Library: Valerie went to a 30^th Anniversary Children’s Literacy Conference on Friday. She saw some cool authors. They announced the three book winners. There were 150,000 votes cast. Her programming attendance has doubled. She has been giving schedules out to parents. The parents have been really interacting with their children during the program sessions. Valerie would like to do more school visits starting next month. She would like to continue reading the Monarch books to the students.

Literacy Project: The campaign posters are distributed and up. It is survey time again. Discussion took place about the survey process and the need of change. Shirley feels we could take off the Social Norm questions. One suggestion is to add specific questions in order to obtain results in problematic areas. Michelle offered to have the NIU Data Expert that DCP/SAFE works with for their survey results to look over the Literacy Survey and lend some help. Shirley will email Michelle the survey to pass along to NIU for examination.

YMCA: No one present to report.

KEYS Report: No one present to report.

Hispanic Coalition: Still planning on their Cinco Di Mayo celebration.

Centennial Counseling: No one present to report.

YSB Report: Their anticipated funding this year is for $31,000. So far, they have received approximately $11,000, which is already obligated. This money goes to at risk kids in schools. Starting March 23, 2010 a six week, parenting class will begin for parents of teens to help them deal with issues they are having with their teen.

Parent Education: Shirley has received from the State Superintendent; the Governor and Illinois State Board budgets, which shows education as separate line items by categories so those can see the stability of their grant. There has been a cut made of about 20%. Good news is they will still have their program, but will not be able to do much past the basics. They have had to cut the parenting program at this year’s end.

Due to cuts, Marsha has had to do a balancing act to finish this year and to prepare for next year. Next week they are having a Family Fun Night with focus on health and nutrition. They will do Yoga and have healthy snacks. On March 25, Marsha will do preschool screenings within the school day to plan for next year. She continues to do home visits. She will do Summer Learning for 64 children to get them ready for kindergarten next year. They are doing a fundraiser for the Parent Education Program to raise money to finish this school year’s obligations. If interested in helping out contact Shirley DeCorte.

4-C: Just finished an Early Childhood Literacy Night in Genoa. Parenting classes start again on March 31 – May 5, 2010 at Brooks Elementary School in DeKalb. It is a FREE, six week, class for parents of children under the age of 5. Registration is required and free childcare is available.

Ben Gordon Center: Shirley asked if BGC offers free counseling, because she knows of those who need services, but need help with the process. Michelle will get a contact name for her from the Sandwich location that can help with this. DCP/SAFE has begun to survey the eight schools that they work with. They are finishing up with a violence prevention campaign they are working on with Enough is Enough, NIU, and their Violence Prevention Action Group.

Girl Scouts: No one present to report.

DeKalb County Community Foundation: YEP received 15 grants; being of broad range. They are doing site visits and sitting through presentations for their final decision making process. They will announce their decision on April 10, 2010.

New Business: If anyone is interested in being the Committee Chair for this group, please contact the group through email or come to the next meeting. Listed below is a brief job description for this position.

Chair monthly meetings.
Assign others to send Agenda and Minutes.
Invite other Social Service Agencies to join meeting.
Assign reminders for Agenda, Minutes, and periodical Invitations.
Promote established mission and focus.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 10:00 am, Woodbury School

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle Christensen

Recorder

Attachments:

Minutes 3.10