Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Minutes

 

June 7, 2023

 

 

1. Welcome:  Twenty-one members representing sixteen agencies attended.  Billie Jo shared that thirty-three family passes to the Aquatic Center had been approved allowing a total of 135 individuals to access the pool this summer.  Lea Kay Karleskint and Travis Wilcoxsin have agreed to serve on the Coalition Board and will be beginning their terms in September.

 

2. Member Introductions and Announcements:

• Cassidy Lutz, K-State Research: Southwind District has several classes being offered in the near future:  Strengthening Families, Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness, Sewing Steam.  For more information contact Southwind Extension District, 620-365-2242.
• Sandy Haggard, RSVP: Red Cross blood drive will be June 15 and 16 at Buck Run; contact Sandy to volunteer to help.
• David Gillen, Beacon: Last month 329 families totaling 757 people received services from Beacon.  This number included twenty-two new families.  The first six months of 2023 have averaged twelve new families qualifying for Beacon assistance each month.  David reminded members of all the services that Beacon offers; emergency help is also provided for individuals that do not qualify for services based on income.
• Jeanne Camac – Congratulations to Jeanne on her retirement from USD 235 where she served as the high school counselor!
• Amy Hagan, CHC: Provides home-based help for moms; the goal is to get families “on their feet.”
• Megan Smith, CHC: Provides in-house family support; works with infants through age 44.
• Lisa Robertson and Lindsey McNeil, COPE: They are out in the community to help people; they are housed at the HBCAT office.  They are grant funded until December 31, 2023.
• Rachel Carpenter, COPE: Reminded members of grant opportunities for restaurants and women beginning businesses.  Rachel is working to address inequities in our community and continues to seek partners who will help bring the transportation program to our area.
• Lea Kay Karleskint, K-State, Snap Education: She just needs space and she brings the kitchen and all the supplies for her classes.  Her target audience is low resource persons.  She will now be housed in the CHC building as the liaison between CHC and K-State Research Extension.
• Tammy Alcantar, Crawford County Health Department: Continues to conduct and have success with the Baby and Me Tobacco Free and Teen Pregnancy programs. Tammy reminded members about the Bourbon County Baby Shower to be held at the Health Department, 524 Lowman Street, on June 22, 10 – 12. She also noted that Holly Fritter at the Health Department is the Safe Sleep person for Bourbon County.
• Shawna Willey: In-Clinic Community Health Worker at CHC.  Can help with applications for homelessness, health care, etc.
• Maggie Young, CHC: Working to create a task force for youth through a tobacco cessation grant and will be working in the schools.
• Christine Abbott, SEK Works: There is still money available; she continues to look for youth 16-24 for her programs.  A very positive recent change has allowed the youth in her programs to be paid a competitive wage between $7.25 and $20.00 per hour.  She can help with work experience, applications, resumes, etc.  Several youth from Bourbon County are involved in these programs.
• Michelle Stevenson, USD 234 PreSchool Program: She is funded by the Early Block Grant which has been approved for another year.  Many children graduated from her program; therefore,  she needs referrals!  Contact Michelle at 620-223-8965, Extension 3005.
• Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing Authority: She has a total of 190 units; however, at this time there are waiting lists for all size units – the longest waiting list she has had in seventeen years. The situation is probably due to higher rents elsewhere.
• DeeDee LeFever, Greenbush Community Liaison: She helps match Greenbush services such as Parent as Teachers, Audiology, Infant-Toddler Networks, professional development, etc. to people who need them.  For additional information: greenbush.org or 800-554-3412.
• Kathy Romero, Angels Care Home Health: Since 2004 they have been providing in home behavioral health care help for such things as anxiety, depression, bipolar, etc.  They also specialize in the Care Connections program for individuals who need care in their home before hospice.

 

3. Program:  Dawn Cubbison presented a slide show explaining all the extra benefits provided through the Aetna Better Health of Kansas such as the Healthy Rewards Program, over-the-counter supply catalog, transportation services, respite care, Ted E Bear Kids Club, No Place Like Home Grant, mobile app, and many others.  For more information: AetnaBetterHealth.com/Kansas.

 

4. Open Forum:  Billie Jo reminded members that the Coalition does not meet in July.

 

5. Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be August 2.  April Jackson, Thrive Allen County, will present the program on overdose prevention.