Community Services Consortium

Serving Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties in Oregon. Helping people. Changing lives.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Supports Work Training

Cameron A. Blagg III sent the following letter to the Editor of the Democrat Herald, it was printed July 13th. (posted here with permission of the author)

I have personally seen the change in a worker when he or she gets specialized training; their stature, self-confidence and feeling of accomplishment is apparent when receiving a certification after studying a subject and passing their test.

In today’s tough economy workforce training is what will help put Oregonians back to work. Please let your legislator know the importance of our local Linn-Benton-Lincoln Workforce Investment Board.

If you are not familiar with this group of dedicated local leaders and their partners (Community Services Consortium and Oregon Employment Department) visit www.region4wib.org to get a sense of how they work to help educate our workforce in an effort to grow our local economy and provide jobs.

Workforce development is the answer for many Oregonians. Read how it works on the WIB site and if you agree use the links on the home page to support investment in our local workers and their training programs.

Cameron A. Blagg III, Albany (July 8)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Beware the wolves of foreclosure

Editorial from the Corvallis Gazette-Times, Tuesday, July 12.
Posted with permission from the Corvallis Gazette-Times.


Successful scam artists push our most vulnerable buttons, so it's no surprise that the foreclosure crisis (which continues to play out in Oregon) has spawned a new breed of confidence game.

As people threatened with the loss of their homes search for any solution, they sometimes are tempted to turn to bogus counseling services that charge big bucks for advice that may turn out to be worthless.

It is, of course, a long-running trait of con artists that they play on our deepest fears - and these days, those don't come much deeper than the fear that we might lose our homes.

Fortunately, this is a scam that's relatively easy to see through.
The mid-valley has two nonprofit agencies that have been approved by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to offer counseling to people who are facing foreclosure. Here's the deal: They never charge for their services.
In other words, if you're dealing with a counseling service that wants to slap you with a big bill, better take another look. A much closer look.

You'll be better off with one of these two agencies:
- Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, 541-752-7220. Ask for Kym O'Hare.
- Community Services Consortium, 541-758-2630. Ask for Jon Polansky.

Both of these agencies provide free (there's that word again, "free") information and advice to homeowners on ways to avoid foreclosure - and the best current estimate is that some 700 housing units in Linn and Benton counties, and 23,000 across Oregon, are in some stage of the foreclosure process.
The agencies also can communicate directly with your loan servicer to try to work out a mutually agreeable solution.

But don't wait until it's too late: As soon as you realize that you might fall behind on your payments, you should contact your mortgage servicer to see if you qualify for a modification or some other loan arrangement.
And beware of the wolves that come circling around your door, bearing offers that seem too good to be true. It's still the best advice for staying out of the clutches of scam artists: If it seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

Monday, July 11, 2011

CSC Lincoln County Head Start enrolling now. Recruiting teaching staff.

Angelina Felix and Jo Le Doux, Head Start teachers are making a pinata for the children.


Community Services Consortium(CSC) Head Start has provided children in Lincoln County with comprehensive child development services, targeting early childhood education through its outstanding school readiness program.

Research clearly demonstrates that early childhood experiences and relationships establish the foundation for all future development.

“We strive to give all children an optimal start in life with opportunities for a bright and positive future and understand that parents are children’s first and most important teacher,” said Suzanne Miller, CSC Lincoln County Head Start Director. “Our children are prepared to enter kindergarten and meet the challenges of grammar school. We provide educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to children and families. Working with community partners and Community Services Consortium, we offer resources and referrals to best meet the individual needs of our children and families.”

CSC Head Start is recruiting qualified teachers, teaching assistants; and classroom aides. English/Spanish bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. If you enjoy working with a team, educating and nurturing active preschoolers and continuing your professional development you will love the CSC Head Start program. Part time, on-call positions are available. Great benefit packages are offered.

Call about joining the Head Start program as a family enrolling a preschooler or as a teacher seeking to become a member of the Head Start team, call (541) 996-3028 or go to the community Services Consortium website at www.communityservices.us Employment application can be downloaded at www.communityservices.us

CSC Head Start, is a no-cost preschool serving Lincoln County, it is now enrolling for the 2011-2012 program year at Head Start sites in Lincoln City, Toledo, and Newport. Children must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2011. Applications with enrollment information are available at each site or by calling 541-996-3028.
Head Start sites:
• Lincoln City: 2130 SE Lee Street Lincoln City, OR
• Newport: 253 NE 1st Street Newport, OR
• Toledo 845 NW A Street, Toledo, OR

Welcome to CSC's blog and e-newsletter!

These communications tools can be used to make announcements, acknowledge donors and volunteers, post videos and slideshows–whatever we want to share with our online community.

There are 3 ways to deliver info to stakeholders:

  1. The blog itself, which can be linked to our current website
  2. Email news blasts (blog articles sent via email as eNewsletters)
  3. RSS Feed (subscribers read in Google Reader or other feed reader, can also send posts to Facebook and Twitter)
We're excited about these communication tools and look forward to both your input and feedback for continuing improvement and positive information-sharing.

If you have agency/program information you'd like posted on this blog, please send full text and/or photos and videos, ideas, or suggestions to Janet Hessel and she will take the next steps.

Enjoy!