Author: Kathy Mills

Who SWA Connect is?

 

SWA Connect is proud to be an authorized provider of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). As an ACP provider, we are committed to helping families, students, seniors, and individuals across the country access affordable, reliable broadband internet and the digital resources they need to thrive. With our nationwide coverage and commitment to quality, you can count on us to provide the support and service you need to stay connected and empowered.

 

Our Android tablet with broadband 4G LTE mobile internet, puts the world at your fingertips, allowing you to stay connected to work, school, family, and friends no matter where you are. With fast and reliable internet speeds, high-quality video and voice capabilities, and a range of built-in apps and features, our tablets are the perfect solution for anyone looking to stay connected and productive on the go.

 

What is ACP??

 

The Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP is a government assistance program by the FCC designed to ensure that low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work, education, healthcare, and more.

 

The ACP is a new program that has replaced the old, temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program on December 31, 2021. The old, temporary EBB program offered similar benefits as the ACP program and as it has proven to be vital for millions of Americans, the U.S. Congress has recently passed a bill to replace the short-term EBB program with a long-term program, which offers similar benefits.

 

TO SIGN UP:

 

You may view our website: ckcac.org/news and scroll down until you see FREE INTERNET & TABLET then click on CLICK HERE TO ENROLL.

 

The Affordable Connectivity Program is administered by USAC with oversight from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

 

The Weatherization Program is currently working to close out the program contract year while continuing training staff for new positions within the Weatherization Program. The Weatherization Program provides weatherization services to our 8-county area. Our final numbers for the contract year are as follows: 16 completed units, 7 jobs in-progress to carry over into the year contract year. The Weatherization Program is fully staffed with an in-house crew, and we are utilizing contractors to perform QCI inspections, HVAC and Electrical work that we must perform to the dwellings receiving services. We look forward to the future of the new contract year of CKCAC’s Weatherization Program to progress and better serve our 8-county service area. With the BIL funding we have been allocated funding to purchase new vehicles and equipment with the opportunity to offer services to qualifying multi-family projects/units throughout our 8 county service area.

Our goal with weatherization is to continue to reduce energy waste and assure the health and safety of each client we serve through testing consisting of aliening air and thermal boundaries, pressure diagnostics, heating system diagnostics, indoor air quality, and base load energy consumption diagnostics.

Central Kentucky Community Action Council Weatherization program is fully staffed with a highly trained supporting and technical staff consisting of Josh Mattingly Dwelling Needs Evaluator/Crew Leader, Tessa Hinton/ Crew Leader, Mike Burden Retrofit Installer, and Barbara Garrett Weatherization Administrative Support Specialist. We would like to say a huge thank you to all Weatherization staff for their dedication to improving the quality of work and their dedication to ensuring the health and safety of all the clients we serve.

Central Kentucky Community Action Council has leveraged funds from utilities to expand the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program. This year we are leveraging funding from DOE, DOE BIL, LIHEAP, East Kentucky Power, Kentucky Utilities, and Louisville Gas & Electric.

CLOSING PROGRAM YEAR 2023-2024

The CSBG Staff has been busy closing out one Program Year and beginning a new one. Staff members have worked diligently to enter all services that have been provided into the computer. We followed up on many clients so that we could also report the outcome of our efforts through NPI’s and services report for CSBG.

The CSBG Staff have assisted 12,078 Individuals 6,128 Households-unduplicated count.

LIHEAP SUBSIDY 3,229 Households $420,707.00

LIHEAP CRISIS 4,542 Households $973,446.73

SPRING COOLING SUBSIDY 2,344 Households $332,402.00

SUMMER COOLING SUBSIDY 2,906 Households $526,356.00

LIHWAP SUBSIDY 1,122 Households $108,750.00

GARDENS 144 individual gardens are planted and flourishing with the recent rains.

YOUTH PROGRAMS – The Youth Programs carried out in the Counties have been exciting. We want to provide opportunities for children who may not have them otherwise. We were able to obtain a discounted family pass for one year with the Louisville Zoo and 47 families took advantage of the opportunity. 13 families received swim passes or lessons. 1 received an opportunity for 4-H camp.

Thank you to all the staff for their hard work with the various programs operated by Community Services.

The Kentucky Works Program supports the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the following Kentucky counties. Anderson, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington, and Woodford. Our goal is to assess these individuals to identify barriers, work to overcome those barriers to make them self- sufficient. We also have job readiness classes to help with resumes, job search, job interviews, etc…

·       We currently have 48 clients that are employed in the K-TAP Program. This is up 1 worker since the last quarter. Our Employment Specialists continue to follow up with each of these clients and track the hours they are working. We served 308 clients in the K-Tap program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. We placed 183 clients in the fiscal year.

·       On the SNAP Employment and Training program we continue to reach out to these clients and complete assessments when they are referred to us. We served 1,120 clients for the SNAP program during the last quarter, up from 680 in the previous quarter. 

·       We continue to stay in touch with employers and if we do get referrals, we match the clients skills with the employer needs to have a good match. We call new employers each week and keep a current job listing for each county we serve.

·       Our staff continues to stay in touch with staff meeting every other month, either in person or virtually to discuss all relative matters in the program.

·       We continue to offer a wage subsidy program where if an employer hires one of our K-TAP clients they will be reimbursed for a portion of their wages during the first six month of employment.

 

As we welcome the height of summer, we are reminded of the beauty and warmth this season brings to Central Kentucky. However, along with the sunshine and longer days comes the challenge of enduring the intense summer heat. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring the well-being of our community, especially our senior citizens who are particularly vulnerable during this time.

Check on Our Seniors

The sweltering temperatures can pose significant health risks to our elderly population. I urge you all to take a few moments each day to check in on your senior neighbors, family members, and friends. A simple phone call or visit can make a world of difference. Ensure they have access to air conditioning, are staying hydrated, and are not overexerting themselves.

Tips to Beat the Heat

To help everyone stay safe and comfortable during these hot summer months, here are some essential tips:

1. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid sugary drinks and alcohol, which can dehydrate you.
2. Seek Shade and Air Conditioning: Spend time in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, consider visiting community centers, or libraries.
3. Wear Lightweight Clothing: Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing can help keep your body cool.
4. Avoid Peak Sun Hours: Try to stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
5. Use Sunscreen: If you need to be outside, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply every two hours.
6. Know the Signs of Heat-Related Illnesses: Be aware of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and confusion. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Let us continue to support one another and take the necessary precautions to enjoy a safe and healthy summer. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community remains cool and comfortable during this season. More to come…………..much more.

 

June 2024 Newsletter Article

 

Summer is here for our Head Start kiddos and staff. Early Head Start is in operation through July!

 

This academic year has been an exciting and challenging one! Our Bardstown Head Start facility at 820 Pennsylvania Avenue has been fully operational this year. However, starting in mid-June, we are completing major renovations to the facility which include new HVAC, flooring, and playground. Our hope is that all repairs and renovations are completed before staff return at the end of July.

 

While recruitment for new children and staff is a year-round activity, Central KY Head Start (CKYHS) has begun pushing hard for applications for new students and staff for the upcoming school year. We would love to hear from you if you have any kiddos or professionals in your world for whom Head Start would be a good fit. Please feel free to visit our website or find us on Facebook at Central KY Head Start.

 

Lastly, this summer, CKYHS applies for its new five-year grant. We are requesting some adjustments to our structure to serve more Early Head Start children and to create capacity to increase the number of children we can serve in the future. CKYHS is constantly evaluating how to best utilize our federal resources to maximize our impact. We do not have any official updates to share, it is our hope to have very exciting news in our next newsletter!

Thank you for your ongoing support of Central Kentucky Head Start!