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!
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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
Breakfast= 702 Lunch= 723 Snacks= 632
Total $4,837.25
CACFP CLAIM SUMMARY ABC PROGRAM; November 2017
Breakfast= 457 Lunch= 537 Snacks= 529
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.