Author: Kathy Mills

CKCAC HEAD START

As we close out 2023, it is time for reflection and celebration! Central Kentucky Head Start has had a very successful first half of this school year and is excited for the time to recharge as we prepare for 2024!

Central Kentucky Head Start is fully enrolled and fully staffed, which are two things that many Head Start programs across the United States cannot say. We are very fortunate and proud of our families and staff that Central Kentucky Head Start is as strong as we have ever been with 470 Head Start and 24 Early Head Start children and their families across our area are being fully served by our staff. That is a wonderful accomplishment to share!

The picture you see here is one of our new initiatives at CKYHS. Kendra Furmon, our new Program Support Specialist, is the first participant in our Emerging Leaders Program. Ms. Furmon is tasked with supporting all classrooms across the program and helping teach staff with strategies and interventions. Additionally, Ms. Furmon will be receiving additional professional development and beginning to pursue her college degree as part of the Emerging Leaders Program. CKYHS wants to create internal advancement opportunities and workforce development pipelines to help build our program. Kendra has been a rockstar and we are lucky to have her as our first Emerging Leader!

As 2023 ends, we want to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support of Central Kentucky Head Start! Please help us raise awareness of the educational and employment opportunities for Head Start. Be on the lookout for some new marketing efforts (billboard, commercials, car decals, and more)! We want to make sure all members of our communities know the wonderful things that Head Start is up to!

Happy Holidays from CKYHS!

Family Child Care Homes/Unaffiliated Centers Food Program (FCCH/UC)

Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC) currently sponsors 21 Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) and 23 Unaffiliated Centers (UC) in 19 Kentucky counties which include: Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Fayette, Franklin, Hardin, Jessamine, LaRue, Lincoln, Meade, Mercer, Nelson, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Taylor, Washington, Wayne, and Woodford. A former FCCH client is currently working towards reopening her home for child care, so we’re anticipating having 22 FCCH clients soon. As for our UC clients, Busy Bees in Hodgenville is scheduled to close its center as of December 22, 2023. The owner decided to sell the building and is not planning to move the daycare center. The current Director mentioned she may try to pursue her own child care center for the Hodgenville area, so we’re hoping to work with her on CACFP sponsorship in the coming year. Busy Bees Campbellsville will continue to be in operation. However, another center Director gave her 30-day sponsorship notice to try her hand at reporting directly with the state. Her last reporting month with us will be December, which is reported in January. We wished her the best and told her that our ‘door is open’ should she decide she’d prefer to be sponsored again in the future. Lastly, we’re currently working with a new center that is to open in Radcliff, KY. We’re in the preliminary stages of getting the sponsorship application to submit for state approval, but do not anticipate any issues. Our UC total will soon be 22. We anticipate getting more FCCH and UC clients in the new year and will update these numbers as they change. 

Community Collaboration for Children (CCC)

 

Community Collaboration for Children has been busy collecting Toys for Tots for Nelson County. In-Home services have a few clients waiting but will be open in the next few weeks. Shannon, Kasey and Jazmine are working extremely hard to keep the waiting list down. 

Parent Engagement Meeting Program for Washington County Elementary schools is off to a start for the year 2023-24. We are working on expanding into Hardin County after the New Year.

Trail of Hope Regional Network’s Build A Bed Program has been extremely busy making sure 79 children have a bed. We are working on sponsorships to purchase bed frames, mattresses, bedding, and pillows. Trail of Hope Regional Network will meet in person at Hardin County Extension Office in Elizabethtown at 10 AM on January 10th, 2024. If you are interested in being a network member please reach out to Ronda Bertrand, CCC Director/Trail of Hope Network Coordinator at 270-692-7553.

Wow!! Cakes 4 Kids volunteers have been busy the past several months. CCC has delivered 8 cakes to our families. 

LIHEAP Heating Crisis 2024

LIHEAP Crisis Enrollment Starts January 9th at Kentucky’s Community Action Agencies
Assistance Available for Eligible Households Facing Heating Crisis in all Kentucky Counties.


FRANKFORT, Ky. (December 13, 2023): Starting January 9 through March 31, 2024, Kentucky’s Community Action Agencies (CAK) will accept applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Crisis component on a first-come, first-serve basis, or until funds are depleted.


This program assists eligible households facing a home heating emergency, such as imminent loss of heat, low fuel supply, or eviction due to unpaid utility bills. Households must meet eligibility requirements, including income eligibility of up to and including 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Prior LIHEAP assistance does not impact a household’s eligibility.


Crisis benefits will cover the minimum needed to alleviate the crisis not to exceed the Community Action Agency’s local cost for a deliverable supply of the household’s primary heating fuel or $400 for gas or electric. Households
can reapply each time they experience a crisis until they reach their maximum benefit. Benefits are paid directly to the fuel vendor.


Kentucky’s Community Action Network collectively operates outreach offices in all 120 Kentucky counties. To apply, contact your local Community Action Agency office or call 800-456-3452. Visit www.capky.org/network to
find the nearest office.


All applicants will be required to supply the following documentation at the time of application:

  • Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each member of the
    household.
  • Proof of all household’s (all members) income from the preceding month.
  • Most current heating bill, statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent,
    statement from utility company if you participate in a Pre-Pay Electric Program.
    • The account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric bill.

For the Crisis component, applicants requiring assistance for natural gas or electric must bring a disconnect/past due notice. If your rent includes heat, bring a copy of your lease and eviction notice. Pre-Pay Electric Program
participants must show they have 10 days or less of pre-paid electric service.

Community Action Kentucky administers LIHEAP in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services who receive the funding as a pass-through block grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about LIHEAP, including contact information for all local Community Action agencies, please visit the Community Action Kentucky website at www.CAPKY.org. About Community Action Kentucky

Community Action Kentucky is the statewide association representing and assisting the 23 Community Action agencies across Kentucky that work to empower individuals and families to attain greater economic stability and long-term success. With a presence in all 120 Kentucky counties, Community Action agencies provide lifechanging resources and programs to support a wide array of service areas, including food security, transportation, home energy, early childhood education, senior support, emergency services, housing assistance, workforce development, youth enrichment and more. As a statewide voice for local agencies, Community Action Kentucky works to address policy issues that impact low-income individuals and cultivates broad-reaching partnerships that improve the lives of thousands of Kentuckians, making it possible for them to achieve their goals. For more information about Community Action Kentucky, visit www.CAPKY.org.

Senior Companion Program (SCP)

The Senior Companion Program (SCP) is actively looking for volunteers! 

On October 26, volunteers with the Senior Companion Program gathered with seniors from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to be recognized by their program directors for the hours of service they provide in their community. Each year participants look forward to this opportunity to gather for a special meal and time of fellowship with one another as they are celebrated for their contributions in our communities. This year 15 of our 18 current volunteers were able to come together in Elizabethtown at The American Legion Post 113. They were able to chat with other volunteers in the area about their different experiences in the Senior Companion Program, enjoy a wonderful meal provided by the Post, and receive a gift and recognition for their service.

We are proud of our Senior Companions, and our new Project Director is looking forward to getting to know them all better and working with them to serve other seniors in our community. Some of the tasks performed by our Senior Companions are light housework, helping seniors dress, transporting them to the store or appointments, playing cards, reading, or just talking and listening to them.

If you would like to be a Senior Companion or know someone you believe would enjoy helping others in this way, please contact Mary Jean Blake at 270-692-2136 or mary.blake@ckcac.org. Senior Companions must be 55 or older, qualify financially, and be able to pass fingerprint and name-based background checks. Senior Companions can earn a stipend of $4 per hour, and be reimbursed for mileage, as well as some meals while working. The program is available in Marion, Washington, Nelson, Hardin, Grayson, and Breckinridge Counties.

Congregate Meals Program

In October we served 8,647 hot meals to our seniors. We received donations from some of our seniors ($901) in October so that will go back into the Congregate Meals Program.

Congregate Meals is still seeking a Site Coordinator for Griffon Manor Senior Center in Elizabethtown.

Congregate Meals Program reopened the Meade County Senior Center on November 8th; it had been previously closed. There was a meet and greet on November 6th to get paperwork completed in order to know how many seniors would be wanting to get a hot meal. We served 70 on opening day.

The Congregate Meals Program is serving a great need in our communities for our seniors.

Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Needs Volunteers!

The annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon for RSVP Volunteers and Senior Companion Volunteers was held in Elizabethtown on Thursday, October 26th . Approximately 50 volunteers attended.

Officer Chris Denham from the Elizabethtown Police Department was the guest speaker. He shared several examples of popular scams that often target seniors as well as the benefits of all the recent round-a-bouts in the Lincoln Trail Area. He also reminded everyone to hang up on anyone calling asking for your personal information, keep your car and house doors locked, and not to go out at night alone. He also suggested purchasing an inexpensive home security system.

The meal was served after Officer Denham answered numerous questions and 20 door prizes were presented to the winners. All the volunteers received appreciation gifts for their service.

RSVP needs additional volunteers. The only requirements are that you must be 55 or older and willing to volunteer in Hardin or Nelson County. Volunteers may receive up to $60 per month in mileage reimbursement driving to and from their volunteer work station.

Contact RSVP Director, Melissa Bland at 270-737-1059 or RSVP.Director@ckcac.org if you want more information about becoming a volunteer!