|
|
|
Paper Pals now available at ESC
Paper Pal containers are now available at the Central Office and several of the Head Start Centers. The agency will receive a small fee every time we fill it with recyclable paper, so be sure to sort your waste and help us fill them! They will accept the following items for recycling:
- magazines and catalogs
- newspaper
- paper
- ncr's
- junk mail
- phone books
Do not place the following items into the bins as they are not accepted by Paper Pal for recycling:
- trash
-
cardboard
- metal
- wood
- liquids
- glass
|
|
ESC receives award from the IRS!
ESC was recently recognized by the IRS for our Outstanding Contribution to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program for 2009. The award was accepted by Marlena Hall, Family Intake Assessment Specialist, on behalf of ESC.
ESC's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites assisted more than 4100 low and middle income individuals and families in saving approximately $512,500 in tax preparation fees. The program also returned in excess of $3.36 million in federal tax refunds to the local economy. The services were provided at no cost to our clients. There were many local businesses who contributed equipment, space and funding to support this free program in our communities.
IRS and program representatives are currently meeting to organize a coalition for Southwest Missouri. The purpose of the coalition will be to provide sustainability of infrastructure to the VITA program in our area. An organized Coalition with commitments and advantages for partners and members will be helpful in applying for grants, as well as relieving coordinators from fundraising.
For more information about the VITA program, please contact a staff member of ESC's Community Development division at 417-781-0352. |
Life Skills Classes Available...
ESC's Life Skills Training continues to be successful and the Community Development division is excited to offer several more opportunities to join the class this month.
These classes help clients with skills such as budgeting, conserving energy and finding employment. Anyone can attend the trainings, but those wishing to attend must enroll in advance by contacting one of the following staff members: Joanna Watson at 417-781-0352, Sally McAffrey at 417-451-2206, Marcia Denny at 417-845-6011 or Sharon Havens at 417-451-2206.
June 9th-
NOEL HOUSING AUTHORITY: Budgeting from 2-4pm
June 10th-
NEOSHO: Budgeting from 8:30-12:30
June 11th-
ANDERSON: Budgeting from 8:30-12:30
JOPLIN: Budgeting - Time TBA
June 24th-
NEOSHO: Energy / Food Savings - Time TBA
June 25th-
ANDERSON: Budgeting from 8:30-12:30
|
|
Rental Unit Available in Noel!
ESC is now accepting applications for its rental housing unit in Noel. The duplex, which was built last year, has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a single car garage. Rent is $425 per month with a $480 security deposit. Applicants must meet income qualifications.
For more information or to apply, please call 417-781-0352 ext. 222.
|
|
Car show to raise school supplies!
ESC's Barton County Community Development staff members will be hosting a car show in Lamar on June 6th. The event will be held from 8:00am - 2:00 pm, and will be judged by area teens. All proceeds will be used to provide school supplies to low-income students in Barton County.
School supplies raised through this event will be given out during Barton County's second annual Back to School Fair. The event will be held July 31st from 10am-2pm. Currently over 120 students have registered for the event, which will include over 25 booths offering essential health screenings and valuable information about community programs to those who attend.
For more information, contact the Barton County outreach office at 417-682-5591.
|
|
Health literacy program a success!
ESC's Head Start and Early Head Start program, in partnership with UCLA Anderson School of Management and Johnson & Johnson, recently hosted a special healthcare training for Head Start and Early Head Start parents. The training was held on Thursday, May 7th at the Butchers Block Banquet Center in Joplin.
UCLA and Johnson & Johnson chose the Head Start and Early Head Start programs of Missouri to introduce a "health literacy program" that empowers parents, benefits children and provides relief to our overcrowded medical facilities. The goal of the project is to reduce costly trips to emergency rooms and doctor's offices by training parents to recognize when they should provide basic medical care and when they really need to seek professional health services. In pilot studies of 9,240 families, the total savings to Medicaid was $5,125,798 which equaled a savings of $554.74 per family.
Over 210 people attended the "health literacy program" in Joplin. Among those in attendance were 144 Head Start and Early Head Start parents, as well as 11 doctors and/or nurses from St. John's Hospital, Freeman Hospital, Newton County Health Department and Access Family Care. Our amazing staff provided excellent leadership and planning that ensured a successful event. All of the event sponsors are currently listed on ESC's website. (Visit www.escswa.org then click on the "I Can" link) Make sure you visit these generous donors and say thank you for supporting the parents and children of Head Start and Early Head Start.
Some of the parents who attended shared comments like:
"Thank You! I'm so glad I came..."
"Thanks, we had a great time!"
"This has been a wonderful night for me and my family..."
"Thanks, I learned a lot and had a great time..."
One parent recently shared that her older child came down with diarrhea and by reading the book she received at the training was able to treat her child without taking him to the ER!
The event was a huge success and ESC looks forward to sharing the program with more parents at future training events. | |
| Is there anything interesting going on in your department that you would like to share with our staff, board members and supporters? To have your information included in an upcoming issue of News from ESC, please contact Andrea Osiek at aosiek@escswa.org. |
|
|
Home
