Agenda - 1-5-15 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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099 Planning Process Narrative (continued) Johnston - Lee -Hamett Community Action, Inc. Some participants were enrolled into the STARS program after the crisis had been resolved, if it was determined that they would benefit from case management intervention. Some participants come to the agency seeking case management and others are referred from other organizations /agencies. The STARS Counselors' meet with their case management participants at least once a month to evaluate and re- examine their goals. They work with participants as they move toward realizing their dreams of reaching their set goals and to help them rise above the poverty level. Group learning activities are offered to participants on topics that can help affect positive changes in their life. Some workshops offered are Job - Readiness, Financial Literacy, Income Tax Preparation, Energy Conservation and Insurance (all types), etc. Following up on their activities and /or their concerns is a basic but integral part of casemanagement. One major goal of casemanagement is that the participants will adopt a more proactive approach in making life choices rather than being reactive. 6. Provide a description of how your agency will support innovative community and neighborhood -based initiatives related to the purposes of the Community Services Block Grant (fatherhood initiatives and other initiatives with the goal of strengthening families and encouraging effective parenting). Participants enrolled in the STARS Program with children enrolled in the Johnston - Lee -Hamett Head Start Program may participate in a variety of initiatives that can enhance the self - sufficiency experience. They are encouraged to take advantage of programs being offered by the agency and other community or Human Services agencies, as they are made available. Johnston - Lee -Hamett Head Start offers the "I am moving..... I am leaming" Initiative which is a practical approach to addressing childhood obesity in Head Start children. The program educate Head Start children and their families in a variety of methods on how to become more physically active and use these four basic components: Moving With the Brain in Mind, Body language, Nutrition Building Blocks and Resources for Family Meals to help them achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Head Start's Male Involvement Program (Men for Tots) is designed to enhance the lives of the primary males in the children's lives as well as the entire family. The program targets initiatives that would strengthen the emotional and financial well -being of the family. Key elements that the program focuses on are effective parenting, building leadership skills and entrepreneurship and other critical issues facing males in today's society. Staff works with the men to foster self - sufficiency. The males do not have to be the child's biological father; they can be stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, and friends of the family or other relatives. The only prerequisite for participation in this program is that they have never been convicted of a felony (especially involving a child) and that they have a genuine interest in the welfare of children. The workshops provided by this initiative are open to the public. When there are other programs that offer parenting programs, we encourage our parents to participate fully in them in order to gain the maximum benefit in the parenting experience. The STARS Program coordinates supports and provides assistance in organizing other nontraditional partners in order to assist in closing the gap between needs and services. For participants of the STARS Program, strategies are planned that will identify barriers to achieving self - sufficiency. Goal setting activities are then designed in such a manner that the problem they are experiencing can be curtailed. The service plan may include several groups working together with the clients to come up with a plan of action that can help move the family/individual above the poverty guidelines. Participants are mandated to attend Financial Literacy classes to help them create and maintain a budget. Incorporating this strategy into the program can assist participants as they work to attain their set goals. The Housing Program is designed to help low - income people establish the habit of saving in order to become a homebuyer. The program incorporates financial literacy training, one -on -one counseling, pre - purchase counseling, Homebuyers Education workshops, training sessions to make sure that participants are well versed in the area of home ownership. Fiscal Year 2015 -16 Community Services Block Grant Application Page 12 of 49