Category: Newsletter

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Hal B. Goode, Executive Director

As the summer sun shines brightly upon us, I hope this newsletter finds you all in good health and high spirits. At Central Kentucky Community Action, we continue our commitment to serving and supporting all members of our community, with a particular focus this month on our cherished seniors.

The summer season can bring both joy and challenges for our older adults. While many seniors look forward to enjoying the warm weather and engaging in outdoor activities, it is crucial that we also ensure their safety and well-being during these months. In this article, I would like to share some valuable information and tips on how we can help our seniors make the most of their summer while prioritizing their safety.

1. Stay Hydrated and Beat the Heat: High temperatures during summer can pose risks, especially for seniors. Encourage them to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Provide information about the signs of dehydration and heatstroke, such as dizziness, confusion, or excessive sweating. It is also helpful to remind them to avoid direct exposure to the sun during peak hours and to seek shade whenever possible.

2. Check-In Regularly: Loneliness and isolation can intensify during the summer months when family members and friends may be away on vacation. Encourage community members to regularly check in on their senior neighbors, friends, and relatives. A simple phone call, a visit, or organizing social events can make a significant difference in combating social isolation and ensuring their well-being.

3. Provide Transportation Support: Help seniors access transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, or social engagements. Offer assistance in coordinating rides through local community transportation services, volunteer programs, or by organizing a carpooling system within the neighborhood. Ensuring reliable transportation options will help seniors remain active and engaged in the community. Our CATS Transportation stands ready to assist.  

4. Safety in the Outdoors: Outdoor activities are enjoyable, but it is important to remind seniors about safety precautions. Encourage them to wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, apply sunscreen regularly, and wear a hat and sunglasses to protect against harmful UV rays. Provide information about the risks of insect bites and the importance of using insect repellents when spending time outdoors.

5. Home Safety Checks: Arrange for home safety inspections to identify and address potential hazards that may be more prevalent during the summer. Ensure that seniors have proper ventilation, fans, or air conditioning to keep their homes cool. Check for loose rugs, slippery floors, or other tripping hazards that could lead to falls.

6. Emergency Preparedness: Educate seniors about emergency preparedness measures. Provide them with resources to create an emergency kit containing essentials such as water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio. Encourage them to develop an emergency plan and share it with a trusted neighbor or family member.

Remember, a small act of kindness can brighten someone’s day and have a lasting impact on their lives. Let’s come together as a community and ensure that our beloved seniors have a safe and enjoyable summer season.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our community’s well-being. Together, we can make a difference.

More to come…………much more………………

Ronda Bertrand, CCC Network Coordinator

June 2023 Newsletter

Community Collaboration for Children waiting list is growing. CCC has been busy helping families with their needs and trying to get the waiting list down. April was Child Abuse Awareness Month, CCC provided pinwheels and yard signs in all eight of our counties. Trail of Hope Regional Network is required to hold trainings: Trauma Informed Care training was on April 19^th at the Hardin County Extension Office was a huge success.

I would like to welcome CCC’s New In-Home Worker Jazmine Head. Jazmine grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and attended Austin Peay State University where she gained her bachelor’s degree. She is very excited to continue to work with families and help in the community. Parent Engagement Meeting Program has been busy with the year-end reports for Marion County Elementary schools. We are working on getting other counties to participate in the PEM program. Trail of Hope Regional Network is attending Community baby showers in Washington, Hardin, and Meade counties.

The Trail of Hope Regional Networks Build A Bed program has been extremely busy already making sure 88 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. If you are interested in being a network member please reach out to Ronda Bertrand, CCC Network Coordinator at 270-692-7553.

Wow!! Cakes 4 Kids volunteers have been busy the past months. CCC has delivered 10 cakes to our families.

September 13^th, 2023 CCC Trail of Hope Regional Meeting will meet at the Hardin County Extension Office in Elizabethtown at 10:00 am.

Bryan Conover, Head Start Director

June 2023

Summer is upon us! Head Start has completed another successful year and Early Head Start is excited to serve our 2 and 3-year-olds through July. We want to thank you for your continued support of Head Start and Early Head Start in our communities. It truly takes us all to support these children and families in need.

Summer is also a time of transition for our programs. Some children will move to Kindergarten in the Fall. Some will move from Early Head Start to Head Start. Changes in staff are also inevitable over the summer months. Ms. Tammy Stanley has retired as the Director of Head Start and Early Head Start. After nearly three decades of service to the children and families, Tammy is going to be sorely missed. All of us from Head Start and Early Head Start wish her the best in her retirement.

Mr. Bryan Conover has been named the new Director for Head Start and Early Head Start. Filling Tammy’s shoes will be difficult, but Bryan is excited to get started.

Another transition that is happening is that our Bardstown Center has moved to a new location at 820 Pennsylvania Avenue! Bardstown Head Start is going to be next door to other CKCAC programs (CSBG, Ky Works, CCC, etc.) to provide an overall CKCAC campus to serve Bardstown and Nelson County families. We are very excited about this move and look forward to having you visit us sometime!

Lastly, we are actively recruiting new children to our Head Start and Early Head Start programs and new staff to our ranks. If you have any referrals for us, please contact us at HeadStart@CKYHS.org. We greatly appreciate your support. Have a wonderful and relaxing summer.

Martha ‘Jewell’ Bartley, Head Start Quality Assurance Manager

Kathy Hagan, FCCH/UC Program

June 2023

Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC) is a proud sponsor of the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP is a federal program designed to promote the serving of nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in the care of participating childcare centers, day care homes and adult day care centers. CKCAC currently sponsors 21 Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) and 24 Unaffiliated Day Care Centers (UC) in over 19 counties in Central Kentucky and beyond. The homes and centers receive monthly reimbursements based on child eligibility and meals served.

Any Family Child Care Homes and/or Day Care Centers who are interested in finding out more about the Child and Adult Care Food Program and how to determine whether they qualify may contact CKCAC’s FCCH/UC Director Kathy Hagan at 502-751-8894 or by email at kathy.hagan@ckcac.org.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Hal B. Goode, Executive Director

Central Kentucky Community Action Council rounded out the observation of May as Community Action Month in Kentucky with a rally of support that drew an overflow crowd to the event in the State Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort as some of our CKCAC staff attended.

Community Action Kentucky has outreach offices in all 120 Kentucky counties. Community Action agencies strive to provide life-changing resources to support a wide array of service areas. They include food security, transportation, home energy, early childhood education, senior support, emergency services, housing, workforce development, family advocacy and more.

Roger McCann, Executive Director of Community Action Kentucky, told a crowd of employees, volunteers, and supporters, * “It’s a chance for us to highlight the irreplaceable role that Community Action plays in the lives of our fellow Kentuckians each day. You all make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of our people, all of them reaching for the dream of self-sufficiency and a better life.”

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander, a former Director of Louisville Metro Community Action, said, *“I know what you all do. We sponsored a lot of folks to continue their learning at Community Action. The reason why, is because you all make a difference.” Friedlander had this message for the attendees: *“What a privilege it is to be able to get up every day and know that you can make a difference in someone’s life.”

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman also praised the efforts of Community Action staff.  Coleman presented McCann and other Community Action officials with a proclamation issued by Gov. Andy Beshear declaring May as Community Action Month in Kentucky.

As we reflect back on May, Community Action Month is a time for agencies to come together and elevate community action as a voice and driving force for opportunity in Kentucky and America. It’s a chance to promote community action programs and services that help families succeed. And, the month serves as an affirmation of the power of our network to help others.

*Quotes from Tom Latek – Kentucky Today

May was a great time to recognize…

Melissa Bland, RSVP Director

May 2023

The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is looking for volunteers 55 and older to serve in Hardin & Nelson County.  

Volunteers are needed at the Bardstown Senior Center to help serve food to the seniors.  

Volunteers are also needed at Hope Academy for Kids in Hardin County. Opportunities include administration, mentoring students and assisting with fundraising.

Volunteers can receive up to $60 per month (tax free) for their mileage to and from the workstation!

Please contact RSVP Director, Melissa Bland at 270-737-1059 or RSVP.Director@ckcac.org  if you have any questions or would like more information about volunteering!

Tancy Morris, Congregate Meals Director

Congregate Meal Program Newsletter

May 2023

Our seniors are getting excited for Senior Celebration in Elizabethtown on May 25^th. This is an event they look forward to every year. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the event hasn’t taken place in a few years, so our participants are very excited that it is happening this year. 

Since January 1^st we have served 28,835 meals to 595 unduplicated seniors. We are serving more people than ever due to the carryout/drive through option at all senior centers.

We are excited to bring Marian Frisby, registered dietician back to Meade County for a 30-minute nutrition education session before voucher distribution each month. She brings a lot of helpful information and the participants in Meade County will greatly benefit from her sessions.

January, we distributed 2,330 vouchers to 233 clients.

February, we distributed 2,930 vouchers to 292 clients.

March, we distributed 1,620 vouchers to 162 clients.

April, we distributed 1,170 vouchers to 117 clients.

May 2023 Newsletter

CKCATS’ trip volume continues to climb. The CKCATS team continues to work hard to keep up with the abundance of trips daily. The staff works very hard to make sure that we are able to complete trips in all counties.

I attended the Community Service Meeting in Marion County on March 16^th. The Community Service Board members were present, and I spoke with them to inform them of the services that we provide. The Board Members were very attentive and were excited to share our brochures with the individuals that they serve who may need our services.

On March 25^th, CKCATS attended the Community Fair in Marion County. We were asked to attend the fair along with other businesses to inform the community of our services. The Community Fair was held at the public library.

CKCATS is gearing up for the Senior Celebration that will be held on May 25^th at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown. CKCATS will be providing transportation from the Senior Centers to Pritchard Community Center for all seniors who pre-register for the ride. CKCATS will also have a booth at the Senior Celebration and will be talking with seniors to make them aware of the services that we provide and will be able to sign seniors up for III-B Senior trips on the spot. If you or anyone you know that is a senior, would like to sign up for transportation to the Senior Celebration, please contact CKCATS at 270-692-9313 or 1-800-242-8225.

We are still waiting for the 12×2 vehicles that became available a few months ago. We hope to get the vehicles soon. We applied for 2 SUVs for Intercity on the FY24 grant application. These SUVs are available so they should arrive within a few weeks.

I have hired a new Grant and Compliance Manager. Erica Mitchell has several years of experience in transportation and is a previous employee of CKCATS. Ms. Mitchell is knowledgeable in the operation of CKCATS and is familiar with the compliance aspect, making her a great choice for the position.

Several staff members of the CKCATS team will be attending the Community Action Kentucky (CAK) Conference in Lexington from June 13-15. There will be a Transportation Track on June 15^th. As always, these conferences are a great way to learn valuable information and to network.  

If you or anyone you know would like to join the staff at CKCATS please go to careers@ckcac.org to apply. CKCATS is hiring full-time and part-time drivers in Marion, Larue, Hardin, Nelson, Breckinridge and Grayson counties.

Kerri Taylor

Transportation Director