At the Jan. 18 Catasauqua Communities That Care meeting, coalition members voted to officially adopt a new vision statement and three mission statements revolving around the group’s main priorities.

This work is part of an effort to cultivate a fully developed communication plan. The communication plan is a priority for the group, identified from the recent coalition checkup feedback report.

The new Catasauqua CTC vision statement is as follows: “Catasauqua CTC coalition strives to be focused advocates who partner together to empower, inspire and engage all members of the diverse community.”

The three new mission statements are as follows: “to prevent early initiation of substance use among youth in our community through the delivery of evidence- and research-based programs, practices and policies,” regarding the efforts to decrease drug and alcohol use and gambling; “to assist families in meeting their basic needs such as food, clothing and other materials so that children can learn, engage and thrive,” regarding the efforts to support economically disadvantaged students; and “to foster and increase mental well-being among youth through the delivery of high-quality social emotional learning programs, the provision of referral and intervention services as needed and the creation of an environment in which students feel supported and safe,” regarding the efforts to strengthen students’ emotional well-being.

Lois Reed, CASD business supervisor and Catasauqua Community Cares Program organizer, reported the group was able to give out an additional 20-25 coats since students returned from the holiday break. The district held a coat drive before the holidays, but there was still a need. She thanked the district staff members for getting adult-sized coats for the older students.

Amy Dymond-Jones, Catasauqua Middle School counselor and CTC coordinator, reported a plan to implement the Second Step program for fifth-graders at CMS to work on their social and emotional health. The decision to start this program came from the data gathered from the PASS program. PASS - Positive Approach to Student Success - is intended to manage the behavior of students identified as behaviorally at risk.

CASD Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling reported the district has the opportunity to apply for extended Life Skills training grant funds to continue the program for another three years at CMS and two years at Catasauqua High School. The application is due in February.

Shelley L. Keffer, CASD coordinator of student services, also noted there are grant opportunities for middle school and high school programs to address some of the other PASS data.

Dymond-Jones noted an upcoming anti-vaping program, through the Center for Humanistic Change, for seventh- and eighth-grade students will be Feb. 25.

Denise Continenza, CTC coordinator and Penn State Extension educator, mentioned the group received a shorter, interim report on the Pennsylvania Youth Survey data. This report is only 19 pages long and details specific data points. The full report is expected to arrive in the spring.

Students took the PAYS in the fall of 2020.

Coalition members are encouraged to look at their area of interest and compile some thoughts about what they are seeing. The next CTC meeting, planned for Feb. 15, will include discussions about what the interim report says.