell, Marty Lyons, Pam Bush, Barbara Neilly, Irene Greene Murphy, Chris Kaiser, Genell Vashro, Candy Eaton.

1. Welcome, Introductions, and Announcements

*Tasks established for meeting:

-Facilitator: Vanessa Tillmann
-Recorder: Doug Michael
-Timekeeper: Chris Kaiser

- Susan suggested that to give the discussion of "Lost Children", Unsafe Driving, and Unintentional Injuries ample time, it be moved to November’s agenda.

2. Brief review of September 11^th Meeting Minutes.

3. Guest Speaker – Candy Eaton

• Candy spoke about the efforts of the Ellsworth Area Communities for Children. Ellsworth focused on Early Childhood Development and Healthy Starts from the start of their group 5 years ago. They have involved the 0-3 Coalition in their efforts, and have supported the goal of providing "Healthy Starts" with such programs as Parents Are Teachers Too.
• Using America’s Promise as a model, the group addresses "Caring Adults" promise through the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program.
• "Safe Places" – Partnered with the YMCA to create a community center for youth; now they are working on a skate board park.
• "Marketable Skills" – administers the United Way KKOT (keeping kids on track) mini-grants
• Other VISTA led projects have included Literacy – books for kids programs and girls’ empowerment.

The Ellsworth group has quarterly meetings, the 1^st Wednesday of every 3^rd month. Their next meeting is December 3^rd from 4:30 to 6pm at the YMCA is Ellsworth and everyone involved in the MDI Council is welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Hancock County Children’s Council

A program of Downeast Health Services. Since the council began, it has amassed a library of family resources totaling over 1000 volumes. Videos are also available. Candy also has copies of "The Little Book of Parenting" and "Your Body Belongs to You" that she would be willing to give to us if we could use them.

The council publishes a calendar of parenting skills workshops throughout the region

- They also have Baby Think It Over manikins that they use in local schools.

- People were then given the chance to ask Candy questions.

4. Youth/VISTA Updates-

1. Youth Empowerment Taskforce – Genell

• Met 2 times, recently in a combined meeting with the Youth Forum/Youth Empowerment committees. The concern was expressed that the youth may have felt stifled in the presence of the adults. The suggestion was made that perhaps setting up group rules for such meetings could help to alleviate this issue.

1. Youth Forum - Genell

• The youth are currently working on getting out the surveys that they devised last spring. However, despite receiving approval from all the principals, some have forgotten, and there are some new players. Barb Neilly offered to be of some assistance in contacting the other principals, and reminding them about the survey.

1. Statewide C4C Advisory Council Meeting – Doug

• Doug related his experience with the state meeting he attended together with youth member Mario Moretto.
• Approximately 30 representatives (youth and adults) were present from around the State. The group will meet quarterly to provide the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet with advice and guidance to determine the future direction of the Statewide Communities for Children initiative.

1. Early Childhood Update – Vanessa

• Vanessa gave a brief overview of the ECD Taskforce meeting. At the first meeting assessments underway were discussed. Vanessa has completed an initial round of interviews with Childcare Facility providers and received feedback on a written survey to be mailed out to 27 home-based childcare providers. The group began to identify its ‘mission’ and top priorities, and identified other key stakeholders to invite to the next meeting
• The next meeting, November 4^th, 2003 – 8:30am at the Harbor House Children’s Center. All are welcomed, and encouraged to come.

5. Fundraising

Fundraising for the VISTA housing subsidy was discussed. Doug reviewed the budget and identified the group had successfully raised approximately 11,000 of the 16,000 we set as a goal. The remaining $5,000 is the amount the group hoped to raise to help offset housing costs for the 2 VISTA volunteers. The group briefly discussed other potential sources of funding.

• It was suggested that Ann Luther of Restorative Justice had mentioned the possibility of funds, and that the League of Women voters may be another possibility. Susan Covino Buell agreed to contact Ann on behalf of the group.

• It was suggested that we also begin to consider the idea of fundraising for the next year, and that it be put on one of our next agendas.

• The 2 VISTAs Genell and Vanessa, along with their supervisors Marty and Doug agreed to meet before the next Leadership Council meeting to fundraising and public relations for the group.

6. Assessment Results.

• Doug discussed the idea that it might be useful to the schools and this group to compare the results of the ’99 Aspirations survey and the ’03 MYDAUS.

Both surveys addressed youth risk and protective factors. Is this something the schools would be willing to take the lead on?

• Irene commented how the MYDAUS surveys were already useful in guiding the selection of community based programming "Creating Lasting Family Connections".

• It also was commented that this might provide some validation for foisting surveys on the youth. Pam Bush commented that she would appreciate a copy of the MYDAUS and Vanessa volunteered to send one to her.

• Pam offered to follow up with Bill Davis from UMaine and one of the MDI High School Staff to look into possible resources for analysis of the survey results. Pam and Doug will discuss this further prior to our next meeting.

7. Future Meeting Schedule

To contact MDI Tomorrow:
MDI Tomorrow, c/o University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 63 Boggy Brook Rd., Ellsworth, ME 04605, 207-288-8212.

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