Category: Newsletter

The Community Collaboration for Children program is working in full capacity as we approach the new year! But our program looks remarkably different than it did this time last year. COVID 19 has pushed us to implement our In Home Services in a different way. We are still providing services to families with children 18 year or younger. We continue to aid families in identifying their strengths and weaknesses and then in making a plan to address these weaknesses and improve their overall daily functioning. The pandemic has changed the way that we are able to interact with our families.

Though we are an In Home Service program we are no longer going inside homes to deliver services. We currently are able to meet with families outside their homes, meaning on their porches, decks or yards. We do follow all CDC recommended guidelines. We take our temperatures and assess our own physical health and wellbeing before driving to the home visit. We wear our masks and stay 6 feet away from our clients at all times. We also keep our own chairs inside our vehicles if we need to take a seat.

We are implementing the use of telehealth services such as phone calls, FaceTime, and virtual meeting rooms when needed. We continue to complete goals with our families, including parenting classes, self-sufficiency and overall family health. We are persevering to meet the needs of our families and do what we can to provide support, guidance and encouragement during this time. If you have any questions or are interested in our program or the referral process, please contact CCC supervisor, Ashley Caldwell-May at acaldwell@ckcac.org or 270-766-8027.

TRAIL OF HOPE LINCOLN TRAIL REGIONAL NETWORK

The Lincoln Trail Regional Network, Trail of Hope, held its first regular Network Meeting on September 23, 2020, via Zoom. Trail of Hope is a group of concerned citizens throughout the entire Lincoln Trail Area. The focus of this network is to increase the awareness and prevention of child abuse and neglect. The network uses its designated funds to assist in spreading awareness through various programs and activities in our service area. New members are welcome and this is the perfect time to join! If you are interested in attending please contact Regional Network Coordinator, Ashley Caldwell-May at acaldwell@ckcac.org or 270-766-8027. Our next regular meeting will be held January 20^th at 10:00 via Zoom.

Trail of Hope offered the Darkness to Light: Child Sexual Abuse Training via Zoom on December 9,2020, at 10:00am. Darkness to Light believes that protecting children is an adult’s responsibility and that through education and training adults will be empowered to act. The trainings are evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention trainings proven to increase knowledge and change behavior. Trail of Hope will be offering the Darkness to Light Training again on February 11, 2021, from 6 pm to 8 pm. We hope that this later time frame will encourage more parents to attend the training.

Trail of Hope will be offering an ACE Study Training on March 31, 2021, at 10 am. This training will be a kick off for April’s Child Abuse Awareness Month. Dr. TJ Kimble will be training participants on how to use the ACE Study research and scores to better understand trauma and behavior. This training will lead us into many activities that will be happening for April’s Child Abuse Awareness Month. If you have any questions or would like to register to attend, please contact me at acaldwell@ckcac.org.

2020 has been an extremely difficult year for Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes. On top of the three-month closure ordered by the Governor, each center or home must temporarily close for 14 days every time a staff member or student tests positive for COVID-19. This has been a huge financial barrier for all my centers and the families of the students. Luckily, I work with very good providers and the amount of temporary closures, since the centers reopened in June, has been far less than expected.

                Even with the barriers Covid-19 has presented, the Child and Adult Care Food Program was able to sign up three new centers during the month of November. The program has welcomed Educating Butterflies in Springfield, Kids Universe in Elizabethtown, and Kyle’s Corner Learning Center in Lawrenceburg. Adding new centers to the program during such a difficult time for childcare providers has been a huge accomplishment.  We have been actively searching for new centers and homes to expand the program even further.

                If you are a Family Child Care Home or Child Care Center and would like more information on the Child and Adult Care Food Program, you may contact Jane Claire Hupman at 270-402-1977.             

December 2020

Mr. Rogers was one of the kindest men I knew growing up. When watching television, he always reminded me to be kind and love one another. He taught me that it does not matter what we have, but how we use it. He always stood up for children and reminded us that we should always help others. The Central Kentucky Community Action Council

team embodies the spirit of Fred Rogers each and every day. But this past year, that spirit shown even brighter. 2020 brought us unprecedented challenges, but also tremendous rewards. Despite the circumstances, CKCAC teams were able to continue our outreach efforts, changing people’s lives, improving communities and making our region a better place to live. We care about the entire community and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. As we reflect upon this last year, it’s so uplifting to know that we all came together to do just that – help each other.

The CKCAC Board of Directors came together in support of our programs and helped us establish and follow new guidelines for working through COVID-19. The call for creative solutions was answered by all. The transportation program expanded into neighboring counties. And when the need arose for quarantined seniors to receive daily meals, transportation stepped in to help transport those meals. When individuals were being laid off because of the pandemic, Kentucky Works collaborated with regional employers to keep clients working. When bills began piling up for individuals impacted by COVID-19, Community Services assisted in paying those bills, while the Weatherization team made energy-efficient upgrades to homes to reduce future energy costs. When it was recommended that senior centers shut down, the Congregate Meals program adapted to accommodate drive-thru services, providing

record-numbers of hot meals to seniors daily. The Senior Companionship Program began making phone calls and became pen pals with clients when the crisis eliminated the opportunity for home visits. Community Collaboration for Children decided a change of scenery was needed for some families, providing parenting education services “camping” style on front lawns and backyards. Amidst the shutdown of child care programs across the state, the Child Nutrition Food Program continued to grow and support childcares by helping them serve nutritional foods and snacks. Head Start prioritized distance learning by supplying households with tablets, giving young children exciting, educational experiences that included working with technology.

Speaking of technology, let’s not forget our IT department employees who helped install software programs on all

those tablets. From Finance ensuring timely payment of funds and HR modifying policies and procedures to ensure employee safety to Public Relations distributing timely information to the community, our behind-the-scenes workers also had important roles in helping CKCAC persevere this past year.

We’d also like to extend our gratitude to one very special behind-the-scenes worker, Larue County Judge Executive Tommy Turner. Judge Turner was a CKCAC Board member from 1984 until his recent retirement in 2020. His work and dedication to our organization was instrumental in helping CKCAC fulfill its mission for 36 years.

Every program – every office – every board member – every person at CKCAC came together to share responsibility within the last year. This year is dedicated to our front-line workers – the CKCAC team serving clients during the pandemic and being HEROES in our communities.

Goodwill Industries Part 1

Lawncene Flowers began her employment at CKCAC as part of the Goodwill Senior Community Service & Employment Program (SCSEP). Goodwill SCSEP is a government funded program that’s able to pay Seniors to do community service at non-profit and government agencies in the county they live while also helping them look for jobs.  After working for the Goodwill organization in the Lebanon location for one year, Flowers transferred her job placement to CKCAC as a receptionist and is now working to assist the Family Child Care Homes and Unaffiliated Centers Food program.

Flowers began looking for assistance in getting job after living in California and working in the field of social work for many years. Flowers explained that her daughter wanted to raise her children in a less fast-paced, more peaceful community and when she decided to move to Kentucky – Flowers decided to follow. Flowers worked with the Kentucky Career Center to create a resume, cover letters, etc. when her journey to find employment began. She reported that she was looking for a part time job and when she heard about the SCSEP program, she decided to apply and participate.

Throughout her experience with SCSEP, Flowers reported that she has gained training from both Goodwill Industries and CKCAC in the areas of office etiquette, calculating monthly reports, completing monitoring forms, filing, and answering multiple phone lines. She reports that she also received extra practice with sending fax messages, copying, typing, etc. Flowers reports that having multiple job placements has allowed her to learn to get along with a variety of people all whom have different personality types. Almost all the training done through the SCSEP is on-the-job training provided by the placement agencies. Career Coach Kimberly Culliton referred to Flowers as a” model participant as well as a wonderful person in general.” Flowers reports that after 3 years in the SCSEP she is looking for long-term, permanent placement and when that is achieved, she will no longer participate in the SCSEP. Flowers indicated that the best part about her employment with CKCAC is the “ability to help others help themselves” and “giving back to the community.”

Flowers discussed the importance of staying healthy and active as a senior citizen. Flowers not only keeps her mind sharp by continuing to work each day, she has church to help with her emotional well being. When Flowers is not working, she reported that her spiritual life is very important to her. “I love my church,” she said. “I love helping people in need.” Flowers is also a high impact advanced aerobic instructor and spends 1 hour and 20 minutes each morning working out before coming to the CKCAC office to stay in good physical shape. In addition, Flowers reported eating a healthy vegan diet each day.

Flowers reports that participating in the SCSEP has been a good experience for her and she would “encourage other seniors to apply.” If you are a senior interested in applying for a job through Goodwill Industries, please visit www.goodwill.org/scsep/ or contact Kimberly Culliton, SCSEP Coordinator, at (270) 823-6193. Agencies looking to partner with SCSEP should also contact Culliton as she reports that “we have positions in 54 counties in Kentucky that are currently open” and she is “searching for agency partners that can provide community service assignments for our participants. 

Ms. Betty Bryant started working as an RSVP Volunteer at the Griffin Manor Senior Center in Elizabethtown on October 1, 2020. The Senior Center is closed due to Covid-19 but Ms. Bryant helps Ida Kyle, the Senior Center Coordinator, plate the food and serve to the seniors via a drive through Monday through Friday. She often refers to herself as “the bread lady” as she places the bread in sandwich bags each day.

Betty was born and raised in Wilmington North Carolina but has called Kentucky home for the last 40 years. Ms. Bryant has two sons, 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Ms. Bryant worked at the Fort Knox Hospital as a desk clerk for 17 years and was also caregiver for a friend in her home for one year.Ms. Bryant enjoys genealogy, crocheting and embroidering. She volunteers as she loves people and likes to get of the house every day.

Ms. Bryant’s positive attitude is contagious and she is a joy to be around! If you would like to become a volunteer like Ms. Betty Bryant, please contact Melissa Bland at 270-737-1059 or e-mail her at RSVP.Director@ckcac.org.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is excited to announce that instead of being known as Senior Corps, our program will now be called Americorps Seniors. Locally, we will still be known as the Senior Companion Program and our funding source will remain the same.

All SCP volunteers are currently receiving a temporary allowance which allows them to still receive their monthly stipend through December 31, 2020. Volunteers are still carrying out the companionship piece of our program by making phone calls or using Face Time to connect face to face without entering client homes. Some volunteers are writing letters and sending pictures through the mail. The program is currently developing return-to-volunteer service plans that promote both volunteer safety as well as the safety of our clients by complying with statutory and regulatory requirements.

It is with heavy hearts that we must say our final goodbye to two special volunteers for our program: Ms. Fannie Porter of Lebanon and Ms. Georgia Barnes of Springfield. Ms. Porter passed away on October 20, 2020. She was an amazing and dedicated volunteer who always had her heart in the right place when it came to helping others. Ms. Georgia Barnes passed away on October 17, 2020. She was a selfless individual with an unforgettable smile and had no limits in going above and beyond the call of duty. Each of these ladies will be terribly missed as they were true stewards of volunteerism and service.

Unfortunately because of COVID-19, all senior centers remain closed. However, we are still providing meals via drive thru services. From July 1 – October 31, 2020, we have served 21,762 meals to 482 participants. We also mailed 330 vouchers to 66 participants in Meade County for November.

We continue to try to come up with ideas to engage with seniors socially during this time. We have passed out nutrition education sheets, word searches, health education sheets, and local resource materials weekly. In Bardstown and Hardinsburg, seniors were offered drive-in BINGO opportunities, which were very successful events. The participants reported that the event was very enjoyable as well. Lisa Bratcher with the Breckinridge Senior Center made caramel apples in October to pass out to all seniors who picked up a meal. We are hoping that with inclement weather approaching, we can continue to do small social activities with the seniors.

We are in the process of updating all current participant assessments. This way, we can stay up to date with any changes and it will be easier to communicate information and special activities with the seniors.

Please remember, all senior centers will be closed and there will be no drive thru meals available on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2020, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Central KY Community Action Transportation Service fleets in all counties continues to grow. CATS is the recipient of 10 new low floor mini vans purchased from American Bus. The vans were delivered on October 29, 2020.

The CATS program will also receive 12 additional low floor mini vans by late November. Plus, CATS is expected to replace a low floor mini van and Dodge Durango with specialized funding by this same time. These vehicles are imperative to updating the fleet and providing transportation services that improve the quality of life for members of our communities.

The Corona virus has continued to affect our transportation services negatively, however; while we are not operating at 100% currently, we have maintained a steady 60% trip count for the last two months. This is an increase from the 25% trip count in March 2020. If you would like a ride, please know that our drivers continue to sanitize the buses before and after each trip. In addition, all PPE equipment is being used during every trip to ensure the safety of our drivers and clients. To schedule a ride with CATS, please call 1-800-242-8225.

November 2020 After the year we have had, I wanted to take a moment to thank our board members.   These Board Members who volunteer their time and have distinguished themselves as judicious stewards of our organization, never flinching in the face of difficult decisions.   Thank you, Board Members, for your time and efforts.   The Board Members have all been integral to the important advances we have made this year.

I also wanted to thank two of those Central Kentucky Community Action Board Members we replaced recently.   We lost Meade County Judge Lynn on September 6 of this year.   I met Judge Lynn when I worked in Frankfort & his passion for job creation and helping his community goes without saying.  He was involved in and served on many Boards.  In addition to serving as the Judge Executive for Meade County since 2010, he was also the Kentucky State Representative for the 27th District from 2004 until 2006.  Our prayers are still with his wife, Nancye, and his family.  

Larue County Judge Tommy Turner has been the positive voice of not only Larue County & CKCAC, but for the Lincoln Trail Area since he was elected in 1985.   With his retirement, Central Kentucky Community Action wishes him the best and thanks him for tirelessly giving his time and resources to serving on the CKCAC Board of Directors.  By all measures, we have improved our services immensely on his watch.

In closing, we thank and welcome Larue County Judge Blake Durrett & Meade County Judge Les Stith, who were recently appointed to the CKCAC Board of Directors.   We look forward to working with you both. 

Thanks again to the entire Board for your service.  We appreciate your time.

More to come…………much more…………….

The CSBG program continues its work from being an immediate emergency assistance provider to becoming a program that really helps the families of low-income change their lives.  Although we continue to provide emergency assistance, we also assist with budgeting and in developing strategies to avoid future emergencies.  As we work with families to develop strategies to prevent future emergencies, tips such as budgeting, paying your rent first, shopping at less expensive stores, and controlling impulsive spending are helpful. Those not working are encouraged to find employment. Our employment and education programs can assist with small barriers to gaining full-time employment or better employment. How do we help? Our program can help pay for partial assistance with a CNA or CDL class or similar training.  We can also assist with buying proper clothing and shoes for a new job or providing gas for transportation to work for a week.

EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM

The Agency has been notified of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program allocations and spending has begun for Phase 37 and CARES.  The counties receiving funds are Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson and Washington. This program provides funds to assist with rent/mortgage, utilities, shelter, and food assistance.

TEAM KENTUCKY FUNDS    144 households have been assisted, total spent $54,569.56

SUMMER COOLING    3340 households have been assisted, total spent $605,500.00

SUMMER COOLING CRISIS  1644 households have been assisted, total spent $452,152.30

PREPARING FOR LIHEAP

Official Dates for Subsidy are Nov. 2^nd  through Dec. 11^th.    

We will not be using a calendar schedule for subsidy this year. Clients will continue to receive assistance by phone, email, and document drop off due to our offices being closed to the public.

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT for 2020-2021 is underway. The results help determine the CSBG program budget for the upcoming year.

We are needing a broad range of community members to complete the survey, so please do so and feel free to share. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HFGDCZM-CNA