Committee Meeting Minutes: May 2025

May 31, 2025

by Skylar Washington

DE BEST Committee Meeting Minutes

Date: May 27, 2025 | Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Location: Virtual via Zoom

Attendees

Skylar Washington - DE BEST Admin Assistant
Marion Osborne
Jim Deel - DE BEST Volunteer Committee Co-Chair
Cecilia Chandlee
Nadiyah Fisher - Volunteer Engagement Team Lead
Eileen Tucker
Marianne Baker
Trevor Alleyne

1️⃣ Welcome

Meeting called to order by Skylar Washington at 6:30 PM.

2️⃣ Introductions & Mission Statement Review

Attendees introduced themselves by sharing their name and occupation/life experience.

DE BEST Mission Statement:
"The purpose of the committee is to act as a volunteer-run, volunteer-attended engagement of volunteers, with the intent to provide direct feedback to DE BEST leadership for identifying and meeting community needs, and to support networking, recruitment, engagement, outreach opportunities, and team development."

3️⃣ Summary of Key Highlights

Training: Jim Deel shared best practices for crisis response and self-care.
Outreach: Successful events at DSU (tabling), William Penn HS (partner exercise), and CrossReach (tabling).
Upcoming Events:
- June 5 - Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference (DSU)
- June 12 - WPD Resource Fair (Wilmington)
- July 26 - Route 9 Community Fair
Volunteer Engagement: County-based events replaced this month's Quarterly Meeting and Committee Meeting.
Training Access: Volunteers encouraged to use online/self-paced options and complete all required documents and training through DETRAIN.org

Action Item: Interested in mentoring? Email us at DEBESTvolunteers@gmail.com

4️⃣ Volunteer Development Training

Topic: Engagement Following a Crisis
Presenter: Jim Deel

De-escalation and grounding techniques
Recognizing signs of distress or dissociation
Confidentiality and cultural sensitivity
Importance of volunteer self-care

Real-life examples and "to-go kit" suggestions were shared. Discussion included partnering with groups like the Red Cross.

5️⃣ Engagement Opportunities

June 5 - Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference
June 12 - WPD Resource Fair
July 26 - Route 9 Library Fair (focus on mental health and preparedness)

Update: Spring appreciation event was canceled. Instead, county-based volunteer events will offer:

Essential resource distribution
Tech support and portal training
Mini onboarding sessions
Preparedness-focused volunteer support

6️⃣ Knowledge Sharing & Reminders

Next in-person committee meeting planned for late July (likely in New Castle County)
A feedback survey will be shared with these minutes
Independent Trainings Available:
- DE BEST Volunteer Mentorship (via phone)
- SAMHSA CCP and Data Collection (self-paced)
- Psychological First Aid (online/self-led)

7️⃣ Adjournment

Meeting adjourned by Skylar Washington at 7:30 PM.

Next Meeting: Tentatively July 22, 2025, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (Zoom)