124 College Street PO Box 367 West Libert yy, KY 41472

124 C
College
ll
Street
St t
PO Box 367
West Liberty, KY 41472
(606)) 743-3133
www.gcscap.org
Serviing Batth, Meniifee, Monttgomery, Morgan, andd Rowan Countties
What is GATEWAY COMMUNITY ACTION?
Gateway Community Action is part of a 1,000 member Community Action Partnership serving
Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and Rowan counties in Kentucky since 1974.
Our goal is to empower individuals to become self sufficient. We care about the entire community
and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. Gateway strives toward realistic solutions to the conditions of economic insecurity, while also offering short-term services
to meet the immediate needs of low-income families. Gateway recognizes that the needs of the
entire family must be addressed to help them effectively function and achieve self reliance. Our
experienced staff help clients achieve self reliance and find the services that meet their unique
needs - always treating individuals with kindness and respect.
Message from The Executive Director
It is with great pride that I present to you Gateway Community Action’s 2010 Annual
Report.
Each year when sitting down to reflect on the past year, I always have at least one
story that stands above the others to write about. Sometimes it is a success story about
a client or how agency staff has risen to new heights to overcome challenges.
As with previous years, both of these are true. There are countless success stories to
tell about our clients and how the dedicated staff at Gateway has performed with great professionalism
to overcome the challenges they face in helping our neighbors. But, something different stands out in
my mind this year, the passing of our board chair, Carolyn Ingram. At the Community Action Kentucky
annual conference in June, I accepted the Altha Jo Hamilton Volunteer of the Year Award on behalf of
Carolyn’s family. As I stated during the acceptance, the previous recipients of the award will be honored
and pleased with their newest member. Carolyn embodied the word “volunteerism”. Our communities are
better because of her and we are better as individuals for having known her. Her presence in our lives will
be sorely missed. As we continue our day to day efforts of improving people’s lives we are guided by the
principles by which Carolyn lived her life.
On behalf of Gateway’s Board of Directors, Head Start Policy Council, community partners, volunteers
and staff, thank you for taking the time to read our report and learn about our agency. Most importantly,
thank you for being a part of the effort of “Helping People…..Changing Lives”.
D en n i s G u l l e y , E x e c u t iv e Dir e c t or
Gateway
Adult and Dislocated
Worker WIA Program has benefited
from the American Recovery and Re-investment
Act (ARRA) funding, beginning in November with
the formation of a class in Industrial Maintenance.
Gateway and the Workforce Investment funders,
Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), partnered with Maysville Community and Technical College to offer four college level training classes, enrolling nearly 45 adults from
Morgan and Menifee Counties. These four classes
were taught at West Liberty locations, two at Morehead State University Regional Enterprise Center,
and two at Morgan County Regional Technology
Center located on the campus of Morgan County
High School.
The Industrial Maintenance class consisted of
three sections: hydraulics, electrical, and safety
and lockout each taught by a different instructor
from the Rowan Campus of MCTC. Attendance
has been good and students have enjoyed learning
new skills in classes taught close to home. Upon
successful completion of this program, students will
be assisted in job search by the college or they can
enroll in an associate degree program for which this
class will count as credit hours earned. This class
was taught at the MSU Regional Enterprise Building.
The Certified Nurse Aid/Kentucky Medication
Aid (CNA/KMA) class was taught at the vocational school located on the campus of Morgan County
High School. The CNA portion of the class was
taught from late January through March at which
time the students took their state exam. After passing the state exam, WIA placed the students in internships at area nursing homes in order to comply
with regulations for placement in the KMA section
of the class which started in September 2010. The
addition of the KMA certification will allow students to pass out medications thus increasing their
potential wages by at least a dollar on the hour.
The CNA training is also the first step in acquiring
a nursing degree as a registered nurse or licensed
practical nurse.
The popular welding class covered mig welding,
stick welding, safety, use of correct body coverage,
among other things. The students will receive certificates and can continue at MCTC in an associate
degree program for which this class will count as
credit hours earned. If they chose to go directly into
the work force, the college and WIA will assist them
in their job searches. This class was taught at the
regional technology center on the high school campus.
The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class
was taught in several sessions covering the following areas: introduction to emergency medical
care, airway management, diabetes emergency and
altered mental status, obstetrics and gynecological
emergencies, and infants and children. Instructor
Rodney Cantrell has had 100% success rate in placing his program graduates in employment and is
confident that all current students who wish to work
will be employed. This class was taught at the MSU
Regional Enterprise Center.
As participants in these classes, students received
tuition, books, fees, and all necessary supplies such
as uniforms, as well as transportation support and
assistance in rent and/or mortgage payments for dislocated workers.
Similar classes are being considered for implementation at the WIA office site in Frenchburg.
Head Start Policy
Council
board of directors
Officers
Jacquelyne Campbell, Chair
Jamie Grubb, Vice Chair
Cindy Jones, Secretary
Officers
Brad LeMaster, Chair
Phyllis Lawson, Vice Chair
Norma Patton, Secretary
Rebecca Bowersock, Adult Ed and College Access
Jacquelyne Campbell, Gateway District Health Dept.
Kim Dagnon, Parent Representative
Jamie Grubb, Parent Representative
Roy Hensley, Parent Representative
Walt Holbrook, Pathways Inc.
Cindy Jones, Parent Representative
Angela Johnson, Parent Representative
Melissa Kane, Resource and Referral
Janet Kegley, Kentucky Homeplace
Sara Knappenberger, Parent Representative
Pam Mattox, First Steps
Wendy Maxey, Parent Representative
Aerial Prater, Parent Representative
Sabrina Walker, Commissions for Children
Christina Adkins, Menifee County, Public Sector
Jerry Alderman, Rowan County, Public Sector
Judge Floyd Arnold, Menifee County, Public Sector
Emily Boyce, Private Sector
Greg Brewer, Private Sector
Judge Tim Conley, Morgan County, Public Sector
Marcelle Doggett, Private Sector
Ray Ellis, Bath County, Public Sector
Jackie Evans, Montgomery County, Target Sector
Jerry Flannery, Rowan County, Public Sector
Ottis Jean Lane, Private Sector
Phyllis Lawson, Private Sector
Brad LeMaster, Morgan County, Target Sector
Melisa McBrayer-Pratt, Private Sector
Margaret Ann Miller, Bath County, Target Sector
Gail Mills, Menifee County, Target Sector
Donna Morton, Private Sector
Jodi Munday, Bath County, Target Sector
Ron O’Hair, Rowan County, Target Sector
Shirley Parton, Morgan County, Target Sector
Norma Patton, Montgomery County, Target Sector
Renee Peck, Menifee County, Target Sector
Joyce Pennington, Morgan County, Public Sector
Judge Hershell Sexton, Menifee County, Public Sector
Grant Sorrell, Private Sector
Travis Stacy, Private Sector
Zana Lou Tout, Bath County, Public Sector
Mayor Gary Williamson, Montgomery County, Public
Phyllis Young, Private Sector
Carolyn and Charlie Ingram
In Memory of
Carolyn Ingram
Carolyn exemplified how volunteerism and
compassion has the power to improve our
communities and help those who are less fortunate.
Through Carolyn’s active volunteerism she was
a well-known face of community action. She
dedicated much of her life to improve the lives
of Gateway residents. She was an effective
spokesperson for our agency and its programs. She
chaired Gateway’s board, assumed an active role in
standing committees, attended special events, and
was readily available to staff whenever the need
arose.
Ms. Ingram loved the Menifee County community
and the people that lived there. She wanted those that
reside in the county to have the same opportunities as
those in larger more populated areas. To that end, she
worked tirelessly to fund a beautiful modern library
that offers citizens access to a computer lab, state
of the art technology, a children’s corner designed
to encourage young minds to explore and develop
a love of books, and an aesthetically pleasing area
for those that wish to sit quietly and read. This is
but one of her many contributions but you would
never know what an instrumental part she played in
this as well as countless other projects unless you
happened to hear it from someone else. You see,
Carolyn had no interest in receiving recognition for
her accomplishments; her interest always rested in
the needs of others.
This intelligent, energetic, charismatic, and truly
remarkable woman recently passed away, leaving
behind a loving family, many friends, and a
community filled with admiration. It is a testament
to the way she lived her life that prior to her passing,
she wrote her own eulogy and did not mention the
many boards, councils, committees, charitable
organizations, and community work for which she
was actively involved. Those left behind fondly
and gratefully remember this exceptional lady, and
marvel that in only 69 short years, she gave more to
others than could have been expected.
Workforce
Investment
Act (WIA) Youth
Program
The summer of 2009 brought American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the
Summer Youth Employment Program called
Let’s Go 2 Work and paid for work experience
through October 2009. A total of 140 youth
participants were involved in work experience
in Menifee and Morgan Counties. Participants
worked throughout the counties in various
establishments.
The summer 2009 trip was to Nashville, TN with
accommodations at the Gaylord Opry Land Hotel.
Tours of the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s home
place), a ride on the General Jackson Showboat,
a stop at Mammoth Cave, Nashville Mall,
Wildhorse Saloon, Grand Ole Opry and much
more were included in the four day trip.
The summer 2010 trip is scheduled for the last
week of July 2010 to Louisville, KY. Tours of
Churchill Downs, Louisville Zoo, Kentucky
Derby Museum, Louisville Slugger, University
of Louisville and Muhammad Ali Center and
more will be taken.
Throughout the year students have taken trips to
Berea College, attended workshops such as We’re
In the Money (Financial Peace youth version),
Drug Awareness with speakers from Kick
Alcohol and Drugs and Unite Coalition, Resume
and Application Class, Health and Hygiene, and
Interviewing for Success.
A 12-passenger bus was purchased in April 2009
with funds provided by EKCEP. It has been used
extensively transporting students to activities
and events.
G
Morgan County Adult Day Care Program provides respite to
a teway Express provides over 100 rides each month to
the residents of West Liberty
caregivers and socialization to individuals 65+. The program offers participants an opportunity to mix
and mingle with their peers, take field trips, and participate in a variety of activities best suited to their
interests. Transportation is provided to and from the center and a nutritious morning snack and warm
lunch is served daily. Participants receive assistance picking up prescriptions, making appointments,
paying bills, and shopping. The Adult Day Care center is located alongside the Morgan County Senior
Center and open three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
A client writes:
Although
lthough one of our smaller programs in terms of contract money,
money our transportation program offers a
service that has a positive impact on the lives of our riders. For $2.00, individuals can obtain a round
trip ride to take care of their personal and business needs. Currently, our transportation program logs
around 1000 miles each month and provides over 100 rides each month to the residents of West Liberty
and surrounding area. Gateway’s transportation program is helping some of our most vulnerable
residents live a much more independent life by providing transportation to pay their bills, go to the
grocery store, medical appointments and, of course, our monthly trips to Morehead to shop at Walmart,
Kroger’s and the opportunity to eat out. Most of us take transportation for granted and can not imagine
how different our lives would be if we had to depend on family, friends and neighbors for all our
transportation needs. Gateway Community Action’s transportation program helps many individuals
maintain their independence through safe and affordable public transportation.
I am 74 and have been attending
the Adult Day Care since I was
65.
It is a wonderful program. The
clients are really nice . We laugh ,
talk , share each others troubles and
it helps to keep out of depression .
We make different kinds of crafts.
We go on field trips, sometimes 2 or
3 a month . We meet new friends
here .
They help us with our paper work
k
and help us to sign up for other
services we qualify for. I think it
is a wonderful program for older
adults like me .
Participants enjoy traveling to the local greenhouse
and bakery located in Crockett. It’s a scenic drive and
they enjoy exploring the wide variety of flowers and
plants. The bakery is located within walking distance
of the greenhouse. Not only do the participants enjoy
purchasing the homemade goods, but also purchasing
baking supplies to take home. This is always a great
trip and it’s located close enough that it does not require
a lot of preplanning. If the weather is nice the group
will sometimes decide to make the trip spur of the
moment.
The participants travel to Morehead once a month
to do their shopping and have lunch at a restaurant
that everyone agrees upon. For many it’s an
opportunity to stock up on everything they need for
the month. Our van is equipped with a wheelchair
ramp allowing participants with special needs the
opportunity to participate.
CSBG (Community Service Block Grant) &
ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)
On February 13, 2009, Congress passed the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) of 2009 at the urging of President
Obama, who signed it into law four days later.
A direct response to the economic crisis, the Recovery Act has three immediate goals; to create
new jobs and save existing ones, spur economic
activity and invest in long-term growth, and foster unprecedented levels of accountability and
transparency in government spending. Gateway Community Action Agency (Gateway) received a portion of this ARRA money in order
to create several new jobs and provide services
to low income clients that had not previously
been available.
During this fiscal year, thanks to the funds
through the Community Services Block
Grant - American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (CSBG-ARRA), We created seven
new positions under five different projects.
1) Service Enhancement Project (SEP);
2) Health Care Expansion Project;
3) Prescription Assistance Project;
4) Green Solutions Project and
5) Model Service Delivery.
Through the Service Enhancement Project
(SEP), a Community Services Block Grant
(CSBG) administrative assistant and a support
outreach worker, was employed to enhance and
create new services. The additional staff creates
higher staff to client ratios allowing services
to be better tailored to individual needs. Our
agency strives to assist every individual that enters our outreach offices located throughout our
service area. With only one outreach worker in
each county, the additional staff ensures someone is available in the office at all times and
offers additional client support when the need
arises.
These notes of appreciation were
sent in by the Weatherization
Program Clients after work had been
completed on their home.
The creation of the SEP helped to bridge the gap
for clients to achieve self-sufficiency. Many of
our clientele cannot afford to take time off from
work to apply for needed services. This is especially true during the Low Income Heating
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) when the need
for heating in the winter is active. The support
outreach workers partner with local businesses
to do on-site LIHEAP applications for their employees. As a result of providing this outreach
activity, more households received assistance,
awareness of the services available through
community action was increased, and employers kept production levels steady.
The focus of these funds is for seniors, households affected by health issues, and those “atrisk” of homelessness. If households are sacrificing food, medications, heating/cooling,
utilities, and housing, or have issues associated
with transportation that prevent them from receiving treatment due to illness, they may be
eligible for help through CSBG-ARRA funds.
Outreach Office Contact Information:
Bath (606) 674-2502
Menifee (606) 768-2369
Morgan (606) 743-3133
Weatherization provides benefits to eligible households in the form of energy conservation
improvements to the dwelling to reduce energy costs and give the occupants a safer and
healthier environment.
Eligibility
To qualify, the annual household income must be at or below 200% of the federal income guidelines for the
current year. Individuals who own their home or rent may be eligible for weatherization assistance. Single
family homes, multi-family homes and mobile homes may be weatherized.
Montgomery (859) 498-5345
Rowan (606) 784-7735
Benefits
The benefits are designed to reduce heating costs by making the dwelling more energy efficient, and to
provide a healthier, safer and more comfortable environment. Heating systems are also evaluated for safety,
energy efficiency, fuel leaks and carbon monoxide.
Studies have shown that a household saves approximately $400-$600 annually in energy
costs.
http://www.casoky.org/weatherization/
Weatherization Program
What it means to those in need....
Gateway Community Action has operated a
Weatherization program since 1974. During
this 35 year period thousands of our disadvantaged residents have received weatherization
services to make their homes more comfortable, safe and energy efficient. While Gateway
does an excellent job of operating the program
we have always been limited by funding as to
how many homes a year we weatherize and how
much work can actually be completed on each
home. With the additional dollars Gateway has
received through the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the Weatherization program has been able to stay in tune with
the Recovery Act’s main goals. We have been
able to add five (5) new field crew workers and
one (1) new support staff to our weatherization
team. With the additional staff in place we will
practically double the number of homes we can
weatherize annually. At this point our goal is
to weatherize a minimum of 145 homes a year
in the Gateway area. In addition to being able
to do more homes, the dollar amount we can
spend on each home has increased dramatically
as well. Put simply, more people will be served
with an increased level of services. In terms of
the ARRA’s goal of creating and saving jobs; all
six (6) of our new employees were either unemployed, underemployed or at risk of having
their job terminated. The increase in the number
of staff and the required services creates a need
for additional tools, equipment and work vehicles. These items have been purchased locally
when practicable which in turn helps stimulate
the local economy. It should also be noted that
households who receive weatherization services will save an estimated $437 in heating and
cooling costs year after year at current prices.
This too will stimulate the local economy by letting families spend money that otherwise would
have gone to pay heating and cooling bills. Our
Weatherization program has a huge task before
us but it is an opportunity to serve the people of
our area and help make their lives and homes
a safer and more comfortable place to live and
raise their families.
Ms. Brown is a 34 year old single
mother with a good job who recently
found out she must endure a second
surgery due to Chiari Malformation
Syndrome Type I, which can cause
paralysis and sudden death. The need
for a second surgery was a shock
since her first surgery was only a few
months prior. This surgery will result
in large unexpected expenses of up to
$3,000.
Suffering from severe headaches
and numbness in her arms and legs,
she recently broke her arm when she
attempted to stand, lost her balance,
and fell.
Ms. Brown came into one of our
support outreach offices seeking
assistance with delinquent electric
and water bills. She was concerned
that she did not have an adequate
supply of propane which she uses to
heat her residence.
Gateway was able to assist her using
Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP) funds to get
propane and CSBG-ARRA funds
for the electric and water bills.
Now, she can rest easier
knowing that her utilities
are paid and her home
will be heated. Alleviating
those worries has allowed
her to focus on planning
for her surgery and caring
for her family.
GED Voucher Program
Community action agencies across America have
always looked for ways to assist our communities in
finding opportunities for those who work hard and have
set goals for themselves. Gateway Community Action
Agency (Gateway) is just one such agency located in
Eastern Kentucky.
Every year Gateway conducts an extensive survey of
agencies, clients, and community partners called a
“Community Needs Assessment Survey”. This assessment is conducted to obtain a better understanding of
the needs in our community in terms of health, employment, education, housing, income management, linkages, self sufficiency, emergency services, and nutrition.
Data collected from this survey enabled Gateway to
establish education as one of the top priorities in our
service area. Gateway found that the communities they
serve had a high school drop out rate 10% greater than
that of the U.S. average. We knew we had a strong
adult education program through Morehead State University (MSU), but discovered the fees for a General
Educational Development (GED) test had risen over
the years to a staggering $40 with a re-test fee of $10.
These fees are expected to rise over the next two years,
resulting in a cost of $60 to take the GED exam the first
time and a $30 fee for each retest.
Gateway has members on local county Adult Basic Education and Literacy (ABEL) Boards. After speaking
with the board in Rowan County about this identified
need, the ABEL board formed a GED test assistance
fund. The funding began with donations from the board
members themselves and grew as the need increased
for this service.
In addition to the ABEL board providing the GED test
assistance funding, Gateway offers assistance through
the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) for a
program called the GED Voucher program. This program provides vouchers to cover half of the GED test
expense.
Through our partnerships with Morehead State University (MSU) Adult Learning Center and other county
adult educational programs, many clients are referred
to Gateway. The partnering agency provides proof that
the client has passed the pre-test and is ready to take
the GED exam, at which time, half of the cost can be
paid by Gateway, and, if needed, the other half could
be paid by the GED Test fund, created by the ABEL
board.
http://cpe.ky.gov/nr/rdonlyres/4481e9ff-cecf-4b38-ae5d-985491c918ae/0/7_ged.pdf.
Martina, a prospective student referred by the MSU Adult
Learning Center, came to our outreach office seeking guidance
in obtaining her GED. She is the mother of three small boys and
did not have the funds to pay for the test. She was excited to
learn of the GED voucher program and quickly proceeded with
the test. When she got the test scores back, she was ecstatic!
We were all excited for her because she had one of the highest
scores of anyone they had seen.
Martina went on to college and kept a 4.0 grade point average
and will soon be applying to a masters program, which can only
be accomplished through hard work and exceptional grades. She
also belongs to the Psi-Chi Honor Society, Leader and Learning
Community, Freshman Honor Society, and the National Society
of Collegiate Scholars. Her goal is to pursue a degree in the field
of psychology and work in a medical lab to find new cures and
treatments for those with under explored psychological issues or
neuropsychology research.
Others, like Martina, could not reach their goal of completing a
GED if it were not for the community collaboration of agencies
like Gateway and MSU.
Kristy Lewis
Darlene Cantrell
Morgan Ulery
Teacher Kristy Lewis and teacher assistant Darlene Cantrell were recognized at the Region IV
Conference held in Atlanta as the recipients for teacher of the year and support staff of the year
respectively. Our parent from Bath County, Morgan Ulery’s artwork was selected for the cover of
the Kentucky Head Start Association conference program and won $200!
More than 100 families attended our welcome to
Head Start bash in September where community
partners shared information on valuable resources
available to economically disadvantaged families
as they became acquainted with Head Start’s mission, vision, and philosophy.
The culture of learning set forth at Gateway is evident in the progress our families and children have
enjoyed this year. Child outcome data indicates
that every enrolled child has progressed in one or
more domains, 28 parents are currently enrolled
in higher education classes, and 219 parents donated more than 2,100 hours of their time by attending meetings and training sessions, assisting
in classroom activities, serving on committees and
councils, and attending other parent involvement
events hosted throughout the year. In addition to
parent participation at the local level, we were
thrilled when five parents accompanied us to the
Kentucky Head Start Association conference in
Louisville, Kentucky.
We ascribe to the belief that quality is never an
accident but rather a concerted effort by many to
give more than is required or even expected, and
to do so with both pride and humility. The very
heart of our program is the children and their families and we never lose sight of that fact. We want
every parent and child to feel a sense of belonging
as soon as they enroll. The note of thanks below
written by a parent captures the spirit in which we
operate.
Tristan wanted me to take him to the store to pick out something special for you. He chose a wind chime
and a flash light. He is incredibly excited! When you hear these chimes, think of Tristan and all the laughter
you shared with him throughout this school year. He loves you and talks about you often. When you use the
flashlight, think of the path you have helped set Tristan on. He loves to learn and a lot of that love has been
instilled in him because of your enthusiasm and dedication to teach. Thank you for taking care of my little
Tristan. It has been just as much a journey and learning experience for me as it was for him.
Excerpt from handwritten letter from a parent to a Head Start teacher
Head Star t
Cultivating a Climate of Learning!
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting
to improve the world ~Anne Frank
Head Start’s purpose is to promote school readiness while linking families
to resources throughout the community that will promote independence,
self-sufficiency, and offer the tools needed to reach the goals they set
for their family. It is inevitable that when you help others, you become
a better person. The desire of our staff and clients to continually grow
both personally and professionally is admirable. In that growth we gain a
greater capacity to serve others. This translates into positive outcomes for
the community.
In keeping with our focus on education, we have collectively accomplished
much, many of which we think noteworthy of an honorable mention!
Our participation in a federal review of all program
services resulted in an exemplary report, illustrating the
high expectations we consistently set and achieve. We have
highly skilled staff and it shows!
Two family advocates completed the Family Development
Credentialing program, participating in more than 90 hours
of classroom instruction directly related to identifying and
supporting family goals. All of our advocates now hold this
credential. Equally exciting, two classroom support staff will
complete their Child Develop Associate (CDA) this year,
which offers a better understanding of sound early childhood
development principles.
Gateway Community Action Agency partners with many different
organizations to provide assistance to low income families. Some of these organizations provide
private donations for direct service to clients. A few of the organizations are the Montgomery County
Ministerial Association, United Way, and God’s Shelter. In Montgomery County, the outreach worker
partners with the Ministerial Association to distribute God’s Shelter funds. These funds, when available,
are provided by the churches and other private donors through the association and is distributed through
the Montgomery County Outreach office to clients in need. There are no income limitations when
applying for God’s Shelter funding assistance. Assistance may be provided toward metered utility,
propane, rent or medicine.
Kentucky Utilities Home Energy Discount Assistance Program (HEA) serves Bath, Montgomery, and
Rowan counties. When an application is taken for the HEA program or a client that is already on the
program completes a yearly recertification, the applicable county receives monetary assistance to further
assist others in need not limited to Kentucky Utilities customers. In order to be eligible for assistance
from HEA, you must reside in one of the counties above and fall within 130% of the poverty level. The
amount of assistance is determined on a case by case assessment, and is dependent upon the amount of
funding that is available when the application is taken.
Mr. Lane came to the Gateway office requesting
assistance on a water bill. He and his wife are the
parents of seven children. He became unemployed
due to a recent lay off. The family’s only source of
income was his unemployment benefits. He voiced
his concern that he could no longer provide for his
family but was actively seeking employment. The
outreach worker discussed job opportunities in the
area with Mr. Lane. She had just received an e-mail
from the President of the Montgomery County
Ministerial Association, stating that Sam Stapleton
of Cooper Tire would be hiring for 20 positions at the
Mt. Sterling factory. This information was referred
to Mr. Lane. He stated that he already submitted
an application to Cooper Tire, but he would call the
phone number given in the e-mail. In the mean time,
an application for monetary assistance through God
Shelter was completed for the water bill. This was
one less worry he had during the stressful time.
In November, Mr. Lane came in to apply for
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) toward his electric heating bill. He had
obtained employment with Cooper Tire. He said he
called the phone number that the outreach worker
had given him and they pulled his application and
scheduled an interview the next day. He stated that
without the referral he would not have obtained
employment. Mr. Lane and his wife are still trying
to get caught up on their bills due to the gap in
employment, but they are more positive as they look
toward the future.
Community Outreach
Prescription Assistance Program (PAP)
Healthier and Happier
Gateway is involved in many community events as a host and a participant. We host the InterAgency meetings in Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, and Rowan Counties, and participate in the
meetings held in Morgan County. This offers agencies and community leaders an excellent venue
for sharing information about events and activities in the area and avoids duplication of services,
allowing everyone to utilize and leverage their dollars.
Staff remains abreast of available resources, that ensure clients in need receive service directly
through us or one of our many partnering agencies.
Special points of interest:
• PAP Program was initiated in
May 2009 as part of American
Recovery and Revitalization
Act Funding (ARRA)
• This program is designed
to assist the uninsured and
under insured citizens to access
needed prescriptions.
Paul Massengill has a wife and four children
and lost his job because of layoffs. Due to the
turn of events, he received assistance from
Gateway through the LIHEAP program and
was able to obtain his GED with funds from
the GED testing fund. He is now enrolled
at Morehead State University majoring in
Engineering and currently on the Dean’s List.
He has been nominated to the National Society
of Collegiate Scholars.
Gateway continues to assist him through the
Self Sufficiency program, which provides
funding and guidance as clients move toward
total self sufficiency. The funding supports
Transportation cost, utility bills, and/or car
insurance. We were able to assist with the
purchase of a computer. Mr. Massengill aspires
to set an example for his children. His goal to
obtain a bachelors degree will allow him to
provide for and set an excellent example for
his children.
We are committed to changing the lives of
those who seek our assistance and proud to be
a part of Mr. Massengill’s story.
• To be served in Gateway’s
program clients need to be at
200% federal poverty level.
Because PAP accesses the
assistance programs of many
different
pharmaceutical
companies, the determination
of assistance for medications
is made by the companies
themselves.
“Mattie” is a 48 year
old woman who contacted our PAP office
this year. Her husband’s work hours had
been cut in half (due
to the recent economic
downturn) and they did
not have the money or
insurance necessary
to purchase her medications.
Therefore,
she had been without
her medications for
months until she heard
about PAP. Mattie has
a medical history of
heart disease, COPD,
high cholesterol, and
diabetes.
In total,
she needs 15 different
meds.
Gateway PAP counselor was able to access
11 of Mattie’s medications for her at NO
COST through PAP.
She also was able to
help Mattie secure
a blood sugar monitor, strips and lancets
at no cost so she can
start to monitor her
blood sugar levels effectively. The rest of
her needed prescriptions will be filled at
Walmart or Kroger
for $4.00/prescription
which is quite man-
ageable in Mattie’s
budget.
Mattie was referred
to New Hope Clinic
in Owingsville where
she will work with the
medical staff to get
her blood sugar under control. They will
also be treating her
for a heart condition
and doing much more
to stabilize that situation.
Mattie is in a better
condition today than
she ever thought possible. PAP was her
lifeline to a healthier,
happier future!
Pharmaceutical Companies Adjust Programs for
Economic Downturn
Teresa Judd, PAP
Coordinator, works with
Delores Jones, client.
• The cash value of medications
secured for Gateway clients is
$900,255.00.
• From June 2009 to May 2010
the PAP program served 1,850
clients.
• 30% of PAP clients are age
41-50 and 34% are ages 51-60.
The economic conditions in the country during 2009-2010 led to some drug
companies revising their applications to allow a higher percentage of the
poverty level to be eligible. Some are changing their eligibility levels to
300% of the federal poverty level due to the layoffs and hardships families
were experiencing. Most of the companies attempted to expand their limits
to include more people who would ordinarily fall through the cracks due to
their income level being right at that break point. The PAP Coordinator,
Teresa Judd, helped many people navigate the PAP system who had never
before had to access any sort of social service assistance.
Scholarship Program
A Healthy Marriage Initiative funded by Heath
and Human Services, AFC.
A service of KY
River Foothills & Gateway Community Action
Financial Partners is a counseling
agency for the Kentucky Homeownership Protection Center. Homeowners in danger of losing their
home to foreclosure are referred for
loss mitigation counseling. The toll
free number for help in Kentucky is
1-866-830-7868.
This year Financial Partners has
served 44 homeownership clients.
is a common sense money and budget management program. The program follows the
concepts of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace
program. During a 12 week, life-changing
program the participants learn how to make
the right money decisions and how to achieve
financial goals. Financial Partners does not
encourage get rich quick schemes. It teaches
responsible spending, saving, and giving. It
is for everyone trying to improve their financial situation.
All training materials are provided at no cost
to the participants and there are no income restrictions for participation. One on one counseling is available with certified coaches.
Financial Peace Classes in the five
county Gateway area:
• 7 twelve week classes facilitated
• 70 couples served
• 30 singles served
• $49,540 in debt paid down
• $65,900 added to savings
What people are saying about the Financial Partners Program
“Found the classes very helpful and would encourage all different incomes to take this class.”
“Debt is gone!!! Get the word out about this!!! It really works!!!!”
“Everyone should take it. Its been very helpful for my family. I think it should be taught in thee
schools for young people.”
The opportunity to obtain a college degree is a
hope for many Americans. However, the cost
for tuition, books, and supplies can be daunting
for many low-income families and individuals.
In this area of Kentucky, many are unable to
afford college without assistance from grants and
loans. Even with the assistance, most students
still need additional financial help. This is why
Gateway offers a yearly scholarship to a lowincome individual who are attending college
full-time and lives within one of the five counties
(Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and
Rowan) served by the agency. The applicants
must provide proof that assistance is needed and
submit an essay explaining why they should be
awarded the funding.
This year, one such applicant was Clara Moore
of Bath County. A single mother of a 10 year
old son, she decided she wanted a “better quality
of life” and realized it was time she enrolled in
college. She knew that without a college degree
she would be unable to achieve her goals of
sustainable income and health insurance for her
family. However, since Ms. Moore has been out
of school for 21 years, she was hesitant to take
that first step, but knew she had to put her doubts
aside and go back to school.
In January 2010, Ms. Moore enrolled at Maysville
Community and Technical College majoring in
Office Systems Technology. Although she was
eligible for federally funded grant programs
to assist with her tuition and books, she still
needed help with other class supplies and most
importantly, a computer. Ms. Moore learned
of Gateway’s scholarship program through an
advertisement in the local newspaper. Upon
receiving the scholarship, she was able to acquire
a computer which supplemented other funding
putting her on the road to realizing her goal of
becoming a medical assistant.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP)
Compassion Capital Fund (CCF)
The Compassion Capital Fund is a grant that was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and Families, and is being administered by Gateway Community
Action in conjunction with the Kentucky River Foothills Corporation.
The CCF grant is a capacity building grant. Its goal
is to help small community-based and faith-based
organizations increase their capacity to serve. In
addition, the grant works to help these vital resources
in the Gateway Community Action service area
increase their sustainability by teaching the grant
recipients how to raise funds, create a dynamic board,
and promote and market their services within their
communities.
Community In Action
(CIA)
LIHEAP p rovides heating assistance during the
winter months. The Kentucky LIHEAP program
helps approximately 150,000 Kentucky families
pay their heating bills each winter. Due to
the increase in energy cost the number of applications is expected to increase. Last year
$1,556,019 was distributed to provide heating
assistance.
The program begins in October for individuals who are living on a fixed income. Those
individuals can pre-register for the program,
with the proper documentation. They will
not receive assistance until November but can
avoid the long lines by pre-registering. For
all other individuals who wish to apply, the
Subsidy portion of the program is available
during November and the first two weeks in
December. During subsidy clients receive assistance in heating, providing full or partial
payment for electricity, propane, or natural
gas. If heating with coal, wood, or kerosene a
credit will be issued to their bill.
must have a disconnect notice for electric and
natural gas, have less than 30% in their propane
tank, or be within four days of depleting their
supply of coal, wood, or kerosene.
Fairy Lykins contacted the Gateway office for
assistance with her electric bill. The outreach
worker, instructed her on the proper documentation to bring in for completion of the application. That afternoon Ms. Lykins came into
the office and as the outreach worker began to
ask Ms. Lykins about her situation she became
emotional as she explained that her husband
had recently passed away and she could not
afford to pay her electric bill. Ms. Lykins, like
so many individuals that must seek help, was
embarrassed to ask for assistance, but was
extremely grateful and relieved.
Mrs. Lykin’s situation is just one example of
a crisis. Unexpected situations are a part of
life and Gateway helps community members
through the crisis so that they can have a better
tomorrow. Without these programs some indiThere are two components to LIHEAP. The viduals and families would not have heat during
Crisis portion of the program is available from the cold winter months.
January through March. During this time a client
One of the goals of the CCF initiative was to create a greater
sense of cooperation and teamwork between the social services organizations in Montgomery
County. The first interagency
meeting between the various
faith-based and communitybased organizations took place
in March. Almost 40 individuals
representing 22 different social
services organizations met at the
inaugural meeting of Community In Action.
Pictured: Kent Berryman - Nonprofit
Specialist, Gateway Community Action,
Suzanne Meadows - Executive Director,
Hope Pregnancy Care Center, Dennis
Gulley, Executive Director, Gateway
Community Action
Organizations Receiving Funding
• American Red Cross - $10,140
• Christian Social Services of Morehead - $10,000
• Christian Social Services of Owingsville - $9,978
• DOVES - $10,000
• Gateway Children’s Advocacy - $10,000
• Gateway Children’s Services - $10,000
• Gateway Homeless Coalition - $10,000
• Hope Pregnancy Care Center - $8,933
• Habitat for Humanity - $10,000
• Menifee County UNITE Coalition - $10,000