Category: Newsletter

CKCATS is on the move. As I told you in May, the COVID-19 Pandemic has been devastating for many people in our community. It has also had a huge impact on our Central KY Community Action Transportation Services (CKCATS). As of March 23rd, trips were down 75-85%. CKCATS is still transporting dialysis patients and senior citizens. Active Day, Blessed Assurance and Communicare facilities continue to remain closed until further notice.

During April, May and June, CKCATS continued to see very low numbers and growth is coming on a much smaller scale than anticipated. The CKCATS staff is currently fully staffed and working with CDC standards to assure our clients and drivers are safe during their trips.

CKCATS is very excited about adding Hardin and Meade County to our transportation services. This is under the Title III-B Senior Transportation Services. This service will be available Monday thru Friday from 8:30 am to 2 pm. There are certain restrictions that apply but these free trips will help the seniors of that area. If you live in Hardin or Meade County, please contact the CKCATS Office at 1-800-242-8225 to get additional information. With the addition of these two counties, CKCATS is proud to service the entire Lincoln Trail District.

More to come, much more……

Lincoln Trail Regional Network, Trail of Hope presents the 2020 Family Enrichment Summer Outreach. The goal is to provide families with activities that promote attachment and bonding, as well as, family communication and problem solving. Typically, this is the time of year we would be preparing the families for the summer months. This usually includes food security, pool passes, camping passes, child care and any other components that come with the summer months. This year camps and pools are closed, leaving our most at risk children with little reprieve and parents with little child care options.

Trail of Hope would like to assist these families by providing games and activities that promote family togetherness. The plan is to distribute the funds equally through the 8 counties that we serve. Community partners have been identified in each county that would help aide our attempts to ensure that families in need receive these items. The items being distributed would include board games, outside games, bubbles and toys, that would build family attachment and bonding.

The Community Collaboration for Children Program is continuing on despite of the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, there are many changes on how we interact with families. The program continues to meet with families weekly using telehealth services, such as phone calls, FaceTime and Zoom. There have also been many porch and mailbox drop-offs. The program is committed to ensuring that the families have what they need during this challenging time.

COVID-19 has made life for childcare providers extremely difficult. On March 20, 2020, the Governor closed almost all childcare facilities in Kentucky. The exceptions being those that remained open to serve emergency workers’ children only. Three providers under the agency’s sponsorship remained open with very limited capacity. Five providers prepared boxed meals for the children enrolled in their homes and centers. The agency was able to reimburse them for these boxes through the agency’s Child and Adult Care Food Program.

The childcare homes and centers are very apprehensive about the future. They are beginning to open under strict guidelines and had to go through additional mandatory training. A few of the programs have decided to close their doors. It will be a balancing act for those who choose to remain open.

Most of the homes and centers will fight to survive because of their passion and love for children. Since the agency is a sponsor for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, we will be a huge asset for every childcare home and center. The reimbursement for meals will help lower the cost of food.

The childcare homes and centers did receive good news from the Division of Child Care. The Division of Child Care was able to provide CARES funding for the programs. Providers were eligible to receive $255 per enrolled child and the full payment for children receiving subsidy. Also, grants have been made available to help providers meet the new guidelines for protecting the children from COVID-19.

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.