Category: Newsletter

National Children’s Day is a day to honor all of the children in our lives. It’s a time to slow down, turn off all of our technology and refocus on the important things. One day may not be enough, but using it as an opportunity to redirect our family’s lives may be an important step in a child’s life.

Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, started Children’s day in 1856. It was originally a special day to Baptize children and was called Rose Day. In 1995, President Clinton proclaimed the Nationals Children’s Day as October 8th. When President Bush came along in 2001, he declared the first Sunday in June as National Children’s Day.

What can we do to make a difference in our children’s lives? We must cherish our children, spend time with them, read to them and listen to them. You can also give them a head start and enroll them in our Head Start Program. Head Start and Early Head Start Programs are free, federally funded programs designed to promote school readiness for children from low-income families.

The Early Head Start serves families starting at 23 months. The Head Start Program serves children between 3 and 5 years old. These programs encourage parent involvement by offering regular opportunities for parents to volunteer. The Head Start and Early Head Start Programs also link children and families to other services in the community. The children who participate in these programs will participate in various educational activities. They will also receive free medical and dental care services.

The Head Start Programs are designed to help all children succeed. They are required to serve children with special needs, such as physical and developmental delays. Central KY Community Action Head Start is proud to take the daily steps to improve the quality of education for our children. From keeping our children safe with the new COVID-19 protocols to building new facilities in Lebanon, Springfield and Radcliff, our commitment to our children is rock-solid.

For more information about the Central KY Community Action Head Start, go to our website at www.ckcac.org. Use #NationalChildrensDay to share on Social Media.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic our Senior Companion Program volunteers have been making daily welfare calls to their clients. All in-home services have been suspended indefinitely. All active volunteers are still receiving their stipends, as a temporary allowance, due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. This was approved by the CNCS, the program’s federal funding source until May 22nd, 2020. If an extension is needed at that time, a written request will be submitted to the program’s state director.

On April 1st, 2020, all of the volunteers received a raise on their hourly stipend. They went from making $2.65 an hour to $3.00 an hour. There has not been an hourly stipend raise in 18 years. This was a very positive incentive for our program during this challenging time.

The Senior Companion Program was granted a match waiver for the fiscal years 2019 and 2020. This means that if we don’t meet our required match, no penalties or cost dis allowances will occur.

The Senior Companion Program continues to find a light during such a dark time. The volunteers are working diligently to keep the connection and the companionship piece with each of our clients. They are keeping their promises and fulfilling our mission while also staying safe.

Central Kentucky Community Action’s Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is looking for more volunteers. The only requirements are that the volunteers must be 55 or older and have a desire to volunteer their time and skills for a non-profit organization in Hardin or Nelson County.

Volunteering can provide many benefits to both mental and physical health. Volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety. It combats depression and loneliness. Volunteering makes you happy and keeps you active and increases self-confidence. It also provides a sense of purpose.

If you would like more information on what volunteer opportunities are available, please Contact Melissa Bland at 270-307-9638 or RSVP.Director@ckcac.org.

With the COVID-19 Pandemic and ever changing world around us, Central KY Head Start has found that everything is different and most things will never be the same. Through this time, there is one thing that will never change, the love our Head Start Program has for their children and families.

The Head Start Program has overcome every obstacle to meet all of our children’s needs. Teachers, Center Managers, Teacher Assistants, Family Advocates and Nutrition Specialists have come together in a way we have never seen before. Our staff has held drive-thru parades, delivered food to families, prepared non-touch packets and even held drive-thru graduations.

The Head Start staff has utilized social media to assure that the students are staying busy. We have shared videos on how to cook low-cost meals, fun science experiments and we’ve even had videos of guest readers reading to the children. The Central Office Head Start Staff attended their first drive-thru job fair and had a fantastic turnout. The Family Advocates have also set up safe application tables at essential businesses for families to apply for the upcoming school year.

Central KY Head Start looks forward to serving our families during this unprecedented time. Our staff wants to make sure our families needs are met in a healthy and safe way.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been devastating for many people in our community. It has also had a big impact on our CKCATS Transportation. Beginning March 23rd, trips were down 75-85%. Currently, CKCATS is still transporting dialysis patients and senior citizens. Active Day, Blessed Assurance and Communicare facilities have been closed until further notice.

CKCATS recently moved into a newly renovated central office. The first floor has five offices and two ADA compliant restrooms. The old office space has been renovated and has four offices and a driver break room. The second floor has a conference and one large office space. The renovation was made possible by the 5339 grant from the Office of Transportation Delivery.

CKCATS received two new 12×2 buses in March. These buses were made possible by the 5310 grant. CKCATS is also going to receive three new SUVs. These new vehicles will provide needed transportation services, especially during the winter months. All five counties will now have an SUV.

I do recognize that the past several weeks have been difficult for many people. As a team, Community Action is trying to navigate through very rough circumstances and it has been a challenge for all of us. It is difficult because we have never witnessed what we are witnessing now. However, every challenge we have faced, we have been able to overcome.

During this time CATS Transportation has seen a decrease of around 85%. Even with this downturn, CATS Transportation was able to bring back their laid off employees to help clean vans, offices and the senior centers. We are also beginning to see a slight increase in runs.

Our Congregate Meals Program has done an excellent job dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic. This program serves a hot, nutritious lunch to seniors age 60 and over. On March 13th, 2020 the program served 142 meals in 8 locations. On April 14th, 2020 the program served 502. There has been a significant increase in meals requested since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Director, Tancy Morris, has done an excellent job reaching out to seniors in our communities that we have not served in the past.

I would like to thank our team that is working so hard to keep things running during this trying time. As the world continues to deal with COVID-19, Community Action will as well. Our team is ready for the challenge to help those who cannot help themselves. More to come. Much more.

This book was a project developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (IASC MHPSS RG). The project was supported by global, regional and country based experts from Member Agencies of the IASC MHPSS RG, in addition to parents, caregivers, teachers and children in 104 countries. A global survey was distributed in Arabic, English, Italian, French and Spanish to assess children’s mental health and psychosocial needs during the COVID-19 outbreak. A framework of topics to be addressed through the story was developed using the survey results. The book was shared through storytelling to children in several countries affected by COVID-19. Feedback from children, parents and caregivers was then used to review and update the story.
Over 1,700 children, parents, caregivers and teachers from around the world took the time to share with us how they were coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. A big thank you to these children, their parents, caregivers and teachers for completing our surveys and influencing this story. This is a story developed for and by children around the world.
This IASC MHPSS RG acknowledge Helen Patuck for writing the story script and illustrating this book.
©IASC, 2020. This publication was published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO license (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo). Under the terms of this licence, you may reproduce, translate and adapt this Work for non-commercial purposes, provided the Work is appropriately cited.

Click Here To Read My Hero Is You.

The CSBG staff will be in the office working during the COVID-19 pandemic at this time. The offices are closed to the public but clients are able to call the office for instructions. Contact information and instructions are posted on the doors. This information has been placed on the agency website and Facebook page. Applications are being completed for LIHEAP and CSBG services by phone, mail and email.

LIHEAP CRISIS UPDATE – The program has been extended through April 30th. Staff members have processed 4,459 Crisis Applications for 2,833 families between January 6, 2020 and March 31, 2020, for a total of $891,050.56 in benefits. 

KENTUCKY UTILITIES HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – The Community Services Staff has 117 active participants in the KU Heating Assistance Program.   Through this program, eligible Kentucky Utility customers will receive an $88 credit on their electric bill during the seven months of expected highest electricity usage.  The total value of this program equals $72,072 for these families.  To qualify for the program the family must: be a KU customer, and have made an application for LIHEAP Subsidy and keep bills current, not going into disconnect.

EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – Scholarship Packets have been delivered to the Principals and Counselors at each High School and Vocational School, and the Adult Learning Centers in our service area, informing them of this program.  Students are encouraged to apply for the scholarships that are paid directly to the college or technical school for tuition or books.

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT – The Community Needs Assessment has been completed. The results will be used to establish the priorities for the CSBG Work Plan that will be included in the 2020-2021 CSBG Budget Proposal.  Thanks to everyone who completed the Needs Assessment Survey Form. 1508 surveys were completed.

During these ever-changing times with COVID-19, Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC) continues our social distancing, as we know April could be a very difficult month in our region.  After the dust settles, CKCAC knows reality will set in with our clients and our team will be available to assist in any way we can.

I applaud the passage of the Economic Stimulus Bill in response to the nation’s COVID-19 health crisis. CKCAC is among those networks of Community Action agencies, volunteers and dedicated partners, that are on the front lines every day. We are working everyday to assist Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens, and help them achieve self-sufficiency and improve health outcomes.

Included in this historic stimulus bill is $1.9 billion in increased funding to support two vital programs delivered by Community Action agencies across the country. One is the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). CSBG was allocated $1 billion in additional funding, while LIHEAP will receive an additional $900 million.

CSBG is a diverse program designed to give Community Action agencies the ability to provide a wide range of support in the areas of employment, education, transportation, food security, housing and more. LIHEAP is utilized to support individuals and families struggling to pay heating costs. Both programs are instrumental in CKCAC’s ability to provide comprehensive services that directly address the Social Determinants of Health.

This crisis and the resulting efforts to rebuild our economy are deeply personal for all those involved in delivering upon the Community Action Promise. While the exact amount of Kentucky’s & CKCAC’s allocation is still to be determined, I am extremely encouraged by what this means for our ability to expand our support to those in need of help.

Central Kentucky Community Action Council changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.  Thanks to our team who are on the front lines during this pandemic, thank you for your dedication during this time.  As always, thanks for your support. More to come……………much more.

Kentucky Works Program (KWP) Director, Tracy Dennison, has never seen anything like what we are experiencing with the COVID-19 Pandemic. With basically everything shut down, KWP has had to make major adjustments in how we deliver services to our clients. KWP quickly transferred phone lines and set up offices to be able to safely work from home.

All participants were contacted and explained as to how we would do our weekly tracking and what was going to continue to be expected of them. Although most no longer had a place to do the on-the-job training, some that were participating in our Senior Centers have continued to go in and help that program with drive-thru meals. Most of the others were granted good cause until the Governor lifts the stay-home-healthy order.

When things get back to normal the staff will quickly get each participant back to their training sites to continue with their training and placement.