Community Impact Team Working Together to Build a Safer Community

What is the North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT)?

The North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT) is a partnership between the North Reading Police Department, Youth Services, School Department, Parks & Recreation, Fire Department and the Board of Selectmen.

Why the North Reading Community Impact Team was developed.

Our team was developed to better coordinate the services we provide to the community. Prior to CIT, a lot of our responsibilities, resources and services overlapped or connected in some way. The CIT’s mission is to work together to better the quality of life for all community members, from our young children to our senior citizens. We are in constant communication to make sure we’re all pulling in the same direction.

When was CIT developed?

Our first meeting was held on March 5, 2012. During our first meeting we;

Defined our mission.

“The North Reading Community Impact Team (CIT) is a partnership between the North Reading Police Department, Youth Services, School Department, Parks & Recreation, Fire Department and the Board of Selectmen. The CIT emphasizes the use of innovative, non-traditional methods of impacting crime and the fear of crime and strives toward cooperative interaction between the community, law enforcement and town departments. The CIT works to identify factors that have a negative impact on the quality of life for the citizens of North Reading and to implement solutions that solve the underlying problems.”

Identified our top priority- Drug awareness campaign. Identify resources available to CIT and the community. Identified the CIT member’s roles.What has the CIT been working on throughout the past year?

Sponsored a Drug Awareness Seminar on May 9, 2012. Speakers included North Reading Police, Drug Enforcement Agent, parent of recovering addict, Doctor in the field of addiction, and a twenty-four year old recovering addict. Received a donation from the Invest in North Reading Ballot Question Committee.

Met with Massachusetts State Representative Brad Jones and Senator Bruce Tarr to discuss our mission. CIT was able to secure a $25,000 Child Safety Grant through their offices. Developed our website- www.northreadingcit.com and Facebook page

Co-sponsored the Save a Life Tour Program at the North Reading High School. This interactive drunk driving simulator educated students on the dangers of drinking and driving. Initiated a Sharps (needle) disposal Kiosk located at the North Reading Police Department.

Our CIT has become a model for other communities. We’ve met with other communities to help them develop a similar program. Sponsoring the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Strike Two program in May 2013. This program provides tours of the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica for at-risk students and/or interested community groups, giving them a real-life look at the consequences of wrong decisions. Students are treated as adults and engage in discussion about the decision making process. The program emphasizes the importance of accepting responsibility for one’s actions.

Sponsoring the first annual National Night Out for North Reading residents on August 6, 2013. This community event will focus on crime prevention activities. Sponsored a text-a- tip line at the North Reading Police Department. Identified several Action Teams needed to support the CIT mission.

What are Action Teams?

Action Teams are comprised of volunteer community members, professionals, and parents from North Reading and surrounding areas. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and shine perspective on a range of quality of life issues that affect our community. In response to these issues, Action Teams work on specific projects that address public needs. Some examples of town concerns have been hypodermic needles found in public places, senior death toll and its relation to depression among their peers, and the up rise in youth addiction to opiate prescription medication.

When an Action Team is formed, a chairperson is assigned to lead meeting agendas and remind the group of upcoming meetings. There is a CIT liaison assigned to each Action Team who is responsible for communicating any questions or concerns back to the CIT.

Why Action Teams are such a vital part of the CIT...

Action Teams carry out the missions of the CIT. To put it simply, it could not be done without volunteers. Action Teams execute solutions by doing research, networking with other agencies, providing technology assistance, applying for grants, creating publications, and so much more. Action Team members are great advocates for the populations that they serve, or are most familiar with, and identify barriers for consideration. The CIT would not be effective without the hard work and dedication of many people coming together to better their community.

Here are some of the projects our Action Teams are working on.

 K-12 Action Team

 Researched and implemented a grades 6-12 Youth Health Survey to gather data

that will be used to improve our health education program and to provide programs for students that will assist them in making healthy decisions about their quality of life

 Created a Parent Speaker Series with the first event planned for Thursday, June 6, 2013. National expert and author, Shawn Edgington, and her daughter, Nicole, will speak to parents about the positive and challenging aspects of social media, their personal story, and tips for managing online access.

 Future activities will include the development and implementation of a parent needs assessment to identify future topics for the parent speaker series, analysis of the Youth Health Survey results, and launching a parent book study group.

 Social Services Action Team

 Developing a Community Resource Guide specific to North Reading and surrounding areas.

If you would like any more information or would like to become part of the Community Impact Team, please email us @ northreadingcit@gmail.com.