701 e. prospect p.o. box 1400 harrison, arkansas 72602...

OZARK OPPORTUNITIES, INC.

701 E. PROSPECT P.O. BOX 1400 HARRISON, ARKANSAS 72602 (870) 741-9406 FAX: (870) 741-0924

This agency is in compliance with Titles VI and VII Civil Rights Act “Equal Opportunity Employer”

www.ozarkopp.org

Agency Progress Report Report for December 2017 Board of Directors and Stakeholders

I. Chief Executive Officer Update: MERRY CHRISTMAS

& HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Agency Finances are (still) going well. We have no issues with making payments to

vendors on time, and cash flow is not limited due to access to funds.

We have received all regular funding from all sources.

We are currently completing projects and purchasing items listed in our “Early Head Start

Startup” carryover fund budget. We have completed several much-needed improvements

at the centers, and are hopeful we will be able to spend all of the funds by Feb. 28, 2018.

OOI Finance Stoplight; Green= ALL GOOD!

http://www.ozarkopp.org/

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II. Child Development (ABC Pre-K, Head Start, & Early Head Start):

A. Arkansas Better Chance Pre-K Program:

Enrollment: We now have 50 Arkansas Better Chance Pre-K slots available; 32

in Baxter County, and 18 in Boone County.

Location ABC Enrollment Total

Mt. Home 16

50 Norfork 16

Harrison 18

Attendance: The ABC Program requires 80% Average Daily Attendance (see

print screens of ADA Reports; below…); therefore, we are meeting the

requirement.

November 2017 ABC Class Attendance- Monthly Avg.= 80.80%

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B. Head Start & Early Head Start:

a. Director’s Report: The program is still going well, with an engaged Policy

Council and well-needed “EHS Startup Carryover” funds keeping staff busy. The

HS/EHS Refunding Application has been completed, and all additional

documentation that was requested has been submitted.

b. Sharon Burnett- Health and Nutrition:

Nutrition:

Below is the amount of Breakfast, Lunches, and Snacks that were served to the

children and the total amount that our program was reimbursed for the cost of

food.

CACFP CLAIM SUMMARY HEAD START; November 2017

Breakfast= 3946 Lunch= 3994 Snacks= 3512

Total $26,311.07

CACFP CLAIM SUMMARY Early Head Start PROGRAM; November 2017


Total $4,837.25

CACFP CLAIM SUMMARY ABC PROGRAM; November 2017


Total $2,809.25

Total for all programs combined $33,957.57

Health- Head Start:

94.3% of students have completed Dental Exams

97% of students have completed Lead Testing

94% of students have completed Physical Exams

95.7% of students have completed immunizations, 1.5% have a waiver (4

children)

Health- Early Head Start:

98% of students have completed Dental Exams

100% of students have completed Lead Testing

89.1% of students have completed Well Child Check ups

98% of students have completed immunizations, 0 have a waiver

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c. Tawnya Akins: Mental Health, Licensing, Safety, and Facilities:

Construction on the Harrison EHS and Clinton EHS playgrounds have been

completed. This includes new bike paths and large commercial playground

equipment pieces.

Valley Springs playground is now complete and the St. Joe play area now

has more rubber mulch.

All Mental Health observations have been completed and the summaries

have been delivered to the teachers.

d. Terri Beard- ERSEA & Family and Community Partnerships:

ENROLLMENT UPDATE: At the end of November we had 261 Head

Start children enrolled and 48 Early Head Start Children for a total of

309. We are fully enrolled.

HS/EHS ATTENDANCE UPDATE: We are at 86.70% Average Daily

Attendance (“ADA”) in Head Start Pre-K & 86.08% ADA in Early Head

Start, so we are within the regulations (85% minimum.)

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e. Ryan Clayborn- Program Manager/ Education Coordinator:

The Mentor Coach has worked with teaching staff to complete professional

development plans for the 2018 school year.

The Boone County Imagination Library met at OOI in Harrison on

December 5th. We are currently providing books 1,098 children in Boone

County. There have been 626 children graduate the program.

Pre-K CDA on-line modules for future employees at OOI are in the process

of being completed. I am currently creating module three of six for pre-k.

CPR training for new staff will be held January 24th.

Coordinating staff developed a new on-site monitoring tool to be used in the

new year.

All sites have received books to give children for Christmas. We sent out

approximately 750 books this year.

Staff will attend a Conscious Discipline training on January 4th and 5th in

Harrison.

Reviewed all EHS, ABC, and HS Lesson Plans, Home Visit Sign-Ins, and

Parent Conference sign-ins.

I attended a manager training in Little Rock to improve my management

skills.

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f. Patricia Murray- Disabilities & Center Supervisor:

There are currently 27 children being served for Speech or Developmental

services in Head Start. We are currently at the required 10%.

Early Head Start has 2 children with an IFSP (Individual Family Service

Plan) receiving developmental services. We are expecting to reach our

required 10% after the first of the year.

g. Krystal Mayes: Parent Engagement

WE HAVE BEEN FESTIVE THIS MONTH!

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III. Community Services Rebecca Hanlin; Community Services Manager

1. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program:

We have received our signed FY 2018 grant contract- We have received the Monitoring

Report, and as expected there were no findings!

Blaine and Rebecca attended the LIHEAP Annual Conference November 30 – December 1,

2017.

The winter non-emergency program is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday, January 16,

2018.

Abbreviated Applications (also call Potentially Eligible, or “PE” Applications) were mailed

out Wednesday, December 20, 2017. These applications are for individuals who are elderly

and/or disabled and receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

2. Vehicle Repair Loan Program:

Current balance is now $5,239.89; with a $500 maximum loan amount.

Income eligibility is 200% federal poverty level; Loan must be repaid within one year.

From start of program we’ve had 7 individuals receive a loan, three are paid in full; three are

in the repayment process; one is delinquent and is not expected to repay.

3. Community Services Block Grant (CSBG):

Re-applied for FY 2016 and FY 2017 discretionary grants. Received approval notice. FY

2016 discretionary grant for $9,000 and the FY 2017 discretionary grant for $4,000 must be

spent by December 15, 2017. We’ll have a recap of services provided on the next Agency

Report.

FY 2018 first quarter ends December 31, 2018. The first quarter report will be due to the State

January 30, 2018. The annual CSBG Information System Survey is due mid-January 2018.

Blaine Lawrence at the Annual OCS LIHEAP Conference.

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4. Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG):

FY 2018 program year started October 1, 2017. We received authorization the week of

December 11th to start implementing this program.

Baxter, Boone, Marion and Newton counties grant application: $14,000 (Rapid Rehousing

and Homeless Prevention).

Searcy and Van Buren counties grant application: $7,000 (Rapid Rehousing and Homeless

Prevention).

5. Agency Capacity/ Resource Development:

Currently researching grant opportunities for homelessness initiatives, childhood literacy, and

general family stabilization through emergency services.

We are the Lead Agency of Boone, Baxter, Marion, Newton Continuum of Care (BBMN

CoC). Last meeting held 11/28/2017 in Harrison, OOI Conference Room. Preparing for

Point-In-Time (PIT) Count and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) to be conducted during the

last week of January, 2018.

Harley Thompson passed his Nationally Certified ROMA Implementer Exam(!)- he is

currently awaiting feedback on portfolio revisions before receiving his credential.

Activity overview for potential funding opportunities:

Grant Focus

Funding

Amount

Grant

Guidance Activity Result

Community

Improvement

$500 -

$1,500

Met Researched, includes Baxter &

Marion Counties. Two

submission windows annually:

Jan-Feb and Jul-Aug

Lower priority than other

grants in Aug. Re-visit during

spring cycle.

Social Issues Up to $5,000 Met Submitted app 5/1/17 Declined 8/2/17

Homelessness Up to $5,000 Met Submitted app 2/21/17 APPROVED!! – Project

wrapping and prepping report.

Open Grant –

Homeless Housing

Solutions

$1,000 -

$5,000

Met Submitted app 8/29/17 APPROVED!! – for $1,000

for materials for Micro

Shelters

Childhood Literacy Not stated Met Submitted app 8/14/17 Declined 8/28/17

Healthy Families $375 Met Submitted app 6/6/17 APPROVED!! for “Beat the

Heat” fan distribution program.

Dental Health Not stated Met Researching, pending further

coord w Rotary Dental Clinic

Community Health

& Human Services

- Crisis Support

$25,000 and

up

Met Submitted 8/11/2016 Awaiting Response

Continuum of Care

Planning

$6,9080 Met Submitted 9/28/2017 Awaiting Response

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6. Community Engagement & Staff Development:

Blaine Lawrence attended a Leadership Management training in Fayetteville December 11th.

Harley Thompson will be attending weekly steering committee meetings for the HOPE

Cottages project in Harrison during the coming months.

Rebecca Hanlin and Harley Thompson met with a representative from the National 2-1-1

initiative. 2-1-1 is a free, 24-hour information and assistance hotline. It is currently available

in Northwest Arkansas area. They are looking to expand into our service area. Timothy Clark

is a new representative who is charged with exploring resources in Baxter, Boone, Marion,

Newton and Searcy counties. It looks like we’ll be able to access information via their

website: www.arkansas211.org in the next few months. It may take longer for the 2-1-1 phone

service to be available in our area, but this is a start (!)

Staff continue participating in Head Start Parent Meetings and local Resource Council

meetings.

7. Family Development & Empowerment:

FY 2018 program year has started. The recertification process has begun with 24 “invitations

to recertify” distributed, and 19 have completed the application process. Active recruitment in

all counties continues with community outreach staff addressing more than 5 parenting groups

and resource meetings in the 6 counties.

We have 3 returning SUCCESS participants that are in the end of their first semester of

college with full-time schedules and families that have maintained a “B” or higher in all

courses. One of these three was also part of the homecoming court at NAC.

http://www.arkansas211.org/

701 e. prospect p.o. box 1400 harrison, arkansas 72602...

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