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Posted Jan 25, 2010 @ 11:39 PM
 PITTSBURG —
In 2004, the Weir Public Library’s DVD collection boasted a whopping 14 movies. Today, through the efforts of Director Stef Arbuckle, that collection has grown to more than 300 — a needed improvement in a time when a VCR is harder to find than Waldo in those children’s books.
Assisting in the further development of the library’s collection is a $2,871 grant from the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, an allotment from SEK-CAP’s portion of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Along with buying more DVDs, Arbuckle has used the money to develop a CD-style audio-book collection and to buy large-print westerns.
The purchases were all necessary, Arbuckle said, to create a more up-to-date inventory and to provide more options to its patrons.
“You can’t buy anything on tape anymore and we’re the only place in Weir for people to borrow visual materials,” she said. “It’s easier for people to come to the library than to commute to Pittsburg or Columbus. This has been a wonderful benefit to us.”
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Fun in the Snow at Chanute Head Start
 After weeks of frigid temperatures and lots of snow, it was quite a treat when the sun finally popped out. The Chanute Head Start Center Team was excited to share some pictures of what they did when it FINALLY got warm enough to go outside and play in the snow! They made boots out of plastic bags so that everyone could participate. You can see that everybody had gloves or mittens and that they were really happy about this adventure. 
The AM Class quickly got to work building the cool playground visitor and then the PM Class finished it up. You can see that they created quite a holly jolly soul. The kiddos also prevailed in some snow ball fights that left all of the adults dodging and running for cover! |
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Becky Gray Joins SEK-CAP Management Team
 Becky Gray has joined SEK-CAP as the Director of Research, Planning, and Grants Development. Her work is a critical component of administrative services and we welcome the considerable expertise and enthusiasm that she brings to the position.
Becky is a graduate of Rogers State University and is nearing completion of her MA in English, Professional Writing, and Rhetoric at Pittsburg State University. She also served as an instructor and graduate assistant at PSU. Her advanced writing abilities and exceptional organizational skills will be a great addition to the Management Team. Becky’s office extension number is 1026 and her email address is
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Becky lives in Pittsburg, and has a daughter Elizabeth (6) and a son Oakley (15). Let’s all welcome her to SEK-CAP and wish her every success as she begins a new career journey in service to individuals, families, and children in southeast Kansas. |
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New Rebate Program Rewards Consumers for Recycling Old, Energy Hog Appliances
ARRA Created Appliance Replacement Program to Reduce Home Energy Costs in Low-Income Households
Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) has launched a new appliance rebate program that rewards low-income households for replacing old, electricity-guzzling household appliances with new energy efficient models. The State Energy Efficient Appliance Replacement Program, or SEEARP, provides rebates to consumers who purchase ENERGY STAR® refrigerators, clothes washers, freezers, dishwashers and window air conditioners. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, SEEARP will provide $2.6 million for the replacement of an estimated 4800 appliances.
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SEK-CAP Receives Grant to Expand Early Head Start
50 Home Based slots to be filled by May, 2010
Girard - Thanks to a grant from the Department of Health & Human Services/Office of Head Start (OHS) in the amount of $623,560, the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP) will soon be able to extend Early Head Start participation to 50 additional families. Applications for participation will be sought and accepted from families in Chautauqua, Elk, Woodson, Allen, Wilson, and Linn counties.
Home Based Early Head Start is a program that teaches expecting mothers and/or families of children 0 to 3 years old how to engage with, develop, and encourage their child’s growth and education in a healthy and positive way. Families that participate in the program learn how to identify and track changes and needs throughout a child’s developmental years. |
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SEK-CAP Head Start- Kansas Center of Excellence Designee
In 2007 the Head Start Act was revised and a new opportunity became available to Head Start programs throughout the nation. Programs working at a high level of quality would be eligible to make application for funding as a Center of Excellence. The Centers of Excellence Program will recognize Head Start and Early Head Start grantees that are performing at the highest levels of quality. Excellent and effective programs are those that have achieved and are actively building upon full compliance with the Program Performance Standards. Eligible programs are implementing comprehensive, innovative, and targeted approaches to enhance program services. They are producing positive, measurable outcomes for children’s school success, families supporting children’s learning, and increased staff competency. If a program is designated as a Center of Excellence, they will receive an award of $200,000 each year for five years. Ten Centers of Excellence will be awarded nationally through a competitive process.
Initially, each state was asked to initiate a competitive application process and select the eligible grantees to move forward to the federal competition. The Kansas competition was held and SEK-CAP submitted an application. Governor Mark Parkinson announced on November 24th that SEK-CAP would be the Kansas representative in the national process. We are awaiting instructions and the Request for Proposal from the Office of Head Start. We are honored by this recognition and look forward to submitting a successful national application.
Click here for Governor's letter. |
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Annual SEK-CAP Governance Training
The Governing Board and the Policy Council met at the Labette Community College on January 9, 2010 for SEK-CAP’s annual governance training. The event is a focal point of the year. Information relayed during the day is designed to give participants an opportunity to explore and ask questions about their governance roles.
Each year, our Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding requires a monitoring visit by the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation. The CSBG Act and the State CSBG Plan has specific governance requirements for the Board and expects the grantee to develop a calendar of training opportunities that fully prepare the Board to oversee the CSBG and other funding. In addition to that annual review, the 0-5 Head Start program has specific requirements of the grantee Governing Board and Policy Council. Head Start is scheduled for the triennial Peer Review in 2010. This specific training event is always important, but it assumes even more significance in a peer review year. |
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Weatherization Stimulus Funding 
CLICK HERE for information on weatherization
Through March 31, 2012, SEK-CAP will receive increased funding through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act to make owner and renter occupied housing more energy efficient. We have ramped up for significant increases in funding for our Weatherization Assistance Program. New equipment is in place and additional crews and contractors are trained to provide high quality weatherization services.
Income eligibility guidelines have increased as show below:
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Household Size Maximum Annual Income
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Household Size Maximum Annual Income
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1 $27,247
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5 $60,781
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2 $35,630
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6 $69,164
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3 $44,014
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7 $70,736
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4 $52,397
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8 $74,020
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  All eligible households are encouraged to apply immediately. If you received assistance through the program after September 30, 1994, you are not eligible. Weatherization activities always include an initial inspection to determine if the house will qualify for the services. Eligible dwellings selected for the program will receive a detailed inspection, energy audit, and combustion appliance testing (for equipment such as hot water heaters, furnaces, and other gas fired-heaters). Services may include: Air-sealing and minor repairs; attic insulation to R-38, and sidewall insulation.
Several new services have been added to the program. Apply immediately and take advantage of the opportunities that will be made available due to the Stimulus Funding. Weatherization may help you save up to 32% on your utility expenses.
Contact the SEK-CAP office nearest you for a weatherization assistance program application or to receive additional information. There is no cost to eligible households associated with the services available through the Weatherization Assistance Program.
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THE PROMISE OF COMMUNITY ACTION
“Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”
Our Mission
Uniting staff, individuals, families, and community partners to provide quality, comprehensive services through compassionate respectful relationships.
Electronic Email (Click the names below for email) Executive Leadership Team
Executive Director:
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Deputy Director:
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Senior Associate Housing Services:
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Senior Associate Assistant Director Early Childhood Services:
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Senior Associate Accounting Services:
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