Category: Newsletter

David Lindsey, Weatherization Program Director

Central Kentucky Community Action’s Weatherization Assistance Program ended the year fully staffed and looks forward to what the new year will bring. CKCAC’s Weatherization program has experienced some setbacks to start out the new year with staff acquiring injury’s outside of work. We have utilized this time to achieve new required trainings as well as cross train staff to meet requirements set forth by the US Department of Energy. So, if these incidences were to arise again we would be able to continue providing weatherization services. Weatherization staff has also assisted other programs such as Head Start with moving into their new buildings and completed renovations to the newly acquired building in Breckinridge County. As of January 1, 2022 CKCAC has 57 clients on the waiting list to receive weatherization services. The Weatherization Program as of January 1, 2022 will be providing weatherization services to our 8 county area with 10 jobs in progress. The Weatherization program is fully staffed with an in-house crew and we are utilizing contractors to perform HVAC and Electrical work that we have to 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.

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’s Weatherization program is fully staffed with highly trained supporting and technical staff consisting of: Denny Baxter, Dwelling Needs Evaluator EA/QCI; Josh Mattingly, Crew Leader; Tessa Hinton, Retrofit Installer; and, supporting staff Barbara Garrett, Weatherization Manager. We would like to say a huge thank you to all the Weatherization staff for their dedication to improving the quality of work and the dedication to ensure 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, LIHEAP, ATMOS, East Kentucky Power, Big Rivers Electric, Kentucky Utilities, and Louisville Gas & Electric.

As a non-profit agency, Central Kentucky Community Action, Inc. is required to inform the local community of the Area Board of Directors Meeting which is open to the public. The meeting will be on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 3 pm EST via Zoom. For more information, call the Central Office at 270-692-2136.

Ronda Bertrand, Community Collaboration for Children Director 

Community Collaboration for Children is excited to share the news of the Parent Engagement Meeting Program that will be starting in Marion County Elementary schools. This diversion program acts as a preventative intervention to reduce referrals to CPS for educational neglect. This service would be ideal for children who are considered chronically truant and will be working with school staff to help these families.

Tina Plowman, CSBG and Ronda Bertrand, CCC worked with Toys for Tots collecting new toys for children. We had over 20 business in Nelson participate in this program. We were extremely blessed with the support from these businesses to help.

CCC In-home workers have been busy linking families with resources for the Holidays. Lincoln Trial Network meeting will be held on January 20th at 10 AM on Zoom. The Network will be starting to plan upcoming events for the year. If you would like to be a part of the Trail of Hope Network please send Ronda Bertrand an email at ronda.bertrand@ckcac.org. 

Jane Claire HupmanFCCH/UC Director

March of 2020 was a very trying time for childcare centers and childcare homes in Kentucky. There was a mandatory shutdown for all childcares from March 18^th until June 15^th. This shutdown not only left parents without childcare, but childcare owners without income and an emotional toll on their staff.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) recently announced that all providers enrolled in the program with our agency would be receiving an emergency reimbursement to help reimburse providers for the payments they missed out on during the shutdown. The amount of each providers payments was based on a percentage of the difference of the CACFP reimbursements of March-June of 2019 and the reimbursements of March-June 2020.

Since childcare centers have reopened there has been many challenges abiding by increased health and sanitation protocols. This reimbursement will help with those burdens, as well as provide a safety net for any other obstacles COVID might throw at them as we enter the winter months. The agency plans to distribute these funds to each provider by the end of the year.

Tammy Stanley, Head Start Director

With 2021 drawing to a close, we reflect on the first half of this school year, as well as the past 12 months. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Central Kentucky CAC Head Start staff united to ensure the children and their families receive services without interruption. The January 2022 deadline for the COVID-19 vaccination being mandated for all staff was a concern at the initial announcement, however we are elated to say that over 95% of our staff are fully vaccinated and 100% will be when we return after the holiday break in January 2022. We are also excited to report that even in spite of issues with COVID-19, Head Start and Early Head Start have met full enrollment for our 494 slots and recruitment efforts for next academic year are in full swing. As we round out December, the Head Start and Early Head Start team have been working hard to grow and foster new skills and relationships with parents. Many new faces have joined our team and are learning to implement the Head Start Program Performance Standards to fidelity. The program has implemented a new assessment tool through Child Plus that has allowed our education staff to assess children’s developmental abilities quickly and easily. The Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) provides easy to understand information and data to share with families and guardians. This is just one way we strive to build strong relationships with families. The data highlights the program’s strengths and allows for changes to be made for effective facilitation.

Plans are in place for the upcoming new year as we continue to build on current activities for families. Head Start Parent University was hosted this past Fall and will start again in Spring for parents. What exactly is Head Start Parent University? Head Start Parent University is a series of workshops held at the Head Start Family Enrichment Center and by Zoom and are led by community partners. Parent University provides an opportunity for parents to explore interests and gain knowledge. Topics for Parent University have included financial management, healthy eating, and effective parenting. If you have a topic that you wish to present to our Head Start and Early Head Start families, we would love to have your expertise. Lastly, Head Start and Early Head Start have just been given additional funds to support staff and operational efforts by the Division of Child Care. We are actively working on plans to best utilize this funding for staff recruitment and retention, as well as supporting our children and families. CKCAC Head Start and Early Head Start would like to wish everyone joyful holidays and a happy New Year! 

Hal Goode Executive Director
DECEMBER 2021
Sometimes it’s not so Goode news in our report. I can’t help but think of our counterparts in Western Kentucky after the deadly storm. My good friend Jana York with the Western Kentucky Allied Services in Mayfield, “How can we assist?” 

In the wake of the deadly storm that devastated Western Kentucky, many local groups and organizations have taken the initiative to help those affected. Here’s how to get involved:

Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund: Governor Beshear has established the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund to assist those impacted by the tornados. All donations to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund are tax-deductible and donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes after donating. https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief

Kentucky Red Cross: The nonprofit organization is taking donations for Mayfield’s recovery. The Red Cross and their partners are working around the clock to help those in need and make sure everyone has a safe place to stay, food to eat, critical relief supplies, emotional support and comfort. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

To donate by phone via credit card or to ask questions about donating money to the Red Cross, please call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669)

Kentucky Blood Center: Giving blood is an opportunity to give to the community in a very real way. Even though the process is simple and doesn’t require much time at all, people in those communities still need regular blood donors. Visit their website for more information about donating blood to those in need.

https://kybloodcenter.org/?fbclid=IwAR0_GCODKJhIo1XbBFL5-A5TbNJkgfpDNpNmfvcItJBTgRjDdx8iupkiwMg

KEDC (Kentucky Education Development Corporation): They are assisting by stuffing buses and vans with toys, water, etc. for the Western KY tornado victims. They are collecting donations all week and hope to deliver their collections on Monday the 20th. Starting Monday through Friday of next week, KEDC is accepting donations at their Ashland office (904 Rose Road, Ashland) and Lexington Office (118 James Court Ste 60).

Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief: More than 2,500 individuals are trained as Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief workers. Volunteers can staff feeding units designed to deliver thousands of hot meals on short notice; move in with chainsaws to help remove debris; do the dirty work of helping families remove mud from flooded homes; and provide many other disaster relief services. They are currently taking donations towards disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of Western Kentucky tornadoes.

https://www.kybaptist.org/disaster-relief/

Mayfield Police Department: They’re currently taking donations, which can be dropped off at Northside Baptist Church (611 W Lockridge St). Items that are needed include, men’s/women’s/children’s clothing, coats, sweatshirts, jackets, socks, underwear, cleaning supplies and hygiene items. 

Mayfield-Graves County United Way

https://www.gofundme.com/f/mayfield-graves-county-tornado-relief?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer-andr

Tancy Morris

Congregate Meals Director
All senior centers are scheduled to re-open after the first of the year. This decision was made due to all counties in our district still in red or orange status. As well as congregate staff being off due to the upcoming holidays.
All senior centers will be closed –Thanksgiving – Thursday November 25^th and Friday November 26^thChristmas – Thursday December 23^rd, Friday December 24^th, and Monday December 27^thNew Year’s – Friday December 31^st
For November we mailed 1300 vouchers to 130 Meade County clients. In October we served 4,689 meals to 322 clients. From July 1 – October 31, 2021, we served 19,296 meals to 504 clients.
Open enrollment started October 15^th and will end on December 7^th. All senior center site directors have been working with the Lincoln Trail Area Development District’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program also known as SHIP, to help our clients get the information they need to ensure they have the best policy for them. If you know of someone who could benefit from speaking to one of their trusted representatives, please call 270-769-8609 or 270-737-0669.
We will continue to serve meals to the senior citizen population via drive thru until our re-opening on January 3^rd. If you know someone 60 years old or older in need of a hot, nutritious meal please refer them to their local senior citizen’s center.

Dianne Mattingly

Transportation Director

As many of you know Dianne Mattingly will be retiring on 12/31/2021. Hal Goode has hired Kerri Taylor to be the new Director of Transportation beginning January 1, 2022. Kerri is currently in Human Resources and we congratulate Kerri on her new position. Transportation has a great team with 4 new drivers and one Verification Clerk in the Central Office. All counties are fully staffed and we welcome all new personnel to our team.
CKCATS is expecting three Dodge Durango SUVs in late November. We have waited over a year for delivery of these vehicles due to the chip problems manufacturers are having. We currently have 12 new vehicles that the State has awarded CKCATS. We are currently waiting on KPTA Bid #9 to be approved by the State before we can order. Vickie Bourne with the Department of Transportation has informed us that it may be 2024 before these buses are delivered.
The KPTA Conference was held November 1st through November 5th. Several CKCATS drivers and Operations Fleet Manager, Daryl Hardin help judge the KPTA Rodeo where drivers show off their skills against other drivers in the state. Breckinridge County, Lead Driver Shane Barr received 1st place in the wheelchair securement and 2nd place in the Rodeo. Nelson County Lead Driver, Melissa Tonge, Larue County driver, Mark Hatcher, and Grayson County driver, Scott Madison received a certificate for their driving skills in the Rodeo as well.
The Office of Transportation Delivery just conducted our Compliance Review on October 20th by phone interview with Carrie Elliston. Thanks to CKCATS, Office Manager, Shannon Miller for all her hard work to prepare the compliance review. On October 21st the vehicle inspections were held by Zoom in Larue County on 5 vehicles that OTD chooses. All 5 vehicles passed inspections. Our Lead Drivers and Operators Fleet Manager did a great job preparing the vehicles for inspection. CKCATS received a final letter stating that we are in full compliance in all areas of Federal and State regulations. We appreciate the dedication our team shows everyday.