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.

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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.   

Otto Bremer Foundation presents check for almost $200,000

Left to Right are:
Howard Barlow, Bremer Bank Community Service
Representative;
Kelli Rohrer, L&P Child Care Resource & Referral;
 Brian Hagen,  President, at Bremer Bank;
Joe Pederson, Executive Director Lakes & Prairies;
Colleen Murray, Director, L&P Family & Community

Lakes & Prairiesreceived a $188,000 grant to benefit low-income children and families.  The check was presented on behalf of the Otto Bremer Foundationby Brian Hagen, president at Bremer Banks.  The grant will be used to: expand Child Care Resource & Referral services; initiate a community-based “Circles of Support” program,  and provide match funding for special projects and initiatives including Group Workcamp Home Repair, the Lakes & Prairies Tax Site, Food Support outreach, and Clay County Seniors.

At the presentation, Pederson spoke of the
importance of this grant to maintain and expand needed services for children and families.

Top Ten Head Start Outcomes

Top Ten Lakes and Prairies CAP

Head Start Outcomes!

 

 Our program has been fully enrolled with a waiting list all year.

Our average daily attendance is 88 percent.

We are one of eight Head Start programs in the nation selected as members of a Learning Community around Parent, Family, & Community Engagement.

96.3% of enrolled Head Start children left last year’s program up-to-date on a schedule of preventive well child care.

98.7% of children left the program having had a dental exam. All of these children left with a “dental home” also.

99.6% children left the program with all of their immunizations up-to-date.

There were 57,915 nutritious meals and snack served to Lakes and Prairies Head Start children this year.

Each child enrolled in one of our classrooms had 65 hours of large motor play outside or in the gym this school year.

School Readiness Goals are aligned with the Minnesota Early Learning Standards and the Head start Outcomes Framework.

All CLASS observations have met or exceeded the minimal criteria as determined by the Office of Head Start

Tax Filing Season a Success Thanks to Volunteers

Thanks to the work of 27 volunteers who contributed 897 hours of their time to assist low and moderate income households with their 2011 tax filings, we can report:

• Federal and State refunds of $1,538,761 for 709 households
• An estimated $170,000 saved in filing fees
• Screenings of 182 households for eligibility for other benefits

Doing the math:  Whether tax site volunteers were greeters, tax preparers, reviewers, or providing clerical support, each hour any volunteer contributed had the outccome of refunding an average of $2,170 to an individual or family.  Volunteers do make a difference! 

Holly Nett completes CCR&R Leadership Development Program

Holly Nett, Child Care Consultation Manager at Lakes & Prairies Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R), completed a 3-year leadership development program offered by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).  Nett was one of four individuals selected nationally for the intensive mentoring, training, internship, and service opportunities program in the Child Care Resource & Referral field.  During those three years, Nett completed two, 2-week internships.  One focused on child care consultation at the Indiana Association of Child Care Resource & Referral in Indianapolis, IN, in 2010 and a national public policy internship in Washington D.C. in 2011.  Nett has been with Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, CCR&R for 17 years.  The CCR&R program provides services in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.  

Lakes & Prairies VITA Tax Site Receives Generous Support from Bank of the West

Bank of the West Branch Area Manager Scott Green (left) and
Moorhead Branch Manager Kari Saurdiff (2nd from right)
present two checks totaling $5,000 for our Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance Program.  Receiving the checks are Joe Pederson,
Lakes & Prairies Executive Director and Brenda Maaninga,
Tax Site Coordinator and Director of Finance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lakes & Prairies Free Tax Site is now in its 7th year.  During these years the tax site has grown from serving 84 to now more than 650 households annually.  Last year households received more than $1.65 million in refunds and saved an estimated $150,000 to $200,000 in tax preparation fees.  Eligible households also received information about federal benefits and other opportunities that could further leverage their income.  The growth of the tax site to what it is today could not have taken place without the financial support of individuals and businesses in our communities.  The gifts presented by Bank of the West (BOTW) will help cover costs related to tax site operations and outreach to help low and moderate income families in their efforts to achieve family economic stability and success.

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!