Bourbon County Coalition Meeting Minutes of Sept. 6

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Minutes

 

September 6, 2023

 

 

1. Welcome:  Sixteen members representing fifteen agencies attended.  Billie Jo informed the membership that as of August 31, the Coalition Board had assisted twenty families, including fifty children, with rent and utility assistance in the amount of $4,618.67.  The Board budgets $650.00 per month for this assistance.  She also mentioned that the Board had issued thirty-one family passes to the Fort Scott Aquatic Center.  After the contribution by the City of Fort Scott, the passes cost the Board $2,415.

 

2. Member Introductions and Announcements:

• Abigail Striler, SEK Mental Health: They will soon be in their new location at the former Mercy Hospital building in Suites B and C; client will enter through the front sliding doors and watch for directional signs.
• Sandy Haggard, RSVP: The next blood drive will be on October 16 and 17 which is a Monday and Tuesday; contact Sandy to volunteer.
• Lea Kay Karleskint, K-State Research and Extension: “Create Better Health” classes will begin on Wednesday, October 11 at 3:00 p.m. at the Fort Scott Housing Authority Commons area, 315 Scott Avenue; classes will meet for six weeks.  Beginning October 17, the “Fresh Conversations” classes will begin meeting on the third Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. for eleven consecutive months; these classes will be in the same location.  For more information on these free classes, contact Lea Kay at Lkarleskint@ksu.edu or 620-224-0182.
• Cynthia Tucker, Loving Grace: The house in Joplin will be at full capacity by the end of the week; they serve women aged 18-24.
• Allen Schellack, Compassionate Ministries and Salvation Army: They are presently continuing the fan distribution but will be transitioning to space heaters, blankets, etc. very soon; the goal of these projects is to make people comfortable.  Allen has also started Homeless transient packs which include basic needs items.  Since many organizations provide for elementary children when school begins, his organization concentrated on school supplies to sixth grade through high school students.  These and the many other things done by the organizations are funded through grants and donations.
• David Gillen, Beacon: Beacon continues to provide food distribution twice each month.  They served 744 people in August who made up 313 families of which 17 were new families.  2023 is averaging 17 new families each month.  Beacon is always looking for volunteers.
• Michelle Stevenson, USD 234: She has instituted a private facebook page for the families involved in the USD 234 Early Childhood program. She does have some openings in her program at the present time.
• COPE: The new Bourbon County transportation through SEK CAP is running and going well.  At present, transportation is available from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• Dee Dee Fever, Community Liaison through Greenbush: They now have online training for parents and paras.  All the programs and services can be found on the Greenbush website.  The early Childhood Forum is active once each month until April.  Scan cards are available for easy access to all services available in your district.
• Melanie Wiles, Gentiva Hospice: Gentiva Hospice, Angels Care Home Health, and Cornerstone Caregiving are bringing Lisa Hemby, Midwest Medicare Solutions, and Beth Dye, Eligibility Specialist for Kancare to Homer Cole, 3003 N. Joplin, Pittsburg, on October 6, 11 a.m to 2:00 p.m.   For more information on this free program, call 620-232-0602.
• Travis Wilcoxsen and Kathy Romero, Angel Care Home Health: They provide in-home care and many other programs to help keep people in their own homes.  They also cautioned members to be sure to look at Medicare billings for their clients due to recent fraud charges.
• Patty Simpson, FS Housing Authority: All 194 apartments are rented based on income, but there is a waiting list for every size apartment; however, they will continue to take applications.  Wait time for an apartment could be six months.
• Maggie Young, CHC: She offers tobacco treatment services and tobacco cessation classes through CHC.

 

3. Program:  Cherri Walrod, Core Communities. Cherri explained how she and her family came back to Fort Scott after twenty-two years and connected with Core Communities.  Fifteen percent, approximately 2,100 people, in Bourbon County live in poverty.  Addressing the poverty issue will help address many of the other aspects of life.  Poverty is a community issue and must be addressed by the community.  Core Communities is a chapter affiliate of Youth Core Ministries based out of Greensburg, KS.  Poverty is defined as “anywhere a person lacks resource.”  Core Communities is about bringing families experiencing poverty to a safe place where their voices are heard and they are treated with honor and dignity.  Launch date for the program is November 13 with space for thirty participants.  For more information on the program and how one can help or enroll, contact Cherri at walrod@gmail.com or 795-917-0361.

 

 

4. Open Forum:  The October 4 program will be presented by Alisha Turner, Kansas Children’s Service League; November 1 we will hear from Travis Wilcoxsen and Kathy Romero, Angel Care Home Health; and in December we will hear more about Maggie Young’s work with tobacco cessation.

 

 

5. Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be October 4.