Regional
Family Resource Network of Kanawha County
December
8, 2011, 12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
Kanawha
Valley Room
Schoenbaum
Family Enrichment Center
Charleston,
West Virginia
Present: Michele Baranaskas (RFRN Staff), Samantha Perna
(Kanawha County Schools Parent Community Resource Center), Sharon Bright
(River Valley Child Development Services WV Birth to Three), Aaron
Morris (WV Mental Health Consumers Association), Msgt.
Michelle Barton (WV National Guard Drug Demand Reduction), Michele
Bowles (Kanawha Communities That Care), Judy Crabtree (Kanawha
Coalition for Community Health Improvement), Billie Moore (UniCare
Health Plan), Laura Casto (WV WIC) and Carolyn Ferrell (WV Breast and
Cervical Cancer Screening Program).
Michele Baranaskas
extended a welcome to everyone and asked them to introduce themselves.
Judy
Crabtree shared the purpose, procedure and results of the 2011 Kanawha
Coalition for Community Health Improvement (KCCHI) Community Health
Assessment. KCCHI was started by the
local hospitals sixteen years ago. Judy
has been there for ten years. The
Steering Committee consists of the CEOs of the local hospitals (CAMC, Thomas
& St. Francis, Highland) as well as CEOs from the United Way, the Health
Department, FamilyCare and the Wellness Council of West Virginia. The Assessment consists of four
components: a random telephone household
survey throughout the county; interviews of key informants (95 community
leaders were interviewed); focus groups consisting of people from under-reached
demographics; and a Community Health Forum where about 120 interested community
members attended and prioritized the areas on which the KCCHI should work over
the next three years: 1. Lack of
physical activity, 2. Obesity/nutrition, and 3. Drug Abuse, especially
Prescription Drug Abuse. Judy shared
highlights of the assessment, including significant changes since the last
assessment. Judy said that there will be work group volunteer orientation for
the coalition on Friday, January 13 at 8 a.m. at the United Way of Central West
Virginia with breakfast provided. To
view the assessment results online, go to www.healthykanawha.org
Michele
Baranaskas reported that the Thomas Memorial Hospital Foundation is not able to
fund Brain Under Construction Zone at the hospital at
this time, so she will be seeking funding in order to bring the project to new
parents giving birth at the hospital.
Kanawha
Communities That Care (CTC) Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership will meet
next on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at the South Charleston Public Library at
12 Noon (brown bag lunch). Kanawha CTC Project Director Michele Bowles reported
that the coalition is collaborating with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program
on a Drugged Driving Prevention campaign.
Board member Patty Deutsch of the Wellness Council of West Virginia has
a Prescription Drug Abuse Presentation that is being presented around the
county and is available to faith-based organizations. CTC is currently holding a Kroger Cares
fundraiser card contest to increase use of this fundraiser. The CTC website has been recently updated and
includes discussion forums, announcements, events and activities. http://www.kanawhacountyctc.org/
Many
announcements were shared.
The next
Kanawha FRN meeting will be held on Thursday,
January 12, 2011 in the Kanawha Valley Room of the Schoenbaum Family
Enrichment Center. Brown
bag lunch. All are welcome to
attend. (This has been changed to the South Charleston Public Library)
Please
remember if Kanawha County Schools delay
or cancel county-wide school due to snow, ice or flooding, the Kanawha FRN
meeting will be canceled. Always take responsibility for your own
safety and do not come to a meeting if you think that you can’t arrive and
return safely. If you can’t make it,
we’ll just see you the next time!
Minutes typed by
Michele Baranaskas, Executive Director, RFRN