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Cornerstones of Care Awarded Family Preservation Grant in Eastern Kansas
Kansas Department for Children and Families Awards New Family Preservation Grants
Three agencies awarded grants for four catchment areas
With the goal of providing vulnerable families access to strong evidence-based programs, Governor Laura Kelly today announced new grantees for the state’s family preservation program.
“At the beginning of my administration I canceled previously awarded family preservation grants because of the lack of transparency,” Kelly said. “Today, I am pleased to say that the Department for Children and Families with assistance from the Department of Administration have chosen well qualified partners to assist in our efforts to strengthen families.”
“I am excited that these new grantees include familiar faces and new partners,” Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard said. “DCF looks forward to working together to reduce risk and safety concerns for children and keep Kansas families together.”
Family preservation is a voluntary service provided to families with a child at risk of entering foster care. It includes both short term case management services and intensive in-home services. The program also may serve pregnant women using substances to help the mother find and maintain substance use treatment.
Beginning Jan. 1, three grantees will manage the four DCF regions.
- Cornerstones of Care of will manage the contract in the East region. Cornerstones provides intensive in-home services in several Missouri counties including the Kansas City area. The agency also is providing family services for the DCF Kansas City region and functional family therapy for the Kansas Department of Corrections.
“We’re beyond honored and grateful to grow our partnership with the State of Kansas across the DCF East region,” Cornerstones of Care president and CEO Denise Cross said. “We strongly believe in prevention services and will work closely with children, families and community partners through a trauma-informed philosophy. Together, we can keep children safe and families together.”
- DCF awarded DCCCA the contracts in the Kansas City and Wichita Regions. DCCCA has 12 years of experience providing family preservation services in Kansas. The agency also has more than 30 years as a prevention services provider and more than 43 years as substance use disorder and addiction provider.
“Given DCCCA’s experience with family services, expertise in substance abuse programming, ability to engage communities and our mission of improving lives, these family preservation grants allow us to combine our strengths,” DCCCA CEO Lori Alvarado said. “Our ultimate goal is to strengthen families and support them to nurture their children, which helps reduce the number of children in care.”
- DCF awarded TFI Family Services the contract for the West region. TFI previously provided family preservation services in Kansas from 2005 to 2009. The agency also has provided recruitment, training, retention and support of foster families across Kansas since 1996.
“TFI Family Services is honored to be selected as the provider for family preservation services in the west region,” TFI CEO Michael Patrick said. “We are excited that our TFI caseworkers and therapists will have the opportunity to serve some of our most at-risk families and ensure they remain safely together as a family.”
In order to maintain transparency throughout the process, DCF partnered with the Department of Administration to use a traditional request for proposal process that included:
- DCF grant review teams representing each region and administrative staff
- Technical review for evidence-based practice models, child welfare experience, staffing ratios, accreditation and letters of support.
- Cost proposal review by fiscal staff
In total, DCF received two proposals for the west region, three proposals for the east region, four proposals for the Kansas City region and five proposals for the Wichita region.
The contract term awarded is Jan. 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024.
To report child abuse or neglect or to request services, please call the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330.
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Life In A Jar: 20 Years Later, Celebrating Sept. 19
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It all began 20 years ago, when an assignment from a local high school history teacher changed the lives of many people, including an unsung hero.
Irena Sendler was a Polish Catholic social worker, who risked her own life to rescue a significant number of Jewish children during WWII.
Her story was unknown to the public for 60 years until three high school students from Uniontown, Kansas uncovered its details in September of 1999 and shared Irena’s story with the world, according to a press release from the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.
Sendler died in 2008 but not before meeting the teacher and three students who discovered her story.
Twenty years ago this week, Life in a Jar: the Irena Sendler Project was started by Uniontown High School students Elizabeth Cambers Hutton, Sabrina Coons Murphy, and Megan Stewart Felt in Norm
Conard’s high school history class, according to the press release.
Megan Felt has gone on to become the program director of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, while the former history teacher, Norm Conard, has become the executive director.
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Throughout the last 20 years, the play has been performed more than 375 times with more than 50 students involved in the project.
The performances have been all across the United States, Canada, and Poland.
The www.irenasendler.org website that the students created has had more than 50 million hits, according to the press release.
The center continues the encouragement of searching for unsung heroes.
A Celebration
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes is pleased to announce the 20th Anniversary Commemoration of Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project.
On September 19 from 3:30 –5:30 p.m. at the Lowell Milken Center, 1 South Main Street in Fort Scott, there will be a special book
signing for Mommy, Who Was Irena Sendler?
Even after the story became known, that emotional connection of Irena’s story continues to reach across generations, according to the press release.
Megan’s daughter, Blair, also learned a life-changing lesson from both the courage of Irena Sendler’s selfless acts and those of
her own mother’s determination to share Irena’s story, according to the press release.
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The book, available in paperback for $9.95, can be purchased and signed by the author and two of the characters featured in the story, Felt and her 9-year-old daughter, Blair.
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Their goal of making Irena Sendler’s story known to the world continues.
Life in a Jar: the Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer is also available during the book signing. This is the story of the students’ discovery of Irena Sendler and her efforts to save the Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto.
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Cathy Werling, the author of Mommy, Who Was Irena Sendler? is an award-winning elementary educator from Fort Scott. Her passion for helping students develop positive character traits and seek out worthy role models led to her part-time work at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.
Through her series of books, four so far, about these humble heroes, Cathy hopes to inspire elementary children to realize that they, too,
have the power every day to make a difference in the lives of those around them.
About the Lowell Milken Center
The Lowell Milken Center is a non-profit 501 c (3) that works with students and educators within a range of diverse academic disciplines, to develop projects focused on unsung heroes. Once their projects are finished, the center advocates for the student’s unsung heroes by sharing them in its’ Hall of Unsung Heroes or the center’s website so people all over the world discover their individual influence and obligation to take actions that improve the lives of others.
The Hall of Unsung Heroes is located in Southeast Kansas and showcases some of the top projects developed in collaboration with the center.
USD234 Minutes of Sept. 9
These are the minutes of Unified School District 234, 424 South Main, Fort Scoft, KS 56701-2697, www.usd234.or
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-27 60
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met on Monday, September 9, 2019, at the Board of Education office for their regular monthly meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the olficial agenda
The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – August 20, 2019 – $1,164,377.59
D. Financial Report
E. Bond Proceeds Reconciliation
F. Activity Fund Accounts
C. FSHS Band Fundraising Project
There were no public forum requests. Stephanie George, KNEA President, presented a report. Administmtors from each building shared reports with board members.
Superintendent Ted Hessong provided information on the following items:
o 4-year old preschool
o High Density Weighting
o ProfessionalDevelopment
o IEP Backpack transition
o Safe Routes to Schools Grant
o Council of Superintendents
Gina Shelton, Business Manager, reported on the new district match plan, the number of new staff members, and door bids that will go out next month.
Board members reviewed the first day enrollment count report.In addition, the board approved the following items
o Property sale of213 Scott Avenue to Skitch’s Hauling & Excavation
o Lease agreement between New Generation and USD 234
Agreement between USD 234 and FSCC for the use of Frary Field
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss school security matters. The board retumed to open meeting. Board members went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and retumed to open meeting.
The board approved the following employment items:
A. Retirement of Deb Kames, middle schooL/Winfield Scott gifted teacher, effective August 30,2019
B. Resignation of Tracy King, high school business teacher, effective July 9, 2019
C. Retirement of Dara Leaming, high school secretary, effective September 13,2019
D. Resignation of Danea Esslinger, high school paraprofessional, effective August 19, 2019
E. Resignation of Brianna Culbertson, high school teacher aide (Student Support Center), effective August 19,2019
F. Resignation of Wanita Tate, bus driver, effective September 6,2019
G. Adjustment in the Special Education/MlS 30-hour, l0-month classified position at the central oflice to a Special Education Secretaryllvledicaid Billing Clerk 40-hour, 12-
month classified position at the central offrce for the 2019-20 school year
H. Addition of a gifted paraprofessional for the 2019-20 school year
I. Addition of a I .5-hour per day custodial position at New Generation
J. Addition of two preschool paraprofessional positions for the 2019-20 school year
K. Addition of a Winfield Scott paraprofessional position for the 2019-20 school year
L. Adjustment in the high school preschool l0-month custodian position to a l2-month position for the 2019-20 school year
M. Transfer ofJason Young, high school ISS teacher aide, to high school Student Support Center teacher aide for the 2019-20 school year
N. Transfer of Allen Davis, l2-month Eugene Ware/middle school custodian , to a 12-month middle school custodian for the 2019-20 school year
O. Transfer of Fred Judy, 4-hour preschool custodian, to a 1 .5-hour New Generation custodian for the 2019-20 school year
P. Transfer of Diana Heckman, high school teacher aide, to high school secretary for the 2019-20 school year
Q. Contract adjustment for Jered McKay, Eugene Ware focus room teacher, to Eugene Ware behavior therapist for the 2019-20 school year
R. Contract adjustment for Andrea Heckman, preschool teacher, to a long-term substitute teacher for the 2019-20 school year
S. Contract adjustment for Bo Graham, high school strength conditioning and credit recovery teacher/middle school weight training teacher to a long-term substitute
teacher at the high school only for the 2019-20 school year
T. Contract adjustrnent for Elizabeth Lyon, Winfield Scott focus room teacher, to a longterm substitute teacher for the 201 9-20 school year
U. Employment of Thomas Russell as a high school paraprofessional for the 2019-20 school year
V. Employment of Bobbie Yoakam as a preschool paraprofessional for the 2019-20 school year
W. Employment of Shawn O’Brien as central office payroll clerk secretary for the 2019-20 school year
X. Employment of Judy Welch as a preschool bus driver for the 2019-20 school year
Y. Employment ofJoyce Earp as a Eugene Ware 6.5-hour cook for the 2019-20 school year
Z. Employment of Joie Moore as a high school 6.5-hour cook for the 201 9-20 school year
AA. Employment of Robert Jackson as a l2-month high schooVpreschool custodian for the 201 9-20 school year
BB. Employment of Tanya Lockwood as a 12-month high school custodian for the 2019-20 school year
CC. Employment of Terry Barrager as a l0-month Winfield Scott/Eugene Ware custodian for the 2019-20 school year
DD. Resigration of Nicole Pellett as a middle school eighth grade team leader, effective August 20, 2019
EE. Resignation of Alicia Hansen as a middle school track coach, effective August 28, 2019
FF. Employment of Angie Kemmerer as middle school scholars bowl sponsor for the 2019- 20 school year
GG. Employment of Kenny Hudiburg as a high school assistant girls’ tennis coach for the 2019-20 school year
HH. Employment of Jared Martin as a high school winter conditioning coach for the 2019- 20 school year
II. Employment of Alicia Hansen as the middle school eighth grade team leader for the 2019-20 school year
JJ. Employment of Eugene Ware team leaders for the 2019-20 school year
KK. Employment of high school team leaders for the 20 1 9-20 school year
The board adjourned.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Sept. 13
FSMS Sweeps In Volleyball
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Special Events in Fort Scott Sept. 13-15
Appearances by Patty LaRoche
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Jesus is not happy with the Pharisees. He calls them whitewashed tombs, beautiful (“righteous”) on the outside but “full of hypocrisy and wickedness” on the inside. (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV)
When Dave and I first toured the Florida subdivision where we now rent, I envisioned Aunt Bea taking cookies to a neighbor and Opie fishing in a nearby pond. Aside from the Key West-style homes and the pristine landscaping, what impressed me most were the front porches—welcoming, friendly, a return to a once-upon-a-time era when neighbors sat together and caught up on each other’s lives. Rocking chairs, swings, and padded loveseats all seemed to say, “Come on up and chat a while.”
As it turned out, these didn’t.
For six months I have ridden my bike or taken long walks a few times a week, all hours of the day, expecting to find owners relaxing on their porches or strolling through their All-American, Norman Rockwell neighborhood. Two times (2!) I have found porch-sitters…both who ignored me until I greeted them first. When I meet up with dog-walkers, they speak only if I mention their cute canine. No one has asked my name or started a conversation. What am I to make of this? I mean, such a waste of these charming, inviting porches!
Dave says I’m to make nothing of it. It’s their home and they can use whatever part of it they want. No one has to talk to me if they don’t want to. The way they choose to live their lives is their business. I tell Dave that they probably are all sad people who never learned how to make friends, don’t know Jesus, and I probably should take them cookies. That’s what Aunt Bea would do. Then I reconsider. I know these types. They’ll accuse me of lacing them with arsenic or marijuana. Dave says I am making way too big of a deal out of this.
I tell him that I think our neighborhood is an excellent example of “what you see is not what you get.” It appears inviting, but isn’t. Jesus gave us a great picture of that when he addressed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. (See Scripture above.) Remember, the Pharisees were the spiritual leaders, esteemed, pious Jews who knew “The Law” and insisted that everyone live accordingly. They looked the part and played the part and probably even had “Honk if you obey God” humper stickers on their camels, but their outer appearance defied what was going on inside them. Had Aunt Bea been alive during Jesus’ day, I’m convinced that she would not have been part of the Pharisees’ social registry.
Earlier in Matthew 23 Jesus calls it like it is: Everything they (the Pharisees) do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long. (Side note: phylacteries were small cases containing Scripture that these religious leaders attached to their foreheads; tassels were a grouping of loose threads hanging at the hems of their clothes–reminders of the commandments God gave to Moses). To the Pharisees, wide and long meant bigger and better.
Let’s face it. Appearances can deceive. We can paint it, enlarge it, decorate it, even suspend a “Welcome” banner from it, all which reveal nothing about what’s inside. But isn’t that true of all of us? Could Jesus call me a “white-washed tomb” for expecting others to meet my front porch expectations but not working harder to meet theirs? Could I be that hypocrite? Could Dave be right after all? Could this be a problem that a few chocolate chip cookies could solve?
I think it is. I’m just not sure how long I have to sit on my front porch, waiting for someone to deliver them. But when they do, I’ll invite them to “come on up and chat a while.” After all, you have to start somewhere.
I think Aunt Bea would be proud.
Fort Scott Public Library Sept. Newsletter
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September 16, 4 – 5 pm.
Make pudding, fluffy, glitter, borax, and many other kinds of slime!
Enjoy snacks & water and work as a family at this free program. Kids 2nd grade and below must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
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Maps Of Town-Wide Garage Sale This Weekend Available Now
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Burton Harding: New FS City Attorney
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Contact information:
Buying Locally Benefits Community
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There is a grassroots movement across the county to help small towns stay viable.
Bourbon County has its’ own organization for encouraging small businesses.
Live Local BB started in July 2017 to raise community awareness of the benefits to using locally owned business over non-locally owned businesses, including internet businesses.
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Geoff Southwell, president of Live Local BB said his businesses have experienced sales because of awareness that they are locally owned.
Southwell owns Miller Feed and Oil and The Butcher Block in Fort Scott.
“Individuals and businesses come in and specifically buy from us because we are local,” he said. “With the Butcher Block, we got some commercial accounts to have us cater, because we are local.”
“Ever since I have “joined the movement” I have really tried to “think Local First” and I think that, being able to be on the board with several other entrepreneurial folks has really brought to light how to ‘think local first'” said Chrystal Cowan, a member of the organization. “In my life I have taken it beyond the normal, everyday items- those are easy…. Get gas locally, buy groceries locally, feed, shoes, etc… the list goes on and on. Instead I now have the mindset of, how can I utilize my locals.”
She gives an example of a recent birthday party.
“We had a birthday party for my daughter a few weeks back, and I ordered pizza (and) I forgot to pickup ice cream, and really didn’t want to hassle with going to the other end of town,” Cowan said. ” I reached out to Brita at Papa Don’s (Restaurant)and she was able to sell me a tub of ice cream as well. I knew going in, that she may not have enough stock to sell me a tub, but I thought I would ask, and that particular time it worked out! Now ice cream isn’t something that Brita typically sells by the gallon, but it just so happened that her inventory allowed her an extra for me to buy. I could go on and on about how many times I have tried to come up with a way to purchase something from someone local, or called them with weird requests… but I think my point is that it may take a little bit of thinking outside of the box, but I have learned to try and just think local first.”
Cowan has been asked why she got involved with Live Local BB, since she works at a local insurance company.
” My response to that question, and my response on behalf of any of our professional services businesses is this- You can buy what I sell online, you can travel outside of the county and utilize an agent. But if you click the link and fill out the form to get a quote, are you really getting what you need? Are you going to have a person that you can call on a Sunday, or text on a Tuesday night at 10 pm, and the answer to that is, no you won’t… so why do I think that Live Local is important – every business in this town is important, and it’s important we support each other in any way that we can.”
“The numbers (facts on money benefitting the community) vary slightly depending on the study, but it’s pretty close to 60 cents of a dollar will stay in a community with a locally owned business and 40% with a non-local business,” Bryan Holt, a member of Live Local BB, said. “Retaining 50% more dollars in our community is a great thing!”
The benefits of money staying in the community include job creation, keeping the money in the local economy where it can be respent and also providing community involvement in the form of charitable giving to local organizations, according to the MSU study listed below.
Links for reference are the following provided by Holt:
https://ced.msu.edu/upload/reports/why%20buy%20local.pdf
https://grasshopper.com/resources/articles/small-business-saturday-statistics/
The Live Local BB organization is comprised of locally owned businesses within Bourbon County.
“We have over 80 businesses in our group,” said Geoff Southwell, president of the organization.
Locally owned businesses can be identified by an orange sign in the window of the business. To see the list of local business, click below:
![](https://fortscott.biz/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/live-local-bb-geoff-southwell-9.17--180x300.jpg)
” We have a desire to see the community grow and become stronger,” he said. ” We wanted to give the community a means for identifying locally owned businesses, with owners who live in Bourbon County. We have ‘Live Local’ signage placed at each business which identifies them as locally owned.”
“We feel we have made an impact on the community to use locally owned first,” Southwell said.
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