Community Resource Sharing Newsletter

Roberta Miksch, CFP Director

What is Thriving Families, Safer Children?

TFSC is a movement across the country & in the four-county CFP area to partner with others and develop approaches for community well-being that helps families avoid system involvement.

TFSC is prevention work at the grassroots level! TFSC meetings are different from CFP

collaborative meetings in that collaborative meetings are a way to exchange information and continue to communicate about our collective work on our priority areas.

TFSC meetings take a different slant. They are data driven and open to new and current information as we develop approaches to help children and families thrive.

One of the most impactful action steps the team took over the last year and a half was the creation of a panel of local agency staff who went from school-to-school presenting the 45 -60-

minute panel to school staff in the four-county area. The team of panelists included a local DHHS Child Protective Services Supervisor, Child Advocacy Center, local law enforcement, Columbus Area United Way, and Community & Family Partnership Community Prevention staff. Preplanned questions were asked of each panelist. We included time at the end of the presentation for questions from the audience and questions we did receive! By understanding how these systems work, partners can better advocate for children and families, identify gaps in services, and work together to better these systems for our communities.

If the agency or school you work with would like the panel to present to your team or if you’d like

to join the TFSC team which meets monthly by Zoom contact Roberta at

rmiksch@columbusunitedway.com.

2024-2026 Action Plan: Access to Childcare in East Central District Health Department

Is it surprising to you that Access to Childcare made the top 5 list of Community Conditions in the ECDHD area?

Everyone knows someone who relies on childcare. A lack of quality childcare has a direct impact on economic development in our communities. If there is limited childcare or no childcare available in a community, those that need it may not move there.

The ECDHD Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) meeting held recently provided the opportunity for folks to work together on crafting a realistic workplan for each of the top 5 needs in ECDHD. Since CFP has Elevated & Equitable Early Care and Education (EEECE) as one of its priority areas, there is a team already working on this topic and there’s much to be done!

Key strategies for 2024-2026 Access to Childcare which is defined as early education 0-5

years:

Identify a childcare “champion” in small communities to attend First Five NE Policy Leadership Academy or Buffet Early Childhood Institute Leadership Cadre.
Intentionally strategize how to include in-home providers and center directors representing the four counties in the current EEECE team meetings. This will likely include moving the time of the monthly meetings to nap time for providers to join us.
Create an education/job training pathway for high school students for early childhood professions (Child Development Associate certificate).
Promote the Child Care Tax Credit Act to businesses and their fiscal staff, public, farmers, accountants, etc.

More to come on the work of this team in the future! If you’d like to join our monthly meetings,

contact Roberta at rmiksch@columbusunitedway.com.

Four County Data Snapshot

Hope Freshour, Columbus Area United Way Executive Director

2024-2026 Action Plan: Addressing Food Insecurity in the East Central District Health

The East Central District Health Department, in partnership with local organizations, is finalizing its Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to address food insecurity across a four-county region, focusing on children and seniors. Building on data from the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), this multi-pronged initiative aims to enhance food access, increase participation in assistance programs, and promote sustainable, community-driven solutions by 2026.

Key Strategies for 2024-2026:

1. Expanding School Lunch Programs: Collaborating with local schools to increase participation in free and reduced-price lunch programs, with a goal of reducing child food insecurity by 9% by 2026. This will involve baseline surveys, educational campaigns, and securing additional funding.

2. Addressing Senior Food Insecurity: A taskforce will improve access to food for seniors, focusing on enhancing Meals-on-Wheels, SNAP, and volunteer programs. Increased outreach and coordination with healthcare providers will drive higher participation in food assistance programs.

3. Partnering with Farmers for Food Distribution: Working with local farmers, schools, and community groups, this strategy will establish a food hub for fresh produce and protein and launch a mobile pantry to serve underserved areas monthly.

4. Launching a Mobile Food Truck: A mobile food truck will provide nutritious food to communities with transportation barriers. A pilot program will begin in Nance County in 2025, with expansion to other areas as resources permit.

The CHIP aims to tackle immediate food access challenges and create long-term solutions through partnerships and data-driven strategies. By 2026, the region seeks measurable improvements in food security, with a focus on children and seniors.

Belle Maldonado, Bilingual Community Response Coach

Resource Sharing Leads to Additional Collaboration with Law Enforcement

The Problem-Solving Court team has been on the lookout for someone actively involved in the Colfax Community to join their team. Judge Kracl believed I would make an excellent addition, given my work in Colfax and Platte County and referred me to their team, confident that I could contribute a wealth of knowledge and resources. The Problem-Solving Court team includes Butler, Colfax, and Saunders Counties. They meet every Tuesday at noon for staffing, followed by court at 1:00 p.m. The court is presided over by Judge Tina Marroquin, who has presided over this court for five years. Currently, there are 24 active participants attending court.

What sets the Problem-Solving Court apart is its team-oriented approach; the team collaborates to support participants in meeting their recovery needs, which include mental health, life skills, housing, transportation, and substance use. When participants successfully complete the program, they graduate, resulting in the dismissal of their felony charges and sealing of their records.

The team comprises three county attorneys, one public defender, two law enforcement officers, a mental health provider, the judge, her bailiff, and probation staff.

I am excited to join the team as a Community Prevention staff member and bring my skills to assist participants in achieving their goals. Having attended several sessions, I am still getting to know each participant better to understand how I can contribute to their journey.