Category: Newsletter

 

 

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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 67 clients that are employed in the K-TAP Program. Our Employment Specialists continue to follow up with each of these clients and track the hours they are working. We placed 46 clients in the quarter. We had 18 KTAP clients complete 12 months of employment to gain self sufficiency the quarter ending September 30, 2026.

·       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 had 3,917 clients referred to us for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. We placed 504 of those in Employment and Training activities. We currently have 38 participating in E&T activities.

·       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. We had five client participate the wage subsidy program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

Congregate Meals served 4,964 meals to seniors in September at our centers.

Congregate Meals had two different pizza parties and a Fall party celebrating the seniors at different centers in September.

Medicare Open Enrollment is starting this month. Lincoln Trail will be set up at different sites to help get the seniors signed up by appointments.

If you know anyone 60 years or older, please tell them to visit the centers. There is always something fun happening, they can make new friends by coming, play some games or just talk to folks. See photos of the puzzles that the seniors from Washington County have created below.

CKCAC enters October with many exciting things going on.

We are beginning to push out information for our Homebuyer Program with the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. CKCAC has been working diligently with Kentucky Housing Corporation to ensure we start this program off on the right foot. If you know of any folks in your network who are around 60% of the area median income (AMI), we would love to chat with them about potential homeownership. Income limits are adjusted by household size and differ by county. However, if a household has an income of less than $60,000 and is interested in purchasing a home, we would love to chat with them.

The Office of Head Start has proposed major changes to the regulations that govern Head Start programs across the United States. These regulations are known as the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS). HSPPS has been the road map that all programs have used to create consistently high-quality programs across the country. CKCAC has submitted feedback to the Federal Register on this notice of proposed rulemaking. If you want to know more, I encourage you to visit National Head Start Association’s website for more information: https://nhsa.org/nprm-resources/

Finally, CKCAC continues to work with the ZeroV/LTADD working group tasked with creating the new domestic violence shelter for our area. If you have any suggestions on how we can better support survivors in our region, do not hesitate to reach out. I am happy to share any insights with this working group.

As always, thank you for all you do.

It’s fall, y’all! Every season is a busy season for CSBG, but the fall kicks off the busiest time for the CSBG offices. Everyone is winding down from their summer activities and we are well into the “’ber months.” Cooler weather brings a need for heating assistance. The holidays expose food and housing insecurities. County Coordinators are plugging into their service areas to build resource networks, and Community Action is excited to band together with our local partners to help meet these needs.

With winter on the way, everyone is thinking about how to heat their homes. LIHEAP Fall Subsidy 2026 is anticipated to begin in early November and run through mid-December. Heating subsidies may help with metered and non-metered heating credits.

For metered heating services (electric and natural gas), subsidy is a credit program. It is important to pay the full amount of the bill until the credit is received by the utility company and applied to the account. For Subsidy, a past due and/or disconnect notice is NOT required.

For non-metered heating fuels (wood and propane), subsidy is still a credit program. The credit goes towards the vendor’s minimum delivery, and the client is responsible for the remainder of the fuel type delivered. For Subsidy, it is NOT required to be out of the fuel type needed.

Eligible households must be within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and willing to provide supporting documentation:

•        Address Verification, such as an additional metered utility bill, unopened legal piece of first-class mail confirming the name and address, etc.

•        Proof of Gross Household Income for the preceding month (award letter, pay stubs, etc.)

•        Photo ID for the applicant and Social Security Card(s) or official documentation with social security numbers or Permanent Resident card numbers for everyone living in the household

•        Most recent metered utility (electric or natural gas) bill or verification from landlord that heating expenses are included in the rent (i.e. lease agreements)

•        For propane or wood, account confirmation from vendor with client’s name and service address (i.e. account statement)

All LIHEAP components are limited to funding allotments and funds may run out before the projected end day of a season. Once a program’s dates have been announced, please gather your items and call (270) 55-CKCAC or (270) 552-5222 to schedule an appointment with your local CSBG office to apply.

 

 

Head Start Monthly Profile for September 2026

 

 

 

Fall 2026

Fall is an exciting season at CKCAC Head Start & Early Head Start! With the program year underway, our centers are filled with learning, relationship-building, and opportunities for children, families, staff, and community partners to grow together. As always, we count on your to help us spread the word – Enrollment is Open!

Learning & Growing

Our classrooms are focused on creating safe, welcoming environments where children can learn through play, exploration, conversation, and hands-on experiences. Daily routines and activities support school readiness while helping children build confidence, independence, and positive relationships.

Strong Families. Strong Communities.

Head Start is more than early childhood education. Our program works alongside families to support their goals and connect them with resources and services that strengthen the entire family.

Partnerships with schools, agencies, businesses, and community organizations help us expand these opportunities and better serve the communities in our region.

Investing in Quality

Our staff continue to participate in professional learning, coaching, and ongoing program improvement efforts. This work helps ensure that children receive high-quality services in environments where they feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Looking Ahead

As we move through the fall season, we look forward to continued learning, family engagement, community partnerships, and opportunities to strengthen the services we provide.

Thank you to our families, staff, community partners, and supporters for being part of the work of CKCAC Head Start & Early Head Start!

Congregate Meals served 4848 meals in August to our seniors.

Radcliff Senior Center was given an extra day to serve meals starting in September. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday will be the new schedule for meals.

The seniors enjoyed painting shells at the Meade County center last week. Tammy from the library comes weekly and does arts and craft projects with them. They also get to enjoy live music every Tuesday.

If you are 60 years of age or older, go check out the senior center in your county. They always have a good time; it will give you a chance to meet new seniors, maybe catch up with folks you haven’t seen in a while, eat a good meal, and play cards or games, or do other activities.

Picture attached is Meade County seniors painted shells for one of their activities.

Community Collaboration for Children (CCC) would like to welcome Monica Spencer as Parent Engagement Meeting Facilitator. Monica graduated from Lindsey Wilson College in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Monica graduated from University of the Cumberlands with a Master’s Degree in Special Education in 2022. Monica is excited to work with schools and parents to best meet the needs of their students.

The Trail of Hope Regional Network is comprised of anyone from the Lincoln Trail region who come together to increase awareness of child abuse and neglect. If you are interested in being a network member please reach out to Ronda Bertrand, CCC Network Coordinator at 270-692-7553. November 17th CCC Trail of Hope Regional Meeting  will meet at CKCAC Building in the conference room at 708 Westport Road in Elizabethtown at 10:00 AM. Trail of Hope Regional Networks Build A Bed program has been busy making sure 12 children have a bed since the first of July. We have serval more to deliver in the next few weeks. We are working on sponsorships to purchase bed frames, mattresses, bedding, and pillows.

Parent Engagement Meeting (PEM) Program is excited to partner with Elizabethtown Independent Schools, Hardin County Schools, Bardstown Independent, Meade County, LaRue County and Spencer County this year. We have expanded to 10 elementary schools. As of the end of August we completed 9 PEM meetings.

Wow!! Cakes 4 Kids volunteers have been busy the past several months. CCC has delivered 5 cakes to our families.

The first week of October we will be putting out Toys for Tots boxes in Nelson County.