October 2022 Newsletter

There are only treats to be found in the pages below!

In this edition of the newsletter you will be updated on what the Business Services Team has been busy with, celebrate a Board Member's service as Chairman, be introduced to new staff, and more.

Happy Reading!

Thank you Mr. John Carroll!

Mr. John Carroll was selected by the City of Hardeeville to serve on the LCOG Board in 2016. Mr. Carroll served as Chairman for the 2021-2022 term.

At the August 25, 2022 board meeting, Mr. Carroll was honored for his service as Chairman and presented with an engraved plaque by the newly elected Chairman Mr. Phillip Taylor.

Mr. Carroll is notably devoted to his hometown. Throughout his life he taught at West Hardeeville School for 14 years and served as Municipal Judge for the City of Hardeeville for 26 years. We thank Mr. Carroll for all that he has done and continues to do for the betterment of the Lowcountry region.

Watch the plaque presentation accompanied by an interview from Mr. John Carroll himself, captured by the City of Hardeeville.

Announcement from Department of Community & Economic Development

Please join us in welcoming our new Community and Economic Development Specialist, Tiffany Dantzler.

Tiffany is from Beaufort, South Carolina. She earned a bachelor's from the Coastal Carolina University and a master's from the University of Oregon.

She enjoys listening to music, especially in live settings at concerts. Her favorite quote is "Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable," by Janelle Monae.

Tiffany decided to join us at LCOG because as an undergraduate student she interned at the Waccamaw COG and saw how COGS help local communities. She knew that she wanted to join an organization where she could be of help to the community she grew up in and surrounding areas. Tiffany joined the team in September.

Announcement from Aging & Disability Resource Center

Please join us in welcoming a new Assessor, Melissa Myers.

Mrs. Myers is from Scotia, SC and graduated from Wade Hampton High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from The University of South Carolina-Beaufort and a Master of Science in Human Services with a specialization in Social and Community Services from Capella University. She was employed with the Hampton County Disability and Special Needs Board for 17 years before joining us at LCOG. Her favorite quote is Philipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me" and her favorite hobby is shopping.

She joined the team in September and we are so glad to have her as a member of the LCOG Family.

If you would like further assistance with enrolling in Medicare, please contact Dieesha Hicks at 843-473-3996 or by email at [email protected].

International Day of Older Persons

Saturday, October 1st is International Day of Older Persons. On this day we show appreciation for elders, aim to raise awareness of the conditions that many older people live in, the struggles they face, and to support them as they get older. Here at LCOG, we have multiple helpful services for seniors.

Long Term Care Residents' Rights Month

Across the country, residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities along with family members, ombudsmen, facility staff and others will honor the individual rights of long term care residents by celebrating Residents' Rights Month. Residents' Rights Month is an annual event held in October to celebrate and focus on awareness of dignity, respect, and the value of residents of long term care. This month highlights the importance of listening to residents who live in our country's nursing homes, assisted living , and board and care facilities.

The Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman is an advocate for assisted living and long-term facility residents. The Ombudsman monitors the quality of life and care of residents by investigating concerns and works closely with both the family and the facility to resolve problems.

In honor of this month our Ombudsman team here at LCOG will distribute information about the rights of residents to those living in long-term care facilities in our four counties.

Did you know that residents can choose a personal physician? Or that a written 30 day notice must be given before a resident can be discharged from a facility?

Check out the graph below to learn about the rights of residents in long term care.

If you have any questions or would like to have a consultation, please contact Jenifer Jackson at 843-473-3962 or by email at [email protected].

Business Services

At the end of August The Business Services team attended the Southeastern Employment and Training Association's (SETA) Fall Conference in Louisville, KY, August 29--31, and joining LCOG for that important event were select members from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) staff with Ross Innovative Employment Solutions.

The event was at the Louisville Marriott, and it included over two days of breakout sessions that highlighted best practices form across the southeastern region. "Sharing best practices across regions is what it is all about," said Mike Butler, Workforce Development Director. "All of our clients are better served when we gather to learn and grow," he said.

One of the sessions was co-delivered by LCOG staff members Tony Pollen and Charles Myers. They presented a Job Readiness session created by Tony Pollen, Workforce Development Manager. "I was inspired to create this training as a guide and reminder to those who serve clients in their respective locations. It was developed to promote excellence and improve overall job readiness skills," said Pollen.

Feedback was positive on both the overall session and the LCOG presentation!

Finally, the Business Services team capped off the month of September with a Virtual Employer Round Table event at the Don Ryan Center in Bluffton, SC, on September 27th. Led by Tony Pollen, this event was designed to bring employers and providers together to discuss challenges faced with hiring and recruitment in the Lowcountry.

"We achieve more when we listen first," said Pollen. "Providing our clients with an opportunity to share their experiences and suggest ideas on improvement is the key to hiring success going forward," he said.

The event was well attended with over 15 individuals all representing key groups participating. Connecting great people with great jobs is what we do. It is always a fantastic thing to be apart of the LCOG team!

For more information on our services, please visit our website.

If you have questions concerning any of the information contained in the newsletter, please feel free to contact Nikki Leak at 843.473.3956 or by email at [email protected].