Category: Newsletter

Central KY Head Start is successful because of its dedicated employees. Mrs. Alma Edelen is about to celebrate her 50th year with Head Start. Throughout the years she has been involved with Head Start in many capacities, from being a parent, to being a member of the teaching staff.

Ms. Alma is enthusiastic about teaching young children and always sets a good example for families, children and co-workers through her work. She is a strong advocate for the children in our communities and we will be forever grateful for her knowledge and experience.

In February, a meeting was held in Elizabethtown to discuss the development of childcare centers in the Lincoln Trail area. There was discussion around helping employed parents find child care for their children. Many families expressed the lack of child care as a barrier to employment. There were also many representatives in attendance that discussed the issues facing the development of child care in the area. It was decided to meet again to further explore options.

There are now 22 Unaffiliated Centers sponsored by the agency and 31 Family Child Care Home programs. These centers and homes are in 19 different counties. Hometown Kids has now assumed operation of Christ the Head Child Care in Danville and will close Hometown Kids-Perryville this month. Susan Parks will will now operate Hometown Kids-Danville and Hometown Kids-Springfield.

Bids are being requested for programs to allow Family Child Care Homes and Unaffiliated Centers to submit monthly reports online. Those programs wishing to submit paper claims will still have that option.

The Lincoln Trail Regional Network’s, Trail of Hope, has been very busy preparing for April, which is Child Abuse Awareness Month. There will be many different activities and programs happening in the area during the month of April. Below is a list of these events:

• Trail of Hope has partnered with Central KY Head Start for the Child Abuse Awareness Walk, which will be held on Saturday, April 4th from 12pm to 2pm. This will take place at Centre Square in Lebanon, KY.
• The Washington County Homemakers Group has partnered with Trail of Hope to raise awareness. There will be City and County Proclamations, as well as, posters displayed in the Washington County Library. There will also be a display of blue pinwheels and ribbons in downtown Springfield.
• Trail of Hope is sponsoring a display of blue pinwheels in downtown Bardstown.
• Trail of Hope will be attending the Extension Expo at the Larue County High School, on March 21st from 10am to 2pm. There will be a resource station that includes activities for kids and resources for parents, that focus on the prevention of abuse and neglect.
• Trail of Hope is collaborating with the Born Learning Event. Staff will be there passing out Ages and Stages materials that focus on development, attachment and bonding, as well as, child safety and appropriate discipline.
• Breckinridge County will be setting up blue pinwheel gardens around the county, sponsored by Trail of Hope.
• Trail of Hope will be attending Kids Fest at the Brandenburg Primary School, in Meade County, on March 7th, from 9am-12pm. There will be a Pinwheel Coloring Contest, as well as, child abuse awareness and prevention information.

The Senior Community that Central KY Community Action (CKCAC) serves is proving that age is just a number. CKCAC is proud to provide a variety of very influential programs, that allow our seniors to stay active, share a hot meal with friends, have accessible transportation, maintain independent living and give back to their communities. Here are some numbers on our seniors from the past 2018-2019 Fiscal Year:

• 109 seniors received care and companionship through the Senior Companion Program.
• 600 senior commodity boxes were distributed in partnership with USDA and America’s Second Harvest of the Heartland.
• 35,744 meals were served to seniors through the CKCAC Congregate Meals Program.
• 28,875 volunteer hours from our 117 Retired Senior Volunteer Program at 17 different volunteer stations.
• 1,282 seniors enrolled in the CKCATS Transportation Program. During this time, CKCATS logged a total of 1.76 million miles, providing safe and reliable transportation options to thousands of people across the region during the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year.

To our seniors in Hardin County; we will be hosting an Open House in April, for all seniors to come and meet our new RSVP Director, Melissa Bland. The event will be held at the Griffin Manor Senior Center, located at 1119 Johnstown Road #8,  Elizabethtown, KY 42701. The date will be announced very soon.

Below is a list of all of our Senior Citizens Centers and their contact information.

As always, please contact our team if you need anything. More to come….much more.

Janet Sheckles started with Central KY Community Action Head Start on August 17th, 1998, as a Family Advocate. She then moved to Center Manager and later became the Health and Nutrition Manager. Janet has impacted the lives of thousands of families during her 22 years with Head Start.

Janet is a loving daughter, a wonderful wife to her husband Carl, and an amazing mother to her daughter Kyra. Janet endlessly serves our Community, serving on the Industrial Foundation Board, Heartland Coalition and the Lions Club. She has made numerous partnerships that have become vital to our organization. Janet also initiated the hat and coat drive, that serves hundreds of children in the Head Start Program.

Janet has not only become of crucial part of the Head Start Staff, but family to everyone here at Central KY Community Action Council. As a Head Start alumni, she has been with Head Start throughout her entire life and the truly embodies the essence of everything our organization prides themselves on being.

The new RSVP Director, Melissa Bland, has selected Olivia Kizinkiewizc, for this months Volunteer Spotlight. Olivia has been a vital part of our volunteer team. She has volunteered with the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) since March of 2018. Olivia is currently volunteering at three different stations. We are very appreciative of everything Olivia does for our program.

The oldest RSVP volunteer is 92 and has worked 9,480 hours since beginning in 2005. There are also 2 volunteers over the age of 90 and 28 over the age of 80.

Letters have been mailed out to 125 current volunteers and 17 work stations, with introduction letters from Melissa. She let them know about the RSVP Office moving to Griffin Manor Senior Center, which is located at 1119 Johnstown Road in Elizabethtown.

The Congregate Meals Program (CMP) Staff is hoping the groundhog is right, and that Spring is right around the corner. The sickness has been high in all counties, even though we’ve been lucky to have mild weather this winter.

Amanda Stoess, Dietetic Consultant for the Department of Aging and Independent Living, conducted the state audit on January 17th. The audits were conducted at the Grayson County site kitchen and the Griffin Manor Senior Center. Everything went smoothly and we are expecting a good report.

Due to the remodeling of the Prichard Center, our annual Senior Celebration will be earlier than usual. The Senior Celebration will be held on Thursday, March 19th, 2020. See the flyer below for more information.

From July 1st, 2019 to January 31st, 2020, the CMP has served 23,659 meals to 551 unduplicated clients. CMP has provided 1,701 Bingocize sessions to 184 unduplicated clients and has provided 2,964 nutrition education sessions to 327 unduplicated clients.

Sam Clements was hired to work as a Transportation Assistant on August 13th, 2001. Sam served on the Federal Transportation of the Bluegrass Board and attended meetings with the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Service Providers, Regional Transportation & Highway Safety Committee, Workforce Investment Board, the One Stop Committee and the Marion County Inter Agency Council.

Throughout his 18 years with CKCATS, Sam traveled to six counties, which includes Grayson, Breckinridge, Larue, Nelson, Marion and Washington Counties, to promote CKCATS safe and affordable transportation services. Sam did this to help improve the quality of life for the clients we serve. He would pass out brochures, speak to nursing home residents and medical facilities. Sam also visited with many different factories and discovered that 30% of factory employees do not have reliable transportation. This is something we are trying to address at this time.

Many thanks to Sam Clements for a job well done! Sam was a huge asset to our Transportation staff and we wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter of life!

The Kentucky Legislature is in full swing, which made for a busy month for Central KY Community Action Council (CKCAC). Community Action Kentucky partnered with CKCAC, for a legislative breakfast in Frankfort, to meet with our legislators. It was a very successful day that focused on the programs within our organization.

Senator Jimmy Higdon took the time to sit down with us and discuss our programs in depth. One program that stood out to Senator Higdon was the Weatherization Program. Senator Higdon gave a Legislative Update that was featured in the Nelson County Gazette, that discusses the Weatherization Program. Here is a link to the article: http://nelsoncountygazette.com/?p=42594

Many thanks to Senator Higdon and all of our elected legislators for taking the time to meet with us. Together we can continue to find ways to break down the barriers for those fighting poverty. More to come, much more…

Jennifer was referred to the Kentucky Works Program after she had hit, what she considers, her absolute rock bottom. She never imagined that she would find herself in this position and she knew that if she was going to keep custody of her 11-month, she would have to make some serious changes.

The first of those changes was forced upon Jennifer by the courts. She entered the local Saving Hope Program, which is a group living home for mothers who are at risk of losing their children. Jennifer then began the process of completing the KARE Program, which is a required drug program for nurses who have had their license suspended due to substance abuse. Jennifer was also participating in the Kentucky Works job training program at a local food pantry.

When Jennifer was cleared to return to work, she found it very difficult to find employment because of her past history. Then she found the Journey Pure Treatment Center, who specializes in helping people overcome substance abuse. The Journey Pure Treatment Director, Jerry Lucas, told the Kentucky Works Program Director, Tracy Dennison, that he had to hire her; he had to practice what he preached. He hired Jennifer through the Wage Subsidy Program, starting her out at $22.00 an hour. Six months later, she is making over $28.00 an hour and has full-time benefits.

Jennifer is extremely grateful for everything the Kentucky Works Program has helped her accomplish and she is continuing to mentor others, like herself, to help them overcome these difficult barriers.