Coalition Meeting 6/2/2016

Attendance: Bill Gentes, Sylvie Turcotte, Mallory Bejster, Matthew Karpowicz, Jorie Alutto, Ingrid Weimer, Deborahanne Reimer, Sonali Patel, Andy Duran, Danielle Franzese, Craig Lepkowski, Matt Allen, Monika Toczycki

SpeakUp! Prevention Coalition Meeting

Sonali gave us some updates on upcoming activities in our coalition.

  1. LEAD organized a Post Prom event for LFHS students on May 14th. The event was from 10:00 pm until 6:00 am at Six Flags Great America.
  2. We had 179 students register.
  3. We will had a total of 3 busses taking students at 10:30 pm and at 1:30 am.
  4. There were 2 return times at 3:00 am and at 5:30 am
  5. All the feedback from parents and students was very positive.
  6. The Lake Forest Police Department hosted a Town Hall Meeting on May 17th to talk with the community.
  7. The event took place at Gorton, and we had about 15 – 20 adults attend.
  8. Andy Duran spoke on parental tips to prevent underage drinking.
  9. We want to continue to have community conversations to help change the local environment.
  10. We will not be meeting in July and August, instead Sonali and Andy will be meeting with the different sectors individually to work on each sector’s desired level of involvement and contribution to the coalition.

Next we discussed some additional work that will be going on in the summer.

  1. Text-a-Tip materials will be improved for schools ready for fall distribution.
  2. We are creating an app to push notifications to teens with positive or helpful messages, as well as improving the messaging capability.
  3. Although it is not meant for crime tips, any tips will be forwarded to LFPD dispatch.
  4. We expect usage to increase.
  5. A Way Out is an endeavor that 6 communities in Lake County are participating in including Lake Forest.
  6. It is a program to fast-track opiod users into substance abuse treatment services, to help them stop using drugs.
  7. Users can come in to the LF PD and surrender their drugs. They will not be arrested or prosecuted for seeking participation in this program.
  8. A police officer will stay with them until they can get into an in-patient or out-patient program.
  9. Someone stays with the patient because within the first 8 hours patients start experiencing withdrawal symptoms and they want to use drugs again.
  10. Lake County will be the first county to participate in this program.
  11. It is modeled on the Glouchester MA Police Department program.
  12. They saw a significant reduction in crime.
  13. This program should be available throughout the county within a year.
  14. Now it is in Gurnee, Grayslake, Libertyville, Lake Forest, Mundelein, Round Lake Beach, and Round Lake Park.
  15. Christy and Sonali will be working this summer on getting a youth advisory board together.
  16. The deadline for applications from students is June 15th.
  17. We would like to get more young people involved so that our programs can be more current and fill their needs.
  18. Danielle will be looking at local policies and legislation.
  19. Tobacco 21 – SB3011
  20. Purpose: To lower the number of young people smoking, over the long-term reduce state spending on treatment of smoking related illnesses.
  21. Raises minimum age for tobacco products to 21, includes e-cigarettes.
  22. Passed in IL Senate, the bill now moves to the IL House.
  23. Chicago City Council approved the age increase along with other efforts to combat illegal tobacco sales such as implementing higher taxes and outlawing chewing tobacco at sporting events.
  24. Possible Ordinances to be Proposed
  25. Point of Purchase signage to remind patrons that you have to be 21 years old to drink and buy alcohol. Potential messages below.
  26. It is unlawful to purchase or possess alcohol if you are under 21.
  27. It is unlawful to sell or dispense alcohol to anyone under 21.
  28. Penalties for selling/dispensing of alcoholic beverages to minors.
  29. Contact information to report violations.
  30. The group thought that this should be a higher priority.
  31. Transportation Signage
  32. Highland Park mandates each local liquor licensee to have a sign displaying the phone number of at least one transportation company that services the surrounding area.
  33. The parents need to be educated for kids to have a ride sharing app on their phones.
  34. Kids already have the message, no DUIs in several years.
  35. Parents are the ones that are drinking and driving.
  36. The group thought that this item was a lower priority.
  37. Social Hosting differences between Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.
  38. Lake Forest
  39. Violations are deemed a petty offense
  40. Capped, tiered fines based on repeated offenses.
  41. The group thought that the laws should be consistent between the towns.
  42. The LF Chief was working on a project in underage drinking.
  43. Serving Age
  44. Lake Forest
  45. Minimum seller and server age is 21 years old.
  46. Lake Bluff
  47. Minimum serving age is 19 years old.
  48. Must be 21 to mix or dispense alcohol.
  49. Some counties have serving age as low as 18.
  50. The group deemed getting this consistent in our area as a priority.
  51. It will reinforce the message that 21 is the age for alcohol.

The next coalition meeting will take place on Thursday, September 1st.

Thank you for attending.