Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
October 1, 2025
- Welcome: Seventeen members representing fourteen agencies attended the meeting held at the Scottview Apartments Conference Room.
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Pamela Thrompson – Family Strong Community Liaison -Family Strong has family response advocates in 8 counties. Pamela also helps partners sign up with the IRIS referral system. If you need assistance, let her know.
- Henry Coronado – SER Corporation – The SER Corporation facilitates grants for students with agricultural backgrounds. Henry covers the east side of the state.
- Sandy Haggard – K-State Extension – K-State Extension is offering a “Back to the Land” homesteading series, which is kicking off in Fort Scott. Sandy reminded everyone that October is 4-H membership month.
- Kristine Abbott- Kansas Workforce One- SEKWORKS has merged with Kansas Workforce One. They now cover 96 counties in Kansas. Kansas Workforce One offers the same services as SEKWORKS. Kristine is the Lead Employment Specialist. Her new email is christine@kansasworkforceone.org. She is still at HBCAT on Tuesdays, 9:00-4:00. You can check social media for more information about the merger. com has a merger plan. Christine works with youth, adults, and dislocated workers by providing training, helping set up accounts, and creating resumes.
- Kelly Stammer- Dept. for Children and Families in Parsons- Community engagement coordinator. Kelly is seeking information about offering a Get Together KS event in Fort Scott. Community partners would come together to share information/resources with the public. Employers can attend to find job seekers. Typically takes place from 10:00-1:00. The Pittsburg event has been a success with 50-60 vendors, and events have also been held in Ottawa and Labette County. Kelly would need a partner in town to help organize advertising. Email stammer@ks.gov if you have any interest or suggestions. LIEAP is starting very late this year. The first event will be on January 20 in Wichita.
- Tammy Alcantar – Crawford County Health Dept. – Provide teen pregnancy programs and Baby and Me Tobacco-free programs for moms who want to quit smoking or vaping. Also offering a prenatal class, hybrid with/ Bourbon County, which will begin next Monday, October 6th. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- Stephanie Breckinridge, Family Response Advocate – Stephanie helps relieve the stress of parents through connecting to resources and providing limited concrete funds.
- Janelle Tate – Early Childhood Block Grant
- Gayla Mendenhall – Early Childhood Block Grant
- Star Culp – Parents as Teachers
- Patty Simpson – Fort Scott Housing Authority – The housing authority has 190 income-based apartments. There is currently a short waiting list.
- Cheri Walrod – Community Health Worker, K-State Extension- helps fill gaps for those in need.
- Shelby Moore – FAST Program – Particularly working with families providing special education assistance.
- Michelle Stevenson – Fort Scott Early Childhood Program – Home visiting program prenatal – 6
- Kelli Mengarelli – Early Childhood Block Grant
- Nick Johnson – Fort Scott Preschool Center will host their annual Early Childhood Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 30.
- Program: Lacy Nickelson, Fostering Connections
Through personal experience with the adoption and foster care systems, Lacy and her husband noticed several gaps in services. They started Fostering Connections to help fill these gaps. Fostering Connections is not on the prevention side, but offers care after the foster process has started. Fostering Connections serves families in Linn, Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee counties.
Statistics:
- In Southeast Kansas, there are 730 children out of their homes.
- 60% of foster parents quit after the first year.
- Children average 3 placements in their lifetime.
- The average child waits 4-6 hours before receiving emergency placement
Fostering Connections’ mission is to positively impact foster and adoption families and children in the community. They do this by connecting them to the community and churches. The Anchor family program matches youth aging out of foster care with a supportive family. This program currently has 9 matches. The program is voluntary for children and the anchor family. Fostering Connections serves 75-100 kids per month. They hold 2-4 events for children and foster families. Fostering Connections offers family-centered solutions such as fun events, home improvement support, restaurant gift card program, caring closet, mom’s coffee nights, foster parents retreat, and sleep in safety program. Currently planning a Hope for the Journey event in November. Fostering Connections also offers several child-centered programs such as Christmas for kids, graduating senior program (43 kids last year), anchor family program, VIP birthday program, teen impact events, VIP kid bags, teen shopping spree, and kids night out events. One of the newest programs is birthday celebrations, which will provide funds for families to go to fun venues in the community (Jumpy Land, skating, SOAR, etc) . If you would like to help, check out the volunteer tab on their website for opportunities.
- Open Forum: Nothing further came before the membership.
- Adjournment: The next General Membership meeting will be November 5, 2025.