Category Archives: Youth

Congratulations to Fort Scott High School Senior Katelyn Dancer on being named a 2023 College Board National Recognition Program Awardee!

Katelyn earned this academic honor because of her GPA of 3.5 or higher and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and/or AP Exams. She is being recognized as part of the National Rural/Small Town Recognition Program. Award winners are given the opportunity to include this academic honor on their college applications, and many colleges intentionally recruit awardees through College Board’s Student Search Service.

Congratulations Katelyn and keep up the good work!

— Submitted by

Jeff DeLaTorre

Athletic/Activities Director

Fort Scott High School

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Youth

Carnival Games at Old Settlers Picnic on September 4

August 21, 2023 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Art, Bourbon County, Youth

Two Bourbon County Non-Profits Receive Grants from Area Foundation

August 19, 2023 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas Awards $160,000 to SEK Nonprofits

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to announce General Grant Funds totaling $160,000 have been awarded to 48 nonprofit organizations in Southeast Kansas. In 2023 alone, these grants will impact 12 Southeast Kansas counties and 23 different communities.

The areas of Basic Human Needs, Youth Activities, and Arts & Culture are the focus of the CFSEK General Funds competitive grant process. Proposals for projects in these focus areas were accepted during the month of June. Submissions were reviewed, and selections for funding were completed early last month.

“We are amazed by the work of our nonprofit community in Southeast Kansas, and we are proud to support their hard work,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “These organizations provide an incredible variety of programs, services, and resources that truly improve the quality of life in our communities.”

Since 2004, competitive granting from funds directly managed by CFSEK have provided over $1.5 million to organizations throughout Southeast Kansas. Competitive granting differs from other granting provided by CFSEK, such as donor-advised grants, designated grants, field of interest grants, and others. Since its inception in 2001, CFSEK has provided over $20 million in total grant funding throughout Southeast Kansas.

The following organizations and projects were awarded funds from the 2023 General Funds grant process:

Arts & Culture – $2,200

Gordon Parks Museum Foundation – Support for the 20^th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration
Olive Street Presents, LTD – “Don’t Stop Believin'” Music Programming
Pittsburg ArtWalk Association – Audio Equipment

Basic Human Needs – $67,800

Caney Valley Agape Network, Inc. – Improvements for Sustainability and Service
Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry – It’s All Essential
Catholic Charities Inc. – Youth Homelessness Diversion Project
Community Food Pantry Fund – Community Food Pantry Fund
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas – Clothing Our Kids in Need
Crosstimbers Food Pantry Association – The Blessing Bee Lift Gate
DBLO Association – Continuing to Make Dreams Possible for Children in Need in SEK
Eden Early Learning Academy – Educational Development & Enrichment for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
The Erie United Methodist Church, Inc. – Erie Christmas Baskets/ Share the Love Valentines Bags
Families and Children Together Inc. – Working for Wellness
First Baptist Church Riverton – Share with Love Food pantry
First United Methodist Church Wesley House – Homeless Basic Supplies
Humanity House Foundation – Feeding Allen County II
KVC Kansas – Personal Care Items for Youth in Foster System
Labette County Emergency Assistance Center – Emergency Funds for Labette County Residents
The Lord’s Diner – The Lord’s Diner Project
Mosaic – Ensuring Housing Access, Safety and Security Through Emergency Funding for People with Disabilities
Sacred Heart Parish – Providing Fresh Produce for Our Families in Crawford County
Safe Haven Outreach Mission – A Good Night’s Sleep
Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc. – Welcome Home
The Salvation Army – Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance Program 2023-2024
SEK Women Helping Women – Stay Safe
SparkWheel – Essential Services for SEK Students
Wesley United Methodist Church – Grab & Go Food Ministry

Youth Activities – $75,000

Chanute Public Library – Literacy4Littles
Cherry Street Youth Center, Inc. – Reading Lab – Raz Kids
City of Galena – City Park Splash Pad
City of Mulberry – Basketball Court Upgrades
Columbus Area Community Foundation – Youth Activities Granting
Curious Minds Discovery Zone, Inc. – Outdoor Shelter & Safety
First Baptist Church Riverton – Together Strong
First United Methodist Church Wesley House – Cozy Kids, Coats for Kids Program
Fort Scott Area Community Foundation – Youth Activities Granting
The Foster Closet, Inc. – Family Enrichment Events
Fostering Connections – Back to School Free, Familly, Fun Event
Girard Area Community Foundation – Youth Activities Granting
Happy Kids Daycare & Preschool, Inc. – Frog Street Curriculum
Inspire Health Foundation, Inc. – Anatomy Models and Health Resources for Students
Integrated Behavioral Technologies – Teen Activity Room in SEK Autism Clinic
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters – Mentors and Matches
Pittsburg Community Theatre – Jr. Starz
Mary’s Colgan Schools – Family and Consumer Sciences
Patrick Catholic School – Continuing Student Learning Through Technology
SoHome Kids Foundation – Safe Space
Southwind Extension Education Foundation – Food, Safety, and Personal Hygiene Enhancement
Special Olympics Kansas – Equipment for Special Olympics Kansas SEK
Spring River Mental Health and Wellness – Pathfinders Summer/Fall Activities
USD 250 – Holiday Vespers
Victory Life Church – Back2School Event
Wilco Interagency Corporation – Early Childhood Family Engagement Opportunities

The CFSEK Board of Trustees and staff congratulate all the 2023 grant recipients!

For additional information related to CFSEK’s competitive granting opportunities, visit www.SoutheastKansas.org or call 620-231-8897.

Art, Bourbon County, Business, Youth

Young Entrepreneur: Devlin Cole

August 17, 2023 Loretta George Leave a comment

This is part of a series featuring young entrepreneurs in our community.

Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.

To view the prior story: Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor

If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]

Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.

Devlin Cole, 15, started a leather works business about a year ago, called DRC Leatherworks.

He hand stamps and hand cuts leather to make bookmarks, rings, bracelets, key rings.

His grandmother, Vicki Waldron, owner of ViCon, a sewing business, and he both got interested at the same time, and he works out of her shop on Maple Road, rural Fort Scott. His sister, Mackenna, has encouraged him in his business, he said.

“I started sewing when young,” Cole said. “I like hands-on personalizing and being a craftsman on something that is personal.”

He is currently creating a stock pile of leather work articles for the Children’s Business Fair on September 30.

“I used (his leather) bookmarks at school, when reading and friends noticed and ordered a few,” he said.

At a recent band event, some of his friends helped Cole select a name for his business and he has been working on pricing, business logo and a business email.

Belts are $10, keychains and pendants are $5, bookmarks are $7, rings are $3, and bracelets are $4.

“That is the prices I have thought of at the current moment not 100% sure on the belts due to leather costs but the rest is pretty set in stone,” he said.

At a recent Children’s Business Fair workshop, he developed a busniness plan and got all his ideas on paper, he said. Next was cash flow and payment options.

He will be selling, along with other young enrepreneurs, at the Fort Scott Farmers Market on September 30.

K-State Extension, Youth

Kansas State University State 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest

August 17, 2023 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Kansas State University State 4-H Horticulture Judging Contest – August 12, 2023

Pictured from left to right are Southwind District 4-H’ers: Kason Botts, Will Maycumber, Jewel Endicott, Austin Maycumber, Seth Shadden, Camryn Wille, Hailey Shadden, Abigail Meiwes, and Coach Casey Diver.

Intermediate Division:

Hailey Shadden….10th Place Individual

Camryn Wille

Kason Botts

Austin Maycumber

Team – 4th Place

Senior Division:

Abigail Meiwes: 1st Place Individual

Jewel Endicott

Seth Shadden

Will Maycumber

Team – 2nd Place

submitted by

Jennifer K. Terrell
District Extension Agent
4-H Youth Development

Jennifer Terrell, K-State Extension Agent

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Youth

Young Entrepreneur: Benjamin Shead

August 16, 2023 Loretta George 1 Comment

This is part of a series featuring young entrepreneurs in our community.

Following the first set of stories on young entrepreneurs in our community, an anonymous donor wrote fortscott.biz that he wanted to grant each one of the featured youth with $50.

To view the prior story: Young Entrepreneurs Series Spawns An Anonymous Benefactor

If you know of a child, under 18 years of age, that is creating products or providing services to sell to the public, please send their name and phone number to [email protected]

Fortscott.biz wants to encourage the youth who are learning business by doing it.

Benjamin Shead,13, has an online tutoring business.

“Some classes I have guided other students in are geometry, Latin, sixth grade math, formal logic, algebra 1 and 2,” he said.

“Most of my clients contact me through Facebook,” Benjamin said. “I also take students when my sister’s (Katy Shead) schedule is too busy.”

“I started tutoring when my sister’s schedule was getting packed with students,” he said. “This showed me that I enjoyed helping other people in their educational trouble areas.”

“I tutor so that I can revisit material that I enjoyed learning but am no longer being taught,” he said. “Tutoring gives me the ability to experience a class again, this time on a deeper level, the level of teaching the material. I also enjoy finding new ways to explain a concept and tutoring gives me a purpose for the exploration of these ways.”

“One subject I really enjoy tutoring is Formal Logic,” Benjamin said. “It is awesome to learn how to explain proofs by comparing them to a hidden treasure or something else that the student understands better than proofs.”

“While it is a lot better for kids to be tutored, if they need it, across the school year, I sometimes help kids in last-minute cramming sessions for math and logic finals,” he said. “These sessions provide a last-minute review, and it gives kids confidence to try their best on this last assignment.”

Benjamin lives just outside the Fort Scott city limits with his sister, Katy and parents Mark and Haley Shead.

Benjamin Shead works on collatz conjecture. Submitted photo.

Benjamin submitted this photo of him working on a math problem called a collatz conjecture.

Here is his explanation of collatz conjecture:

“The collatz conjecture is a theory about mathematics which is believed to be true but no one has been able to prove yet,” Benjamin said. “It states that if any odd whole number is plugged into the formula (3n+1)/2, if any even number is divided by two, and every number is plugged back into one of these formulas, a formula will eventually reach one.”

Kansas, Youth

Youth Stable Placements, Improvement in Access to Mental Health Services

August 14, 2023 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Report Shows Kansas Foster Youth Remain in Stable Placements, Improvement in Access to Mental Health Services

Neutral party releases second McIntyre Settlement status report

TOPEKA – Kansas foster children have more stable placements and have quicker access to mental health services, according to the second report from the Neutral Third Party in the McIntyre class action lawsuit settlement.

“My administration continues to make progress in protecting Kansas kids in the foster care system and repairing the state’s child welfare system,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The latest Neutral Report shows we continue to ensure kids are in stable placements and are improving how many foster youth receive necessary mental health screenings and timely access to services. But this report also makes clear that, in spite of all of our efforts, there’s much more work to be done. I am encouraged by the steps we’ve taken in 2023 to decrease temporary overnight placements and instances of kids staying in offices, but clearly the legislature and I must dig deeper, make more targeted investments, and come up with solutions that work.”

The McIntyre class action lawsuit was filed in 2018 under the Colyer Administration by Kansas Appleseed, Children’s Rights, and the National Center for Youth Law against the Governor, Kansas Department for Children and Families, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The Governor was later dismissed from the case.

The parties agreed to a settlement in 2020. The settlement was structured to ensure Kansas would achieve substantial progress and compliance in key performance areas over a multi-year period. Performance areas include accountability, reporting and implementation, practice improvements and outcomes. The settlement recognizes that the outcomes and practice improvements will not all be accomplished in one year. Outcome goals were set for a three-to-four-year period.

This second report covers data from calendar year 2022.

The new report shows Kansas continued to show progress in placement stability. For the second year in a row, DCF met the requirement to increase stable placements for children in custody. In a case review, the Neutral found that 91% of children and youth whose case were reviewed were in stable placements in 2022. That’s a 6% improvement over 2021.

Other highlights of the report include:

Nearly 98% of Family Foster Homes and nearly 100% of Non-Relative Kin and Licensed Kin homes followed licensing capacity standards in CY 2022.
In 2022, DCF improved the number of children and youth receiving mental health and trauma screens after initially entering care. The CY 2022 data shows 43% of case reviews showed a screening was conducted, an improvement from 34% in CY 2021.
Case reads also showed DCF has improved in addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of children and youth in custody. The report shows that 70% of cases reads showed children and youth receiving timely mental health services, an increase of 5% over CY 2021.

“The report affirms our commitment to the continuous improvement of the Kansas child welfare system,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “Several factors including implementing a youth statewide mobile crisis service, adding therapeutic foster homes as a level of service, and working with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to implement Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs) are responsible for the steady improvement of these mental health outcomes. We expect to see this number continue to improve as more CCBHCs come online and more families across the state become aware of the youth mobile crisis service.”

The report also found the state has more work to do to decrease both temporary overnight placements, instances of youth staying in offices, and night-to-night placements. Since the time period covered in the report, DCF has made significant strides in reducing those numbers thanks to new innovations already implemented and significant targeted investment from the governor and the Kansas legislature in this year’s budget. The agency implemented the Failure to Place network, which ensures there is a stand-by bed for youth who may otherwise be forced to stay in an office because of a lack of available placements. This has already led to a more than 50% reduction in the number of youth staying in a contractor’s office in CY 2023.

DCF is also encouraged by the recent investment of $6 million in the state’s new therapeutic foster home system, which will increase the stability of placements and improve mental health outcomes. Once fully implemented in partnership with the Children’s Alliance, children with high needs will fully realize the benefits of a therapeutic foster care option supporting families serving these youth.

The agency also notes the Neutral’s continued concerns related to data access and validation. The agency currently has a Request for Proposal for a Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) in the review stage. The RFP is designed to allow for separate parts of the system to be implemented sequentially, allowing the state to realize the benefits prior to the system becoming fully operational.

Those interested in the full CY 22 report can access it via the Center for the Study of Social Policy website.

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K-State Extension, Schools, Youth

Beating the Back-to-School Blues

August 12, 2023 Submitted Story Leave a comment

Cassidy Lutz
K-State Research and Extension
Family and Consumer Science Agent
Southwind District
211 W. Butler
Yates Center, KS 66783
620-625-8620

The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the sound of bells ringing through the halls, and the gathering of friends that you haven’t seen all summer.

I am sure we can all think back to our childhood and remember how the beginning of a new school year brought on excitement, dread, or anxiety.

As a parent, you can help your children get a good start to this school year and ease some of those anxious thoughts and feelings.

For many kids, one of the biggest back-to-school worries is if they will like their teacher. Breaking the ice early is one of the best ways to calm their fears. If personal contact with the teacher is not possible before school starts, try locating the teacher’s picture on a school website or in a yearbook. Helping your child put a face with a name before the first day in the classroom can help them feel more at ease and prepare them for their first interaction.

Familiarizing your child with their environment is another thing you can do to help them avoid nervous tummy aches. If your school offers a walk-through before the first day, this can be a great opportunity for you to meet the teacher, find their desk, or explore the school together. With older children, try asking them to give you a tour of the school and their classroom. Not only will this help refresh their minds, but it will give you an idea of where they will be spending the majority of their time over the next several months.

Go over class supply lists and plan a shopping trip. Having all the needed school supplies can help your child feel prepared. By taking your kids back to school shopping, they will feel supported and encouraged. Allow for a couple of splurges like a cool notebook or a backpack in their favorite color while also keeping basic needs in mind. Even a small fun purchase can make going back to school more enjoyable and give them something to look forward to.

Ease into new routines the week leading up to the first day of school. Switching from a summer schedule to a structured school schedule can be stressful for everyone in a household. Avoid mayhem on the first day of school by getting into the new routine a few days in advance. Set an alarm clock, go through your morning ritual, and make time for a healthy breakfast. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing one early will make the first day of school go so much smoother.

After school kicks off, take time to talk as a family about how each day went. Try asking how they like their classes, if they have made any new friends, or what they like most about school thus far. Not only will you learn more about how they are adapting to all the changes, but this will also help strengthen family relationships by bonding over shared conversations.

Don’t let the beginning of a new school year create unnecessary stress for your kids and household. By doing some of these simple things, you can help your children feel prepared and ready to tackle another great school year. For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.

Schools, Youth

Poverty Speaker: Solving Poverty and Healing Trauma

August 10, 2023 Submitted Story Leave a comment

ALL are invited and welcome to attend the Poverty Paradigm event this Saturday, August 12 at 4 p.m. at Fort Scott Middle School.

The cost is $10 to participate.

If individuals want to participate, but cannot afford the $10, contact Jennifer Michaud: phone: 785-230-7010 or email
[email protected]

The speaker is Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz.

To get a ticket, see the flyer below.

About the Speaker: Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz

Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz works with both communities and schools across the US to truly solve poverty and heal trauma, according to a press release. She does this by helping caring leaders create sustainable ecosystems of resilience through building better relationships.

Rebecca fought her way out of poverty and the trailer park in 2011 with three young sons. A local poverty resolution project found Rebecca and activated her journey. She later went to work for that non-profit and then went on to build multiple projects like it to help more families. In 2015 She started working with public education and ignited a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond.

Rebecca experienced a lifetime of trauma and poverty and through access to buffering relationships she healed from both and continues to light the path for others.

Schools:

Rebecca is a Co-Founder of the ESSDACK Resilience Team. Rebecca and her team have walked alongside well over 100 Kindergarten through12th grade schools, equipping their staff as they journey toward becoming trauma-informed. The Resilience Team’s core value is that in order to create more positive outcomes for children, we must focus on transforming the adults who are important in these kids’ lives.

Communities:

Additionally, Rebecca and her team have partnered with Youth Core Ministries out of Greensburg Kansas to establish and sustain poverty resolution projects across Kansas and Illinois. Currently they are working with over 200 families who are systematically building their paths out of poverty.

Rebecca is widely known in Kansas and across the United States for her extensive work building trauma-informed schools. She is a captivating presenter and her lived experience of escaping poverty when she was 40 years old, with three young children, invites people into her undeniable experience of healing, hope and restoration.

Rebecca has 8 ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) which she lived out as an adult with addiction, domestic violence, poverty and pain. She captivates audiences with her ability to weave concepts in with stories and helps people understand what is typically getting in the way of adopting the movement of trauma-informed schools. More importantly, Rebecca helps participants identify where they are, where they want to go, and how they want to get there. She is a master facilitator, a generous storyteller, and has an uncanny way of helping people boil down and absorb deep concepts around the brain, behavior, and healing.

Rebecca has shown the light for hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers on the path of equipping trauma-informed cultures and frameworks. She is well known for her carefully crafted work on:

Behavior is a Brain Issue and Not a Character Issue
Unpacking Behaviorism and its devastating effects on kids and families from trauma
Poverty and Trauma: Brains Wired for Survival
Understanding the science of the brain and resilience and how the brain wants to heal and can heal at any age
No kid, regardless of their story is a lost cause
Is it really all about choices?
Healing a fight/flight/freeze brain into a cause and effect brain within our schools
How Resilience is Built: The External Requirements for Thriving, Despite Adversity
Truly, it IS all about the relationships
Punishment Versus Discipline: The Hardest Hill in Equipping Trauma-Informed Schools for Sustainability

Rebecca coined the popular Resilience phrase “I see you, I hear you, I am with you.” This is the foundation for building resilience in ALL kids and staff.

To learn more:

https://fortscott.biz/news/core-community-program-to-start-in-bourbon-county

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Schools, Youth

Host Families For International Students Are Needed in Bourbon County

August 4, 2023 Submitted Story Leave a comment

School is just around the corner, and I have an opportunity to make this year EXTRA SPECIAL for your family. FLAG International is seeking host families for international exchange students in Fort Scott and the surrounding area.

There are hundreds of students from counties around the world who are waiting for host families in the US to say “Yes!” to the opportunity to be their family for the 2023-2024 school year! Would YOU be a HERO for these students? They have been anxiously waiting to hear who their host family will be so they can start a connection with them before they arrive.

Not ready to host the whole school year? That’s ok! Would you consider being a welcome family for 5 weeks while we continue to seek them a permanent placement?

Find out how adding a bonus family member from the other side of the planet will grow your HEART and make this year EXTRA special for your family.

Let us match you with a student that shares common interests with you and your family – athletics, arts and lifestyle!

Ask me for more information! You can email me at [email protected] or call or text 620-215-5494.