Family & Community Engagement

SEK-CAP’s Family and Community Engagement (FCE) department was created in 2012. Its primary objective is to partner with organizations and entities to combat poverty and improve communities in Southeast Kansas.

                                                       Our Services

Community Planning – The FCE department seeks opportunities to work within communities throughout SEK-CAP’s 12-county service area on planning initiatives that result in change. Potential partners include (but are not limited to) County Commissions, City Commissions, School Districts, Pittsburg State University, Community Colleges, and Service Providers.

 
Resource Clearinghouse – Recognizing the need for a central base that provides specific information about resources including function and provider, the FCE department is positioning itself to become that source. 

 
Life Skills Development – Through such activities as the Rapid Re-Housing program and the Poverty Simulation, participants receive education on life skills such as financial management (budgeting), goal-setting, problem solving, and inter-personal relations.

Homeless Services – Another core function of the FCE department is to identify and work with others to organize and produce services for the Homeless. In 2013, these efforts have included two significant events:

• The Point in Time Count – A manual count of homeless persons in Southeast Kansas performed by staff and volunteers that took place on January 23rd. Reasons this HUD-mandated count is important include:

    o    To establish the dimensions of the problem of homelessness
    o    To help policymakers and program administrators track progress
    o    To inform public opinion
    o    To increase public awareness
    o    To attract resources that will lead to the eradication of the problem

• Hosting the annual statewide Homeless Summit – This Summit is to be held in Pittsburg at Memorial Auditorium, on April 15-17, 2013. It is a collaborative effort between the FCE department and the Balance of State Continuum of Care, whose office is in Topeka. Educational opportunities include tracks for mental health, educators, law enforcement, homeless providers, and faith-based organizations.

Rapid Re-Housing – The Rapid Re-Housing Program (RRHP) is funded by the Emergency Solutions Grant and the Community Service Block Grant. Current funding levels allow the program to serve seven families with children. For eligible families, HHRP will provide up to one year of rental assistance and transition support.  The financial assistance begins with 100% of the cost for rent provided by SEK-CAP, and diminishes by 25% every three months.  Assistance with deposits or past due rent and utility payments is also available to participants in this program.  Eligibility requirements include homelessness, gainful employment, and the presence of at least one child under the age of 18 staying with the applicant.   Click here for more information.

Poverty Simulations – The Poverty Simulation is a large group activity designed to raise awareness of poverty in America, and inspire action to combat it in a manner that effects change.  Click here for more information.

Special Projects – As the need and/or opportunity arises, the FCE department will selectively become involved with others to accomplish its purpose of combating poverty and improving the communities in Southeast Kansas.  

Current Special Projects

• Pittsburg – We’re working in collaboration with organizers of a Downtown Activities Committee (DAC) led by the Colonial Fox Theatre Foundation and the city of Pittsburg. To date, our involvement has been to participate in all    meetings and facilitate a few whose emphasis has been on Visioning.
• Crawford County Trade School Participation – We’re working with Kansas Works and the Fort Scott Community College to determine if a pilot project in Crawford County can be developed. The project is for junior and senior high school students, and is focused on solidifying their participation in a Trade School that is housed in the Pittsburg Industrial Park, and managed by the Fort Scott Community College. SEK-CAP’s contribution to the partnership would be to transport students from their high school to the Trade School.
• Chautauqua County Economic Development – The FCE department has met once with the chairman of the Chautauqua Economic Development Committee to determine if/how we can be involved with identifying potential economic development opportunities.
• Independence Diversity Committee – The FCE department is working  in Independence with their Diversity Committee to accomplish the following goals for 2013:
• To increase the number of those who like their Facebook Page from 80 to 500.
• To work more closely throughout 2013 with the host church to improve the Martin Luther King Celebration in January 2014
• To develop an anti-bullying campaign
• To become more involved with an existing community program called COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS in an effort to increase open communication about racial issues

Volunteerism – Working to determine if and how the FCE department can become a source for volunteers when they are needed by organized groups with specific projects.

Contacts
Dick Horton
FCE Director
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620-724-3244

Sean Ozbun
FCE Manager (Life Skills Educator)
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620-724-8204, x1044

Timi Myers
Housing and Homeless Services Coordinator (Homeless Services)
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620-231-5400, x3

Brent Shore
FCE Specialist (Life Skills Educator)
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620-224-3639