Category: Newsletter

NEW PROGRAM YEAR 2021-2022 The Work Plan and Budget has been approved and signed for Community Services Block Grant in the amount of $724,658.

The program priority is EMPLOYMENT. This was determined by the most recent Needs Assessment. CLOSING PROGRAM YEAR 2020-2021. The CSBG Staff has been busy closing out one Program Year and beginning a new one. Staff members have worked diligently to enter all services that had been provided into the computer. We followed up on many clients so that we could also report the outcome of our efforts through NPI’s and services report for regular CSBG and CARES. The CSBG Staff have assisted 14,701 Individuals 6,907 Households-unduplicated count. Approximately 18,522 applications for $4,096,404.50 in services.

SPRING SUBSIDY ended on June 30, 2021 with GARDENS 170 individual gardens are planted and flourishing with the recent rains .

YOUTH PROGRAMS – The Youth Programs carried out in the Counties have been exciting. We want to provide opportunities for children who may not have them otherwise. We were able to obtain a discounted family pass for one year with the Louisville Zoo and 56 families took advantage of the opportunity. 36 families received swim passes or lessons. Thanks to all of the staff for their hard work with the various programs operated by Community Services.

Central Kentucky Community Action’s Weatherization Program ended the year fully staffed and look forward to what the new year will bring. CKCAC’s weatherization program has completed a total of 32 homes with DOE and LIHEAP funding with 6 cancellations, and 29 home which have been deferred due to needs outside the of our program guidelines, as of June 30, 2021. CKCAC has 22 clients on the waiting list to receive Weatherization services as of July 1^st 2021 to start the new year. 

The Weatherization Program is fully staffed with an in-house crew and are still 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.
Central Kentucky Community Action Council Wx program is fully staffed with a 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 Accounting/Weatherization Assistant. We would like to say a huge thank you to all WX staff for their dedication for 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, Kentucky Utilities, and Louisville Gas& Electric.
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.

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. 

Covid-19 continues to have a significant impact on both of our programs. While there is a current state of emergency, the state of Kentucky has implemented a “Good Cause exemption” where clients are not required to participate in the programs. This good cause exemption is currently in effect through 8-31-2021 but could be extended beyond that date until the vaccines can be more widely distributed. We currently have 2 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. 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 46 referrals for the SNAP program during this quarter·        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. We continue to see an impact with Covid-19 on our Work Experience Program sites as many of them are either closed or unable to accept our referrals. We updated them and the numbers taking volunteers has improved. We have 135 sites in our 17 counties that we send our clients and as of now, 59 are open and/or willing to accept referrals due to Covid-19. This is up from 23 last quarter.       

Our staff continues to stay in touch virtually to discuss all relative matters in the program.

We are starting a new case management system in July and staff have been training to be ready for this system.  

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.

Staff have been participating in the CAK summer webinar series.

We have one client that completed 12 months of unsubsidized employment and was hired full time at Metalsa on 6-14-2021.

Goode news – JULY
Let me talk Head Start. The 2021 school year is upon us and no question it has been a time of growth for Central Kentucky Community Action Council Head Start and Early Head Start. 

Construction is completed on our new Radcliff center and our students love the learning and new environment of learning in that facility. Construction for new Head Start buildings in Lebanon and Springfield are near completion.  Springfield has already planned an open house for staff and the community. We invite you to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for our newest Head Start and Early Head Start facility in Springfield, Kentucky. This state-of-the-art center can serve over 50 needy children and families.  Staff administering the Community Services Block Grant also have office space in the building to expand their footprint in the area. Please join us to celebrate this significant investment by federal, state, and local partners in our community. The event will be on August 6th, 2021 at 12:00pm at our facility at 394 Lincoln Drive, Springfield, KY 40069. Our team looks forward to showing you this new facility. Central Kentucky Community Action Council and Central Kentucky Head Start are excited to continue to partner with you in our fight against poverty and supporting children and families in need.  

 More to come……much more……………………

As the school year closed for Head Start this year, it was with mixed emotions. The year had been like no other in our lifetime. When the facility and children returned on March 1, it was extremely heart-warming to see and hear the excitement in their voices. The students flourished when they returned for in- person learning and made enormous strides towards educational goals. 

Early Head Start enrollment is strong and those students will remain in session until mid-July. Plans are being made to move one classroom to Springfield in the upcoming school year.  Meals are being provided daily by the Summer Feeding Program. Several EHS children will be transitioning into Head Start in the upcoming school year.

The Policy Council was ecstatic to meet in May with hybrid participation and looks forward to meeting over the summer being in-person. Plans to move into the newly built centers are being made. Springfield Head Start is a few days away from being able to move into, with the Lebanon Head Start center being about 3 weeks away from completion. 

Head Start staff is recruiting at various locations in the communities we serve during summer to offer Head Start services to eligible families; as well as, seeking prospects for hiring. We ended the school year with an average daily attendance of 97% for Head Start. As of May, Early Head Start had an average daily attendance of 95%. To enroll your child or apply for a job, please call 270-692-2136.

We have been busy restoring our program as evidenced by conducting a staff survey and reorganizing positions. Planning is in full force to strengthen communication, implement ways to support staff, and focus on all components of the program through professional development and incentives.

In April, Central Kentucky Head Start hosted an online auction for Child Abuse Awareness Month. Over $2,200 was raised and donated to the Trooper Teddy Program to purchase Teddy Bears to be given to children during traumatic events. Pictured is Kentucky State Trooper, Nick Hale, receiving the donation from ERSEA Manager Melissa Garrett and Action Based Learning Coach Nicole Burchell.  

During Child Abuse Awareness Month in April, CCC provided Awareness Bags to Family Resource Centers and Head Start Centers in all eight of the counties in which we provide services. CCC staff, with the help of community volunteers, also placed Pinwheels for Prevention in various locations around our communities to increase awareness of Child Abuse Prevention.

Also in April, CCC welcomed Diane Redmond as the new In-Home Worker. Diane is a retired educator with 31 years experience. She is looking forward to working with CCC families.

During April, May and June, CCC’s Build A Bed program was in full swing. The Nelson County Woodworking Area Technology class built beds for low-income families until the lumber prices doubled halting the class’s ability to continue with additional builds. Therefore, there is still a need in our communities for beds. If you have a twin-sized bed frame to donate, please contact Program Director Ronda Bertrand at 270-692-7553. You may also contact Ronda to refer a family for CCC services, which helps a family overcome barriers in order to provide a safer and more nurturing environment for children in their homes.

In May, Mike Lemon presented Cyber Safe Teen via Zoom, helping to fulfill CCC’s training requirements for the program. Also, the last Trail of Hope Regional meeting of 2020-2021 was held via zoom in May.

To further fulfill our educational training requirements, CCC has scheduled a webinar on June 16^th from 9 to 4 PM EST. Charlie Applestein will present, via zoom, a training titled “No Such Thing As a Bad Kid!” This training focuses on understanding and responding to kids with emotional and behavioral challenges using a positive, trauma-Informed, strength-based approach. This presentation will focus on strength-building rather than flaw-fixing. The training begins with the belief that every kid has or can develop strengths and utilize past successes to mitigate problem behavior and enhance social and academic functioning. This uplifting, evocative and humorous presentation will highlight many of the key principles and techniques of this transforming approach. Please contact Ronda Bertrand to attend.

On September 15th, 2021, CCC will start meeting in person again at Nolin RECC in Elizabethtown, KY at 10 AM for the Trail of Hope Regional Meetings. Anyone interested in child abuse prevention activities and events is encouraged to attend.

The CKCAC sponsored Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) would like to welcome Downtown Kids to the program. Downtown Kids is located in Danville, KY, and is directed by Susan Parks. Susan is familiar with the CACFP as she is also the director of Hometown Kids, a center that currently participates in the program. If you are in need of childcare in the Danville area, Downtown Kids is currently enrolling new students, and you may contact Susan at 859-319-8427.

The CACFP currently assists childcare centers and family care homes in our region with receiving reimbursement to help offset the costs of serving nutritious meals and snacks to children in their care. Many certified childcare homes and centers can qualify for this reimbursement program across the state.

Because of our growth, the program is currently looking for a part-time Food Report Monitor. This job would require approximately 20 hours per month for the first two weeks of the month. Additional details and information on how to apply can be found at https://ckcac.org/about/careers/.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can participate in the food program at CKCAC, please call Jane Claire Hupman at 270-402-1977. 

June 2021

2021 marks the 57th year since the Community Action Network was established to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty. Over 1000 agencies across the country are working every day to create opportunities and transform the lives of their neighbors making communities stronger and helping families across the US thrive.

This year, Central Kentucky Community Action Council, a proud member of the Community Action Network, celebrated 54 years helping families throughout Marion, Washington, Larue, Hardin, Meade, Nelson, Grayson and Breckinridge County. Each May, during Community Action Month, we reflect on the impact CKCAC and our network have had on families with immediately needed services such as shelter and food, and also long-term solutions like education and job placement. 

During the Marion County Chamber Luncheon in May, with nearly 100 in attendance, the work of Central Kentucky Community Action was spotlighted. May was also the perfect month to reflect on the many accomplishments of our organization during the COVID-19 pandemic with social media posts.

Community Action Agencies serve 99% of all American counties with life-changing services to help families achieve financial stability. All agencies are locally controlled and represented by the private, public, and low-income sectors of the community. We are proud of our communities’ participation in the development and oversight of our programs, their engagement helps us to be more effective in our approach by determining what our area needs.

More to come………. .much more……………..

Today’s highlighted RSVP volunteer is Ms. Emma Tyler. Ms. Tyler is 75 years young. She likes to stay busy and loves helping people. She has been a RSVP Volunteer since 2005 and has held 6 jobs at 5 workstations including Baptist Health Hardin and Mission Hope for Kids in Elizabethtown. She has also served on the RSVP Advisory Council since 2014 and is a Senior Companion to a very special 96-year-old lady that she loves dearly.

Emma has 2 sons and 1 daughter. She also has 7 other “kids” that call her mom. She has 7 grandchildren and “too many others to count” that call her Grandma Emma. She is active in her church, enjoys cross stitching and reading. Emma says that helping others keeps her strong in mind, body and spirit. She hopes that programs such as RSVP and SCP will be around when she needs them.

RSVP needs more volunteers like Emma! Please contact Melissa Bland at 270-737-1059 or e-mail RSVP.Director@ckcac.org if you would like more information about becoming a RSVP Volunteer in Hardin or Nelson County.

The Senior Companion Program is definitely operating during its busiest time of the year! We have submitted two grants within the last couple of months, completed several major reports, and even planned for the annual volunteer recognition that will take place next month!  

Recently, SCP submitted a grant application requesting $9,000.00 to Tri-County United Way. This was the first time in the programs existence and applying through United Way that we were awarded what we had requested! This was most definitely shocking as you rarely get what you ask for from any agency in which you are applying for funding. We couldn’t be more excited and thankful that United Way supports and believes in our mission so strongly! We will keep our commitment in making sure we excel and achieve in the performance measurements as well as carrying out the services we promised in our current work plans!

The Senior Companion Program also submitted their federal grant to the Corporation for National and Community Service in March, requesting $241,1432.00 to operate the program. The grant application is currently awaiting for the grant officer’s approval. If approved, the program will be operating in its first year of a 3-year grant cycle. Notice of grant awards will be announced by the end of the month.  

Client updates, volunteer evaluations, and income reviews are all being conducted at this time. Everyone is doing an awesome job in fulfilling the program’s mission and is currently income eligible to serve. Of the client surveys completed, each have stated that themselves and their families were extremely satisfied with our services and the vitality of the program. This is certainly reassuring to know that the Senior Companion Program is definitely making positive impacts within the communities it serves.  

Due to COVID, it was extremely challenging to conduct the mandated annual reviews. An allowance has been in effect since March 16, 2020, and will extend through September 30, 2021, that allows the volunteers to still receive their regular stipend checks for hours volunteered. At this time, we are still carrying out the true meaning of the Senior Companion Program and providing companionship to so many isolated seniors by making daily welfare checks to all of our clients over the telephone and through FaceTime calls. We are currently working to plan and implement the most effective ways in practicing safe volunteering and social distancing while serving our clients when our volunteers return full-time!  

The “Annual Volunteer Recognition” of course will be a lot different than usual due to COVID. Stay tuned, we will be sure to share the details and pictures in our next newsletter!

The Senior Companion Program has lost another dedicated volunteer and vital asset to the program. It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we report, Ms. Elizabeth Wells, our Volunteer Leader in Hardin County passed away on Sunday morning, May 2, 2021, with all of her children by her side. She was such a beautiful soul and would brighten any room she walked into! We loved and respected her personality and her ability to never meet a stranger. We will definitely miss her hard work and dedication and we couldn’t be more grateful to have volunteered with Liz. We were all definitely blessed by her presence and it was such an honor to have known her. We will never forget her, as she touched everyone’s heart that crossed her path!