Board of Directors Opening

KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc. Board of Directors has an opening for a new board member to represent the low-income sector in Itasca County. This position can be filled by a low-income individual or an individual that represents low-income individuals or families.

Board meetings are the fourth Thursday of each month, usually 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., in Northome. Consistent attendance is a must. Lunch, transportation, and childcare are provided. To apply for this volunteer position, contact Gloria Kantola at 327-6702 or Gloria.Kantola@kootasca.org. For additional information about KOOTASCA, visit www.kootasca.org.

In service to its mission of “Building community to end poverty”, the Board oversees services and programs provided in Itasca and Koochiching Counties including Head Start, Circles of Support, Emergency and Transitional Housing, Home Ownership, Individual Development Accounts, Family Homeless Prevention, Energy Assistance, Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization, Crisis Intervention, Senior Wheels, and Crisis Nursery. New board member training is provided.

Journey Out of Poverty Event: 5:30 pm on Oct. 28

Circles of Support Journey Out of Poverty Dinner will take place on Thursday, October 28th at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Tickets are available at the Circles of Support office, from any member of Circles of Support, and at the door.

$8 Adults
$5 Children

Dinner & Silent Auction begins at 5:30
A program will following honoring the 2010 Award recipients:

Journey Award
The Journey Award is designed to recognize a Circles of Support participant who has transformed their life through this process. Candidates have demonstrated a willingness to do whatever it takes to move from living paycheck to paycheck, month to month, to a place where they have enough money, meaning, and friends in their life to feel secure. They have consistently shared their strengths and gifts with others who are working toward that same goal. This participant "gently nudges" fellow participants away from negative patterns or attitudes that do not support "leaving poverty".

Ally of the Year
The Ally of the Year Award is designed to recognize a Circles of Support Ally who gives their time and talent to making a difference in someone's journey out of poverty. Candidates "gently nudge" participants away from old habits that do not support their goals. This Ally encourages progress, celebrates accomplishments, listens for understanding and does not judge or enable. They intentionally reach across class and race lines to learn about poverty in our community and develop friendships with strangers.

The Dignity Award honors a Human Services professional who treated a Circles of Support participant(s) with dignity and compassion during the process of obtaining poverty related services.

CRIME & SAFETY in Itasca County

CRIME & SAFETY in Itasca County
What are the current issues around crime and safety in our county?
Prescription drugs; meth; online social networking safety; texting/sexting; vandalism; identity theft, etc. Join Circles of Support and Law Enforcement representatives to hear what you can do to protect yourself and others.

Thursday, September 30th, 6:00-8:00 PM
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
Dinner at 6:00

Facilitated Discussion by Alice Moren
6:45 p.m. to 8:00 PM

Featured panelists:
Jim Denny: Grand Rapids Chief of Police
Pat Medure: Itasca County Sheriff

Please R.S.V.P. Briana Anderson at 999-5883 for child care.

Circles of Support Big View meetings are free and open to the public.

Hope to see you there!

President Obama says thank you to Weatherization staff in the nation

Here is a thank you from President Obama for a job well done to the Weatherization Program staff on the stimulus program funded earlier this year. This is well deserved for KOOTASCA staff-they have worked hard throughout the ramp up and delivery of this program. The program has been able to serve many more households-over 400 by the end of the program- in Koochiching and Itasca counties and has brought much needed revenue to our two-county area. Five new living wage jobs were created. The weatherization funds, $6,500 per home, go directly to many contractors and vendors. It is a win-win for all!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/07/07/weatherizing-82000-homes-summer

GAMC Health Insurance - Balancing the state budget impacts local lives

General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) for single adults without children was eliminated in the 2009 Legislative session for up to 35,000 of the state's poorest adults. Effective July 1, 2010, systems and bureaucrats scramble to handle these changes in their work day. Working poor residents scramble to maintain an already meager standard of living that will now include no health care. Medications or rent? Join Circles of Support to hear how this impacts their daily life and future.

Monday, July 12,6-8:00 p.m.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Dinner at 6:00 p.m.
Call Briana at 999-5883 for child care

Sponsored by the Itasca County Guiding for Circles of Support

Auto Insurance - It's not in the budget

Auto insurance is a legal requirement, yet many people in our community work for very low wages. When funds are limited,families are choosing between paying rent, auto insurance, food, utilities, and more. Which one would you leave out? How do you choose between survival and the law? What are the short and long term risks for the non-insured? Join Circles of Support on Thursday, June 24 to learn more about this issue. The dinner and meeting will take place at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Both are free and open to the public. The meeting is sponsored by the Itasca County Guiding Coalition for Circles of Support. For more information please call Alice Moren at 999-5728. Child care is available.

Panelists:
Vicki Houg: American Family Insurance
Sandie Oslin: Greater Insurance Service
Kaija Johnson: First National Agency of Coleraine

Tennat Information & Training Event

You are invited! Tuesday, June 22, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids United Methodist Church, 1701 SE 5th Ave. NO CHARGE

-what should I look for in a lease?
-what do I do if my landlord won't make repairs?
-Tenanat Bill of Rights?
-Security deposits-details
-MN Tenance/landlord laws

Reserve Childcare - 327-8852 or 888-388-9956

Do you believe?

that ALL children can graduate from our schools ready for college or the workplace?

Come tonight to hear "The Achievement Gap: What can we do?"
6:00-8:00 p.m.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Donations accepted
Sponsored by the Itasca County Guiding Coalition for Circles of Support
Call Briana at 999-5883 for child care

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsmAw9bJUGg

Community meeting...The Achievement Gap:What can we do?

Why are so many students falling behind in school...especially low-income students?

Is your child in this gap? We want to hear from you.

Circles of Support is hosting a community meeting on Thursday, April 29th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grand Rapids. Come for dinner at 6:00 pm (good will offering) and free childcare. Please RSVP Briana Anderson for childcare-999-5883

Presentation and discussion from 6:45 to 8:00 pm

Please contact Alice Moren (999-5728) or Jim Woehrle (327-6710) to learn more about the community discussion. There will be time to hear from the audience.

We want to hear from families who have direct experience with this struggle. What do you do? How do get the help you need for your struggling child? What can we do to improve student achievement?

Deer River Home Stretch, April 14, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Northview Bank, 216 4th Street SE, Deer River

*Qualify for a mortgage/loan program
*Budgeting/credit issues/savings
*Shopping for a home/realtor service
*Professional inspections/appraisals
*Closing/title insurance/homeowners insurance
*Financial responsibilities as a homesowner

$30 fee per family
Registration is required: Call Jen at 218-999-9250
Lunch is provided

TAPP - children and teen moms benefit

The Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) will remain strong for the next two years thanks to the Blandin Foundation.

TAPP works with the most vulnerable of "at risk" children.
Pregnant and parenting teens are the most likely to drop out of school paving the way for a life of poverty for the teen mother and child.

Goals of program:

Diploma or GED by age 21
Decrease repeat pregnancies
Obtain a MN driver's license
Access to health, mental health, birth control, and nutritional services
Parenting education
Prenatal care

Credit Matters

In today's world, credit does indeed matter. It is easy to make expensive mistakes that can follow you for a long time. Today is the perfect day to start rebuilding your financial life!

Thursday, April 1st, 6-8:00 p.m.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Grand Rapids
Dinner at 6:00 p.m.

Panel and Discussion at 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Featured Panelists:

Jared Pink, Grand Rapids State Bank
Karen Lindgren, Home Mortgage Resources
Tom Bloomquist, Lutheran Social Services
Ann Mack, Affinity Plus

Call Briana at 999-5883 and please RSVP for child care

Sponsored by the Itasca County Guilding Coalition for Circles of Support

Free and open to the public

KOOTASCA Crisis Nursery Celebrates 10th Birthday

Itasca Area crisis Nursery, a community-based program that provides emergency short-term care for children ages birth to 12. "We've survived budget cuts and losses in state funding...we're able to provide quality services and a sustainable program, and we're keeping the integrity of families through it all," said Becky Boelter, Crisis and Homelessness Prevention Coordinator.

Parents are allowed to utilize the Crisis Nursery for no fee, for up to 72 hours at a time, any time of the day or night including weekends and holidays. Children are temporarily placed in licensed foster-care homes (called shelter homes) or with licensed daycare providers.

Over the Crisis Nursery's 10 year history, there have been 46 shelter home providers and 26 day-care providers, plus 40 volunteers who have given more than 70,000 hours of their time to answering phones for the 24-hour crisis line.

Ami, a Crisis Nursery participant, summed up the service she and her husband, Bryan received last year, "They're lifesavers, it saved us quite a few times. There could have been jobs lost."

The Open House will be held April 29 from 5-7 p.m. at the Itasca Resource Center. Call Becky Boelter at 327-8652 for more information. The public is invited to attend.

Report shows: Head Start works

The Head Start Program is locally administered, meaning that although the goal has remained the same since 1965, "Boost the school readiness of low-income children," programs across the nation are able to achieve that result in a way that fits the community and families they serve.

KOOTASCA Head Start serves 217 pres-school students and 36 infants and toddlers in Itasca and Koochiching counties. In Itasca County, much of the Head Start programming is in a blended model with the Invest Early Project. This model is unique to this community and allows the local program to enhance its programming further and combines resources to achieve great outcomes for more children and families.

According to the Head Start program's 2008-09 Creative Curriculum Outcomes Report, children in Itasca County area are making great strides and are entering kindergarten ready to learn.

2008-09 school year: 4year old children

Language Development:
Fall 2008: 51% proficient
Spring 2009: 87% in the highest two domains

Literacy Development:
Fall 2008: 44% proficient
Spring 2009: 82% were in highest two domains

Math Development:
Fall 2008: 38% proficient
Spring 2009: 85% proficient

Science Development:
Fall 2008: 42% proficient
Spring 2009: 86% proficient

First Time Homebuyer Alert

Must be able to acquire own mortgage,
Attend a homestretch workshop and individual counseling,
Buyer must meet required income limits,
Newly remodeled, new roof, windows, siding,
Two bedroom, basement and three stall garage,

Located at 220 SE 2nd Ave, Grand Rapids
Across the street from the old hospital site
Call Sandy at 218-999-9250 for more information

Ladder out of Poverty Bill

This bill emerges from the Legislative Commission to End Poverty by 2020 findings and it is currently moving through Senate committees.

It focuses on building and maintaining financial assets as a key to leaving poverty permanently;

It addresses predatory lending practices that erode or deplete financial assets, and supports increased financial literacy to enhance skills for achieving and maintaining economic self sufficiency;

It establishes a Task Force to generate recommendations for the legislature to take action and draft policies that help Minnesotans to escape (or avoid) poverty through the accumulation and maintenance of financial assets.

Circles of Support Open House

You are invited to check out the new offices for the Circles of Support on Wednesday, February 17, from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. at 805 NE 4th Street, Grand Rapids. It is in the Wendigo building across the street from Treasure Bay. Enjoy some refreshments!

Call Brianna at 999-5883
Or Alice at 999-5728

Why be counted? Census 2010

Every year, the federal government allocates more than $400 billion to states and communities based, in part, on census data.

The census data are used to determine locations for retail stores, schools hospitals, new housing developments and other community facilities.

Did you know that ancestry tracking uses the census data?

Census data determine boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts. Minnesota could lose a district if we don't county everyone.

Don't forget the snowbirds that go south for the winter. We want them to be counted in Minnesota!!

Watch for your census questionaire in the mail during February or March 2010.

A resolution for Tuesday's Caucus-February 2, 2010

Whereas Minnesota has a national reputation for creating opportunities to move people out of poverty;

Whereas Minnesota has a strong historic and cultural tradition of funding quality investments that promote families who thrive and contribute to the health of the state;

Whereas the number of Minnesota's children living in poverty increased by 20 percent from 2000 to 2008, (140,000 in 2008 as indicated by the Federal Poverty Guidelines, a very inadequate measure of the real extent of poverty);

Whereas a bi-partisan Legislative Commission to End Poverty conducted a two year process to identify the extent of poverty in this state and solutions that would contribute to ending poverty by 2020;

Be it resolved that over the next ten years, the state of Minnesota focus its efforts on ending poverty in this state by:

Restoring work as a way out of poverty;
Refocusing public assistance to streamline services and support every one's capacity and potential;
Help Minnesotans build and maintain financial assets;
Revitalize our communities through infrastructure and person to person support;
Modernize our system of education to build the best workforce in the nation;
Develop an ongoing structure to monitor Minnesota's efforts to end poverty.

(These six areas are the focus of the recommendations made by the Legislative Commission to End Poverty by 2020.) Contact nancymaeker@mnwithoutpoverty.org for more information.