The 2020 May CoAPT meeting was called to order by project coordinator, Amber Corder, at 11:35 a.m. on May 13 via Zoom. Corder informed the others that she has been attending webinars throughout the pandemic.
An assessment and planning meeting was held via Zoom on April 24 with members brainstorming ideas for meeting the Drug Free Communities Support Program grant requirements. The grant requires matching funding despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The grant management will be changing from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in September.
Next, a presentation over the American Lung Association programs was presented by Abdul-Kabir Karim. The American Lung Association provides many programs for adults and children and include: Better Breathers Club, Smokefree Housing Initiative, Freedom from Smokers, Asthma Basics, Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco and Health (INDEPTH), Not on Tobacco (N-O-T), and Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.). INDEPTH, N-O-T, and T.A.T.U. are programs specifically for students.
INDEPTH is “an interactive program that teaches students about nicotine dependence, establishing healthy alternatives and how to kick the unhealthy addiction that got them in trouble in the first place,” according to the American Lung Association’s website. It is a free program and Corder and Kat Staas both have completed the training. Students receive an in-school suspension currently if they are caught vaping on campus. This program would allow an alternative punishment with four 50-minute sessions which could potentially be taught during the suspension. INDEPTH has not been introduced to the Blanco schools at this time, but might be implemented in the future. More information on the different programs can be found at lung.org.
Coalition members brainstormed idea sharing for prevention during COVID-19. Reaching out and providing educational information to the different businesses in town was one suggestion. Another idea was to place the stickers on to-go containers. Corder will see about having another sticker shock campaign while following social distancing guidelines. One last idea was to have the CoAPT students reaching out to their fellow students to provide support via Zoom; it would be like a COVID check-in.
CoAPT members discussed possible summer events and planning for other events. Possible upcoming events include a Back to School event and an In Plain Sight event. Planning for the annual Wellness Fair in September will begin too.
Lastly, Corder announced that Blanco High School Principal Keitha St. Clair is leaving in June. She served as the CoAPT director and will be missed. “We appreciate all of your help throughout the years on CoAPT,” said Corder. Amy Hackebeil, Blanco ISD academic dean, has agreed to take over as director and is excited about her new role. “I’m very honored. I will learn more as I go, but it is something I’m passionate about and that I appreciate the work that Amber (Corder) does and all of you as well so it was an easy yes,” said Hackebeil. The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. and the next meeting will take place on June 17 at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.
