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Tama County Empowerment Board Meeting

Thursday, July 27, 2006 – 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

ISU Extension Office

Voting Members Present:

Richard Arp, North Tama School District Representative Dal Lynn Sherburne, Citizen Representative

Deb Schlichting, proxy for Michelle Gethmann Cindy Skopec, proxy for Rick Vesely

Larry Vest, Board of Supervisor Representative Annette Dunn, Department of Human Services

Angie Knowles, South Tama Co. School District Representative

Joyce Legg, Department of Public Health Representative

Others Present:

Darla Thiessen, Kids’ Corner Childcare & Preschool Jerri Leighton, Child Care Resource & Referral

Frank Albertsen, ISU Extension Lori Johnson, Tama County Empowerment Coordinator

Pat Shank, Royce Hickie, Annie Downing, Mid-Iowa Community Action

Apologies: Greg Tingley Michelle Gethmann Rick Vesely Jill Herink Jana Enfield

New Board Member Lists were disbursed.

Chairman, Larry Vest, called meeting to order.

Introductions were made. Frank Albertsen, ISU Extension Director was welcomed and those present introduced themselves.

Three additions to the agenda were noted.

DalLynn Sherburne made a motion to approve the May meeting minutes as presented. Joyce Legg seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Financial reports – none provided at this time, but would be available under Funding committee recommendations.

Provider Reports –

· Jerri Leighton, Child Care Resource and Referral provided handouts regarding trainings provided and the home consultants activities. Discussion was held.

· Kids Corner – Darla stated incentives are going well. Their 4^th of July event was successful and will be doing this again next year. They are currently moving this week and will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony the 15^th or 16^th of August.

· Pied Piper – Ms. Schlichting reported that they just completed a Signing Smart Training and the incentives are working well

· Joyce Legg, Tama County Public Health & Home Care, reported that the Stork’s Nest is continuing to go well. Nine moms attended last night and topic was sun safety. She is currently working with 5 – 6 children that are lead poisoned.

· Lori Johnson, reported she had attended a regional and state coordinators meeting, and is also on the Association for Iowa’s Children Executive Committee and would update further later on in the meeting.

· Infant Toddler Specialist, Annie Downing, provided statistics. Current services being provided were shared

· Pat Shank, Mid-Iowa Community Action, provided statistics and an update regarding services that were provided for Safe Kids and the Dental Services provided in Tama County for the fiscal year.

· FNP and Parenting Class - Frank Albertsen, ISU Extension, reported that Tiffany will be returning hopefully 8/1 and has a waiting list for her return.

· Scholarships/Developmental Testing Services – Cindy Skopec shared services that are being provided and planned for the new future. Ms. Johnson reported that an article would be going in the newspaper in the Empowerment column regarding Preschool Scholarship funding that is available.

· Happy Bear – no report given

· Tobacco Funding – Frank Albertsen reported on current activities and shared a handout regarding current coalition efforts. The Clear the Air Campaign will be held for six months.

· Professional Development and Low Income Preschool – no further reports given

Old Business – There is a vacant seat on the board for a Consumer/Citizen Representative. Suggestion was made of whom to contact. Ms. Johnson will contact them to see if they are interested.

New Business:

New Items: Approve Empowerment Board Chair to sign statement. Tama County Empowerment accepts the Head Start program verification as income verification as income verification for CEA funded Head Start children. Income is verified for either the previous 12 months or the previous calendar year. Ms. Sherburne made a motion to approve signing this statement, Ms. Dunn, seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Approve and Authorize Empowerment Board Chairperson to sign contract Agreement and Fiscal Agent to sign Compliance Assurances sheet – Dal Lynn Sherburne made a motion to approve the Chair and Fiscal Agent to sign appropriate forms. Ms. Legg seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Approve and Authorize Empowerment Chair and Fiscal Agent to Sign Fiscal Agent Agreement. Discussion was held. Ms. Legg made a motion that the Chair and Fiscal Agent sign the Fiscal Agent Agreement. Dal Lynn Sherburne seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Fiscal Agent Recommendation to Board of Supervisors – Dal Lynn Sherburne made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the name of the Fiscal Agent be changed to Laura Kopsa, current Tama County Auditor. Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Early Childhood – CCR & R Update – Jerri Leighton updated the board on changes that are taking place with their agency regarding the fiscal agent. A meeting will be held August 1^st in Oskaloosa for more information.

Child at Heart Nominee Recommendation – 4 names were presented for recommendation with the sub-committee recommending Darla Thiessen be recommended for the Child at Heart Award. Cindy Skopec read the Narrative. Ms. Sherburne made a motion to approve their recommendation of Darla Thiessen. Joyce Legg seconded the motion. Motion passed. Ms. Thiessen was given a certificate and award “Making a Difference”, by Chairman Larry Vest.

Funding Sub-committee Recommendations – Quality Improvement Funding information was disbursed. Our Empowerment Area will receive a base of $30,000 and can request to receive an additional $13, 412. Funding Sub-committee Meeting minutes for July 12^th, July 19^th were disbursed. Another sub-committee meeting was held this morning, with draft minutes, and allocation recommendation being disbursed. This allocation recommendation is contingent upon receiving the full Quality Improvement Funding. Dal Lynn Sherburne made a motion to approve the Funding Sub-committee Recommendation as presented. Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

November Meeting Date - Was recommended that we meet on November 7^th, instead of the 4^th Thursday (due to Thanksgiving.)

Updates from the State – Ms. Johnson shared the following handouts:

1. State Empowerment Board Meeting Minutes are available for review.

2. Coordinators Meeting Minutes are available for review

3. Executive Committee Meeting update was provided

4. Concerns were shared regarding the Professional Development funding.

5. Updated copies of the following tools were disbursed. Tool CC (A); Tool FF; Tool CC (B); Tool I (A)

Correspondence –

1. Coming to your senses program – free vision screenings offered

2. Thank you from Karen Mann

3. Empowerment Newsletter

4. Drug Affected Children Training in Carroll, Iowa available

Adjournment - Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m. Next meeting will be held September 5, 2006.

Respectfully submitted,

Lori Johnson, Tama County Empowerment Coordinator

EMPOWERMENT AREA