[00:00:09]
THIS IS OUR FIRST, UH, VIRTUAL MEETING.
SO I HOPE EVERYONE IS BEING, GOING TO BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR US TO USE GOING FORWARD AS WELL.
UM, JUST BY WAY OF BACKGROUND.
UM, I THINK MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW MY NAME IS FRED VITAE AND I'M THE FACILITATOR FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES ALLIANCE.
THE ALLIANCE IS A NETWORK OF ABOUT 120 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS BUFORD COUNTY AND ACTUALLY ACROSS THE LOW COUNTRY, UH, THAT ARE ALL INVOLVED IN SOME ASPECT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED INTO A FRAMEWORK THAT WE CALL TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY, SO THAT ALL OF THE VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE ARE NETWORKED INTO DIFFERENT WORK GROUPS OR COALITIONS OR ALLIANCES.
THEY GO BY DIFFERENT NAMES, BUT ESSENTIALLY THEY COME DOWN TO THE SAME THING, COMMITTEES OF PEOPLE, UM, OUR WEBSITE.
SO IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, UH, ABOUT THE ALLIANCE OR ABOUT TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE ON THE, UH, BUFORD COUNTY PAGE.
YOU CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED THERE.
ALSO AFTER TODAY'S PRESENTATION, THE, UH, MEETING WILL BE RECORDED AND POSTED TO THE WEBSITE.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO BACK AT ANY TIME AND RE WATCH HOW THE PROCESS WORKED.
THIS WILL ALSO BE GREAT FOR OUR COALITIONS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO AND CAPTURE OUT, UH, THEIR CLIP FROM TODAY'S PRESENTATION AND THEN USE THAT, UH, FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS OR FOR, UH, INTRODUCTIONS TO NEW PARTNERS AND SO FORTH.
UH, ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE IS THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GRANT FUNDS THAT ARE AWARDED TO US BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE.
EVERY YEAR, THEY ALLOCATE A GROUP, A SET OF FUNDS FOR US TO USE AN, A GRANTS PROCESS.
AND WE ADMINISTER THAT GRANT PROCESS FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, THE GRANTS WERE DUE LAST END OF LAST MONTH, AND WE INTEND TO PRESENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE.
ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH AT THEIR MEETING, THAT WILL THEN LEAD TO IF THEY ARE APPROVED, THAT WILL LEAD TO THEM BEING PRESENTED THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
AND IF COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES, THEN THE CHECKS WILL GO OUT IN NOVEMBER.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE, UH, YEAH, AND IF YOU HAVE JUST BEEN A MEMBER IN THE PAST, UH, BUT HAVE NOT USED THE NEW PROCESS, THE NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS, UH, I'D ASK THAT YOU DO THAT.
UM, BEN'S GOING TO PROVIDE A LINK FOR THAT, SO THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CLICK ON IT AND, AND, UH, IT'LL TAKE YOU TO THE REGISTRATION FORM THERE IT IS NOW IN THE CHAT WINDOW.
UM, AND THAT, THAT WILL HELP US TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON A LOT OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS AROUND THE MEMBERSHIP WITHIN THE ALLIANCE.
SO THAT'LL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US, UH, IF YOU WOULD DO THAT, IF YOUR AGENCY IS NOT ALREADY ON IT, UH, LET'S SEE, LOOKING AT MY NOTES.
UM, NEXT THING IS THAT WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES TO OUR ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER.
SO BASED ON FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, OF HAVING TO USE THE NEWSLETTER TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION OUT AROUND COVID AND SURE.
SO REDUCE THE NEWSLETTER DOWN TO MERELY THAT RELATES TO ALLIANCE NEWS AND THEN ANY CRITICAL ITEMS THAT ARE DEALING WITH.
SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A, AN ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEWSLETTER, UM, CONTACT BEN, AND HE WILL CAN DISCUSS WITH YOU HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
BUT WE REALIZED THAT A LOT OF INFORMATION IS ALREADY BEING SHARED BY VARIOUS GROUPS THROUGH THEIR OWN NEWSLETTERS.
AND SO IT CAUGHT TO BE VERY DUPLICATIVE FOR US TO BE PUTTING THAT SAME INFORMATION IN OUR NEWSLETTER.
UM, LASTLY, UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH OUR FIRST PRESENTER, UM, I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO,
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IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER OF A COALITION AFTER TODAY'S PRESENTATION, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ALL OF THE COALITIONS THAT WE HAVE AS A PART OF TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY.AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH US AND DECIDE WHICH ONE OF THE COALITIONS YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH, UH, JUST CONTACT BEN AT THAT POINT.
AND HE CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THE FACILITATOR OR THE CHAIR OF THE VARIOUS COALITIONS THAT WE HAVE SO THAT YOU CAN GO FORWARD AND GET CONNECTED WITH THEIR MEETING SCHEDULE, UH, AND GET UP TO DATE ON WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.
UH, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR OUR FIRST PRESENTER OUT.
CAN YOU GIVE ME THE NEXT SLIDE SO I CAN SEE, OH, OKAY.
WELL THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS WHAT I JUST WENT.
UH, THIS IS THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING.
SO, UH, THAT WAS THE VIRTUAL OVERVIEW AND THE NEWS AND UPDATES.
SO WE'RE READY TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.
SO OUR FIRST WILL BE THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION, AND WE HAVE JAMES MORALE, UH, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THAT.
I'LL ALSO JUST SO EVERYBODY IS AWARE YOUR, YOUR VIDEOS AND YOUR MICROPHONES ARE OFF BY DEFAULT.
SO DON'T BOTHER TRYING TO CHANGE THEM WITH, UH, WE'RE UP TO ALMOST 90 PARTICIPANTS RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT IF EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO BE HEARD AND ASK QUESTIONS AND SO FORTH.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SIMPLY TYPE THEM INTO THE CHAT BOX.
AND WE HAVE A MODERATOR WHO WILL BE WATCHING THAT CHAT BOX AND WE'LL PASS THE QUESTIONS ALONG TO THE APPROPRIATE SPEAKER ONCE THEY, ONCE YOU TYPE THEM IN.
SO, JAMES, CAN WE ASK YOU TO START UP ON THE, AND ALEC, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THAT'S ON THE CALL THIS MORNING, AND THOSE WHO MAY BE WATCHING THIS AS WELL, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION.
SO THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION IS COMPRISED OF CAPITAL, WHICH IS THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION, WHO FOCUSES ON THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN EVERYWHERE AND HOPEFUL HORIZONS, WHICH WE ARE A LOCAL CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY, CENSOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER.
SO THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER IN 2009 FOR THE PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BY POOLING RESOURCES TO INVEST IN PRIMARY PREVENTION TO ADDRESS THE GAP IN PREVENTION SERVICES IN BUFORD COUNTY.
SO OUR MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE BY EDUCATING THE YOUTH OR THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, JUST TO MAKE A WORD, TO MAKE THE WORLD A SAFER AND MORE EQUITABLE PLACE.
AND THE VISION OF THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION IS AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY FREE FROM VIOLENCE.
AND SO MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK THAT CAPITOL AND HOPEFUL HORIZONS DOES AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, THERE ARE CERTAINLY, UH, WE SEE CLIENTS AND WE SEE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, AND, AND CROSS INTERSECTIONALITY ALL THE TIME.
THE AGENCIES DECIDED TO COME TOGETHER, UM, AND REALLY TRY TO FOCUS ON PREVENTION EFFORTS.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT, UH, A STRUCTURED WAY AND TRYING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE BY AGAIN, PROVIDING PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS, WHERE WE FOCUS ON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, AS WELL AS PROGRAMMING FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AS WELL.
AND HOW WE DO THAT IS WE HAVE A STRONG FOCUS AGAIN ON WORKING WITH THE YOUTH JUST AS ANY WAY TO, TO PREVENT AND, UH, BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.
UH, SO, UH, WE WORK WITH LOTS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE PRIMARY EDUCATION, UM, AND TO FOCUS ON HOW BEST CAN WE SERVE THE YOUTH, UH, IN PARTICULAR, UH, AND B FOR COUNTY TO FOCUS AGAIN ON CHANGING THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE FOR THOSE IN THE FUTURE.
SO SINCE THE INITIAL START OF THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION, UH, WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON EXPANDING, NOT ONLY OUR PROGRAMS, BUT OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND THE COALITION ITSELF.
SO IN ADDITION TO HOPE FOR HORIZONS AND KAPPA, UH, BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALLY SERVES AS A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION AS OF THIS YEAR AS WELL.
AND SO THAT NATURAL INVOLVEMENT WITH BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A BIG WIN FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
THAT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COLLABORATE WITH STAFF ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO OFFER MORE TARGETED PROGRAMS FOR THOSE STUDENTS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO INVOLVE AND ENGAGE WITH, UH, REPS FROM COLLINSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, HAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS JASPER COUNTY
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SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, THE AGENCY, UH, WELL, THE COALITION ITSELF, WE SERVE STUDENTS ACROSS ALL FOUR OF THOSE COUNTIES, BUFORD COUNTY COLLEGE, THE COUNTY HAMPTON COUNTY, AS WELL AS JASPER COUNTY AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.AND SO THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED, UH, WAS TO REALLY JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UH, THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, CERTAINLY THIS YEAR HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY THAT, BUT WE'VE CONTINUED TO MEET AND PLAN FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT THIS YEAR.
UH, WE'VE ENGAGED SO FAR WITH OVER 200 STUDENTS, UM, PRE AND POST PANDEMIC.
SO EVEN WHEN WE HAD TO QUARANTINE, UH, WHAT WE DID WAS QUICKLY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT OUR PROGRAMS VIRTUALLY SO THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD.
UH, WE'VE HELD VIRTUAL TRAININGS FOR BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS, UH, FOR, UH, TCLS TALENT SEARCH STUDENTS, AS WELL AS, UH, STUDENTS FROM THE BLUFFTON BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, SUMMER PROGRAM, AND OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL.
SO WE DON'T JUST HAVE A FOCUS ON SCHOOLS, BUT WE HAVE A FOCUS ON THE YOUTH AS AN OVERARCHING GOAL.
AND SO WE WORK WITH ANY YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS IN CERTAINLY IN THE SCHOOLS.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR PRIMARY TARGET AREAS OF FOCUS.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HIRED A NEW VIOLENCE PREVENTION SPECIALIST WITH WHOM, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHARGED WITH GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION.
UH, AND WE TRAINED THAT NEW FACILITATOR IN, UH, AN EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM FROM ONE CIRCLE FOUNDATION.
UH, AND THEN AGAIN, LASTLY, WE BROUGHT ON BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A COALITION MEMBER.
NOW WE USE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.
SO THERE'S THINGS LIKE THE MINISTERING CLUBS THAT WE OFFER MENTORS IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM, UH, GIRLS CIRCLE, UH, THE COUNCIL FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN, UH, COACHING BOYS INTO MEN.
SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT WE IMPLEMENT, UH, AS WE WORK WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE YOUTH IN OUR, IN OUR PROGRAM.
AND SO AGAIN, THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION IS JUST REALLY LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR REACH INTO PRIMARY VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST WITH THE FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR CHILD ABUSE IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE ARE INTERCONNECTED.
AND SO WE HAVE A FOCUS ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION AS A WHOLE.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE JUST CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, CONTINUE TO OFFER SERVICES VIRTUALLY.
AND CURRENTLY, AS I SPEAK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR ROUTERS PREVENTION SPECIALISTS ENGAGING WITH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE FOUR COUNTIES THAT I MENTIONED TO CONTINUE TO OFFER PREVENTION BASED PROGRAMS TO ALL THE STUDENTS IN ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER ARE FREE.
UH, IF THERE'S EVER ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT WHERE WE CAN SPEAK TO A GROUP OF YOUTH, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, IN SCHOOL AND CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS GIVE US A CALL, REACH OUT TO US BECAUSE WE HAVE TRAINED FACILITATORS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON ENGAGING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS WITH YOUTH, AGAIN, FOCUSED ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION, THINGS LIKE BULLYING, LEADERSHIP, UH, YOU KNOW, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT WE FOCUS ON WITH OUR YOUTH.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ANY ENGAGEMENT AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO ANY OF US.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO REACH OUT TO, YOU KNOW, US EITHER HOPEFUL HORIZONS AND, OR, UH, KAPPA.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WORK ON JAMES MORALE, I WORKED FOR HOPEFUL HORIZONS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION AND OUTREACH.
AND SO YOU CERTAINLY CAN REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO TALK ABOUT, UH, PREVENTING VIOLENCE IN THE FUTURE.
COMING UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE, UM, ACCESS HEALTH, LOW COUNTRY AND DEBBIE SLEZAK, UH, DEBBIE, IF YOU WILL MAKE SURE THAT AS YOU WANT THE PRESENTATION TO PROCEED THAT YOU JUST SAY NEXT SLIDE SO THAT THE MODERATOR KNOWS TO SWITCH YOU TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
ALEC, IF YOU'LL BRING UP THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
DEBBIE, YOU'RE UP? DEBBIE SLICING.
UM, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO PULL ALL OF THIS TOGETHER TO FRED AND BEN.
I KNOW WE'VE MISSED OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND SEEING EVERYBODY IN PERSON, BUT VIRTUAL'S THE, THE NEXT BEST THING.
UM, SO ACCESS HEALTH LAW COUNTRY IS A COLLABORATIVE THAT WORKS TO BRING, UM, HEALTHCARE FREE OR REDUCED COSTS.
DO LOW-INCOME UNINSURED ADULTS IN BUFORD, JASPER, AND SOON TO BE HAMPTON COUNTY.
[00:15:01]
UH, WE RECENTLY SUBMITTED A NEW GRANT APPLICATION TO THE DUKE ENDOWMENT.WHO'S OUR MAJOR FUNDER IN WAY.
THEY ASKED TO EXPAND FORMALLY TO HAMPTON COUNTY, WHEREABOUTS 10% OF OUR CLIENTS NOW COME FROM SO ACCESS HEALTH.
UM, WE BEGAN OUR YEAR WITH WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS SO FAR IN 2020.
AND WE HAD HOSTED SOUTH CAROLINA D HECK TO DO A WALK THROUGH BUFORD IN JASPER IN HAMPTON COUNTIES, CENTRALLY THE CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY GROUP CREATED POSTERS AND CALCULATED DATA TRENDS OVER FROM 2012, UP THROUGH 2018 FOR BUFORD JASPER IN HAMPTON COUNTIES, WE LOOKED AT EIGHT CATEGORIES OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH DATA IN MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE EVENT.
UH, THE INFORMATION WAS VERY IMPACTFUL AND I THINK IT'S REALLY SERVED TO ELEVATE OUR SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES AND DISPARITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS WAS ALSO VERY TIMELY BECAUSE WITH THE ONSET OF COVID THE DISPARITIES WE SEE HERE IN BUFORD JSP AND HAMPTON COUNTIES ARE ALSO BEING RECOGNIZED AND ACKNOWLEDGED AT NATIONAL LEVEL.
UM, SO THIS DATA WALK WILL SET THE PACE, SET SOME OF THE PRIORITIES FOR THE COALITION IN THE CHRONIC DISEASE CATEGORIES.
WE'RE TRYING TO TACKLE AS A GROUP, AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
UM, SECOND MEETING WE HAD WAS IN JUNE AND WE GAVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SHARE THE STATUS OF WHERE THEY ARE AT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
LIKE FOR MANY OF YOU, COVID-19 HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON WHAT WE DO AS COALITION.
UM, AGAIN, OUR, OUR PRIMARY THRUST IS TO GET PEOPLE SET UP WITH PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY CARE AND NAVIGATE THEM THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND ADDRESS THE VARIOUS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, INCLUDING PRES PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE.
UM, AND WHILE MANY OF OUR PARTNERS CLOSED OR REDUCED THEIR SERVICES DURING, UM, BETWEEN MARCH AND MID JUNE, PEOPLE HAVE NOW BEEN REOPENED.
I HAVE TO SAY IN TALKING WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, ALL OF THEM TENDED TO THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND EMBRACE GREATER TECHNOLOGY, FREE CLINICS AND BUFORD JASPER COMP HEALTH AND BUFORD MEMORIAL PHYSICIAN PRACTICES ALL ROLLED OUT, UM, OR EXPANDED TELEHEALTH INTO THEIR CLINICS.
UM, WORKED WITH PATIENTS TO DEVELOP, GET THE T THE TECHNOLOGY ON THEIR CELL PHONES OR HOME COMPUTERS, AND BE ABLE TO OPEN UP IN JUNE AND OFFER TELEHEALTH VISITS AS WELL AS IN-PERSON VISITS.
UM, WHAT I FOUND VERY INTERESTING WAS THE CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, MANY OF OUR PATIENTS AND CLIENTS WOULD NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY ON THEIR CELL PHONES IN ORDER ENABLED TO BE ABLE TO DO A TELEHEALTH VISIT.
AND WE HAVE FOUND, UM, THE VAST MAJORITY, THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS IT THROUGH AN APP, WHICH WAS, I THINK, OPENS UP POSSIBILITIES FOR US IN THE FUTURE, IN TERMS OF OVERCOMING SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS WE HAVE, UM, YOU'LL SEE HERE, THE PRIMARY CARE CLINICS, UM, FORKED FROM HOME.
UM, THEY ALSO DID TELL THEM THAT THROUGH THEIR OFFICE, WE HAVE PALMETTO BREEZE WHO IS KEPT GETTING PEOPLE TO THEIR JOBS, UM, BUT ALSO HAVING TO EMBRACE NEW TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES FOR SAFETY FOR BOTH THEIR EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
UM, WE ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF PARTNERS, VERY ACTIVE IN COVID TESTING, BUFORD MEMORIAL, TESTED OVER 12,000 PEOPLE AT THE VARIOUS PRACTICE SITES, AS WELL AS SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE AT FREE SCREENING EVENTS THAT WERE CONDUCTED NORTH OF THE BROAD BLUFFED NGS PREVEN.
UM, ALSO ASSISTED WITH SOME SITES IN BLUFFTON AREA, AND UPHELD HAS HOSTED A NUMBER OF SITES AT ST.
HELENA, SHELDON, UM, CLINICS AND UP IN HAMPTON COUNTY AS WELL, SLIDE THE VILLAGE.
[00:20:01]
UM, SO AS I SAID, MANY OF OUR PARTNERS KEPT ON GOING THROUGH, UM, COVID-19 IN, WE'RE WORKING IN WAYS TO CONTINUE TO GET PEOPLE QUALIFIED FOR THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE THE LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY AND WAYS.WE'RE UNABLE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT A YEAR AGO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT WERE POSSIBLE.
UM, SO JUST SOME QUICK UPDATES, UM, FROM OUR PARTNERS, UM, 30 SECONDS.
UM, COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL IS ALSO IMPLEMENTED TELE-HEALTH VISITS.
THEY ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM CHASES, PEOPLE WHO, WHO MAY NEED, UM, FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR TELEPHONE AND PHONE PLANS, UM, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO CONNECT FOR CARE.
UM, PALMETTO BREEZE IS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE TRANSPORTATION, UM, THEN CRISIS COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM GOING TO BE RENAMED.
IS IT TOMORROW IS THE MOBILE CRISIS UNIT.
UM, PESOS HAS BEEN CONTINUING TO ASSIST PATIENTS, UM, IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF CONNECTING THEM WITH OTHER RESOURCES.
THEY'VE ALSO BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN WORKING WITH ACCESS HEALTH AND REACHING SOME PATIENTS WHERE LANGUAGES IS A BIT OF A BARRIER AND THERE ARE URGENT MATTERS.
ALEC, IF WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND WE HAVE DEBRA MENDELSON WHO WAS GOING TO BE GIVING US AN UPDATE ON THE COALITION FOR AGING IN PLACE, DEBRA IS DEBORAH WITH US, DEBRA.
IF YOU ARE HERE AND WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, IF YOU WOULD PUT SOMETHING IN THE CHAT BOX AND WE'LL KNOW THAT YOU'RE AT LEAST HERE, OKAY,
I'M SHOWING THAT DEBRA IS HERE AND SHE'S NOT MUTED, BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HEAR HER DEBRA.
IF HE WOULD JUST COLIN, I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NUMBER DEBRA I'M BEING TOLD THAT YOU NEED TO SWITCH INPUTS ON YOUR MICROPHONE, BUT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO JUST DIAL IN FROM A CELL PHONE USING THE NUMBERED, BEN JUST GAVE YOU THAT WILL WORK JUST AS WELL.
IT LOOKS LIKE DEBORAH IS JUST ABOUT HERE.
HE SAYS TO PLEASE PULL IT OFF OR TURN THE VOLUME DOWN.
UM, MY NAME IS DEBORAH EDMONDSON AND I AM
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THE FACILITATOR FOR THE COALITION FOR AGING IN PLACE.UM, I'M ALSO THE VILLAGE DEVELOPER AND OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE MATURE ADULTS LIVING IN BUFORD COUNTY WITH A NETWORK OF SUPPORT THAT OFFERS THE PRACTICAL MEANS AND CONFIDENCE TO ENJOY LIFE TO ITS FULLEST IN THE HOMES AND COMMUNITIES THEY VALUE.
AND I ALWAYS JUST LIKE TO ADD AS LONG AS IT'S SAFE TO DO SO.
SO, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VILLAGES, THEY'RE NOT STRUCTURES THEY'RE, UM, ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES THAT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS.
UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE, UH, THREE VILLAGES IN BUFORD COUNTY, UM, IN ROSE HILL CARING NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE SOME CITY THING CONNECTED, WHICH I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY IS OUR POSTER CHILD.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SAFE HARBOR ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND THAT NOW ACTUALLY SERVES THE ISLAND.
THEY STARTED OUT JUST SERVING, UM, SEA PINES.
AND SO THE VILLAGES OFFER LIGHT SERVICES, THEY'LL STAY IN CONTACT, UM, THE CARE CALLS, UM, THEY PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THEIR LARGEST SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE.
UM, STAYING CONNECTED HAS BASICALLY OFFERED ENOUGH TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THAT THEIR DRIVE WAS KIND OF BEEN AROUND THE EARTH.
UM, A COUPLE OF TIMES IN, SINCE THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE.
SO, UM, AND THAT'S PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO DOCTORS TO THERAPY, UM, TO THE GROCERY STORE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS A RESULT OF COVID THAT THERE ARE NOW MORE DELIVERY SERVICES FOR GROCERY.
SO REALLY THE RIDES NOW ARE MAINLY FOR DOCTOR'S VISITS AND THERAPY VISITS.
AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN STARTING VILLAGES.
AND WE GO IN, WE TALK WITH THE COMMUNITIES.
WE TELL THEM THAT EVERY COMMUNITY IS UNIQUE, SO THEY WILL HAVE TO, UM, PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WORK FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
UM, SOME OF THE VILLAGES ARE ABLE TO WRITE GRANTS TO FACILITATE, UM, WITH, UM, INSURANCES THAT ARE NEEDED, UH, AND ANY OTHER EXPENSES THAT THEY MAY INCUR.
UM, SUN CITY HAS BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH, UM, TO BE ABLE TO GET DONATED SPACE.
UM, THEY GREW OUT OF THIS SPACE THAT THEY HAD ON SUN CITY.
UM, SO THEY'RE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF SUN CITY NOW.
SO AS I SAID, EACH VILLAGE IS UNIQUE AND WHAT WE DO IS TRY TO COME IN AND HELP, UM, THOSE PUT TOGETHER THE VILLAGE THAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM.
UM, WE HAVE A, UM, UH, WELL, I'M GOING TO CALL THIS.
WE HAVE A STRATEGIC SESSION EVERY JUNE, AND WE DIDN'T GET TO HAVE IT THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT IN OCTOBER.
AND WE PUT OUT THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO TRY AND, UM, TAKE ON AS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE IT'S MORE THAN JUST VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS OTHER THAN TRANSPORTATION IS COMMUNICATION.
SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS IN THIS AREA AS THEY TRY TO AGE IN PLACE.
AND SO, UM, OUT OF ONE OF THOSE, UM, STRATEGIC WORK SESSIONS CAME A PARTNERSHIP WITH ANTHEM MEDIA AND WE ARE CURRENTLY PARTNERING WITH THEM TO PRODUCE THE SENIOR RESOURCE DIRECTORY.
UM, THE PARTNERSHIP AFFORDS THE COALITION, SEVERAL EDITORIAL PAGES, UM, AND A COUPLE OF PAGES OF ADVERTISING.
AND SO WE'LL ALWAYS ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT ONE ABOUT PARTNERS WHO SIT AROUND THE TABLE AND WE'RE WORKING NOW WITH, UM, UH, THE HOSPITALS WITH, UH, SOME OF THE HOSPICES THAT ARE AROUND, UM, W L COG IS INVOLVED.
THEY'RE ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, OF COURSE, ALL THE VILLAGES ALSO HAVE A SEAT AROUND THE TABLE.
SO BUSINESS OF WAY FOR THE SENIORS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ACCESS SERVICES.
AND SO, UM, THE SENIOR RESOURCE DIRECTORY HAD BEEN MAILED, UM, AT FIRST IT WAS DISTRIBUTED.
AND THEN THE VERY NEXT YEAR WE MAILED, UH, 15,000 COPIES, THEN 20,000 COPIES.
AND WE ARE ON SCHEDULE TO DIRECT MAIL, 30,000 COPIES, UH, FOR THE 20, 21 EDITION.
AND WE WILL ALSO DISTRIBUTE TO DOCTORS' OFFICES, THE LIBRARIES, UM, WE HAVE CHURCHES THAT ARE REQUESTING COPIES OF THE DIRECTORY NOW.
UM, SO WE'RE BEGINNING TO REALLY GET THE DIRECTORY OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
[00:30:01]
SO THOSE ARE OUR BIG INITIATIVES.UM, WE ALSO TRY TO PRODUCE EVENTS AND WE HAD PRE COVID THREE EVENTS THAT WERE PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, DID A PRESENTATION TO US, UH, THE END OF LAST YEAR AND TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY CALLS THEY HAVE TO MAKE FOR SENIORS THAT ARE FALLING.
UM, AND IT'S QUITE COSTLY TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND SO WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD COLLABORATE WITH THEM OKAY.
AND SHARE WITH PEOPLE WHAT, UM, THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT FALLS.
UM, AND, AND JUST OVERALL HOLISTIC, IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH.
WE HAD THE CAMPO, WE'RE GOING TO RESCHEDULE THAT.
UM, WE ALSO WILL BE TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE'S NEW PROGRAMS THAT WAS GOING TO BE IN MAY, BUT WE WILL RESCHEDULE THAT.
AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE AID AND ATTENDANCE, VETERAN SPOUSE HAS BENEFITS.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING THINGS THAT WE DO IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECTORY AND VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE COALITION, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL.
I BELIEVE MY PHONE NUMBER IS HERE IN THE FEED, BUT IT IS EIGHT FOUR THREE THREE SIX EIGHT TWO 43.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND ALSO JUST SO YOU GUYS REALIZE THIS DIRECTORY IS NOT ONLY IN PRINT, IT'S ALSO ONLINE, WHICH GIVES THE COALITION THE ABILITY TO UPDATE IT ON A LIVE.
SO THEY, IF THEY HAVE ANY CHANGES OR THEY WANT TO ADD ANYBODY THERE, THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT TIME IT GETS PRINTED, IT'S MORE CURRENT.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL AND CHIP JENKINS IS GOING TO BE GIVING US THAT PRESENTATION CHIP.
UM, SO WE AT THE CRC OR THE COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL RELATIONS COUNCIL, UH, THIS IS OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
UH, OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS, UH, TO CREATE OUR, OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A BELOVED COMMUNITY BY BUILDING BRIDGES AND CELEBRATING OUR DIVERSITY AND FOSTERING MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS, GOODWILL MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, AND RESPECT, RESPECT AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, BUFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, DISCUSSIONS ARE HELD MONTHLY AND THEY'RE OPEN TO ALL ON THE FOURTH, THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 2:00 PM.
THE LENGTH OF THE MEETING DEPENDS ON PARTICIPATION.
UH, SOMETIMES IT'S VERY LIVELY AND, UH, VERY PASSIONATE AND WE LOVE IT.
UH, THE, UH, MONTHLY DISCUSSION VARIES IN TOPICS WITH A COMMON GOAL OF HOW DO THESE TOPICS AFFECT OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY AND WHAT WAYS CAN WE ADVOCATE AND FACILITATE POSITIVE PROGRESSION AS A COMMUNITY? UH, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, IT'LL JUST KIND OF PINPOINT OUR ACTION TEAMS. UM, THE FIRST OF OUR ACTION TEAMS IS A NEWSPAPER NEW PATHS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT STARTED, UH, WITH A SPARK OF AN IDEA FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS, THE BEAVER COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO HOUSE AN ASSISTANT MANAGING THE NEW PATH PROJECT WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT.
THE CRC WILL STILL BE APPRISED OF ALL DEVELOPMENTS.
THE CRC WILL BE SENDING THEIR ATTITUDE TO THOSE MEMBERS THAT SPEARHEADED THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND THE LIST IS VERY LONG AND IT, UM, IT INCLUDES, UH, FRED LYDA, HEATHER PRICE, JIM GOSLIN, UH, JAMES MORRELL, AND I AM MISSING ONE OTHER PERSON.
UM, I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO THAT.
UH, THE 21ST POLICING, UH, UH, TASK FORCE IS OUR SECOND ACTION TEAM.
AND THE ACTION TEAM IS SPEARHEADED BY LISA ALLEN, UM, WHO HAS DEDICATED COUNCIL, COUNTLESS HOURS TO ORGANIZING AND COLLECTING MINI DADDY DATA POINTS FROM THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO HAVE INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF ARREST RECORDS MADE WITHIN THE, UH, BEAVER COUNTY.
THE DATA IS LARGE AND COMPLEX, BUT, UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT LISA HAS GONE THROUGH IT ALL WITH HER TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS, AND SHE IS STILL CALLING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS TO, UM, DIG FURTHER INTO THIS, UH, DATA.
BUT, UH, THEY'RE ACTUALLY MEETING TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM TO GO OVER WHAT THEY HAVE.
AND, UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT SHE'S FINDING WITHIN THAT DATA.
THE LAST ONE IS THE COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS TEAM, WHICH IS A NEWLY FORMED TEAM.
AND THEY'VE MET CYBER LEA, UM, TO DISCUSS MANY IDEAS.
UH, THE TEAM CAME UP WITH FIRST RUNNING, A 10 QUESTION SURVEY AMONG THE COMMUNITY TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TOPICS WOULD THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY SUGGEST IS LIKELY TO BE MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM.
UH, AFTER THAT, THE GOAL WILL BE TO, UH, NARROW DOWN TO A COUPLE OF TOPICS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HOST A COUPLE OF LIVE FORUMS AND WE'RE STILL DEPENDING ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DELIVER THOSE.
[00:35:01]
UM, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERSHIPS THROUGHOUT BEAVER COUNTY, AND IT'S OPEN TO ALL AS I SAID, SO HE JUST JOINED US ON THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES ORGANIZATION AND KIMBERLY HALL.
KIMBERLY, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YEP.
IT'S SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY FRIENDLY FACES AND GET TOGETHER WITH EVERYBODY AND CONNECT.
UM, SO I'M THE CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SERVICES ORGANIZATION.
I'M ALSO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT LYFT AND SELF-HELP.
UM, SO ADMITTEDLY, UM, CSO, UM, HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT DORMANT DURING COVID BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF OUR AGENCIES ARE SERVING THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THE MISSION OF THE CSO IS TO BRING ABOUT COORDINATED COMMUNICATION, ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES, UM, AND TRACKING INFORMATION AND A COLLABORATIVE, EFFICIENT SERVICE ENVIRONMENT AND VIEW PER COUNTY, AND REALLY TO, UM, MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY AND BUFORD COUNTY.
UM, SO OUR MAIN FOCUS YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE IS, UM, THE USE OF CHARITY TRACKER.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, UM, FOLKS IN BUFORD COUNTY AND NOT UTILIZING CHARITY CHECKER, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
UM, YOU CAN CLICK ON THE NEXT SLIDE JUST TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT ANYONE, ALEC, ARE YOU THERE? YEAH.
THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR A CHARITY TRACKER IS BARBARA BOWERS, BARB.
I THINK SHE'S ON, I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'S MUTED OR NOT BURBERRY THERE.
SO BARBARA IS OUR ADMINISTRATOR AND REALLY CHARITY TRACKER, UM, HELPS US TO REGULATE ASSISTANCE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING IN BUFORD COUNTY.
UM, BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO ON WHAT BARBARA HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE PAST SIX MONTHS IS AN INCREASING EFFECTIVENESS AND REALLY REGULATING THE USE.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF NON-USERS A LOT OF USERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VETTED.
UM, AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.
SO IF YOU HEAR, IF YOU ARE USING CHARITY TRACKER, YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR FROM BARBARA VERY SOON.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SENSITIVE CLIENT DATA IN THAT SYSTEM, AND WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THAT, UM, FOR THE FOLKS THAT WE SERVE.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, SO THIS YEAR ALONE, UM, BARBARA HAS WORKED TO TRAIN, UM, 22, UM, ATTENDEES AND GET 22 USERS UP TO SPEED WITH SIX AGENCIES.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE DONE SOME CASE MANAGEMENT MERGE OVER 3000 DUPLICATE CASES AND, UM, DISABLED 10 ACCOUNTS.
LIKE I SAID, THE PROTECTION OF THAT INFORMATION IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE GOALS REALLY, LIKE I SAID, IS TO, UM, INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DATA THAT'S IN THE SYSTEM.
UM, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DOUBLE CHECK WHO'S IN THERE.
UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN ACCURATE INFORMATION, UM, AND EXPAND THE USES USAGE OF IT, GETTING MORE GROUPS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND FOLKS THAT ARE OFFERING THAT ASSISTANCE ONTO CHARITY TRACKER, UM, AND THEN INCREASE THE REPORTING, UM, AND THE USAGE OF CHARITY TRACKER, INCLUDING, UM, HOW TO, YOU KNOW, INPUT OUTCOMES AND GOALS FOR THE CLIENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, BARBARA, I WANTED TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO MENTION OR TALK ABOUT NOW, JUST IF ANY, IF THERE, IF PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERESTED, NOT FAMILIAR, I'M SORRY WITH CHARITY TRACKER, THEY CAN EMAIL ME OR IF THEY WANT TO TRAIN SOME OF THEIR STAFF OR VOLUNTEERS.
SO DID YOU PUT MY EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE SITES COMBINED? UM, IT WAS ON THERE.
UM, FRED, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN MAYBE SEND THAT OUT AFTERWARDS.
SO ONCE THE MEETING IS OVER AND THE WHOLE SESSION IS RECORDED, ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PULL THAT INFORMATION ON THERE.
NOPE, NOPE, YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.
WASN'T UM, WE NOW HAVE IT IN THE CHAT, SO ONCE CAN LOOK IN THE CHAT.
UM, SO, UH, YEAH, THERE'S, WE HAVE NOT MET AS AN ORGANIZATION RECENTLY, SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A MEETING NOTICE FOR A MEETING, UM, HOPEFULLY COMING UP IN Q4 AND THEN MOVING FORWARD INTO MORE FREQUENT MEETINGS, UM, INTO 2021.
[00:40:01]
AGENCIES HAVE, LIKE I SAID, BEEN VERY BUSY.UM, I KNOW SECOND HELPINGS DEEP, WELL, UM, MANY OF THE FOOD PROVIDERS AND, UM, SAFETY NET PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY JUST HAVE BEEN, UM, OVERWHELMED.
SO THANKS FOR BEARING WITH US.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU TO SET THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY DURING A VERY, VERY CRITICAL TIME.
UH, THE QUESTION IS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HUD AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS, DISTRIBUTING FOOD.
HOW ARE WE RECORDING THESE PROGRAMS? THANKS, LILY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S RECORDING.
I'M GUESSING IT WOULD GO THROUGH LOW COUNTRY FOOD BANK, BUT IT WOULD NOT GO THROUGH THE CSO.
PERHAPS WE COULD CHAT ABOUT A BETTER WAY FOR THAT.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, OUR NEXT COALITION IS THE DISABILITY COALITION AND WE HAVE AN CARWASH UP.
ANN, ARE YOU THERE? HEAR ME? OKAY.
WE CAN HEAR YOU AND TO SEE YOU, BUT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I AM THE SECRETARY OF THE DISABILITY COALITION AND I'VE BEEN A MEMBER FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS, BUT I'M NEWLY SERVING AS A SECRETARY.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE OUR MISSION AND THE DISABILITY COALITION IS TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND BE FORT COUNTY AND THE LOW COUNTRY REGION BY WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE IMPROVED.
UM, AS EVERYONE HAS ALSO, WE EXPERIENCED, UH, UM, A SHOCK, A BIT OF A SHUTDOWN DURING THE COVID, UM, PERIOD THAT FIRST HIT US ALL.
SO, UM, WE DID NOT MEET FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, UM, BUT IN JULY WE DECIDED TO TAKE, UM, THE SETBACK.
SO WE ARE BACK IN FULL FORCE TO HAVE A RENEWED ENERGY THAT WE WORKING WITH.
SOME OF OUR PAST MEMBERS WHO HAVE KIND OF HAVE A NEW SENSE OF ENERGY AND SOME NEW MEMBERS, UM, PLUS MEMBERS, THEY SPEAK BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL, NONPROFIT STAFF, VOLUNTEERS.
UM, WE HAVE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WHO ARE REPRESENTED AND JUST, UM, IN THIS, IN THIS AREA WHO ALL KIND OF WORK TOGETHER TO SERVE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, ONE OF OUR WAYS, UM, GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE IN ARE MAKING A COMEBACK OUT OF A SETBACK.
WE DECIDED TO REFOCUS A LITTLE BIT, AND, UH, WE HAVE THREE AREAS OF FOCUS WHICH HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE THE INCEPTION OF OUR COALITION AND THEIR AWARENESS RESOURCES, AND YES, SET UP SPECIFIC COMMITTEES THAT WOULD ADDRESS THOSE AREAS THAT HELP KEEPS US MORE FOCUSED AND KIND OF ON OUR, ON OUR MISSION.
SO WE NOW HAVE, UM, MAYBE CHAIRS FOR EACH OF THOSE AREAS AND THEY'RE OPERATING A SUB CHAIRS AND, UM, MEETING OUTSIDE OF OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY MORE EFFECTIVE HELP OUR MISSION IMPACT THE PEOPLE IN A POSITIVE WAY.
SO, AS I SAID, ENERGY IS GOOD.
WE, UM, SPRING-BOARDED THIS PROJECT THAT WE HAD THROUGH HUMAN SERVICE GRANT, WHICH WAS A SURVEY AND THAT SURVEY TOLD US THAT, OR NOT ABLE TO, UM, FIND OR RECEIVE ADEQUATE SERVICES.
SO BASICALLY WE DECIDED TO, UM, AT THE SUGGESTION OF FRED, UM, CREATE A, UM, A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE GUIDE, UM, INCLUDING ALL THE VARIOUS, UM, SERVICES AGENCIES NON-PROFITS ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH PROVIDING SERVICES OR PROGRAMS OR EVENTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SAW WITH THE AGING IN PLACE.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE A PRINTED AND A DIGITAL, UM, OKAY.
PART OF THIS FALL, WE SEE FUNDING FOR THAT, AND IT WOULD BE IN PEOPLE'S HANDS BY EARLY 2021.
YOU MENTIONED THERE, YOU CAN SEE IT'S GOING TO ENCOMPASS, UM, AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFIT GROUPS, GOVERNMENTAL EDUCATIONS, AND EVEN THAT SOURCE SUPPORT FOR A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.
UM, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON SOME OF OUR PREVIOUSLY UNDERTAKEN PROJECTS AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO MORE, UH, ROBUST HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM AND HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.
UM, WE DO WORK ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO CREATE CITIZENS WHO KNOW HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT.
UM, I GUESS THAT'S OUR PRIMARY ACTIVITIES.
[00:45:01]
WE ARE, UM, AGAIN, MOVING FORWARD, HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THIS RESOURCE DIRECTORY IN PLACE.AND, UM, ALSO WE SEE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN, UM, AND SOME ROOM WHERE WE CAN COLLABORATE, COLLABORATE WITH, UM, OTHER HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY GROUP HAVE SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT PEOPLE WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY HAVE.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO NOT ONLY WORKING WITHIN OUR GROUP, BUT HOPEFULLY EXPANDING BEYOND AND WORKING WITH SOME OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION, FEEL FREE TO CLICK ON THAT AND, UH, CHECK THEM OUT.
ALL RIGHT, ALEC, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE WE HAVE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION AND, UH, JAMES WILLIAMS. JAMES, ARE YOU READY? OKAY.
EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME WELL, NOW WE CAN SEE YOU.
YOU CAN SEE ME AND HEAR ME STANDING.
SO YOU CAN KIND OF POSITION, UH, WE ARE TRULY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE OF BUFORD COUNTY.
IT IS INDEED AN HONOR TO SERVE ON SUCH A WONDERFUL, UH, COALITION BECAUSE WE GET TO IMPACT HOW OUR COUNTY WILL BE, UH, IN THE YEARS TO COME.
UM, THE COALITION IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
UH, OBVIOUSLY WE COLLABORATE WITH BUFORD COUNTY, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUFORD COUNTY, FIRST STEPS.
UH, IT IS A COOPERATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, DSS TO KAPPA THE SHELDON TOWNSHIP, ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE AND PREPARE.
UH, OUR CHILDREN WILL BE FOR COUNTY FOR, UH, SUCCESS IN HEALTH AND IN SCHOOL AS THEY'RE ENTERING INTO KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE READY AND PREPARED, NOT ONLY MENTALLY, BUT EMOTIONALLY AND IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS AS THEY ENTER INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT IS INDEED, UH, A, UH, A CHALLENGE WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
UH, SO WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER FROM THE, FOR THE ELDERLY, BUT FOR THE CHILDREN, UH, IN SOME OF OUR MOST RURAL AREAS, UH, GETTING THE, THE NECESSARY, UH, MATERIALS ITEMS THAT THEY NEED TO, TO HAVE A HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS A DIFFICULT TASK, YOU KNOW, USING THE RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER FOR BUFORD.
UM, WE ARE, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY IMPACT, UH, THE CHILDREN WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
UH, THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COLLABORATION IS ONE THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING ENTITIES LIKE THIS, AND WITH THE HELP OF FRED, UH, WHO, UH, I SEE THIS MORNING, HE DIDN'T PUT HIS CAPE ON TO WEAR FOR THE MEETING, BUT, UH, IN, IN A SUPERHERO LACK OF CAPACITY, UH, BRINGING THE COUNTY TOGETHER TO HELP SUPPORT AND, AND, AND GROW ALL OF THE NECESSARY ENTITIES THAT PROMOTE HUMAN SERVICES THROUGHOUT, UH, THE, THE SERVICE AREA, NOT ONLY BUFORD JASPER HAMPTON COUNTY, BUT ALSO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
UH, IT IS INDEED A TASK THAT, THAT, THAT IS A TREMENDOUS WITH FRED'S EFFORT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MANY MEMBERS THAT SIT ON THIS BOARD, UH, ASHLEY AND, UH, REPRESENTATIVE FROM KAPPA AND FROM THE SHELDON TOWNSHIP, UH, AS WE GROW THE SCHOOL GIVES, UH, THE, UH, ENTERING TEST FOR, UH, GRADE LEVELS AS THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE CURRENTLY ABOUT 60%.
I'LL MAKE SURE I HAVE THAT, THAT, THAT NUMBER WRITES, UH, 50, 57.2% OF THE KIDS IN A TEST AT THE AVERAGE OR ABOVE AVERAGE IN MATH, AND ABOUT THAT SAME NUMBER 57.4 TESTS, THE SAME IN READING.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO HELP IMPROVE THOSE NUMBERS AS THE CHILDREN CAN GET INTO A HIGHER PURPOSE AND BE PREPARED OR, UH, FOR, FOR THEIR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT? UH, FRED, NO, NO QUESTIONS YET.
UH, ALEC, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THERE WE GO.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE UNIVERSAL STAFFING TEAM MEALS IS INDEED
[00:50:01]
A PART OF WHAT WE DO.YOU KNOW, IT NOT ONLY CONNECTS WITH THE, UM, WITH THE CHILDREN, BUT THE FIRST TEACHER THAT EVERY CHILD HAS IS THE FAMILY AT HOME.
SO ENSURING THAT THE PARENTS, UH, HAVE COORDINATE AND HAVE THE THINGS AND TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO HELP THAT CHILD BE SUCCESSFUL IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.
UH, SO UNIVERSAL STAFFING, UH, ALONG WITH, IS THERE ANOTHER NEXT SLIDE? THE LAST SLIDE? OKAY.
SO, UM, THERE, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL FIRST STEP IN GETTING OUT OF ALL THE COALITIONS THAT EXIST, UH, ACROSS OUR COUNTY.
UH, I, I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR 120, THAT'S A VERY LARGE NUMBER, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT TO GROW TO EVEN LARGER CAPACITY.
THE MORE OF US ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.
THE BETTER OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE.
WE HAVE THE LOW COUNTRY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION AND MARILYN HARRIS.
MARILYN, ARE YOU THERE? GOOD MORNING.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO REPRESENT A COALITION OF OVER A HUNDRED DIVERSE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS.
THE MISSION, AS YOU CAN SEE OF THE LOW COUNTRY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR EVERY LOW COUNTRY, UH, RESIDENT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN AFFORDABLE, SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND A SANITARY HOME THAT COSTS NO MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR GROSS INCOME, INCLUDING MORTGAGE UTILITIES AND INSURANCE.
AS THE LOW COUNTRY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION HAS MORE THAN A HUNDRED DIVERSE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS ON HIS ROLES AND INCLUDES THOSE WHO NEED HOUSING.
THOSE WHO NEED EMPLOYEES, AND THOSE WHO WISH TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE NEED AS WELL AS BANKING PROFESSIONALS, REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS, AND OTHERS.
UM, THE MEMBERS, THE MEMBERS OF THE LOW COUNTRY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION, UM, CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF BUILDING AN ECONOMY, A LOCAL ECONOMY THAT SUPPORTS A SUSTAINABLE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH TRAINING PRESENTATIONS, COMMUNITY FORUMS WHEN POSSIBLE TRACKING NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTED PAINTING WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTY COUNCILS, AS WELL AS SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO IMPLEMENT REGULATORY AND DIRECT HOUSING INCENTIVE.
WE HAD OUR LAST COALITION MEETING IN MARCH WITH A PRESENTATION FROM BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MS. JESS WENTON, WHO SPOKE TO US, UM, WHO GAVE A PRESENTATION TITLE, HOMELESSNESS AS A BARRIER TO EDUCATION IN BUFORD COUNTY.
THIS HELPS US MEET OUR GOAL OF PROVIDING EDUCATION INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY.
SOME OF THE MEMBERS PRESENT INCLUDED THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR BUFORD JASPER COUNTY AOC, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT AND HARDY VILLE, THE DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FOR ATLANTIC MARINE CORPS, MILITARY BASE HOUSING, A MEMBER OF THE HARTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL, A MEMBER OF THE BLUFFTON CITY COUNCIL, UH, NAOMI LOW COUNTRY ALLIANCE ON MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS, THE SENIOR GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR FROM HILTON HEAD, UM, AND OTHERS IN PAT IN THE, EVERY TIME WE MEET, WE HAVE, UM, NEW, UM, PRESENTATIONS OR NEW SHARING FROM OUR DIFFERENT COALITION MEMBERS.
SO WHILE OUR COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS REMAIN IN PLACE, THE FACILITATOR, AND THAT WOULD BE ME, UH, CONTINUES TO SEND OUT UPDATES, UH, TO OUR LISTSERV.
UH, WE RECENTLY, I RECENTLY, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY STARTED A NEW, UM, NEWSLETTER AND IT'S RECEIVED POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOW COUNTRY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION.
UH, NEXT UP IS VIDA AND WE HAVE THREE, TWO JACKSON.
TERESA, CAN YOU HEAR ME AWESOME.
SO IF YOU DO NOT KNOW, UM, VIDA IS THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND WE PROVIDE
[00:55:01]
FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE, UM, AS IT'S, UM, NOTED HERE BELOW, UM, AND AS WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, UM, LIFE, AS WE KNEW IT, UM, DRASTICALLY CHANGED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR AND THERE TRULY WAS A MASS PANIC AND A LOT OF CONFUSION, UM, FOR THE MAJORITY OF, OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT YET FILED THEIR TAXES AT THAT POINT.SO WE WERE INUNDATED WITH PHONE CALLS, WITH EMAILS FROM CONCERNED TAXPAYERS.
SO, UM, AND THEN ALSO WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE TO JULY 15TH, UM, AND QUESTIONS REGARDING THE STIMULUS PAYMENTS.
UM, AND THERE WAS JUST THIS REALLY OVERWHELMING FEAR, UM, REGARDING TAXES.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, DEATH AND TAXES, RIGHT? LIKE THE, THE THING THAT PEOPLE FEAR THE MOST.
AND SO, UM, WHAT, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO VERY SUCCESSFULLY IS CREATE, UM, AN IRS APPROVED VIRTUAL TAX PREPARATION PROGRAM.
SO THIS ALLOWED TAXPAYERS ACCESS TO OUR CERTIFIED, UM, VOLUNTEERS THROUGH A CONFIDENTIAL SECURED PORTAL, UM, WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO STILL HAVE THEIR TAXES, UM, PREPARED FOR THEM FOR FREE.
AND THAT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME, THE VOLUNTEERS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SAFE.
UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, ALONG THE LINES OF THAT WAS THE, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE THAT ARE NOT TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY.
AND, UM, AND ALSO PART OF THIS PROCESS WAS THE ARP TAX AID AND THEY COMPLETELY CEASED THEIR SERVICES.
SO THAT REALLY LEFT A, A HUGE GAP WITHIN THE SENIOR AND ELDERLY POPULATION.
SO I PILOTED, WE WERE ABLE TO PILOT A PROGRAM, UM, SPECIFICALLY IN SUN CITY.
I HAD, UM, SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO? HOW CAN, HOW CAN WE MEET THE NEEDS? THERE'S A LOT OF HOME-BOUND, UM, FOLKS THAT COULD REALLY USE THE HELP.
SO WE PILOTED, UH, A DROP-OFF, UM, SPECIFICALLY INSENSATE IT, SUN CITY TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 65 RETURNS, UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, UM, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY, UM, HAD WE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES? MOST OF OUR, MOST OF OUR S OUR SITES, IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, UM, MOST OF OUR, OUR SITES ARE LOCATED.
UM, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY SYSTEMS. AND, UM, AGAIN, WITH EVERYTHING CLOSING DOWN, ALL THE LIBRARIES CLOSING DOWN, AND EVEN WHEN THINGS DID OPEN BACK UP, WE WEREN'T STILL NOT ALLOWED USE OF THE COMMUNITY ROOMS. SO AT THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY, THEY HAVE THAT LARGE COMMUNITY ROOM AND THEY HAVE THE BACK DOOR.
SO I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM, AND WE SORT OF HAD A, UM, LIKE A WALKUP WINDOW.
WE PLACED, UH, WE PLACED A TABLE AT THEIR, AT THE BACK DOOR.
WE HAD PEOPLE WALKING UP AGAIN, YOU BEING MINDFUL, YOU KNOW, MASKS AND, UH, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, HAND THINGS AND, AND, AND SO FORTH.
BUT WE WERE, WE WERE ABLE TO DO, WHAT IS IT, 219 RETURNS THIS WAY.
SO EVEN CONSIDERING ALL OF THE OBSTACLES THAT WE HAD TO OVERCOME THIS YEAR, UM, I'VE HAD OVER 1772 VOLUNTEERS, THEY DONATED 9,000 HOURS OF SERVICE.
WE HAVE FILED OVER 2000 TAX RETURNS.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAD TO CLOSE OUR 11 SITES, WE HAD THREE DROP-OFF LOCATIONS.
UM, THE TWO THAT I MENTIONED AS WELL AS WITH DEEP, WELL, AND THEN THE VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
SO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO BE FOR COUNTY, AND THE COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE IS, IS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL.
UM, AND AGAIN, SAVING TAXPAYERS, NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE TAX PREPARATION FEES.
AND ONE STORY, YOU KNOW, IN CLOSING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I LIKE TO REALLY BE VERY HANDS-ON, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE AND, AND BEING PRESENT AT I'M ABLE TO DO.
AND I, I MET WITH, UH, I HAPPENED TO BE TALKING WITH A, UM, A YOUNG MOM AT ONE OF OUR SITES, AND SHE HAD MENTIONED, SHE WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR VIDA.
AND SHE HAD FOUND OUT ABOUT WHAT WE DO FROM HER SON'S SCHOOL.
AND SHE HAD SHARED WITH ME THAT SHE WAS GETTING HER TAXES DONE.
AND MY VOLUNTEER SAID, UM, HEY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU HAD HAPPENED TO MENTION THAT YOUR, YOUR, YOUR REFUND LAST YEAR WAS $700.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, SHE HAD GONE TO A PAID TAX PREPARE, UM, AND, UH, PARDON ME.
SO ANYWAY, HER REFUND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE $3,300, AND SHE ONLY GOT
[01:00:01]
700.AND SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES FOR ME IS GETTING OUT THERE AND PROVIDING THAT FINANCIAL LITERACY PIECE, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE TO DO THIS FOR FREE.
UM, HOW DID SHE COME TO SOMEBODY LIKE US AND WHAT SHE LEARNED THAT, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP HER AND GET HER A FULL TAX REFUND.
UM, IF ACCESS IS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR HELP.
AND SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO THEM.
UM, THERE WAS A STUDY DONE A WHILE AGO THAT SHOWED THAT, UM, MOST PEOPLE WILL GO TO THE CLERGY FOR HEALTH.
UM, AND WHILE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER COMFORT AND SOLACE, THEY CAN'T, UH, REALLY ADDRESS THE MENTAL CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE.
AND, AND OUR CLERGY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE TO SEND THEM.
AND SO ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE, UM, SET UPON THIS YEAR WAS DEVELOP A BROCHURE, UM, THAT WE COULD DELIVER THAT.
UM, EXCUSE ME, COULD YOU GO BACK TO MY SLIDE, THANK YOU.
UM, THAT WE COULD DELIVER TO, UH, DOCTORS OFFICES, TO SCHOOLS, TO, UM, THE CLERGY, UM, JUST LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT, UM, ACCESS THAT THEY HAVE, WHAT AVENUES THAT THEY HAVE, WHERE THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER REFERRALS TO.
SO, UM, WE SET OUT TO DO THAT.
UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY WHAT HAPPENED WAS IT TURNED OUT TO BE MORE OF A DIRECTORY THAN REALLY HELPING PEOPLE PROVIDE ACCESS.
AND SO, UM, STARTING NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GOING BACK THE DRAWING BOARD ON THAT.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT BROCHURE, UM, WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT'S FOR CRISIS PATIENTS, UM, MAKE IT CLEAR ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF NEED AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS FOR PROFESSIONALS TO USE AS A GUIDE.
UM, AND WE'RE HOPING TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE IN ADDITION TO, UM, PLACING SOME STRATEGICALLY PLACED BILLBOARDS, UH, AROUND THE AREA, UM, THAT WILL PROVOKE THOUGHTS ON ACCESS TO, UM, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
UH, WE, UH, PARTNER WITH NAMI, UM, WITH CRISIS INTERVENTION, THE, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.
UH, WE ALSO, UM, HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THIS YEAR THAT THE TENENT HOSPITALS HAVE COME TO THE TABLE TO JOIN US.
IN ADDITION TO THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS COMING AND THEY'RE ALL HELPING US PUT TOGETHER THIS BROCHURE, UM, BECAUSE EACH OF THOSE ENTITIES HAVE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A STRONG NEED FOR THAT.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR MAJOR PROJECT COMING UP, A GRASSROOTS MARKETING PROGRAM, AGAIN, JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE AS THEY SEEK SERVICES FROM MENTAL HEALTH.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES ALLIANCE WITH ROB BRIDGERS.
NO, CAN YOU SEE ME OR HEAR ME NOW? YES, I CAN HEAR AND SEE BOTH OF YOU.
OH, WELL, CONNIE BRUTAL MORNING, EVERYBODY.
UH, MY NAME IS ROB JUST, AND MY BOSS, UH, CONNIE HIPP HERE, COME ON OVER.
UH, WE REPRESENT MATHS, UH, WHICH IS A ACRONYM FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICE ALLIANCE.
UH, WE EXIST TO PROVIDE A SINGLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION THAT A MILITARY SERVICE PERSON VETERAN RETIREE OR ANY OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS CAN USE TO ACCESS, UH, INFORMATION ASSISTANCE AND ANY OTHER TYPE OF SERVICES THAT THEY NEED HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
WE ARE A COALITION OF APPROXIMATELY 50 ORGANIZATIONS AND WE, UM, COVER ALL WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ALL THE NEEDS, UH, FROM, UH, HEALTH PHYSICAL
[01:05:01]
OR MENTAL TO A HOUSING, UM, EMPLOYMENT EDUCATION.UH, AND WE MEET BASICALLY ONCE A QUARTER TO COMPARE NOTES, AND WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT SINCE JANUARY DUE TO COVID, UH, AT POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE THINKING FIRST QUARTER, WE'LL MEET AGAIN.
WE HAVE, UH, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY MEETINGS HAVE MET PERSONALLY WITH, UH, THE NEW SECRETARY OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL WILL GRIMSLEY, AND HE HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN TALKING WITH OUR GROUP.
WE'VE HAD A FEW VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH JOE CUNNINGHAM.
SO THE ANSWER IS FOR SERVING THE VETERANS AND THE MILITARY POPULATION EXISTS AT ALL LEVELS IN OUR GOVERNMENT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO PLUG IN AND CONNECT WITH IT.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE A MILITARY, UH, SERVICE OR A VETERANS SERVICE GUIDE.
UH, MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S A PICTURE OF IT RIGHT THERE.
WE PRO HAD 15,000 PRINTED, UH, 5,000 WERE MAILED OUT THROUGH A MAJOR LIST THAT WE HAVE PERSONALLY DISTRIBUTED OVER 5,000 AND 5,000 REMAIN IN STORAGE.
WE'VE ALSO GOT A VIRTUAL VERSION OF IT.
UH, THE ADDRESS FOR THAT WOULD BE MILITARY VET GUIDE.COM AND IT'S KIND OF A WORK IN PROGRESS.
YOU CAN ACCESS IT ANYTIME IN THE INFORMATION AND A NEW ORGANIZATIONS JOINING IT, UM, UPDATE AND PUT THEIR INFORMATION TO IT.
THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE, UH, IS A SLIDE INDICATES IS A, THERE ARE OVER 20,000 VETERANS.
I THINK THAT NUMBER IS A LITTLE LOW, 30 SECONDS MORE ROB.
OKAY, WELL, IT'S BEEN NICE TALKING TO EVERYBODY, UH, ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR COVID VACATION AND, UH, WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE CAMPUS.
NEXT UP WE HAVE THE PATHWAYS TO PARENTHOOD.
UM, OUR PATHWAYS TO PARENTHOOD COALITION'S MAIN GOAL IS THAT ALL PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE LOW COUNTRY WOULD RECEIVE ADEQUATE PRENATAL CARE FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILD.
OUR COALITION CONSISTS OF HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONALS AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, BOTH FOR PROFIT AND NONPROFIT.
UM, SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE, BUT AREN'T LIMITED TO BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND BIRTHING CENTER, DIFFERENT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT AT SOUTH CAROLINA, D HECK, UH, MUFC LOCAL DOULAS FEVER, JASPER COMP HEALTH, THE PREGNANCY CENTER, STORKS NEST, MARCH OF DIMES.
UH, WE'RE ALWAYS GROWING, INVITING NEW PEOPLE TO THE TABLE.
ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO MEET, UM, WHEN OUR COALITION WAS FORMED IN 2006, I WASN'T THERE, BUT IN 2006, BEFORE IT WAS RANKED 45TH OUT OF 46 COUNTIES, AS IT PERTAINS TO MOTHERS RECEIVING ADEQUATE PRENATAL CARE.
UM, IN FEBRUARY OF 2019, WE WERE RANKED 21, WHICH IS A LOT BETTER THAN 45 BOMB, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.
UM, AS A COALITION, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A WEBSITE TO LAUNCH TO THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD HELP, UM, PUT LIKE A RESOURCE GUIDE TOGETHER FOR MOMS AND FAMILIES ON THEIR PATH TO PARENTHOOD.
WE REALIZED THAT IT COULD BE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, UM, AT AN EMOTIONAL TIME IN LIFE.
AND EVERYONE RECEIVES THEIR YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXPECTING DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE MILITARY FAMILIES HERE.
WE HAVE, UM, TEAMS THAT ARE FINDING OUT THAT THEY'RE EXPECTING.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, JUST DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, FINDING OUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD PUT ALL OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN ONE CENTRAL LOCATION.
SO WE ARE WORKING ON A WEBSITE IT'S CALLED BUFORT BABY.COM AND IS NOT PUBLIC YET TO THE PUBLIC.
SO PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO SHARE BUFORD BABY.COM YET IT IS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT READY, BUT BACK IN MARCH, WE SET OUT, UM, A FINAL DOCUMENT TO ALL OF OUR EXISTING MEMBERS TO TRY TO GET THEIR SERVICES PLUGGED INTO THE BEST SPOT ON OUR WEBSITE.
UH, WE TRIED TO BREAK IT DOWN INSTEAD OF TRIMESTERS OR GESTATIONAL AGES.
SO ANYONE READING IT CAN UNDERSTAND IT.
SO IT WOULD BE BEFORE BABY, DURING PREGNANCY AND AFTER BIRTH.
UM, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE MOMS ARE RECEIVING THE CARE THAT THEY NEED WHILE THEY'RE PREGNANT AND, AND THE BABIES AS WELL.
UM, THE WEBSITE WILL ALSO GIVE US AVAILABILITY TO ADD EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON LOCALLY.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF BUFORD MEMORIAL WAS HOSTING A BIRTHING CLASS, THEY COULD CLICK ON THE EVENT, CALENDAR, CLICK ON THE CLASS, AND IT WOULD REDIRECT THEM TO THE PROVIDER'S WEBSITE.
SO WE WILL JUST BE A RESOURCE GUIDE.
WE'RE NOT PUSHING ANY OF THESE SERVICES ON ANYBODY.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET ALL OF THEM IN ONE SPOT.
SO IT'S NOT OVERWHELMING FOR THE EXPECTING FAMILY.
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WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE DOING.AND THEN IT WILL ALSO HAVE AN INSTANT POP-UP THAT WE'LL ASK THE WEB USER, IF THEY'RE REGISTERED FOR STORKS NEST.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH STORKS NEST, IT'S AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR MOMS OR FAMILIES TO RECEIVE PRENATAL CARE.
UM, IT'S THURSDAY TO FIVE, ADA SORORITY AND MARCH OF DIMES.
UM, THE EXPECTING FAMILY WOULD GET THEIR DOCTORS TO SIGN OFF ON THEIR APPOINTMENTS AND IN RETURN THEY WOULD GET, UM, FREE DIAPERS, YOU KNOW, BREASTFEEDING SUPPLIES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, UH, DUE TO EVERYONE, FIGURING OUT THEIR NEW NORMAL ON A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS BEING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.
UH, WE HAVE NOT MET YET, BUT WE PLAN TO DO SO VIRTUALLY OUR SECRETARY STEPS DOWN.
UH, SO WE WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND A NEW SECRETARY AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO MEET VIRTUALLY.
BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH US OR POSSIBLY GETTING YOUR SERVICES PUT ON BEFORE BABY, IF YOU'LL REACH OUT TO ME, MY WEBSITE OR MY WEBSITE, MY EMAIL IS K GODOWNS@BCGOV.NET.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE WATER QUALITY COALITION AND DENISE CARSICK, OUR WATER COMMISSIONER, DENISE.
UH, LET'S GO AHEAD, GO THROUGH THESE SLIDES AND HOPEFULLY, WHILE I'M WRAPPING UP THE MEETING, DENISE WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK ON AND, UH, AND WE CAN BACK UP AND LET HER DO HER PIECE NEXT SLIDE.
THAT IS THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR YOU ALL TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, USING THE CHAT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE TELL US EVERY TIME WE HAVE A ALLIANCE MEETING IS THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES IS THE NETWORKING THAT TAKES PLACE, UH, AS FOLKS GET TO MEET EACH OTHER.
AND SINCE WE CAN'T DO THAT, PHYSICALLY, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE, THIS, UH, CHAT OPEN FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 30 MINUTES OR SO.
SO, AND YOU ALL WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, ENTER A CHAT MESSAGE THAT EVERYONE ELSE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE.
SO WE'LL TAKE THE TIME NOW TO LET EVERYBODY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.
AND LAST THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS THE, UM, ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY ONCE AGAIN, TO THINK ABOUT JOINING ONE OF THE COALITIONS THAT YOU'VE JUST HEARD ABOUT.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IF YOUR ORGANIZATION IS, UH, COULD IMPACT THAT POPULATION OR THAT ISSUE, UM, BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO BEN, UM, AND HE CAN CONNECT YOU WITH THE APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COALITION THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO WORK WITH BEFORE I SIGN OFF, UH, WANT TO ASK BEN IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT HE CAN REMEMBER THAT WE NEEDED TO BRING UP AS I ALWAYS DO AT THE END OF A MEETING, THEN NO, I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING.
UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO, UH, EMAILED ME AND SENT ME, UH, QUESTIONS.
UM, IF I'VE MISSED ANYTHING, PLEASE FEEL WELCOME TO FOLLOW UP WITH ME.
UM, MY INFORMATION IS RIGHT THERE AND I'LL, WE'LL HANG OUT IN THE CHAT FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO HELP, UH, ADDRESS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
LOOKED LIKE WE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT JOINING.
UM, I THINK IT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT, CAN YOU BE AN INDIVIDUAL, AN INDIVIDUAL CAN JOIN A COALITION AND AN INDIVIDUAL CAN GROW THAT GROUP, JOIN THE ALLIANCE.
UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION.
YOU CAN BE A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL SINCE ALL OF THE COALITIONS ARE MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO CHOOSE TO COME TOGETHER ON A REGULAR BASIS TO TRY TO ADDRESS A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY ISSUE.
UH, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO DO THAT WHILE WE, UH, GIVE EVERYBODY AN OPPORTUNITY, SEND ANY MORE KIND OF CHATS TO SHARE ACROSS THE GROUP.
I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN CALL DENISE ON THE PHONE AND FIND OUT IF SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO JOIN US.
BEN, IF YOU'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CHAT IN CASE THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, FOLKS.
SO I JUST SPOKE WITH THE WATER QUALITY, COAL TENTATIVE, AND THEY WERE ALL SET TO JOIN US AND THEY WERE LISTENING AND COULD HEAR EVERYTHING THAT WAS BEING SAID UNTIL WE GOT JUST TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS THEIR TURN, AND THEN THEY LOST THEIR CONNECTION.
UH, SO THEY'RE GONNA PUT SOMETHING IN THE CHAT BOX HERE IN A MINUTE, AND YOU'LL ALL
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BE ABLE TO, UH, FOLLOW UP WITH THEM THROUGH THAT THEY SEND THEIR APOLOGIES.DENISE HAD TO LEAVE TO GO TO WORK.
SHELBY, CAN YOU GIVE THEM A POINT OF CONTACT JUST IN CASE ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT COALITION? ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD VERY ANY CHAT HERE IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE, UH, TO ALL OF OUR PRESENTERS.
UH, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD TOOL FOR ALL OF US TO USE.
UM, I KNOW THAT FOR MY OFFICE, THE, THE, UH, ENTIRE BROADCAST IS GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE NEED TO TELL NEW COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO HAVE COME INTO TOWN, UH, WE GET CALLS FROM FOLKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ASKING IF THEY CAN REPLICATE THE KIND OF WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO THIS RECORDING IS GOING TO BE AN EXCELLENT WAY FOR US TO SHARE WITH THEM ALL OF THE SPECIFICS AND DETAILS ABOUT THE VARIOUS COALITIONS AND THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY OUR NETWORK.
AND EVERYBODY HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN.