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.

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.

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.  .  . 

Child Care Resource & Referral receives Star Award

Pictured at the award ceremony (from left to right) are: Dr. Joel Haugen, Dakota Medical Foundation Board Chair, Sonya Fisher - CCR&R Professional Development Manager, Linda Lembke - CCR&R Director, and Pat Traynor, CEO, Dakota Medical Foundation

Pictured at the award ceremony (from left to right) are:
Dr. Joel Haugen, Dakota Medical Foundation Board Chair,
Sonya Fisher - CCR&R Professional Development Manager,
Linda Lembke - CCR&R Director, and
Pat Traynor, CEO, Dakota Medical Foundation

Child Care Resource & Referral was awarded a Star Award from Dakota Medical Foundation to recognize leadership in promoting healthy eating and active living in regional child care programs.  GoFar was also featured in their annual report.

Congratulations, Sonya and Linda and the entire CCR&R team!

Dakota Medical Foundation - $5,000 Match Grant

Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership has received a match grant in the amount of $5,000 from Dakota Medical Foundation to support an initiative called "Putting Healthy Options Within Reach."
The match grant will work to:

PROVIDE HEALTH COVERAGE INFORMATION AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS, INCLUDING MINNESOTA CARE, MEDICARE, AND MEDICARE PART D. 

INCREASE AWARENESS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE AND FOOD-NUTRITION SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AMONG LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS THROUGH THE USE OF THE CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND BENEFITS CALCULATOR – "BRIDGE TO BENEFITS."

INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INCOME ELIGIBLE SENIORS PARTICIPATING IN THE NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SENIORS.

PROMOTE THE USE OF THE "FILE OF LIFE" INFORMATION SHEETS THAT PROVIDE EMERGENCY CONTACT, MEDICAL DATA, MEDICATION, MEDICAL CONDITION, ALLERGIES AND MEDICAL INSURANCE INFORMATION.

OFFER HEALTH AND SAFETY PRESENTATIONS FOR SENIORS.



Dakota Medical Foundation, Fargo, ND, focuses its efforts on improving health and access to medical and dental care in the region, with a special emphasis on children. Since 1996, the Foundation has invested over $42 million to 387 nonprofit organizations in the region. For more information, see www.dakmed.org. Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership is a nonprofit organization. Its programs include Family & Community Services, Clay County Seniors, Child Care Resource & Referral, Rainbow Bridge, Clay-Wilkin Head Start, and the Lakes & Prairies Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site.