Dear Elected Officials

Dear President Obama and elected officials,

Every day at Lakes & Prairies Head Start we learn lessons that are important in life.  In a classroom full of four year olds each of us face daily challenges that provide many opportunities to learn and solve problems.  Head Start is happy to share with you some ideas that are very effective in solving problems. 

Head Start teaches us to; use our words and work together, remember to take turns (you may not always get to be first), biting, name calling and tantrums are never good.  Head Start reminds us that even as a four year old, fair isn’t everybody getting the same thing, fair is everybody getting what they need to be successful.

Thank you for reading our letter.  We hope it helps you and your friends remember that we are counting on you to help us get what we need to be successful…..a Head Start.

Sincerely,

The 258 preschool children attending Lakes & Prairies Head Start

Pam Bernstein, Director

Family & Community Services Staff Receive Awards

Congratulations to (top left to right Marie Oihus, Becki Johnson 
Rebekah Nelson, and Sarah Paterson.  And,( lower left to right)
Kala Anderson, Emma Schmidt, and
Colleen Murray, Program Director
 

The Lakes & Prairies Family & Community Services staff were chosen as the recipient of both the 2011-2012 Transitional Housing Program and the Family Homeless Prevention Assistance Program STAR Awards. The awards recognize and value this agency's contributions to MN’s Homeless Management Information System and efforts to end homelessness around the state.   Not only a job well done, but also a first time that both awards were received by
one agency.

 

Voter Registration at Family Service Center September 24th and 25th

As part of National Voter Registration Day activities, Lakes &Prairies Community Action Partnership will participate in Voter Registration activites and help voters find their polling locations.

     DAY/DATE:   Monday, September 24th
                                 Tuesday, September 25th.

     LOCATION:  Clay County Family Service Center (front lobby)
                                 715 11th St. N. Moorhead, MN

     TIMES:           9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

     MAP:              National Voter Registration Day

Registering now allows time to submit the form to the County and send you a postcard notifying you that you are registed and where to vote.  The last day to register to vote is October 15 unless you register at your polling location on the day of the election.  Registering now could save you much time as polling locations are especially busy when there is a Presidential election. 

No matter how you vote, Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership wants you to know...

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

 



MDH Commissioner visits Moorhead

Dr. Ed Ehlinger MN Commissioner of Health, stopped in  Moorhead on Tuesday morning, August 28th as part of his "Pitch the Commissioner" trip around Minnesota. In his visits Dr Erlinger has learned that there are acute needs in most communities and that the public health infrastructure is weakening. 

Lakes & Prairies Executive Director Joe Pederson who is also chair of the Minnesota Community Action Partnership board of directors "pitched Community Action" as a key partner with MDH and county Public Health in keeping our communities healthy. He discussed with Dr. Ehlinger how Community Action Agencies play a key role in engaging low income and disadvantaged Minnesotans.

Joe Pederson (left), Dr. Erlinger (center), and Moorhead
Mayor Mark Voxland, (right)

What does your community need to be healthy? Lakes & Prairies Board members and staff emphasized the need for safe affordable child care, early childhood education, Head Start and Early Head Start and the importance of dental access for low income families. In the pictures below, Lakes & Prairies board members Lyle Hovland, and Stephanie Miranowski and Joe continue to "pitch Community Action" with Dr. Ehlinger at Davies Park in Moorhead. 

 



Lyle Hovland, Wilkin County Commissioner and Lakes
& Prairies Board Member pitches Community Action with
Commissioner Elinger

Stephanie Minanowski, Wilkin County Commissioner and
Lakes & Prairies Board Secretary/Treasurer pitches
Community Action with Matthew Collie, Legislative
Liaison, MDH.






State Bank of Hawley donates $2,500



Bruce Tellefson (center), State Bank of Hawley President and Emily
Hagen (left), Personal Banking Officer present a check of $2,500 to Lori Ward,
Lakes & Prairies Director of Operations. 

A $2,500 gift from the State Bank of Hawley became worth even more with a match grant of $1,000 from Dakota Medical Foundation.  The gift and match will be used to support current health & wellness projects and to provide start-up funding for the 2013 Group Workcamp Home Repair project.  

Applications are already being accepted for the home repair project.  The first review of applications will begin November 1, 2012. Additional information can be found on the Lakes & Prairies website.  The host community for this project is Hawley, MN where some 400 volunteer youth and adult leaders will come together from across the country to repair homes for seniors, persons with disabilities and families experiencing economic hardship.

Health & wellness projects include ongoing efforts in the areas of counseling and application assistance for Medicare Part D recipients, health related programs for seniors, prescription assistance referral, File of Life materials distribution, and food support outreach projects including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Nutritional Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS).

The gift, the match it created and an earlier gift of $500 for Mobile Food Drops in Clay County adds up to $4,000 of helping people and changing lives.  Thank you State Bank of Hawley.  .  . 

Save the Date! -- KIDS COUNT COFFEE

Kids Count Coffee-Moorhead - Sept. 25, 1:00 P.M.



Save the date for the Children's Defense Fund -Minnesota KIDS COUNT Coffee.  Learn about regional trends in children's health, education, and economic stability.  Get a special look at Kids Count data from a rural perspective.  Find out about best practices being used across the state to improve outcomes for children, adults and families.  Those attending will receive copies of all presentation materials.  

This year’s 2012 Minnesota KIDS COUNT Data Book entitled Children Across Minnesota explores the unique challenges of families living in Greater Minnesota and addresses the often overlooked realities of living in rural areas.

When:	Tuesday, September 25th, 2012* 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Where:	Map this event » Family Service Center 715 11th Street North, Meeting Room 4 Moorhead, MN 56560
Contact:	Ken Fredette kenf@lakesandprairies.net for more information

Registering to attend is helpful but not mandatory.

You can register by emailing kenf@lakesandprairies.net just put the words KIDS COUNT in the subject line or call 218-299-7315.

* A Kids Count Coffee is also taking place on Wednesday, September 26th at West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls at 10:00 A.M..  Go to www.wcif.org for more information and click on their events calendar.

Group Workcamp Home Repair - Applications now Accepted

Helping agencies, community organizations, county social service agencies, faith communities, service organizations, businesses, and others are encouraged to make the below information available to homeowners who might benefit from this home repair project. A simple, one-page application is available on our website that can be printed, filled out, and returned to us.

We will be happy to provide you with posters, flyers, handouts, applications, or scripts for bulletins and newsletters. You can do this by calling the Lakes & Prairies Family & Community Services office at 218-299-7314 or toll free at 800-452-3546.  Thank you.

________________

Are you or someone you know in need of

Home Repair Assistance?

The Lakes & Prairies Group Workcamp Home Repair project is now accepting applications from seniors, persons with disabilities and families experiencing economic hardship.  Eligible individuals or families must be homeowners  and live in Clay County or northern Wilkin County, MN.  Projects that will be considered such as interior/exterior painting and building or repairing a wheelchair ramp, are listed on the application.

Site Selection begins November, 2012.