Dakota County Connections(DCC)

MeetingNotes

Date/Time of Meeting: Jan. 12th 2017 @ 9:00 am

Location of Meeting: Cardinal Conference Center

Present:Janie Snieder/A Better Way Therapy,Marion Cain/ Nebr.150, Voicesfor Food, Dave Mixdorf/SSC Library, Josh Martin/NHHS,Sandra Velazquez/MEP/ESU#1,Brooke Watson/LSI, Rebecca Greiner/LSI, JoAnn Gieselman/SHIP &DCC,Kathy Moller/NENCAP, Lisa Monk/NENCAP, Kim Wilson/Jackson Recovery, Johnny Nash/Beyond The Bell/SHIP,Ali Petersen/Beyond the Bell,Olga Ajpacaja/DCHD, Jennifer Jackson/ Heartland Counseling services,Kelly Flyn/SSCity, Jim Steele/SSCChamber, BerniceBeaulieu/ NE Neb Joint Housing,Rita DeJong/BOOST-FF, Britney Book/Siouxland Cares,Susana Valladares/MEP,Sandy Nation/Central Navigator for CR,Jeff Hackett/Boys Town,Heather Hennings/United Way, Tonya Bauman/Building Blocks, Linda Philips/Siouxland Cares,Dawn Kimmel/SIMPCO/ KNNB, Abby Engel/ESU#1, Dearra Godinez/Justice For Our Neighbors, Nancy Oates/ResCare, Erin Heckenoth-Brown/ResCare, Cindy Hanson/Northeast Comm. College, Sally Reinert/DCC Board member, Yesica Saldana/DCHD, Mckayla Hamel/VetSet Nebraska, Stacy Schenk/ NDHHSEA, Emily Martin/BigBrothersBigSisters, Sandra Davila/ESU#1, Jessica Harris/DHHS, Edith Rohde/AmeriHealth, Douglas Dill/First Lutheran Church, Becky Eckhardt/South Sioux City Schools, Christa Yoakum/Nebraska Appleseed, Josh Martin/HHS, Jonette Spurlock/Center for Siouxland, Jen Ankerstjerne/Dakota County Health Dept.,Leticia Garcia/Goodwill

Agenda Item #1 Welcome

  • We celebrated the fact that this collaboration Dakota County Connections works so well together to support the children and families in our community.
  • We reviewed how this collaboration is able to see the big picture, that we understand it takes all of us to support the children, families, and our community. Everyone has a part to play!

Agenda Item #2Connections/ Group sharing: Everyone introduced themselves and shared information that builds community

Dakota County Connections updates for January 2017

  • Nebraska Extension in Dakota City-There are four FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams in South Sioux City and one from Emerson/Homer. South Sioux City will be hosting a FLL competition on Saturday, February 4th, at the South Sioux City Middle School. We are need of volunteers to help for this event. Please see below. Judges: Core Values, Robot Design, Research Project Volunteers: Scorekeeper, field manager, registration, judge’s assistant, field resetter, referees, pit managers, practice table assistant, and many more opportunities. Please visit the following website to register as a volunteer,

South Sioux City First Lego League Teams needs your help! There are several ways to get involved: 1 Donate money to sponsor a team. 2 Volunteer to help co-coach a team. 3 Share skills with youth: public speaking/presentation, robotics, leadership, etc. 4 Volunteer at the South Sioux City Qualifier (February 4th) or state event (February 18th). 5 And much more. For more information about First Lego League, please visit robotics/fll. We are excited for youth and coaches working with First Lego League this season. If you have any questions, please contact Angela Abts at the Nebraska Extension Office in Dakota County at (402) 987-2140 or aabts2@u

  • Unity in Action- will be hosting an Immigration 101 class at the SSC Library on January 18th at 6:00 pm.
  • Siouxland Blessing Bags – Just a reminder that you can donate items such as shampoos, soaps, and lotions or any toiletries you might want to share/donate for those in need. If you need more information on where to get them or how to donate contact Heartland Counseling Services.
  • First Lutheran Church- will be presenting a 6-week series called the “Daniel Plan” it is a 40-day approach to achieving a healthy lifestyle. Please join them 2/26/2017-4/9/2017. For more information please contact First Lutheran Church So. Sioux City NE.
  • Dakota County Ministerial Alliance- tobe held atSt. Paul’s United Methodist Church-Chaplin Planning for SSC and Dakota County-1/31/17 from noon to 1.
  • Cardinal Preschool Early Registration 2017-2018 School Year Select one of these dates: Monday, February 6th – 1:00 – 2:00 pm Monday, February 6th - 5:00 - 6:00 pm Tuesday, February 7th - 5:00 - 6:00 pm For preschool students who have reached age 4 on or before July 31, 2017 E.N. Swett Elementary Home of Cardinal Preschool
  • Kindergarten Round Up Dates and Contact Information- Cardinal Elementary Lewis and Clark Elementary March 31st March 24th 820 East 29th Street 801 Second Avenue 402‐494‐1662 402‐494‐1917 Harney Elementary Dakota City Elementary April 7th March 17th 1001 Arbor Drive 1801 Locust Street 402‐494‐1446 402‐987‐3363 EN Swett Elementary April 13th 2300 C Street 402‐494‐3501 South Sioux City Community School District ** (402) 494-2425
  • Teammates Fundraiser South Sioux City Schools – February 3rd 4pm-6:30 at the Southridge Golf Dome.
  • Jessica Harris DHHS-Shared they were able to distribute Christmas baskets to 11 families. Also, let your families know if they have Well Care or Total Care they now have 90 days to swich so they will want to make sure their medical services are with the right provider.
  • Pastor Dill-Shared that First Lutheran Church worked with the School District to pass out Christmas gifts.
  • Center for Siouxland-They are taking applications to do income taxes for families
  • BOOST- Had some of their youth volunteer in the Soup Kitchen- what a great experience!
  • NE Nebr.Joint Housing-Bernice shared they do have housing vouchers
  • Heartland Counseling- Jennifer Jackson asked the group if the group knew of any transportation for a person from jail to the Rosebud reservation.

Agenda Item #3

Presentation: Sandra Velazquez- Nebraska Migrant Education Program thru the ESU#1:

  • The Migrant Education Program is a federally funded program designed to meet the unique needs of all children of migratory agricultural workers by providing both supplemental, educational and support services. They have helped with transportation, work with a variety of languages, provided over 400 backpacks to families.
  • WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM OFFER? Each local MEP project offers services based on the needs of the migrant children it serves. Educational services may include the following: • Preschool programs to prepare migrant children for success in school • Summer school programs • Tutoring programs • Before and after school programs • High school graduation assistance services • Portable Assisted Study Sequence (PASS) Program • High School Equivalency Program (HEP) • College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) • Continuity of instruction between and among school districts and states • Scholarship opportunities
  • See the full brochure on our Resource Table at our DCC meetings

Presentation: Marion Cain- NE150 celebration in Nebraska

  • Throughout 2017, Nebraska is celebrating a milestone in our collective history – 150 years of statehood. It’s a time to reflect on the traditions that have made our state the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.
  • There are a number of programs going on throughout the year to celebrate Nebraska’s 150 one of those is many Nebraska organizations, businesses, colleges and schools are joining the Nebraska 150 Celebration and the Nebraska Sports Council in an effort to get Nebraskans to complete 150 miles or more of physical activity throughout the year.
  • You can find out all about the celebrations around the state on the website at or check out our resource table it has the schedule of events and information about a presentation that will be held at the Old Dane Golf Course on March 12th The first Native American doctor in U.S. History.

Rooted in Relationships (RIR)- Pyramid Model: Everything listed below ties into the best practices involved in this Pyramid model.

  • The Pyramid Model teaches how to support social and emotional competence in infants and young children. Providers learning everything from how to set up a classroom to maximize learning to discovering new ways to engage with young children and build strong relationships.
  • PIWI (Parents interacting with Infants): Two classes have finished one at the Pender Community Hospital, and a second class at the Winnebago Educare.
  • PCIT (Parent Child Interaction Therapy) on going for families and children-seeing approximately 14 families a week.
  • Parent Education and Training Parent classes going on now to support families-see focus group for more information

Focus Groups:

  • Community Response Meeting: (CR)
  • Is a system that helps families connect to community resources that help them meet their goals. It helps them think outside the box and provides them with the tools they need to succeed. It works because it is supported by this wonderful collaboration and all the wonderful supports amongst us.
  • Safe and Healthy Youth:
  • This group joined with community members to take a deeper look at the issues, barriers and gaps in our community to determine what our next steps might look like in supporting our community.
  • We will meet February 28th to take the next steps in looking at how we might make that a Community Resource Center a reality in South Sioux City.
  • Parent Education and Engagement:
  • This group has been outstanding in identifying what is working for our community and what some of the needs of our parents may be, they have determined and developed and implemented wonderful parent trainings this past fall and will now be looking forward to planning our winter and spring months at our next meeting.
  • Street Project: For the homeless
  • All notes from these meetings are on the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership (SHIP) website.

The next all group meeting will be early January 24th

Looking for Brochures, Handouts, and Information- Come check out our table! Bring your flyers and add to it!
Currently Updating Resource Manual and partnership list - Denise Philpotts with the South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is graciously working with us on the update.
Building A team of Volunteers: “I am Siouxland” -Call Erica Deleon with the YMCA if you would like help setting up volunteers using an on-line program tailored for your agency.
Free Prescription Savings cards: United Way has partnered with an organization called Familywizeto offer these cards- Heather Hennings shared she brought extras to the meeting and they are on our resource table or you can go to the United Way web site if you are interested in providing them to your families at no cost to you or your families.

The DCC Work Plan is continually updated…I always have copies at our meetings if you would like to review it.

Next Meetings: Time 9:00-10:00 (EVERY 2nd Thursday of The Month)

  • February 9th 2017@ Cardinal Conference Center /SSC Chamber
  • March 9th 2017@ Cardinal Conference Center /SSC Chamber
  • April 13th @ Cardinal Conference Center /SSC Chamber
  • May 11th@ Cardinal Conference Center /SSC Chamber
  • June 8th@ Cardinal Conference Center /SSC Chamber

Information Table-Come check it out!

  • Bring you handouts, brochures and other information you want to share to our DCC meetings and put them on the table.

Speakers for Upcoming Meetings:

February 9th 2017: Brad Lego-LENA project

March 9th 2017: Rachel Prodanovich-Jackson Recovery

April 13th 2017: Emily Martin- Big Brothers Big Sisters

May 11th 2017: Julie Dorin- STARS

June 8th 2017: Leticia Caballero- Goodwill

July 13thth 2017: Sharron Skinner- Boys and Gils Home and Family Services

August 10th 2017: Kathie Pfaffle -Elite Staffing

September 14th 2017:Jessica Harris -DHHS - Children and Family Services Supervisor

October 12th 2017: Jeff Hackett-Boys Town

November 9th 2017: Scott Lambrecht-Parent to Parent Network

December 14th 2017: Stacy Schenk Community Support Specialist NE DHHS Children and Family Services

January 2018:

Dakota County Connections believes that strengthening our community requires all of us working together. This includes:

  • Maintaining open communication with our partners and the community
  • Identifying community strengths and needs
  • Actively coordinating and sharing lessons learned
  • Defining common outcomes
  • Aligning individual community needs and resources to meet those outcomes
  • Seeking additional resources to help reach our goals
  • Using evaluation and community data to strengthen our programs

Dakota County Connections does not provide programs, it serves to provide a common table for community partners to gather around and collectively address community needs. We support all the organizations and individuals that are directed toward our common outcomes.

For more information, please see our Website at: dakotacountyconnectins.com

Would you also add the DCC website on your website so families can find the online resources DCC has to offer- Thank you!