Catasauqua Communities That Care members discussed what the next step is for the group in regards to the coalition checkup during the June 15 meeting.

The group voted to focus on creating a more developed mission and communications plan at the May 18 meeting. Earlier, the CTC members took a survey, resulting in a 148-page feedback report detailing the group’s strengths and weaknesses.

With assistance from Meghan Lynn Blevins, from Penn State EPISCenter, group members discussed how best to move forward with the mission and communications plan. EPIS stands for Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support.

It was said a clear and understandable explanation of the group, its goals and its efforts would be helpful to keep all members on the same page, especially when discussing the CTC with outside groups.

“It’s nice if we were all saying the same thing,” said Kim Ceccatti, a counselor at Sheckler Elementary School.

It was reported the group already has a mission statement that can serve as a solid starting point and may just require some tweaking and elaboration to be more comprehensive.

“We’ve grown as a coalition,” said Amy Dymond-Jones, Catasauqua Middle School counselor and CTC coordinator.

She noted adding and clarifying information in the existing mission statement could be helpful.

Blevins shared information with the group about the importance of creating mission and vision statements to capture the importance of the coalition and detail its general focus. From there, the group should make sure all members understand and support the mission and vision statements to better use them in communication efforts with the community.

Joann Heffner, a Life Skills instructional aide at CMS, volunteered to take the lead in working on the mission statement.

It was mentioned the next steps after finalizing the mission and vision plans is to get the information out to the community by posting it online.

Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling, assistant superintendent in the Catasauqua Area School District, noted the CTC should utilize social media to spread the information as the school district website does not usually generate much traffic.

“We need a broad communications effort,” said Denise Continenza, a Penn State Extension educator and one of the group’s coordinators.

Continenza also discussed setting co-chairs for the group’s subcommittees to help report on updates on the coalition’s priorities of prevention education, hunger and mental health.

In other business, Lois Reed, the CASD business supervisor and organizer of the Catasauqua Community Cares Program, reported C3P will continue to distribute food over the summer. She also noted that, thanks to a large Second Harvest Food Bank order and donations from Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church and Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, they are not in need of food for the distributions.

“We’re in really good shape,” Reed said.

Pastor Bobby Newman, from Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, noted the church’s monthly luncheons are going well. He reported they fed about 66 people at the May 17 lunch.

The lunches are held 11 a.m.-1 p.m. the third Monday of each month. Newman is urging anyone in the community to just stop by for some good food and community support.

In regards to the prevention education efforts to decrease drugs, alcohol and gambling among students, there were reports about some of the different programs held in the district such as Strengthening Families, virtual Weller Center presentations, LifeSkills and more.

Dymond-Jones reported they were able to do the Choices, Chances, Changes program for eighth-grade students. This virtual presentation was about making good choices.

“It was actually good to have it at the end of the year before summer when they will be making lots of choices,” she noted.

Regarding the emotional well-being of students, Dalilah Jusino, a mental health therapist with Salisbury Behavioral Health working in the district, reported they are continuing to offer services, with both in-person and telehealth options.

Shelley Keffer, coordinator of student services, reported the district purchased a universal screener for students in grades K-12 to check in on emotional and behavioral health. She noted Salisbury Behavioral Health assisted with the purchase.

“This will help us know how students are doing,” Dymond-Jones said.

The next CTC meeting will be held 2:30 p.m. July 20.