JanuaryJanuary--March 2012March 2012

Volume 3, Issue 11 Volume 3, Issue 11

MCAAMCAA AAction Newsction News

TUESDAY MARCH 27 AT 6AM THRU WEDNESDAY MARCH 28 AT 6PM 36‐HOUR GIVING CHALLENGE 

You can help Manatee Community Ac on Agency win our share of 

$1 MILLION of matching dona ons and grants! 

SEE PAGE 10 

LIHEAP & FPL say, LIHEAP & FPL say, LIHEAP & FPL say, Change a LittleChange a LittleChange a Little

and Save a Wattand Save a Wattand Save a Watt See Page 4See Page 4See Page 4

Say NO to Mortgage Woes By Rick DiGiorgio Many homeowners are s ll ignoring the le ers and calls from their mortgage companies or Banks. Don’t just ignore them, call for help. We might be able to help you obtain a Loan Modifica on or see if you qualify for the Florida Hardest Hit Program. (See page 3)

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Helping People. Changing Lives.Helping People. Changing Lives.

Have an Idea and Want To

Start Your Own Business?

If you have a business idea and are willing to work at it, Manatee Community Ac on Agency’s Micro Enterprise Development program might be able to help with the educa on and funding to make your dreams come true! (See page 9)

36‐Hour Challenge .................................. 10 Anniversaries & New Hires ..................... 9 Board Director Q & A .............................. 5 Dona ons ............................................... 7 Energy Assistance ................................... 4 Health Insurance For Your Kids .............. 5 Who’s HIPPY ........................................... 2 Management Academy .......................... 6 Mortgage Assistance .............................. 1 School Readiness .................................... 8 Start Your Own Business ........................ 9 Toys for Tots Success .............................. 7 Weatheriza on News ............................. 3

Calling all interested MCAA staff interested in moving into

management. MCAA’s Management Academy coming

Spring of 2012 See Page 6

Who’sWho’sWho’s HIPPY?HIPPY?HIPPY?

See Page 2See Page 2See Page 2

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HIPPY Kids Ages 3 to 5 By Toni Bloise Home Instruc on for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), It is a strong parents’ involvement and school readiness program. HIPPY offers free home‐based early childhood educa on. In HIPPY we believe that parents want the best for their children, we all agree with that. But too many parents do not know how to make this dream come true. HIPPY provides a tool (wonderful curriculum) and material to teach them how they can play and teach their children and, at the same me, help their children to become successful and prepared for school. “We love Learning Begins at Home”. HIPPY MCAA staff con nue their efforts to deliver HIPPY across Manatee County. HIPPY staff had been a ending Staff Development and Orienta on Training in West Palm Beach, and HIPPY Regional Prof. Dev. Training at MCAA. On December 16, 2011 HIPPY children, parents, home visitors, coordinator and MCAA staff gathered in HOPE Palme o Church to a end to our holiday celebra on for HIPPY families. This year’s event was the biggest ever! It included food prepared by the families, children ac vi es, music and the opportunity for each family to have their family picture . We had an amazing turn out. Parents, families and children enjoyed the food and Christmas music that HIPPY staff performed (by surprise) playing instruments and singing a variety of Christmas songs. Feed The Hungry Program gi cards were given to the families, and Parnell LaLonde from MCAA Administra on along with his daughter Eryn took family pictures and gave a copy to them on that night, all HIPPY families a ended were so pleased and grateful. Each HIPPY child also got a present.

On behalf of all of Bradenton MCAA HIPPY members, HIPPY children and families, I would like to personally extend my thanks to Palme o Women’s club members, Pastor Steve from HOPE church in Palme o, and the Feed The Hungry Program for your generosity in being suppor ve to the HIPPY holiday celebra on this year. Thank you again for your dedica on to the children and families of the community.

I wish you all the best in the New Year and look forward to our con nued work together. For more informa on on HIPPY contact Toni Blois, HIPPY Program Manager at 941‐827‐0188 x7740 or visit the HIPPY website at

h p://floridahippy.fmhi.usf.edu. Ruby Rodriguez a HIPPY Home  Instructor and one of her HIPPY par cipants. 

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A Weatherization Team Member Superstar? By Sandy Smith Did you know that the Weatheriza on Program has a movie star on staff? We are pleased to announce that our very own Joseph Warren starred in his first movie on January 19, 2012. He stars as an intern to a lawyer that refers to him as “Sphincter Boy”. His scene was filmed at the Lost Kangaroo in Downtown Bradenton. His dreams are to one day star in a film on the big screen. Feel free to stop by Weatheriza on and ask for this autograph. Joe is not just a movie star he is also a star employee. He is our Weatheriza on Inspector and we reply on him for new and final inspec ons. He is responsible for helping Weatheriza on meet our monthly produc on goals. He is dedicated to his job and we are very grateful that he is part of our team.

If you would like more informa on on the Weatheriza on Program  call 941‐757‐1177.

Say NO to Mortgage Woes (continued from page 1) For the past year MCAA has been offering a Foreclosure Clinic which is usually on the second Monday of every month at our address 302 Manatee Ave. E. loca on in room 306 from 6pm ll 7:30pm. Our next clinic will be March 12th, and April 9th. We are just a phone call away. You can also visit us on the web at www.manateecaa.org go to programs, then Housing Counseling and you will be able to print out an applica on which will let you know what is needed to assist you. If you have ques ons please call me at 941‐757‐1166 op on 1 for Mortgage help. This past quarter I’ve been able to help two families obtain Loan Modifica ons, which has reduced their payments and allowed them to keep their homes. Some mes this can be a quick process and other mes a very long process. Economists cau on that the housing crisis is a long way from fully recovering, since hiring is cri cal to a housing rebound. The unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in nearly three years. S ll some families with li le to no income it’s hard to obtain op ons for them to keep their homes. So they are le with only three op ons Short Sale, Deed‐in‐lieu of Foreclosure, or Foreclosure. If you would like more informa on or to schedule an appointment call Rick at 941‐757‐1166, op on 1.

Will Joe be the next superstar? 

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Change a Little and Save a Watt By Florida Power & Light The LIHEAP Program would like to share some energy saving strategies provided by Florida Power & Light. As the program strives to help low income families pay their electric bills we also like to provide some simple ps to assist families in keeping their energy costs at a minimum. These easy guidelines will prove to benefit the energy demands of every economic household. Keeping Bills Low Common Causes of High Bills: To gain control over your energy consump on, it's helpful to understand the most common causes of high bills.

Weather is the No. 1 cause of high bills  Hot weather ‐ Lowering your thermostat to stay comfortable in humid weather causes your A/C to run longer,

which increases energy use Cold weather ‐ Hea ng is two to three mes more expensive than cooling. People also tend to take longer

showers in colder weather, which increases water hea ng costs

Top 10 Savings Tips Effec ve Ways to Conserve Energy Listed below are some of the quickest and most effec ve ways to help you conserve energy, trim costs, and gain control over the energy usage in your home. You should post these ps in your home so that everyone can join in and save! 1.Cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer with the thermostat fan switched to auto. For addi onal savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you're away. 2.Heat your home at 68 degrees or cooler with the thermostat fan switched to auto. To save even more, lower your thermostat to 65 degrees or cooler at night or when you're away from home. 3.Reduce your water heater temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees, which is the recommended temperature se ng according to the U.S. Department of Energy, to save about $7 a month. 4.Clean or replace the A/C filter regularly to help your unit run more efficiently and trim cooling costs. 5.Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs all the me costs up to $7 a month. 6.Use your dishwasher to conserve energy. Avoid pre‐rinsing dishes to save up to $70 a year. 7.Limit the me you run your pool pump: Summer ‐ six hours a day Winter ‐ four hours a day

8.Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse. 9.Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry your clothes faster. Use the auto sensor func on on your dryer to conserve energy by not over‐drying your clothes.

Take the Showerhead Test Here's an easy way to determine if your showerhead is water efficient. Take the showerhead test. 1.Get a bucket and a watch/clock that counts seconds. 2.Place the bucket underneath the showerhead. 3.Turn the shower on all the way using cold water. 4.Time how long it takes for one gallon of water to fall into the bucket. Check Your Timing If it takes: Less than 24 seconds to fill a gallon of water, then you do not have the most efficient showerhead because its

flow exceeds the recommended 2.5 gallons per minute. More than 24 seconds to fill a gallon of water, then you have an efficient showerhead.

55

Health Insurance For Your Kids By Pat Johnson of Whole Child Manatee Through Florida KidCare, the state of Florida offers health insurance for children from birth through age 18, even if one or both parents are working. It includes four different parts. When you apply for the insurance, Florida KidCare will check which part your child may qualify for based on age and family income. MEDIKIDS: children ages 1 through 4. HEALTHY KIDS: children ages 5 through 18. CHILDREN’S MEDICAL SERVICES NETWORK: children birth through 18

who have special health care needs. MEDICAID: children birth through 18. A child who has other health

insurance may s ll qualify for Medicaid. Some of the services Florida KidCare covers are: Doctor visits Check‐ups and shots Hospital Surgery Prescrip ons Emergencies Vision and hearing Dental Mental health There are several ways to apply for Florida KidCare:

If you applied for Florida KidCare before, call 1‐888‐540‐5437 to update your informa on by telephone, or Apply online

www.healthykids.org.

The Whole Child Connec on is a comprehensive web‐based service delivery system that helps Manatee County families access the

services they need to enhance their quality of life or o en simply make ends meet.

Check us out on the web at www.WholeChildManatee.com

Board Member Q & A with Delores “Bi Bi” Moreno, Board Secretary    

There are many non-profit agencies worthy of your time here in Mana-tee County. Why did you choose MCAA? “The children are close to my heart. Their health, wellbeing and education are in our hands. At MCAA I can speak and help make a difference. I’m thankful to MCAA for the opportunity.” What is the greatest reward of being a Board Director for MCAA? “Being accepted as an equal where my voice and vote matters. Where my opinion counts for the children.” What is the greatest challenge of being a Board Director for MCAA? “Venturing on a path I never knew could happen to me. Meeting and sitting with well educated, knowledgeable people who do great things. It pushes me to excel and reach my full potential.” Where do you see MCAA being in 5-10 years? “With Barbara Patten and her staff the sky is the limit! They continue making new grounds. Their on the path to victory in eve-ry way with other organizations following MCAAs example.”

———

Apart from his life here with us, Bi Bi has been a very active volunteer with the Red Cross since September of 2005.

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Management Academy Coming Spring of 2012 By Barbara Patten Purpose:  To provide an opportunity to MCAA staff interested in developing the skill sets needed to move into management posi ons within the

Agency. The Management Academy will be valuable in promo ng diversity within both management and leadership teams. Structure:  The Management Academy will be open to all MCAA staff on a voluntary basis. The curriculum is year‐long with a new class entering each spring. Although effort will be made to keep classes within the work day, class me will need to be a combina on of working hours and unpaid a er hours.

Content Areas  I. Community Ac on History and Philosophy   A. Historical Perspec ve B. Mission and Vision of Community Ac on  II. Administra on  A. Leadership vs Management B. Management Skills C. Contract Management D. Rules and Regula ons E. Decision Making Skills  III. Governance  A. Tripar te Board B. Bylaws  IV. Financial Management  A. Budget Planning and Management B. Finance Policies and Procedures C. Regula ons, OMB Circulars  V. Human Resources  A. Organiza onal Chart B. Staff Recruitment C. Hiring and Firing D. Personnel Policies and Procedures E. Performance Evalua ons F. Conflict Resolu on / Difficult Employees G. Progressive Discipline / progressive Supervision H. Documenta on I. Health and Safety in the Workplace J. Overview of Florida Employment Law K. Cultural and Genera onal Diversity

 VI. Technology 

A. Wri ng Program Reports B. AES ‐ Single Point of Entry C. Advanced Microso Training D. Electronic Protocol and E que e

 VII. Planning 

A. Strategic Planning B. U liza on of Program Resources C. Research and Grant Wri ng

 VIII. Services 

A. Knowledge of all MCAA Programs and Services B. Staff Shadowing C. Partnerships and Collabora ons

 IX. Communica on 

A. Wri en B. Oral C. Public Speaking / Presenta ons D. Individual Mentor / Coach

 Management Academy Staff: The Management Academy will be staffed by members of the leadership Team and outside facilitators.

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Make a Difference Now!!! If you are interested in making a tax deduc ble dona on to Manatee Community Ac on Agency simply go to our web site at www.manateecaa.org and click the Donate bu on! MCAA has partnered with Network for Good to provide a safe and secure way of allowing you to donate online!

Together we can make a difference!

Toys for Tots Success By Kim Stephey In 1947, the wife of Major Bill Hendricks, USCR, made a doll and asked her husband to deliver it to an organiza on that would give it to a needy child for Christmas. It was determined at that me that there was no such agency. Upon his wife’s sugges on, he decided to start an agency that could “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children”, with the help of

Marine Reservists in Los Angeles. The pilot project was such a success that the Marine Corps expanded it na onwide in 1948 and has been providing toys for children ever since. Since Bill Hendricks was a Marine Reservist on the weekends and the Director of Public Rela ons for Warner Brother Studios in his civilian life, he was able to convince many celebri es to support Toys for Tots. The same year the charity went na onwide, Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo that is s ll used today. The primary goal of the program is “to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will mo vate them to grow into responsible, produc ve, patrio c ci zens and community leaders.” The Toys for Tots program has distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children over the years according to the organiza ons website. This year the Toys for Tots Program, along with other private donors, provided Manatee Community Ac on Agency Head Start/Early Head Start with new toys to distribute to its 666 children. Head Start staff spent days sor ng through all the toys according to age and gender. Toys were sealed in paper bags, provided by Publix and Sweetbay, and delivered to each Head Start/Early Head Start site. You can see from the pictures just how excited the children were when they received their toys. MCAA Head Start/Early Head Start wants to say thank you to the Toys for Tots  Organiza on, Publix (Palme o, State Rd 64 E, Manatee Ave W, University Pkwy, and Lakewood Ranch), Sweetbay (Palme o and Ellenton), Wal‐Mart (State Rd 64 E), and other private donors for bringing the joy of the Holidays into the lives of our students. We could have never done it without you. Also, thank you to the Head Start/Early Head Start staff that took me to help sort, seal, deliver, and distribute the toys.

 Children and Pregnant Women Served:  1,117,687 children and pregnant women were served in HS and EHS programs during the 2009‐2010.

Staff and Volunteers: There are 242,782 paid HS and EHS staff and contractors and 1,335,620 volunteers. Of those volunteers, 881,092 are HS or EHS parents.

Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino Origin (36%) Non-Hispanic or Non-Latino Origin (64%)

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School Readiness By Kim Stephey In 2007, the Head Start Act was amended to require that all Head Start Programs implement an early childhood curriculum that promotes school readiness, is thoroughly researched, has uniform training and materials, is linked to ongoing assessment with goals and measurable objec ves, is focused on providing posi ve educa onal environments, teaching, family involvement, and is unified with the Head Start Outcomes Framework and State Voluntary Pre‐Kindergarten program.

Although it is required for each Head Start agency to u lize an appropriate curriculum, it has been le up to each individual agency to decide which curriculum to use. Manatee Community Ac on Agency’s Head Start Program uses the Crea ve Curriculum in its program and has for quite some me.

According to the Crea ve Curriculum for Preschool Manual, the Crea ve Curriculum’s first edi on was established in 1978 and is now on its fourth edi on. The philosophy behind the Crea ve Curriculum is that “young children learn best by doing”. Children explore by using all their senses: touching, tas ng, listening, smelling, and looking. When children play with toys, such as blocks, they learn about sizes, shapes, and colors. They begin to see rela onships connec ng things together. This is the beginning of symbolic thought. The most important goal of the Crea ve Curriculum is to help children become enthusias c about learning. This curriculum doesn’t necessarily teach the children what they should know but teaches them how to learn. This lesson can be used throughout each child’s life. The Crea ve Curriculum iden fies goals in all areas of development: Social, Emo onal, Cogni ve, and Physical and is designed to accomplish set goals and give each child a successful start in school. The first stage in planning and assessing a child’s development is through observa on. The quickest and easiest way for teachers to asses a child’s needs is by observing the child’s behavior. Documen ng the findings of each child’s observa ons is impera ve when tracking growth. Documenta on is provided by taking detailed notes, collec ng a sample of the child’s work and by using the Developmental Con nuum, a tool used for observing children’s development and tracking their progress based on the curriculum. Once each child’s development has been observed and documented, the teaching staff can plan lessons and ac vi es based on the individual needs of the children in his or her class. The Developmental Con nuum is completed three mes per year by teaching staff in order to stay on track when iden fying the child’s goals. In order to track child assessment and outcomes, the data collected from comple ng the Developmental Con nuums are entered into a database. The database can be monitored by Head Start’s Regional Office and used to determine the program’s effec veness on school readiness.

Some Stats:

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ANNIVERSARIES January thru March 2012 MCAA Thanks you for all that you do as well and the service and commitment you have given through the years. “The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” ~Vince Lombardi (In order of start date)

NEW FACES Thru January 2012 MCAA welcomes the many new faces that have joined our family. (In order of start Date)

USDA Eady, Sarah F. 34 years CSBG Hunt, Carol A. 34 years Head Start Sullivan, Carol A. 29 years Head Start Stewart, Sharon Y. 17 years Head Start McKinney, Dian L. 14 years Client Services Digiorgio, Richard W. 14 years Head Start Robinson, Kim L. 12 years Administration Palmer, Amy Y. 12 years Administration Gromko, Meredith 12 years USDA Adderley, Rosemary 12 years Head Start Martinez Castro, Beatriz 10 years Whole Child Ross, Kim 9 years Whole Child Scheeres, Maria C. 8 years Head Start Umana, Nohemy E. 7 years Head Start Williams, Keichana M. 6 years Head Start Murray, Bernatta D. 5 years Head Start Stalnaker, Sara J. 4 years Head Start Mathis, Joyce B 3 years

Head Start Cuellar, Maria 2 years Head Start Baity, Janice 2 years Client Services Lamy, Shujwana 2 years Head Start Spencer, Dianne 2 years HIPPY Rodriguez, Ruby 2 years Healthy Families Ramos, Georgia M. 2 years Head Start Freeman, Dwan L.M. 2 years Head Start Vimos, Luz 2 years MED Program Terry, Robert W. 1 year Head Start Molina, Isabel 1 year Head Start Sanchez, Louis 1 year Head Start Johnson, Michael J. 1 year HIPPY Concepcion, Consuelo E. 1 year Healthy Families San Miguel, Rosa Linda C. 1 year Administration Lalonde IV, Parnell E 1 year Head Start Collins, Lavon M. 1 year Head Start Roopnarine, Angela V. 1 year

Head Start Santana, Maria M USDA Kutella, Gary A Healthy Families Geeslin, Susan P. Head Start Green, Roderick D. Head Start Murray, Heather L Head Start Ford, Ayana

Want to Start Your Own Business? By Bob Terry MCAA in partnership with Suncoast Community Capital Corpora on is providing training and funding to individuals

who would like to start or improve their own business. The program is called the Micro Enterprise Development (MED) Program and is open to individuals: In Manatee County Who have a total household income at the poverty level or less The MED Program involves one‐to‐one or group training on the various elements to a successful business, the prepara on of an individual Business Plan, and the availability of loan funds to start you on your way to self‐sufficiency.

For more informa on contact Bob at 941‐827‐0188 x7905 

1010

Manatee Community Ac on Agency is Par cipa ng in the 36‐Hour Giving Challenge on March 27‐28 

Manatee Community Ac on Agency will benefit from the community’s online dona ons through www.GivingPartnerChallenge.org  Manatee Community Ac on Agency – www.ManateeCAA.org is one of more than 100 charitable organiza ons throughout Sarasota, Manatee and Charlo e coun es asking area residents to display their generosity by dona ng to their favorite chari es online at www.GivingPartnerChallenge.org. The 36‐Hour Giving Challenge takes place online from Tuesday, March 27 at 6 am through Wednesday, March 28 at 6 pm with a goal to raise $1 million benefi ng local nonprofits. “In these tough economic mes and with funding cuts threatening the programs we offer to our local children and families this event can really make a big difference. This is especially true since virtually all the money donated will be matched by the Pa erson Founda on.” said Barbara Pa en, Execu ve Director. “We really hope the en re community will step up and help, even in some small way, get our share of the $1 MILLION that is available during this 36‐hour challenge on March 27 thru 28.” Money donated to Manatee Community Ac on Agency will directly benefit its mission of Helping people, changing lives in our community through educa on, partnerships, and delivery of quality services. Manatee Community Ac on Agency will be using its Facebook page and website to get the word out to the community. The goal is to al‐low everyone the opportunity to help an agency that has been serving the local community since 1968. The Community Founda on of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Founda on, and Manatee Community Founda on—with the support of The Pa erson Founda on—have partnered to make the 36‐Hour Giving Challenge possible for local organiza ons with completed profiles in The Giving Partner, a new online tool helping donors make more informed decisions about philanthropy. The Giving Partner is set to publicly launch with this fast‐paced 36‐Hour Giving Challenge during which more than $501,000 will be available to match online dona ons, including: 1:1 match for dona ons up to $1,000 per unique donor per organiza on, first come first served, un l funding is

exhausted.

Tiered matches based on the number of unique donors to give to each organiza on.

Grants to the first 20 nonprofits to get 50 donors to donate $50 or more.

One random donor per hour will receive an addi onal $250 added to his/her dona on.

Grants to two nonprofits with the most unique visitors to their profiles.

Special matches to be announced during last five hours of challenge. “We expect to infuse more than $1 million in funding to our local nonprofit community,” said Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Founda on of Sarasota County. “But just as importantly, we want to showcase The Giv‐ing Partner as the community’s go‐to source for valuable informa on about our local nonprofits’ programs and im‐pact, governance, management and finances.” The 36‐Hour Giving Challenge is powered by KIMBIA, a cri cal partner in making the Challenge a success. KIMBIA offers a secure pla orm, streamlined dona on process and easy‐to‐use fundraising tools that inspire individuals and nonprofits to give and fundraise online. Special thanks to our 36‐Hour Giving Challenge sponsors:  Community Founda on of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Community Founda on, Manatee Community Founda on, The Pa erson Founda on, and the Herald‐Tribune Media Group. 

Help Manatee Community Ac on Agency get the word out about our 36‐hour challenge on Tuesday March 27 6:00am thru  

Wednesday March 28 6:00pm!  

Tear out this page and ask permission to post the flier on the  reverse side in a store or restaurant in your community or where 

you work! 

Special Grants Made Possible By: Media Support:

$1MILLION

36-HOUR GIVING CHALLENGE

Donate at www.GivingPartnerChallenge.org

*$501k in matching donations and grants available, fi rst come fi rst served, until funding is exhausted.

1:1 Match Made Possible By:

MARCH 27 AT 6 AM THRU MARCH 28 AT 6 PM

Please help us win our share of

of matching donations and grants!*

SUPPORT US! Visit us on the web atwww.ManateeCAA.org Your gift WILL make a diff erence in thelives of local children and families.