Category: Newsletter

Central Kentucky Community Action’s Weatherization Program is in full swing and performing weatherization services in our eight-county service area. As of the end of December 2018, CKCAC’s weatherization program had completed 25 homes with 11 walkaways. As of January 1, CKCAC had 30 clients on the waiting list to receive services. The Weatherization Program is fully staffed with an in-house crew, along with contractors to perform HVAC, electrical work as well as weatherization that we have to perform to the dwellings receiving services

Staff includes highly trained supporting and technical staff personnel consisting of Denny Baxter, Dwelling Needs, Evaluator/QCI, Dustin McGowan Crew Leader, Aaron Haycraft, Retrofit Installer, Bob Turci Retrofit Installer, and supporting staff Barbara Garrett, Payroll and Weatherization Assistant.

Our services include testing of aliening air and thermal boundaries, pressure diagnostics, heating system diagnostics, indoor air quality, and base load energy consumption diagnostics. Weatherization staff attended training in the months of January and March to obtain new certifications, which are now required by the US DOE to participate in the weatherization program.

Denny Baxter will be attending training in the month of April to obtain his certification of BPI Energy Auditor as required by the DOE. We would like to say a huge thank you to all weatherization 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.

CKCAC’s weatherization program has received funding from both DOE and LIHEAP with DOE funding of just over $260,000 and LIHEAP being just over $699,000 for 2018/2019. 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 is to continue to reduce energy waste and assure the health and safety of each client we serve. We look forward to the future of CKCAC’s weatherization program to progress and better serve our eight-county service area.

We have several programs updates to share.

LIHEAP Crisis – The application deadline for LIHEAP Crisis has been extended through April. County office staff members have processed 4,920 Crisis applications for 3,179 families between January 8, 2019 and April 3, 2019 for a total of $1,017,775.48 in benefits.

Kentucky Utilities Heating Assistance Program – The Community Services staff has re-certified 101 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 $62,216 for families. To qualify for the program, the family must be a KU customer, and have made an application for LIHEAP Subsidy.

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 which are paid directly to the college or technical school for tuition or books.

Community Needs Assessment – The Community Needs Assessment has been completed. Results will be used to establish the priorities for the CSBG Work Plan that will be included in the 2019-2020 CSBG budget proposal. Thanks to all who completed the Needs Assessment Survey Form. In all, 1,598 surveys were completed.

We will start with the most exciting news— the Kentucky Works Program (KWP) has once again been offered a contract for the next fiscal year. CKCAC has had this contract since 2007, and has expanded services from the original eight CKCAC counties to currently providing services in a total of 17 counties, encompassing the state’s Salt River region.

Having the opportunity to serve in counties outside of the original eight has allowed CKCAC to forge partnerships with other agencies and organizations that have benefited not only KWP, but also the entire agency. We hope that these partnerships will open doors for other program opportunities.

Staff regularly attend Inter-Agency meetings in all eight counties to ensure that we can offer all available resources to our participants. In addition, the collaboration with the other agencies also helps to spread the word of the many different programs that CKCAC has to offer. Community Partnerships are the key to any programs success and has proven so valuable to the Kentucky Works Program.

An exciting April is coming up with many positive programs and activities, but I am going to look into the Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC) crystal ball for an awesome look at May. National Community Action Month in May was created by the Community Action Partnership to reinforce Community Action agencies’ role in helping low-income families achieve economic stability.

During National Community Action Month, Community Action Agencies truly make the promise of Community Action—to help people and change lives—come alive by hosting events that help put a “face” on the families striving to achieve self-sufficiency. CKCAC will be hosting events throughout May with success stories being honored and personal achievements being recognized.

Community Action Agencies also use National Community Action Month to call attention to the positive programs that help thousands of families achieve self-sufficiency. As Central Kentucky Community Action Council continues to showcase our programs, we are also giving local residents -many of whom are unaware of the poverty in their communities -a first-hand look at the struggles low-income families face and how CKCAC programs help these families achieve financial security.

CKCAC will also be a part of the Senior Celebration on May 16 at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown as we celebrate Older Americans Month. This has been going on for over 50 years. Let’s keep it going and celebrate our seniors.

We don’t want to do this without you. I welcome you to be a part of it.

More to come….much more.

Hello from the CCC family! We are extremely busy providing CCC in-home services as well as the operation of the Lincoln Trail Regional Network.

We deliver quality in-home services to our families and provide professional coaching and support. Right now, we are aiding families in increasing positive parenting and discipline skills, obtaining housing, improving household cleanliness, increasing budgeting skills and financial management, building positive relationships with schools and most importantly we are providing a positive support for families. We are striving to connect families to available community resources and supports that may be beneficial to the family.

We are currently serving 10 families and have many families on our waiting list. The families on our waiting list have been offered a family planning meeting. Family planning meetings are a resource used to bring the targeted family and appropriate community partners together in order to brainstorm and create an action plan that will best aid the family. These meetings have been a huge success and are beneficial to the families involved.

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and the Lincoln TrailRegional Network has many activities planned in our communities to raise the awareness and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Our activities are as follows:

Marion County – Child Abuse Awareness Walk at Center Square on April 13^th from12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Washington County – “Prevention Talks” at North Washington Elementary SchoolCradle School on Fridays in April.

Nelson County – Violence Prevention Kick Ball Event at Bardstown High School.

Larue County– Prevention Resource Information Table displayed at the Larue CountyLibrary during the month of April.

Hardin County– Poverty Simulation at Pritchard Community Center on April 11^th.

Breckinridge County– Prevention Resource Information Table displayed at theBreckinridge County Library during the month of April.

Grayson County– Prevention Lunch and Learn at Lawler Elementary.

Meade County– Darkness to Light: Child Sexual Abuse Training at the Meade CountyLibrary on April 27^th starting at 9:00 a.m.

The Family Child Care and Unaffiliated Centers Programs have seen such growth in the past few months! It has been a whirlwind of signing them up and submitting the paperwork to the Child and Adult Care Food Program. There are 18 counties with homes and centers participating under the sponsorship of Central Kentucky Community Action.

The agency now serves as a sponsor for 21 centers, meaning nearly 900 children are being served meals and snacks with better nutrition as a focus. Staff at the centers are trained to plan menus with the children’s nutrition needs in mind. Less processed foods are being served and children are introduced to more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Although the Family Child Care Homes has steadily declined all over the state during the past few years, the homes sponsored by the agency have shown a determination to improve the nutrition and the overall quality of care. There are around 300 children impacted by the participation in the program.

It is a blessing for centers and homes to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. They are able to provide better nutrition for the children with the reimbursement. The children benefit so much being introduced to good nutrition at an early age. Parents can be assured children are getting better nutrition. They realize the importance of this because the bulk of a child’s daily nutrition is being served at the child care program. It is a win-win situation for all!

The Big Reveal……What an awesome day with our Capital Partners at Spring View Hospital and the unveiling of our first CKCATS van wrap for Central Kentucky Community Action Council. Thanks to Greg Gribbins and the Marion County Chamber for organizing the event.

Funding for this wrap will be used for programs at Central Kentucky Community Action Council to continue our research into transportation of potential employees for available workforce in our region. Making transportation more readily available to these workers could go a long way with the community discussion focusing on workforce development & transportation.

The CKCATS van wraps are a way to show partnerships and with the March Goode News, I think we should just think fictionally if one of our CKCATS vans could have a conversation with us what would it say? First, it would tell you about the many seniors it takes to meals daily here in the Lincoln Trail Area where they have a nutritious meal as our menus are prepared by a registered dietitian. It would tell you about the veteran it takes to daily dialysis and how someone donated funds to help pay for the transportation due to financial distress the individual faces.

I bet it would comment about what a pleasure it was to have six Korean students from Lindsey Wilson College transported to Louisville International Airport though Intercity Program where anyone can take transportation to the airport or greyhound bus station for only $10 per person. Most importantly, it would tell you about our CKCATS team that strive every day to provide care to those who are in transport. CKCATS has logged 100,000 trips by our 74 transport vehicles, equaling 1.8 million miles logged for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

CKCAC will continue to address the needs of our service area. We are proud to serve the citizens of the Lincoln Trail Area with life changing programs and services. We will continue to strive to empower those seeking economic stability, while working to strengthen families and build better communities. Funding from projects with our Capital Campaign will do just that. If you would like to be a part, please contact me.

More to come, much more…….

Special thanks to Gary White and Channel 6 for covering the event. If you would like to view the unveiling of the CATS van, please click here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WH2deL6S28.

The Senior Companion Program submitted its progress report supplement on December 10. The report is a reflection of the progress the program has made in carrying out the outcome-based work plans. A total of 44 volunteers, all over the age of 55, provided 45,951 hours of in-home services to 109 clients living within our six-county service area. Counties served include Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Marion, Nelson and Washington. The program’s semi-annual financial and progress report was also due in e-grants by January 30. Progress of work plans and budget seem to be right on target at this time!

Volunteer performance evaluations will be completed, reviewed and signed off on during the February In-Service. The Director completes an evaluation on all 44 of the program’s volunteers and then reviews it with each one of them. The Director and volunteer both sign the document in approval of the content written in the evaluation.

Income reviews will also be another task that will be completed by March. Each volunteer must turn in proof of their household income annually. This is a requirement for eligibility in serving as a volunteer in the Senior Companion Program. This proves whether or not they meet the criteria of the guidelines established by the program’s federal funding source, the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Volunteers in the Senior Companion Program will be mailing out cards to our veterans, active military and their families. This event will serve as our service activity in honor of “Martin Luther King Jr. Day.” We certainly take pride in making our National Service Projects a huge success!

SCP currently has a waiting list of individuals interested in volunteering, as well as clients that are in need of our services. Anyone interested in joining or knows someone that needs some extra help can call (270) 734-3604 for more information.

We hope that everyone had a joyful holiday season surrounded by the love of family and friends. Saying “thank you” just isn’t enough for the commitment in responding whenever we are faced with needs. Your support will definitely help drive us forward in the important work ahead. As always, we are so thankful for the opportunity to serve Central Kentucky’s elderly and disabled population. We continue to strive to make living independently a reality. We wish you many blessings in the New Year ahead.

Mr. Raymond Temple was recently presented with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and service to Nelson County. He has served 7,808 volunteer hours during his 12-plus years with the Kentucky Railway Museum, Inc. in New Haven, KY.

CKCATS is off to a fast pace for the 2019 year. We just received eight new mini vans from American Bus in December. The vans were provided by a 5339 grant from the Office of Transportation Delivery. This addition will update our fleet to 78 buses and will help fulfill the transportation needs of our clients with over 75 percent of our fleet being wheelchair accessible.

We will also receive two 12 x 2 buses from Mid-South Bus Center in March. These buses will also be provided by the 5339 grant. Current projects we are working on include processing our 5310, 5311 and 5339 grants. These grants are due by April 1.

CKCATS received a grant to renovate the Central Office in Lebanon along with a new phone system. New camera systems were also recently installed in the new buses and the entire fleet has been updated. Another project we are currently working on is the safety and security of all parking lots in the counties we serve. The Marion County parking lot for CKCATS had new LED lights installed. This is part of our Safety and Security Plan. All other county parking lots are being evaluated for lighting as well.