The Catasauqua Communities That Care group, during its meeting March 15, moved forward with the next steps in its efforts to address the results of a coalition checkup.

The group had taken part in the coalition checkup, which provided a 148-page feedback report detailing the group’s strengths and weaknesses. A second survey was taken to gauge how the group has changed and grown.

The group originally chose to focus on developing a communication plan, including new and refined vision and mission statements. The coalition officially adopted new vision and mission statements at the meeting Jan. 18. This leaves the group freedom to move on to a new priority.

The possibility of increasing membership with district parents and community members was discussed at the Feb. 15 meeting. Progress was already seen in the addition of a district parent at the March meeting. She was reportedly recommended by Pastor Brian Riedy of Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church.

Meghan Lynn Blevins, from Penn State EPISCenter, led the discussion on the next steps. Blevins is assisting the coalition in putting together its plan to address the data from the coalition checkup feedback report.

Group members voted on two priorities: increase awareness of activities and continue work on the communication plan.

It was noted the feedback report showed many coalition members are not fully aware of all the programs Catasauqua Area School District and CTC use for the students. One indicator was group members reported needing funding for programs, but Denise Continenza, Penn State Extension educator and CTC coordinator, and Amy Dymond-Jones, Catasauqua Middle School counselor and CTC coordinator, noted all the programs are fully funded.

To increase the internal awareness of programs, Continenza recommended taking time each meeting to have someone present on a different program and include details on its funding and usage in the district.

The continued efforts to address the communication plan are going well, according to group leaders. At the Feb. 15 meeting, Wendy Texter, with Center for Humanistic Change, noted she is a graphic designer and volunteered to help create a brochure. The brochure would be used to hand out at school and community events to help spread awareness of the group’s efforts.

Texter had a first draft mock-up of the brochure ready for the March 15 meeting. Dymond-Jones shared the document with the group to garner their feedback before the next meeting.

The Feb. 15 meeting also featured discussion from Riedy about banners to hang at the schools and possibly around town. He is in discussions with Catasauqua Borough leaders and the Main Streets organization.

Continenza reported the group still has $2,000 it received as a coalition working with Penn State Extension to be used for communication efforts or to increase community awareness.

The group discussed the possibility of having a community event to raise its visibility in the community. It was mentioned they could have speakers come in to present on the group’s three main priorities: support economically disadvantaged students; decrease drug, alcohol and gambling; and focus on the mental well-being of students.

CTC members also proposed having merchandise with the CTC logo that families can take away. This will help make the CTC name more well recognized in the community. Options discussed were refrigerator magnets, reusable bags or water bottles and chip clips. Members will look into pricing for these items.

It was also suggested having food trucks might be a good idea, and inviting student clubs and musical groups to perform would help bring in more people.

Planning will continue on the community event.

The next CTC meeting will include discussion of an 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 sometime this spring. Students took the PAYS in the fall of 2020.

This interim report presented data regarding substance use, mental health and suicide risk, school climate and safety, abuse and food scarcity, COVID-19 impacts and remote learning perceptions and experiences. Coalition members are encouraged to look at the report and compile some thoughts.

The next meeting will be 2:45 p.m. April 19.