Author: J Miles

Goode News – April 2021

Spring is a time for renewal and a time for new beginnings. Fresh buds bloom, animals awaken, birds migrate, and the earth seems to come to life after a dormant winter.

There are several “new” things going on at CKCAC now too!

Head Start students are once again filling our centers. We welcomed students back on April 12, 2021, for full-time, in-person learning at their family’s discretion. There are a total of 354 Early Head Start and Head Start students attending in-person each day throughout the 6-county region.

One Call Now is being utilized to communicate with staff. One Call Now is a platform used to send mass e-mails, phone calls, and text messages to employees reminding them of days off, company benefits, showing them appreciation, etc.

New Board Members have been elected and appointed. In recent months we have welcomed Mr. Brad Allen Turner who is representing Larue County on the Area Board of Directors as well as Ms. Patricia McCoy who is representing Grayson County.

A new Program Director has joined our team. The Community Collaboration for Children program has named Ms. Ronda Bertrand as the new Program Director and Ms. Diane Redmond as a new In-Home Worker.

The two new Head Start facilities being built in Lebanon and Springfield are close to having Open Houses. Stay tuned for updates on when you will be invited to tour these new facilities.

New Day Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes have joined the food program and are now receiving reimbursement for serving nutritious meals to children who attend each day. There are now a total of 51 centers and homes participating throughout the state.

New grants from Tri-County United Way have been awarded to the Congregate Meals Program, Senior Companion Program and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. This money will help expand programming.

New volunteers have been added to several program areas which also allows for the expansion of programming and allows for more outreach in certain communities.

New vehicles have been added to the CKCAC fleet and the trip count per day has continued to increase so much so that the program is almost fully recovered from the COVID-19 crisis.

KY Works has a new client beginning unsubsidized work this month. Several other individuals have been hired through the program and continue to work daily.

New jobs are being posted weekly and many new hires have joined our team in recent months. We currently have jobs available through the CKCATS, Head Start, and Congregate Meals programs.

New opportunities for community members to receive utility and rent assistance have emerged and applications are still being accepted at this time in all local CSBG offices. We are currently offering scholarship opportunities for high school seniors through the CSBG program as well.

The new COVID-19 vaccine has become available and many CKCAC staff have already been fully inoculated.

Although we are excited about all the “new” things happening at CKCAC, we are still steadfast in our promise to change people’s lives, embody the spirit of hope, improve communities, and make America a better place to live. We continue to be dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

So, there will be more to come . . . much more.

Public Review of the Community Services Block Grant Proposal

Central KY Community Action Council, Inc. is holding a public review of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) proposal. The proposal is prepared annually by Central KY Community Action Council, Inc. and is submitted to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and Community Action Kentucky. It describes Central KY Community Action’s plan for the use of the funds in the Central KY Community Action’s services area, which includes agency capacity building, civic engagement and community involvement, employment, education & cognitive development, income/infrastructure/asset building, health & social/behavioral development, housing, linkages, and services supporting multiple domains. It also includes the results of the local community needs assessment.

The proposal will be available on Central KY Community Action’s website (www.ckcac.org) on 4/16/21. Comments or questions may be forwarded to Ellen Leake, Central KY Community Action Council, Inc., 332 Hood Ave. Lebanon, KY 40033; or call (270) 692-2136; or email eleake@ckcac.org.

This project is funded, in part, under a contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services with funds from the Community Services Block Grant Act of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Central KY Community Action Council, Inc. will not discriminate against anyone applying for or receiving assistance or services based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity or any other protected class identified in federal, state, or local laws.

***Central KY Community Action Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Housing Provider***

Board Nominations Being Accepted in Grayson County

Central Kentucky Community Action Council Inc. is accepting nominations for an individual to represent the families of low-income in Grayson County on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors meet six (6) times per year, in January, March, May, July, September and November. The Meetings are routinely held in Elizabethtown, at the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Conference Room, on the third Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 PM CST. These meetings are currently being held via ZOOM due to COVID-19. The Election will be held at the Grayson County Community Action Office on Tuesday, March 16th, at 1:00 pm CST. Please submit nominations to the Grayson County Community Action Office at 118 William Thomason Drive prior to the election date. Nominations will also be accepted at the opening of the meeting.

Students Return to the Classroom

The classrooms are filled with the sounds of children and we are so delighted! CKCAC Head Start returned to in-person learning on March 1 allowing children in the classrooms 2 days a week. Triage begins the day to ensure every safety precaution is being followed to keep students and staff safe. Parents continue to be given the option of keeping their child on a virtual learning schedule at this time.


Over the last year, every effort has been made to keep families and children engaged. Head Start employees have kept in contact with parents via Zoom, phone calls and every other way imaginable to keep students engaged and to assist with any crisis that the family may have been facing. From ensuring that families had adequate food, shelter, utility bill assistance, addressing physical health and mental health issues, CKCAC Head Start staff was there. We were the original “Door Dash” in delivering supplies to continue education services and meals for family’s porches. The dedication and determination of Head Start staff to provide services to the families we serve was astounding during this pandemic.


Head Start is accepting applications for this year and for the upcoming school year. Applications can be taken in-person as well as on-line and by mail.Applications for employment is also being accepted at this time, please call your local Head Start to apply or visit our website at www.ckcac.org. Jobs are also posted to the CKCAC FaceBook page.


Our new Head Start centers in Springfield and Lebanon are nearing completion. We are looking forward to starting the new year in our new centers. A virtual tour will be planned during summer so that we can share our beautiful new facility before school opens in August. Stay tuned for additional information.

New Regional Network Coordinator & CCC Program Director Named

CKCAC is proud to announce that effective immediately Ms. Ronda Bertrand will serve as the new Regional Network Coordinator and CCC Program Director.


Bertrand lives in Nelson County and prior to her recent promotion, had been an in-home CCC worker for 3 years. In her position as an in-home CCC worker, Ronda has been exposed to the realities that come along with the CCC Director position as she will continue to build and maintain the existing Regional Network that is comprised of community partners from family and child-serving agencies as well as parents and other local citizens.


Bertrand has been married to Mike for 26 years and has 2 grown children, Bailey and Thomas. Prior to working at CKCAC, Ronda worked for Nelson County Public Schools for 14 years as a special education assistant and a Family Resource Youth Services Coordinator Assistant. She graduated from St. Catharine College in 2016 with a degree in Liberal Arts with a minor in Social Work. In her free time, Bertrand enjoys sewing, crafts, and exercising.


To learn more about the Regional Network and CCC services, please contact CCC Program Director Ronda Bertrand at 270-692-7553. More information can also be found on the CKCAC website at www.ckcac.org.

Food Program Participants Persevere through COVID-19 Closures

The beginning of 2021 was a rough start for the Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) and Unaffiliated Centers (UC) on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Family gatherings during the holidays led to many 10-day temporary closures for our homes and centers because of positive COVID-19 cases. There were a total of 6 centers and 5 homes that had to close and quarantine for 10 days during the month of January. Unfortunately, daycare staff are still not eligible to receive the COVID vaccine and until they meet criteria, we anticipate future closures.

Little Lakers, LLC. in Russell Springs recently passed their health inspection and were able to receive a temporary state license. According to program regulations, centers and homes must be licensed in order to participate in the food program. The homes and centers must pass a health inspection before being granted a license. Unfortunately, due to COVID many local health departments have not been able to enter the facilities to complete the health inspections. Little Lakers, LLC will begin submitting their monthly food report in March.

Kyle’s Korner Learning Center in Lawrenceburg is still awaiting a health inspection. We are hoping that this facility will be able to submit a food report in April.

If you are interested in opening a childcare facility, or know someone that is interested, please reach out to the FCCH and UC Director, Jane Claire Hupman, at (270) 402-1977 or jane.hupman@ckcac.org.

Goode News

March 2021

Earlier this month, I spoke to the Marion County Salvation Army in Lebanon.  Salvation Army – just what do the bell ringers do?

FIRST, they assess the needs of each community in which they serve. The Salvation Army works to understand the obstacles, hardships, and challenges native to the area’s particular population.

NEXT, they build local programs designed to offer immediate relief, short-term care, and long-term growth in the areas that will best benefit the community.

THEN, they invest in the Community. The Salvation Army can offer and support the local programs to the local community, working to continually optimize their efficacy via spiritual, physical, and emotional service.

Here is a look at the Marion County numbers for the year 2020 at Central Kentucky Community Action. We were able to assist approximately 80 individuals and spent approximately $800. Salvation army funds allows our agency to assist people in many ways other than bill assistance. CKCAC was able to find temporary housing for a couple that was sleeping in their vehicle. We were able to help individuals pay for medications that weren’t covered by insurance. We provided a client vouchers to purchase kerosene for heat. 

Salvation Army has allowed Central Kentucky Community Action to assist families in ways that complement other programs. If a client has a need and the vendor will accept the funds or terms of payment from the Salvation Army, CKCAC is able to help the client with up to $100 of assistance, once a year. For 2021 we have already assisted 10 Marion County households.

Please think about this next time you are making a donation or just dropping something in the Salvation Army kettle. With the help of the Salvation Army, YOU are investing in YOUR COMMUNITY. 

https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/

More to come…..much more.

RSVP VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED

Four RSVP volunteers received a Walmart gift card in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on January 18, 2021. 

Ms. Irenia Jett has nearly 1,600 volunteer hours at Hosparus Thrift Shoppe in E’town. She started volunteering with RSVP in November 2015. 

Barbara & Bob Livers are a husband and wife team that have been with RSVP since February 2015. Mrs. Livers has over 4,600 volunteer hours and Mr. Livers has nearly 2,100 volunteer hours at The St. Vincent De Paul Mission Store in Bardstown. 

Mr. Joe Logan joined RSVP in November 2014. He volunteers at St. Vincent De Paul Bread for Life Food Pantry and The Bardstown Senior Center. He has nearly 3,500 volunteer hours.  

RSVP is always looking for more volunteers! You must be over 60 years old and be willing to work in Hardin or Nelson County. Most RSVP volunteers choose to volunteer 5-10 hours per month but others work 100+ hours per month. The number of hours is up to the volunteer. We currently have 12 work stations in Hardin County & 5 in Nelson County. 

Feel free to contact RSVP Director, Melissa Bland at 270-734-1059 or RSVP.Director@ckcac.org if you would like more information.