Community Resource Sharing Newsletter

Roberta Miksch, CFP Director

Findhelp as a Community Resource

Have you checked into findhelp.org yet?

Findhelp is a social care network designed to connect people in need to the programs that serve them. It’s three systems in one. It’s a Common Data System, meaning data captured can be turned into reports to share. It’s a Closed-Loop Referral Platform, which is a mechanism for feedback when referrals are made and acted upon by the agency a person was referred to and it’s a system of record.

Findhelp.org is available across the nation. Collaboratives across the state began utilizing it in July.

By inserting a zip code into the website and selecting the type of service you are looking

for, the system will pull up what is available in your area. You may even find that the

agency you represent is on the platform already. How can that be if you/your agency

didn’t intentionally put its information into the platform? Well, if your agency has a

website or a Facebook page, findhelp staff may have created a ‘card’ for your agency

based off that information.

In the future, we’ll be sharing more about what findhelp.org can do for our communities.

Until then, consider checking out findhelp.org

Kim Parsons,

Early Childhood Community Coordinator

Strong Starts Schuyler- An Early Childhood Partnership

The Strong Starts Schuyler Early Childhood Partnership had an opportunity to connect with Caprock Strategies during the Thriving Children, Families, and Communities conference in Kearney on September 18th. Communities for Kids was contacted by Caprock Strategies with a request to connect with early childhood leaders in Nebraska. Schuyler was chosen as one of the select communities to participate in these sessions with Caprock.

Caprock’s goal is to hear from local providers, parents, and policymakers on what challenges they see in the childcare system and where they believe the system could benefit from government support. At this stage, they are working to understand the local voice and translate that to federal policymakers. Currently, they are not offering or determining policy solutions, but rather, listening carefully to a broad range of stakeholders in order to deeply understand local perspectives from across the country. Caprock is engaged in this project to help federal policymakers understand the need to improve the childcare system available to American families. From recent polling, they know that voters want access to high-quality, affordable care and know that each community defines those things in unique ways.

The Strong Starts Schuyler team was represented by Jim and Jane Kasik, Mayor Art Lindberg, Sheriff Shaun Messerlie, Early Childhood Educator Molly Parsons, Schuyler Community School Administrator Samantha Ladwig, Parent Ambassador and Agribusiness leader Felicia Heavican, Parent and Bilingual Assistant Benita Andres, CAUW/CFP Director Roberta Miksch and Kim Parsons,CAUW/CFP Early Childhood Community Coordinator.

Cheryl Drozd, RIR Coordinator

We had our October Collaboration this month and had Cohort 1 providers share pictures of the Cozy Corners in their homes and shared how they use them and what they did to create them. Great share out and great discussion and ideas for our Cohort 2. Love our Cohort 1 leadership.

We also had Jeni Snyder talk about things to follow up with after an ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaires) as far as in the classroom and to send home for parents.

Our second Pyramid Training for this grant year was also in October. We spent time talking about what to do with children who are at the tip of the Pyramid. Great brainstorming and resource finding, along with some review of what we have already learned as we must remind ourselves to always start at the bottom and work our way up through the Pyramid and most times things are solved before we hit the top.

Kate Wythers, Community Prevention Director

Community Prevention

It has been a busy month with Community Prevention. Since school has begun, referrals for coaching services have increased. Reghan Kabes, Guadalupe Ramirez, and Bellyni Maldonado have been busy working with families and are doing a great job of keeping our waiting list to a minimum.

Tammy Bichlmeier has been providing central navigation services for adults in the 55+ population. Columbus Area United Way has been providing resources and support for community members seeking assistance in applying for Emergency Rental Assistance 2 through the Department of Health and Human Services.

Community Prevention is planning to start a support group with families that have

participated in coaching services in the past as well as current families. Childcare will be

provided for families with children. A meal will also be provided during the group time.

Please stay tuned for more information regarding our support group!