COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS
NEWSLETTER
MCDOWELL
The E.D. is attending and a member of the McDowell County REACH program that has surveyed to County to determine the level of awareness among African Americans regarding diabetes. There is a disparity in this disease and it is unfavorable to African Americans. We have completed the survey and working on a synopsis of the results. We are also acting as physical agent for the project which will be a revenue generating endeavor. I will keep the Board posted on this new development.
CSM is exploring applying to be a Community Housing Development Authority (CHDO) under the WV Housing Development Fund HOME Program. If approved, this will give us the opportunity to develop housing and rehabilitation initiatives to help our neighbors. I am in the process of completing the application and will keep the Board informed.
WV GREENWORKS, INC.
I have obtained enough commitments for Board members for this venture in order to establish a 501 c 3 nonprofit entity. Once we have a conference call to set a time, I will seek approval from this group to submit all the paperwork for State incorporation and federal nonprofit status. As you are aware, this initiative will allow us to be at the forefront of the “green movement” in building and rehabilitation. Again, I will keep the Board posted and there is a website: www.wvgreen1.community.officelive.com
FLOOD CLEAN UP
CSM has been contacted by the WV Development Office to get ready to submit a proposal to hire people and collaborate with local and state agencies to clean up areas affected by the recent flood. Although we were not hit as hard as Mingo and
I have developed a Memorandum of Understanding with Coalfield Community Action that will allow us to open an Outreach facility in the Raysal Head Start Center. We plan on being open all day and maintaining a food pantry. We will also be taking applications for all the services we provide plus referring people to programs available in the County.
Miranda Adams has been transferred into that position and it is funded by the CSBG.
RSVP/FGP
We have just submitted the three year grant application for these two programs. FGP is actively recruiting new volunteers as their census is down by about eleven Foster Grandparents. RSVP is doing fine with their numbers. The FGP is an excellent program and the staff will soon have their number of volunteers at capacity.
CSBG/FDCFP
The Family Day Care Feeding Program is also down in the number of providers ensuring the children they keep receive well balanced nutritious meals. The program needs referrals. Please call Ida Monroe for details on qualifications. This program will also be monitored June 15 and 16, 2009 by the WV Department of Education, the funding agency.
CSBG is hard at work on helping with the recent Office of Minority Health Diabetes Survey in which 317 people responded. Heather is working on the Credit Union and two monitors were here during the week of June 8, 2009. She reports they are to help try and obtain software to modernize the Credit Union procedures.
We recently submitted to the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity a plan to spend circa $402,1670 in stimulus money on various programs in
- Hiring two Case Manager Outreach Workers
- Conducting a week long College Awareness session for area 10th graders to encourage them to go to college as McDowell has one of the lowest college attendance rates in the State. Instruction would be given on how to apply and seek financial aid. We feel this exposure will give them the motivation to broaden their educational experience.
- Training programs for Certified Nursing Assistants, Emergency Medical Technicians, Pharmacy Techs, CDL for truck drivers, training to obtain Contractors licenses.
- A Micro Grant program to help small businesses get started in the County.
- A Job Retention initiative to help the Catholic Charities Day Care Center remain open in Keystone.
- Finally, a waiver was submitted to allow CSM to collaborate with County and Municipal officials in removing blighted structures to create a safer environment in the County. The cost of this proposal, which has to be approved at the federal level, is $116,238.
A copy of the draft submission is attached. As always, we will keep the Board informed on the progress.
Weatherization
We have been providing extra training and supervision to this program and feel it is improving. Five new members have been hired and the Coordinator is learning the paperwork/reporting aspects of the program. They have all been to various trainings and the expertise level is rising. We have received the large truck and the new van is ready to be picked up.
We have submitted our revised Management Plan and Budget based on the additional stimulus money received and it is for a 15 month period so the state can adjust the fiscal year. More news to come on this program, which now has our highest budget.
Mentoring Children of Prisoners
A technical assistance team will be here on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 to provide training and support to the program. The program has not met the numbers of recipients planned but every effort is being made to achieve our goals. It is our desire that the team coming will be able to give us some valuable assistance.
The program was refunded for next year.
Waiver
The Title XIX program is improving and nearing break even status. The Aged and Disabled Waiver program is in the black and is supplementing the Title XIX program. We have one staff person solely dedicated to ensuring we get every dollar of Medicaid billing we are entitled. Efforts will continue to improve these programs.
Right From The Start
We have hired a new nurse for the program, Sarah Johnson, R.N. of Warriormines. She is doing an excellent job and is seeking out people relentlessly. We are also evaluating the billing for this program to ensure we are capturing every legitimate dollar we are entitled.
Finance Office
Due to the overwhelming demand on the Business Office, a new accounting system has not been decided upon as yet. Several presentations have been made to staff. We hope to have this conversion started with the next 90 days, depending on GOEO funding to pay for the software.
A summer helper has been hired for the Business Office,
