Category: Newsletter

Tammy Stanley, Head Start Director

February provided opportunities to engage our families through literacy events and other activities. February was Heart Healthy and Black History Month.  Centers spotlighting individuals that have contributed to many inventions in our society. Centers provided heart healthy events for students and parents to participate. Our New Haven Center literacy event was led by one of the parents! February, was a short month, but Head Start was very busy engaging our families!!

In January, Central Kentucky CAC Head Start was chosen to participate in the Class Video Observation Pilot Review. The Education Team was able to compete all the videos requested as of March 3, 2023. We look forward to receiving feedback!

Please congratulate our PFCE Manager, Stephanie Harrison, received the Beacon of Light Award from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College on February 27, 2023. Recipients were recognized due to “successes and exemplary service to their professions and communities, and their commitment to servant leadership and equity”. Thank you, Stephanie, for your dedication and leadership!

Kathy Hagan, Director of Family Child Care Homes/Unaffiliated Centers Food Program

National CACFP Week is March 12-18, 2023! What is CACFP week? It’s a national education and information campaign the third week of March sponsored annually by the National CACFP Sponsors Association. It’s designed to help get the word out about the USDA’s Child & Adult Food Program works to combat hunger. Central Kentucky Community Action Council is a proud CACFP Sponsor for 21 Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) and 24 Unaffiliated Centers (UC). One FCCH closed as of March 1, 2023 due to retirement of the home care provider and we recently had two UC join us, one beginning mid-February and the other at the beginning of March 2023.

Please join us as we participate with the National CACFP Sponsors Association in getting the word out about CACFP especially during National CACFP Week March 12-18, 2023! If you know of a Family Child Care Home and/or Day Care Center who is not currently participating in the food program and would like more information, please have them contact CKCAC’s FCCH/UC Director Kathy Hagan at 270-692-2136 X501.

C = Community

The CACFP community works to ensure that all children have access to healthy foods. Share CACFP Week on social media and out in your community.

A = Awareness

Together we can raise awareness of how the CACFP works to combat hunger. Learn what you can do to promote the CACFP and advocate with a press release, a letter to congress, and a request for proclamation.

C = Children

Children receive healthy and nutritious meals through the CACFP. Educate children and parents about the CACFP with these fun activities and communication tools.

F = Food Program

The CACFP helps children learn healthy eating habits. Find out why breakfast is the most important meal of the day and learn some tips for getting kids to try new foods.

P = Participate

Hundreds of thousands of people participate in the CACFP administering the program or caring for children and adults. Show your appreciation to all of those who work with CACFP every day.

Ronda Bertrand, CCC Network Coordinator

March 2023 Newsletter

Spring is here and Community Collaboration for Children’s waiting list is growing. CCC has been busy helping families with their needs and trying to get the waiting list down. We are busy planning April Child Abuse Awareness Month. We have pinwheels and signs that will be distributed among our 8 counties. We are having a Trauma Informed Care training April 19^th 9:30-12:30 at the Harding County Extension Office. For more information contact ronda.bertrand@ckcac.org. April 29^th 11-1 CCC Statewide Event held in Frankfort Western Hills High School. We had 30 children send in posters for the CCC Statewide contest. The top three winners went on to the state contest.

Parent Engagement Meeting Program for Marion County Elementary schools is keeping busy with meetings to helping to prevent truancy. We are working on expanding into other counties.

Trail of Hope Regional Networks Build A Bed program has been extremely busy already making sure 49 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 several months. CCC has delivered 6 cakes to our families.

March 15^th CCC Trail of Hope Regional Meeting at the Hardin County Extension Office in Elizabethtown at 10AM.

Tancy Morris, Congregate Meals Director

Congregate Meal Program Newsletter

February 2023

From July 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022, we have served 38,217 meals to 675 unduplicated clients.

The senior center participation is holding strong through the winter months whereas in the past we would see a decline in participation throughout the winter.

In January we distributed 2540 vouchers to 254 participants in the Meade County voucher program.

This program continues to grow each month.

Our Radcliff center has always been a 2 day a week site. We are now serving meals out of that location 5 days per week. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday’s are drive thru only meals and Tuesday and Friday’s participates can dine in or pick up in the drive thru. We are happy to be able to serve our participants in that location a hot meal 5 days per week now.

Ida Kyle, site coordinator at Griffin Manor in Elizabethtown has retired. Ida was a loyal employee to CKCAC for many years. We wish her the very best in her retirement. Since, Ida’s retirement we have hired Grace Compton as the new site coordinator for that location. Grace has been a wonderful asset to our team and we are thrilled to have her!

I am in the process of hiring a site coordinator in Grayson. Jeannette Salmon has worked at the Wal-Mart deli in Leitchfield for 14 years. We are excited to welcome her to our team.

We are actively searching for an assistant cook in Grayson County and a full time head cook in Nelson County.

Melissa Bland, RSVP Director

Central Kentucky Community Action Council is proud to be the regional affiliate for one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

Best known as RSVP, our volunteers continue to be a lifeline to non-profit organizations, public agencies, and faith-based group, all of which rely on their support to meet the rising demand for services.

RSVP volunteers choose how, where, and how often they want to serve. Commitment hours can range anywhere from a few hours per month to almost full time, though the average commitment is four hours per week.

RSVP Volunteer Requirements

The only requirements are that all volunteers must be at least 55 years old and willing to serve in Hardin or Nelson County.

RSVP Volunteer Benefits

• RSVP volunteers will receive monthly mileage reimbursement to and from their work station. The current monthly maximum is $60 per month.

• RSVP volunteers will receive insurance coverage to and from their workstation and while at their work station.

• Transportation to and from the workstation can be arranged and paid for any RSVP volunteer that does not drive.

• All volunteers will be invited to an annual appreciation luncheon where they can win door prizes! 

Contact Information

Contact Melissa Bland, RSVP Director, at 270-737-1059 or rsvp.director@ckcac.org if you would like more information including the benefits offered to all volunteers.

You are also welcome to stop by the RSVP office which is in the Griffin Manor Senior Center, 1119 Johnstown Road in Elizabethtown. 

Hal B. Goode, Executive Director

It’s been two years since the last Senior Celebration due to COVID but this year the Lincoln Trail Service Providers will hold the Senior Celebration on May 25, 2023 from 9 AM – 2 PM at the Pritchard Community Center at 404 S. Mulberry Street in Elizabethtown. 

 This is a wonderful time to celebrate with our Seniors. The event is FREE and some of the activities are:

·        Speakers

·        Vendors and booths

·        Live Entertainment and Music

·        Workshops

·        Exercise

·        Bingo

·        Lunch

·        Door Prizes and much more.

Also, if you have a Senior who is looking for Transportation you may contact the Central KY Community Action Transportation (CATS) at 270-692-2136 or 1-800-242-8225.  Contact the Lincoln Trail ADD for more information at 270-769-2393.

More to come……..much more

Kerri Taylor, Transportation Director

February 2023 Newsletter

I am happy again to report that CKCATS trip capacity continues to increase! We are still able to provide all of our services, despite the shortage of staff. Our Drivers in all counties work and communicate together to help one another with completing trips.

Our FY23 Compliance Reviews with the Office of Transportation and Lincoln Trail Area Development District both came back without any findings. Thanks to all those who helped in pulling information together for these reviews!

There is still a shortage of the transit and buses that CKCATS uses for transporting, but we did receive word that CKCATS would be eligible to receive four of the five 12×2 vehicles that we requested from the FY23 grant applications. According to OTD, there were fifty 12×2 vehicles available and they were able to divvy out the vehicles appropriately to ensure that each Agency would receive a portion of the available vehicles. We are expecting these vehicles to arrive within the next few months.

We now have 3 billboard signs promoting Intercity travel. 1 billboard is on the Marion/Washington county line and 2 are in Hardinsburg. We hope that this advertisement brings an increase of Intercity trips.

I attended the Kentucky Public Transit Authority (KPTA) Conference, along with several CKCATS employees and Executive Director, Hal Goode. This conference was held November 14-16 in Lexington, KY. This is an excellent conference to receive valuable information about public transportation and a great way to network.

CKCATS will be holding its annual Coordination Meeting on Feb. 15^th at the Central Office in Lebanon at 1 pm EST. This meeting is held to discuss the transportation needs of our counties and is advertised to the public. We encourage anyone who is interested in public transportation to attend.

I am excited to announce the new staff positions that have been added to CKCATS! Tasha Hull is the new Grant & Compliance Manager. This is a new position to CKCATS. Tasha will be reviewing and completing grant applications each year, as well as researching new grants that may be available to CKCATS. She will also assist in Compliance Reviews for all programs as well as making sure CKCATS remains in compliance with all federal and state regulations. Edward Murray has also taken on a new position at CKCATS as the Maintenance Manager. Edward Murray will be responsible for the maintenance of the fleet as well as the maintenance of the facilities in all counties. Edward Murray comes to us with years of experience in vehicle and building maintenance as well as DOT inspection experience. With the increase in trips and the volume of daily calls to the current Fleet Manager, Daryl Hardin, I added another Fleet Manager to help manage the 5 counties. William Clements, along with Daryl Hardin, will be responsible for overseeing the drivers, handling scheduling and driver issues, reviewing and completing the mileage report, and reviewing driver manifest and timesheets. We welcome each of them to the team!

With that being said, CKCATS has a wonderful and dedicated group of staff! Thanks to the staff for working diligently to keep up with the increases of trips and for showing up to get the job done even in inclement weather!

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 for full-time and part-time drivers in Marion, Larue, Nelson, Breckinridge and Grayson counties.

Kerri Taylor

Transportation Director

Courtney Campbell, SCP Director

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

The SCP Program recruits volunteers that are aged 55 or older to provide in-home services to the frail elderly that helps them remain living independently in their own homes. SCP volunteers provide companionship, light housecleaning, light meal preparation, short distance transportation, and respite care. All services are delivered at no cost to the client or recipient. We currently serve six counties: Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Marion, Nelson, and Washington. 

Senior Companions are continuing to provide their companionship services within the homes of our communities. The SCP is still feeling the lingering effects from Covid19. There are currently 19 active volunteers, and we are hopeful to keep increasing the number of volunteers throughout the year! Last year our volunteers provided over 18,500 hours of service combined, to help keep our seniors in their homes! 

Martha ‘Jewell’ Bartley, Head Start Quality Assurance Manager

Tammy Stanley, Head Start Director

Head Start continues to follow its mission to deliver quality education services for children and families to be school ready while engaging partnerships and community resources. Recently our program was selected to be a part of a national pilot program for CLASS review. This review is conducted virtually, and we are in the process of completing these observations. 

We continue engage our families through home visits, monthly parent meetings and activities. We have initiated Family Literacy Nights in our centers. The Literacy Nights are part of Ready 4K, the research based parenting curriculum used. The literacy nights focus on building school ready skills but most importantly, our families do activities together. 

Above are pictures from the literacy nights at the Lebanon and Bardstown Centers. Parents and children engage with staff in activities during our Literacy Nights.