MINUTES

Regional Family Resource Network (RFRN) of Putnam County

May 14, 2010 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Teays Physical Therapy Center

Hurricane, West Virginia

Present: Bill O’Dell (WV Prevention Resource Center), Robin Lester (Automated Health Systems), Lance Whaley (WV DHHR Putnam District), Kitty Pattison Byus (St. Timothy’s In-the-Valley Episcopal Church/ACDS program), Memory Cooper (Mission WV), Matthew Herbert (St. Mary’s Hospital TIPS), Josh VanBibber (Division of Juvenile Services Putnam County Youth Reporting Center), Molly Walroth (Division of Juvenile Services Putnam County Youth Reporting Center), Master Sgt. Michelle Barton (WV NG Drug Demand Reduction), Jamie Cottrill (WV Dept. of Education), Debbie Hon (Automated Health Systems), Amanda Fellure (Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council), Danielle Gillispie (Putnam County Schools) and Michele Baranaskas (RFRN Staff).

Michele greeted everyone and asked them to introduce themselves.

Matt Herbert, RN, CNRN, spoke about the Transportation Injury Prevention Safety (TIPS) program at St. Mary’s Medical Center, which serves Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne Counties. Matt’s nursing background is in neurotrauma, which includes brain injuries and strokes. The TIPS program is funded by the Rahall Transportation Institute and has enabled Matt to speak to thousands of school students as well as organizations such as the boy and girl scouts about seat belts, dirt bikes, ATVs, bicycles, etc. Matt also participates in child safety seat installments, bike rodeos and health fairs. To contact Matt, call 304-526-1899.

Putnam Young Child Task Team will meet on May 18 at 9:30 a.m. to compile the materials for Brain Under Construction Zone portfolios, which will be distributed to WomenCare prenatal patients in Putnam County. ACDS orientation will be scheduled for mid-August.

The next meeting of the Putnam Youth Wellness Task Team is TBA. The task team plans to meet with a group of parents in the Eleanor area about safe and healthy activities for youth.

Putnam on Wellness held a health fair and kick off of the the Putnam County promotion of the National President’s Physical Fitness Challenge, “Putnam Up & Moving” on Saturday, April 24 at Valley Park. About 100 adults and youth attended.

Mission WV is coordinating the 2^nd annual “Walk Me Home…to the place I belong” walk for foster care on Saturday, May 15 at the WV Power Park in Charleston. Proceeds go to Mission WV, a nonprofit organization that works to connect loving families with WV foster children and to the National Foster Parent Association, which works nationwide to support foster children. For more information, call Mission WV at 1-866-225-5698 or email crobey@missionwv.org.

The Girl Scouts are having summer day camp June 21 – 25 in Milton from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for girls going into 1^st grade and up. The theme is “Pirates of the Caribbean”.

Robin shared information about suicide, including the national helpline. There are over 33,000 completed suicides a year. St. Mary’s has a survivors of suicide support group.

The Putnam County Youth Day Reporting Center needs volunteer opportunities for their youth, which is predominantly boys through age 19. Families receive family therapy, and the youth receive individual therapy from a Licensed Professional Counselor. The youth are referred by probation and hopefully transitioned back into the community. The Center is looking for AA groups for youth and is willing to host an AA group for youth. They are located between the Winfield high school and middle school.

The next Putnam FRN meeting will take place on Friday, June 11, 2010 at Teays Physical Therapy Center in Hurricane.

Minutes taken by Michele Baranaskas, Executive Director, RFRN