Data Work Group Meeting

DRAFT MINUTES

December 20, 2012 12:00 Noon – 1:30 PM

Bridge House

4150 Earhart Blvd.

New Orleans, LA. 70125

In attendance: Dr. Ham Farris, LSUHSC, Seton Jenkins, Citizens for 1, Robert Gallati, Arc Assoc., Jessica Ortner, Gulf Coast HIDTA, Pamela Noya, Gulf Coast HIDTA/DEA, Richard La Pratt, Via Link 211, Erica Sugimori, NORAPAC, J. Williams NOPD, David Seal, Tulane, Jenna Iberg Johnson, DHH/OPH/ IDEPI, Don Petty, GULF Coast HIDTA, Debra Morton, RSD Safe Schools Healthy Students. Conference Call: Donna Betzer, Healthy Life Style Choices, Calvin Johnson MHSD, Bill Blanchard, OBH State SEW, Rozanne Marel NYS OASIS Rep to CEWG. Chris Gunther, NO Behavioral Health/Violence prevention. Could not attend: Paulette Carter, Children’s Bureau, Nathaniel Weaver, Police and Justice Foundation; Virginia Williams, Supreme Court Drug Court Office.

Agenda and Outcomes

¨  Introductions (go-round)

Ham led the group in introductions

¨  Very Brief Overview

Ham Farris gave history and rationale of the formation of the Data Work Group (DWG). He explained that the origin of the Greater New Orleans Drug Demand Reduction Coalition (GNODDRC). He informed members that the Coalition is now in the implementation phase of the strategy. - Said that the continual effort of the coalition is to quantify what we do, but the DWG will also discuss ways to generate new data, authoring our own surveys where necessary.

¨  Data Work Group Description

Ham stated that the first charge of the Work Group is structure. The Data Work group will be committed to developing a strategic data plan that will help the coalition to fulfill the vision of a healthier, safer, drug free New Orleans.

-Said that agencies and organizations have data kept in silos and that it will be the impetus of the DWG to share data and test the authenticity of data. Data sharing and collaboration will promote data sharing and collaboration among agencies at all levels to support the strategic plan and the action plans of individual workgroups. It will also enhance the work of other collaboratives in the City

Bob Gallati said that the Coalition is very broad and has looked at available data, many times from secondary sources. He said that broad needs assessment has looked at Treatment, Prevention, Criminal Justice and Enforcement. He said that in some places we need to get beyond secondary sources and analysis.

Bob expressed the critical nature of having representatives from each of the Work Groups (WGS) on the Data Committee as well as the fact that the DWG will review the individual WG plans in regard to measurable outcomes (GNODDRC Workgroups are Enforcement, Prevention, Treatment, and Judicial).

Ham said that part of our role in monitoring progress will be to develop indicators and measure changes. One vision would be not just to collect and analyze. but to build a web network that could also evaluate community measures and be a vehicle for talking points as well as a venue for an updated Community Substance Abuse Profile.

Discussions ensued regarding the importance of tapping into resources in the community and ensuring that we are not duplicating efforts already being spearheaded by the City or other sources. Erika Sugimori mentioned that duplication of efforts is a concern of the treatment group.

¨  Draft Strategy and Recommendations

Bob stated that one of the roles of the DWG will also be to review the Community Needs Assessment Draft Strategy expounding upon the fact that it is “A Draft” plan. He also defined the added role of addressing the goals by measuring outcomes and ensuring that there is clear interaction between the DWG and the WGS’s action plans.

¨  Discussion

¨  Data Issues Experienced by Members

Don Petty distributed the 2013 Drug Threat Assessment and described the importance of data participation from Louisiana for some of the HIDTA surveys, particularly in the treatment arena. Other States in the region, i.e. Alabama, Arkansas are in compliance when data is requested.

There are no common metrics for reporting-can’t agree- access to data- importance of uniform reporting

Data is untimely, not reliable and often inaccessible

¨  How Data Work Group can help address issues

Don stated DWG is in a position to assist in supplying drug trending data, propagate the bulletin on new chemicals. He gave permission to post information on the web site.

DWG can improve collaboration between agencies, improve access to central depositories, how we are delivering services. David Seal talked about the need to have better neighborhood data and discussed the work that is being done in that area.

Jenna Iberg discussed the hospital electronic data system that is meaningful and supplies substantial information. – Can provide emergency room data for percentage of visits for drug and alcohol use/abuse and can be a bridge for the loss of Dawn ED and DAWN ME.

·  How Data Work Group should be organized

Rozanne Marel discussed the importance of having a community EPI group that can monitor Substance Abuse in local areas. She stated that some of the issues the DWG is looking at are the experience of other communities. She stated that New Orleans has not had a representative at NIDA’s Community Epidemiological Work Group (CEWG) since Katrina and that it would be beneficial for NIDA and New Orleans to participate in NIDA’s epi work group.

A question ensued regarding whether the DWG was just talking about New Orleans or expanding to other parishes. Decision was made to look at New Orleans but ensure collaboration with other parishes particularly when data overlaps. Ham described how the scope of the coalition encompassed the Metropolitan area.

A discussion ensued regarding such questions as what do we want, how do we collect it, what kind of systems are out there that are effective and efficient. For example-Donna Betzer added that we would want to know what prevention can do to support programming, -For example, does the DWG think it appropriate to produce an abbreviated survey for prevention planning. Bill Blanchard added that the DWG could have a representative on the State SEW (State Epidemiological Work Group).

Erika brought up the importance of the DWG in developing measurements and indicators for the targets in the strategic plan: reduction in illicit drug use, underage drinking, drunk and drugged driving deaths, drug overdose deaths, non-medical use of prescription drugs, drug related crime and drug related child abuse and neglect. Measuring reduction targets will require collaboration with lead agencies to establish indicators and measurement standards. The group was asked to review who was missing at the table to ensure that the work could be accomplished. The Consensus of members was that the DWG would maximize the potential to review and monitor the targets of reduction.

·  Future meetings

Meeting adjourned at 1:30PM. Ham notified group members that the task for next meeting would be to review the data strategy. Next meeting will be in February TBA. At that time the WG action plans should be available.

Handouts: Strategic Plan, CNA 1 Highlights, Draft CNA Data recommendations, Data Work Group Structure, Selected Data Sources

1