Submitted by Billie Jo Drake, President of Bourbon County Coalition

March 4, 2020

1. Welcome and Board update: Twenty members and one guest representing fourteen agencies attended. Billie Jo shared that the Coalition Board would have family swim pass applications at Buck Run Community Center and Beacon by April 1. She thanked members for their cooperation in cancelling the February meeting due to weather.

2. Member introductions and announcements:

• Michelle Worsley, SEK CAP Head Start, shared that they are taking applications for the program; acceptance is based on income.
• Steve Jameson, SEK CAP, shared that he is now working on one of the eight Kansas teams with the Drug Endangered Children Academy.
• Christine Abbott, SEK Kansas Works, announced that the state wide job fair will be April 2, 3-6:00 p.m. at the Pittsburg Memorial Hall. She reminded members that participants need to come with resumes in hand. The Youth Summit will be held at the same time; presently, the Youth Summit is at capacity with 125 registered.
• Reagan Rose, SEK Kansas Works, emphasized that she can help with employment issues for adults, 18 and up.
• Michelle Lyon, DCF, announced that the First Presbyterian Church now has a furniture ministry; contact the church or Michelle with needs and/or donations.
• Sandy Haggard, RSVP, reminded members of the “Are You Taking Your Medications Safely?” program being held Tuesday, March 24, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., at the SEK-Multi County Health Department , 524 South Lowman, Fort Scott.
• Allen Schellack, Compassionate Ministries/Salvation Army/Care Portal, shared that there will be a free-will offering pancake feed on April 5 at the Empress Center to benefit Compassionate Ministries. He is also working on building beds through a Fort Scott Community Foundation grant. Although he does not have a definite budget as yet, the Salvation Army has given him permission to begin spending the 2020 money to help those in our area.
• Cinda Reynolds, American Red Cross, shared that she and Nancy Van Etten had recently completed the “Mass Care Training.”
• Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority, has apartments available!
• Caleb Smith, Kansas Appleseed, noted that they will host a SNAP training on April 23, 1-3:00 p.m. at the Wesley House in Pittsburg. He will have more information later on the May 30 Payday Lending program in Iola.
• Kelly Stammer and Abby Churning, DCF GOALS, shared that they are in need of beds and bed frames.
• Shannon Stancer, TFI, mentioned that they are short on transportation drivers.
• Gary Murrell, Beacon, noted that they are in need of food and financial donations.

3. Program: Barbara Longhofer, Kansas Guardianship Program. The Kansas Guardianship Program is a partnership involving the State of Kansas and citizen volunteers. Every year many adults in Kansas are declared legally unable to manage their lives and financial affairs. The KGP recruits citizen volunteers willing to be appointed as guardian or conservator to advocate for and protect the rights of these individuals. The program began in Manhattan and has been in existence for about forty years. It is like CASA for adults. Volunteers need only to have a big heart and a few hours each month. In 2019 Kansas had 1,385 adults with 767 volunteers. Bill Meyer and Elizabeth Schafer, both volunteers in the program, shared about their clients and their experiences with them. Barbara also shared that the “Aging with Attitude” conference will be held on the last Friday in April at the Community Christian Church.

4. April program: Meaghan Russell will be sharing about the mentoring program at USD 235.

5. Open Forum: We still need program ideas for May and June as well as all months next year.

6. Adjournment: Next meeting will be April 1, 2020.