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Submitted by Sandy Osborne, FRN Coordinator 354-7177
The October meeting of the Calhoun County Family Resource Network included a
presentation by the Department of Health and
Human Resources, report on "Solutions to Rural Issues Through Partnerships"
Workshop, STEPS Grant update, CHIP Program
Update, board resignation, Laubach Literacy Program need, Head Lice problem,
committee reports, and calendar items.
The featured presentation was given by Crystal Kendall, of the local Department of
Health and Human Resources. The department
provides many services for children, families and adults to help improve their
quality of life. Programs provided include some of the
following: WV WORKS, Economic Services (food stamps, Medicaid, CHIPS, school
clothing vouchers, etc.), Child Protective
Services, Adult Protective Services, Adult Services, and Day Care.
A report was given by Rev. M. R. Schmitz on the "Solutions to Rural Issues Through
Partnerships; A Community-Centered
Approach" Workshop. She attended the meeting in Hagerstown, MD as part of a
local team identified by Jim Morford, Community
Service Manager at the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR).
The
workshop was hosted by the Administration for
Children and Families. The workshop focus was on how services can be improved
through partnerships in rural communities, how to
create new approaches to planning at the community level and to determine how
TANF recipients can become self-sufficient during
their 60 months on the program.
Mariko Hewitt reported that West Virginia did not receive the STEPS grant and was
unsure of reasons why. Julie McCumbers
provided an update on current enrollment numbers in the WV Children's Health
Insurance Program and related activities. Board
resignation of Donna Steigleder was discussed, noting the need to find a
replacement.
Shelly Allen presented information regarding
the Laubach Literacy program, discussing funding that has been received and the
need for a coordinator for the program.
The top issue of the meeting was presented by Crystal Kendall of DHHR, who
provided a report on disturbing information regarding
the current head lice problem within the school system. Statistics showed 48
cases of head lice so far this year. Each year the
problem with head lice results in excessive absences of students and in some
cases students are retained.
Those present agreed
that the most effective action would be to educate parents about treatment and
prevention within the home. Some members agreed
to check into possibilities for finding assistance with some type of program.
The Calhoun FRN invites all community members to attend regular monthly
meetings, held the first Monday of each month, 9:30
a.m.at the FRN office, located under J&B Drug Store, at the corner of Court and Mill
Streets.
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