Meeting Minutes – May 21, 2012

Jefferson County Community Forum

Meeting Minutes – May 21, 2012

Attendees:

Erin Benz, Disability Resource Association

Sophie Emery, Jefferson County Community Partnership

Josh Henry, Jefferson County Library – Arnold

Meredith McCarthy, Jefferson County Library - Arnold

Sandy Nappier, Jefferson College

Doug Over, Double Eagle Associates

Molly Pfeiffer, Jefferson County Library – Northwest

Amber Simmons, Living Well Village

Missey Waldman, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Doug Over:

ABCs of Family Finance was recently presented at JCL – Northwest and Arnold branches.  Same program to be held at Twin Rivers Worship Center (10575 Tesson Ferry Rd, 63128, 314-729-0704), Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm from 9/12/12 through 12/12/12.  Contact: Doug Over (636-296-0535).

Amber Simmons:

$6000 Cash Raffle to support Living Well Village.  Tickets are $25 each, with 1^st-3^rd prizes of $4000, $1000, $500 respectively.  Seller of first prize ticket wins $500.  Drawing is 8/24/12.  More information available from Allison Fritschel (636-674-5014, allison@livingwellvillage.org)

More details about rescheduled Golf Tournament to be held 8/9/12 in Forest Park coming soon. 

Team Living Well will participate in Rock ‘n’ Roll St. Louis for a marathon and half-marathon, downtown St. Louis, Sunday 10/21/12.  $50 fundraising minimum includes t-shirt, online training program, running coach, on-camp lodging for out-of-town members, pre-race pasta party, post-race refreshments, and more.  E-mail amber@livingwellvillage.org by 10/5/12 to register. 

Health-related items can be purchased to support Living Well Foundation.  Kids Aerobic Exercise DVD - $20, Kids Step & Stretch DVD - $20, Pedometer - $20, Camp Jump Start Cookbook - $15, Yellow Bracelet - $5.  Complete order form with check payable to “Living Well Foundation”, 3602 Lions Den Rd. Imperial 63052, or order online: www.livingwellvillage.org

Sophie Emery:

Hammers of Hope can provide and install free window air conditioners for qualified seniors 65 or over.  Application form contains guidelines and income requirements.  More information from Dennis Murphy (636-464-5144, x15). 

Jeffco Express (www.jeffcoexpress.org) helps overcome transportation barriers with cross-county and Arnold routes.

The Parenting Network provides home visitations for first-time parents of children under 3 to increase parenting skills, child-development knowledge, and more.  Must meet eligibility guidelines.  Contact Christina Kreutz (636-464-5144).

Project COPE: Building Strong Families Parenting Classes held Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30pm at Christ Church (304B Locust St., Hillsboro) meet the requirements for court-mandated parenting classes.  Cost: $10/individual per class, $75/individuals or $105/couples per 8-week session.  More information from Lynn Main (636-464-5144, x12).  Contact Carrol Venable (314-401-3422) to register.

Safe Babies: for SIDS/Shaken Baby Syndrome education and prevention.  Qualifying parents and caregivers may receive Safe Baby Sets.  Contact: Jessica Rhodes (636-464-5144, x20).

Meredith McCarthy:

Housekeeping topics: Proposal to cancel July meeting.  None opposed.  Proposal for next year to host meetings at member agencies in turn.  Jefferson College is technically supposed to charge for meeting room use, and relocating would free meeting room for other groups.  Hosting would provide opportunity for members to become more familiar with each others’ facilities, staff, and services.  No decision necessary today.  Discussion included request for clear directions to meeting sites if this is what eventually decided.

Ebooks powered by Overdrive will be available through JCL 6/1/12.  Visit www.molib2go.org and take a look at the Getting Started section. 

Dream Big – READ! Summer Reading Program at JCL – Arnold runs 6/1/12 through 7/31/12.  Kids can read 5 books to receive a small prize.  Drawing chances will be given for each additional 5 books read during June and July.  There are lots of free events – others require registration.  Contact : Amy Held (636-296-2204). 

Adult programs at JCL – Arnold include a Composting Workshop (5/23/12, 6:30-8:30pm) and monthly book discussions, the next being The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (6/14/12, 1:00-2:30pm, alee@jeffcolib.org).  Upcoming author visits include Tammy Fadler, author of Finding the Pearl (5/30/12, 6:30-8:30pm) and Dan Burle, author of L.O.L. Ranch Stories, Pt.II (6/9/12, 11:00am-2:00pm).  Contact: Myra Hill (636-296-2204).

Missey Waldman:

MO Dept. of Social Services, Family Services Division is going to an automated telephone system with no live support.  Families in the system with issues can be referred to the Advocates for Family Health, LSEM hotline: 314-534-1263 or 1-800-444-0514, x1251

MO Health Net spend down calculations are changing to meet public guidelines.  After 7/1/12 these changes will affect dialysis patients, with transportation to dialysis being an issue.  Patients can be referred to the Advocates for Family Health hotline.

Starting in July, there will be the three managed-care plans for the region.  Families may find themselves with a different plan than previously.  Open enrollment for Health Care USA, Missouri Care, and the Home State Health Plan managed-care plans ends 7/1/12. 

Wage match quarterly review by FSD: People are losing coverage by not responding to quarterly income request letters, and income requests can be detailed.  It is important to be aware of overtime hours, as regular/excessive overtime can result in loss of coverage.

Molly Pfeiffer:

Dream Big- READ! and Own the Night Summer Reading Programs are free and fun for kids and teens.  Read books and win prizes 6/1/12 through 7/31/12.  Schedule includes tons of events, with all welcome and no library card needed.  Advance registration for programs is required.  Contact : 636-677-8186, mpfeiffer@jeffcolib.org or Molly Schmitt, 636-677-8186.

Learn about improving plant performance with Companion Planting and Crop Rotation (5/30/12, 6:00-8:00pm); a free, educational, fun class.  Sign-up is required as space is limited.  Call 636-677-8186 or email mpfeiffer@jeffcolib.org

The new Support Group for Women with Autoimmune Disease is free and meets once a month.  No signup required.  Upcoming meetings are Saturdays 2:00-4:00pm, 6/2/12, 7/14/12, 8/4/12, 9/15/12, 10/13/12. 11/3/12, 12/1/12.

Sandy Nappier:

Summer Continuing Education catalog for Jefferson College is available in print and online.  Contact Continuing Ed at 636-797-3000, x144

The ACT National Career Readiness Certificate is a free credential to validate basic skills for employment.  Individuals take Work Keys tests (three-and-a-half hours total) at the Missouri Career Center to earn.  Part of the Certified Work Ready Communities initiative to help market Missouri to employers.  www.nationalcareerreadiness.org

Erin Benz:

DRA offices will be making their move from the current location to the new location on N. Truman Blvd. near Shop-N-Save in July.

A public forum will be held 5/24/12, 1:00pm, at DRA to identify community needs and generate input for the Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council’s next State Plan for Independent Living.  Refreshments will be served.  Contact Nancy Pope or Erin Benz (636-931-7696) for reservations.

-Josh Henry