Agenda - 1-4-16 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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JLHCA, Inc. O 8 O Planning Process Narrative (continued) 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/ Early Head Start Program may participate in a variety of initiatives that can enrich 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 -Harnett Head Start offers the "I am moving..... I am learning" 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. Family Service Workers work with the men to foster self- sufficiency. The men 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 requirement 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 is open to the public. When there are other programs that offer parenting programs, we encourage our parents to participate fully 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 designed in such a manner that the problem they are experiencing can be reduced. The service plan may include several groups working together with the participants to create a plan of action that can help move the family/individual above the poverty guidelines. Participants are required 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 participants develop 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 and training sessions to make sure that participants are well versed in the area of home ownership. Children enrolled in the Head Start Program and have been diagnosed with asthma can also participate in the Head Start Asthma Outreach Program. This program was designed to minimize the number of asthmatic episodes that Head Start children were experiencing. A Respiratory Therapist from Down East Respiratory Services was assigned to work with the children who have asthma three days a week at the center that they attend. It is not mandatory and parent/guardians have the option to enroll their children in the program. Doctors and the insurance carriers have to agree that the child can be enrolled in the program. The respiratory therapist makes home visits to the children during the holidays and is available to provide services year round. This ensures continuity of services and care and treatment for the child and to answer questions and address concerns that the family may have. Since the inception of the program about 30% of the 717 children who are enrolled in the program have benefitted through education, knowledge, management of the disease and a decreased number of asthma attacks. Enrollment in the program has decreased the number of absentees due to Asthma related illness. The HUD Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Rapid Re -Housing Program in Johnston, Lee and Hamett Counties affords us the opportunity to help move homeless families/individuals out of cars, parks and other Fiscal Year 2016-17 Community Services Block Grant Application Page 14 of 33