LKLP Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG), collaborating with other LKLP Community Action Council, Inc. programs, and community partnerships, continues to provide access to every basic need for CSBG consumers including, food, shelter, clothing, heating/cooling assistance, education assistance, job training, childcare, parenting skills, domestic violence services, and a host of other services.
During State Fiscal Year (SFY) 11, CSBG expanded collaborations and services through the planning procedures and ongoing process with agency staff, committees, boards, interagency groups, faith-based groups, and neighborhood community centers. LKLP Community Action Council is involved and/or a member of a variety of community planning groups, including Vision, Appalachian Regional Commission, Interagency Meetings, WIA planning groups, Community Based Services focus groups, Family Child Care Councils, and other workforce initiatives, and housing focused groups. All had input into the description of the LKLP Results Oriented Management Accountability outcome measures. During March of 2010, a CSBG needs assessment survey was conducted in study to determine the need for services for residents of Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry Counties. Utilizing accountability systems, including Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA), the CSBG program is even more successful in promoting self-sufficiency, family stability, and community revitalization in our service area. During SFY 11, the agency set and achieved 84 ROMA goals for families, communities, and the agency. To further implement the use of the accountability methodology, CSBG chose five scales in which to work during the program year that included education, employment, income management, transportation, and housing.
Throughout the program year, CSBG expanded several services to address issues revealed in community planning and the LKLP Community Needs Assessment. CSBG collaborated with other area organizations, fiscal courts, school systems, employment services, housing programs, transportation and childcare programs to ensure holistic service plans for the target population and greater customer satisfaction. Case managers provided quality service activities/milestones to families in the CSBG service categories of Emergency Services, Self-Sufficiency, Employment, Education, Income Management, Nutrition, Health, Housing, and Linkages.
The Community Services Block Grant program operates on the state fiscal year providing services through CSBG funding to the most needful and vulnerable including children, adults, elderly, and all special needs persons, whose incomes meet the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Beginning July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011, outreach provided over 80,000 units of service to more than 10,000 households in the service area.
This program year, the CSBG American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Program mobile outreach to community centers project served 1,663 individuals. CSBG Mobile Outreach targets the newly unemployed and provides employment supports to families as they prepare for or retain employment. Mobile Outreach to Community Centers project provides direct services, referrals and linkages to CSBG families in efforts of creating and sustaining economic growth and employment opportunities throughout the four county area.
Through the CSBG Nutrition component, CSBG case managers were given the opportunity to evaluate family nutritional needs. As the Commodity Supplemental Food Service Program was operated, nutritional counseling was provided and nutritional workshops/meal preparation classes were planned. CSBG families were also referred for health screening services for immunizations, diabetic and cholesterol testing, and eye exams. CSBG Outreach staff identified needy elderly including customers over 60, homebound, isolated, or otherwise.
CSBG program staff continues to offer individual case management to families who participate in the LKLP Housing Program. County Outreach offices receive telephone calls and walk-in inquiries regarding the Home Repair and Weatherization Programs. CSBG staff process housing applications, offer advice as to eligibility criteria, and help families with their housing problems.
In continuing our 45-year history of providing services to families and children, this program year CSBG offered the LKLP Mason Scholars Program. The Mason Scholars Program consisted of outdoor classrooms and a variety of fun and enriching educational and environmental activities for children ages 8-15. Events included, Aviation Camp 2011-flight simulation, navigation, weather, careers, aircraft design, co-piloting, LKLP Great Outdoor Adventure sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, featured activities with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources including archery, hunter safety, fishing and boating safety. The Kentucky Department of Fisheries provided a small stream biology lesson and the Knott County Safety Officer provided a lesson on All Terrain vehicle (ATV) safety and wild animal behavior encounters. Coal Mining Our Future provided an outdoor barbeque lunch and a tour of an active coal mine, beehives, cattle farm and a plants and trees farm.
CSBG Service Components are:
Home Visitation; Families in Transition (FIT); Commodity Supplemental Food Program; Wintercare Energy Services; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Paul Mason Memorial Scholarship Fund; LKLP HomeCare, Community Collaboration for Children,Leslie County FEMA;andTheKnott County Outreach Office works with the Knott County FEMA Board.