More Time to Apply for Cover Oregon

Oregonians now have an additional month to apply for private health insurance. The new deadline to apply is April 30. This will give people who have not yet applied for coverage through Cover Oregon more time.

There have been more than 175,000 enrollments through Cover Oregon so far. Now with the extended application period, even more Oregonians can get the coverage they need.

More information about the extended application period is available at resources.coveroregon.com/new-deadline-QA.html.

CSC is a certified Cover Oregon partner in Lincoln County. If you need help applying for health insurance, contact:

Aracelly Guevara
Health Program Coordinator
Certified Assister for Cover Oregon
541-961-4073
120 NE Avery Street, Newport Oregon 97365 (2nd Floor)

Schedule:
Monday - Thursday
8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Spanish available.

CSC Newport Head Start Participates in 3rd Annual Literacy Night

CSC Head Start in Newport is excited for this year’s Newport Rotary Club Literacy Night on April 30 at the Newport Public Library. This year’s event marks the third year that Head Start has participated in the well-attended community event.

Literacy Night is sponsored by the Newport Rotary Club for Newport Head Start children and families. In collaboration with the Newport Public Library and CSC Head Start, the event promotes literacy and library use.

The evening includes a tour of the library, children’s story time, library cards for families who apply, dinner, and art activities. Rotarians prepare and supply the meal for the evening, and act as tour guides. The Rotary club even purchases a children’s book for each of the Newport Head Start families.

This year, the Rotary is including Cubby Preschool children and families from Newport High School.

Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall
reads to Head Start students

Newport Head Start teachers all attend and participate in activities with their families. Head Start Teaching Assistant Cecilia Aguero volunteers year-round at the library for children’s story time, reading stories in Spanish with supervising and children’s librarian Rebecca Cohen. Cecilia and Rebecca will do children’s story time for the Literacy Night event.

Rebecca also comes to Head Start once a month and reads to children. Lincoln City children’s librarian Teena Nelson also reads monthly in the Lincoln City Head Start classrooms. Toledo Head Start is fortunate to have Toledo Public Library right across the street, and classes take walking field trips to hear story time in the library. CSC Head Start treasures its local libraries and wonderful librarians.

Rebecca and Director Ted Smith are instrumental library staff members in hosting and participating in the event.

Rotarian Dick Fowler created and printed a brochure for the event in English and Spanish. A conscious effort is made to recruit bilingual volunteers to ensure Spanish-speaking families are welcomed and full participants in the evening.

The Newport Rotary Club has made what could have been a one-off event into an annual one. CSC Head Start so appreciates the ongoing collaboration with Newport Rotary Club, and looks forward to a shared literacy night with another early childhood education program in the community.

Eliminate Hunger - Become a Gleaner!

Gleaners are people with low incomes who participate in gathering donated foods for themselves and other low-income households. For more than 30 years, CSC has provided support for the largest gleaning program in Oregon. Currently, the gleaning program supplies more than two million pounds of nutritious food to nearly eight thousand individuals.

How does gleaning work?

Farmers, grocers and other donors call Linn Benton Food Share when they have surplus crops, bread, produce, and other foods to donate. Gleaners harvest these excess crops and pick up the donated foods. They also repack them into manageable portions and distribute them among their members. 

Gleaners share fifty-fifty with their adoptee households. These are households where no one is able to glean because of health problems or other serious limitations.

Linn Benton Food Share’s gleaning program works side-by-side with farmers/growers and local grocers to keep good food from going to waste. Last year, our Gleaning Program collected and distributed more than two million pounds of unsold food and gleaned  fruits and vegetables. Most of the households that received the nutritious food  include children, disabled and elderly people.

Wood Share is a component of the Gleaning Program, and shares donated firewood with gleaners and their adoptees who rely on wood for winter warmth.

How can I become a gleaner?

Fourteen gleaning groups are located throughout Linn and Benton counties. For more information on a group near you, please call Susan James 541-758-2645 or send her an e-mail at sjames@communityservices.us.

Recruiting Now for the YouthBuild Training Program!

Are you between the ages of 18-21, need your GED or high school diploma and interested in construction, building trades, or energy conservation? Then YouthBuild is looking for you! This program is offered at no cost to participants. Eligible participants may receive financial incentives to participate.

Am I eligible?

If you are between the ages of 18-21, want to earn your GED or high school diploma, live in Linn County, and are drug-free, we encourage you to apply for the program!

How long is the program?

Six months to a year, depending upon how long it takes to complete your GED or high school diploma.

Where is it located?

The program is primarily located in Linn County. Transportation is provided from central locations in Sweet Home, Lebanon, and Albany to the worksites.

How do I get more information or apply?

For more information or to apply, go to our website at: communityservices.us/
education/youthbuild/ for more information or to download an application. You can also call Geoff Jaeger at 541-231-2896.

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. CSC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.

CSC Head Start Accepting Applications for the 2014-2015 School Year

CSC Head Start provides a free preschool education to Lincoln County children ages three to five years old, offering a nurturing learning environment that includes parents as important resources for their children’s learning.

Head Start has locations in Lincoln City, Newport, and Toledo. Head Start focuses on the “whole child” and includes the child’s educational, health, family, and social needs.

CSC Head Start’s educational program is designed to foster intellectual, social, and emotional growth. It meets the needs of each child and is sensitive to the child’s cultural identity, as well as any health or academic challenges.

Our program emphasizes the importance of the early identification of health problems that might get in the way of a child’s success. Every child has a comprehensive health screening, which includes immunizations; medical, dental and mental health assessments; and nutritional needs.

Parents are an essential part of CSC Head Start. We encourage parents to be actively involved in parent education, program planning, and the daily operation of our sites. Many parents serve as members of policy councils and committees and have a voice in administrative decisions.

Enrollment is based on family income eligibility, needs assessment, and space availability. For more information or to view the application, visit communityservices.us/education/detail/category/head-start. You can also call us or stop by for more information. Se habla Espanol.

Lincoln City: 2130 SE Lee Avenue, 541-996-3028
Toledo: 845 NW “A” Street , 541-336-5113
Newport: 253 NE 1st Street, 541-574-7690

Foreclosure Assistance Program Expands Statewide

Oregon Housing and Community Services Department (OHCS) is announcing the expansion of the Rebuilding American Homeownership Assistance Pilot Program (RAHAPP) to help more Oregon homeowners struggling to stay in their homes. The program is designed to help homeowners with high- interest loans who can’t refinance because they still owe more than their home is worth.

The program has been in operation in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties since July 2013, and is now expanding to serve all Oregon counties. The program is based on the Rebuilding American Homeownership proposal by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley.

For more information, read the press release here.

Help CSC Head Start of Lincoln County by Just Using Your Fred Meyer Rewards Card

You can help CSC Head Start of Lincoln County earn donations just by shopping with your Fred Meyer rewards card! Fred Meyer is donating $2.5 million per year to non-profits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to charities designated by their customers. Here’s how the program works:

• Go to www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards to sign up for the Community Rewards program, which links your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Head Start of Lincoln County. You can search for Head Start of Lincoln County by name or by their non-profit number (89698).
• Every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping Head Start of Lincoln County earn a donation!
• You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you do today.
• If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store.

For more information, please visit www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.

Workforce & Education Provides Support to Dislocated Workers

CSC's Workforce & Education department recently coordinated with workforce partner agencies Linn Benton Community College, the City of Harrisburg, and three local employers to provide information sessions on February 25 to the workers affected by the February closure of Allied Specialty Vehicles/Monaco RV.

According to the Albany Democrat-Herald, the Linn County plant closed on Monday, February 10. The company would not disclose details or how many jobs were lost with the closure. Monaco was purchased by Allied Specialty Vehicles last May. The parent company plans to discontinue production of its towable vehicles.  It will instead focus on producing motorized RVs in Decatur, Ind.

The dislocated workers were able to learn and ask questions about opportunities for retraining, job search, advice, and job openings at another local employer site in Harrisburg, Isovolta, Inc.

Registration is Open for CSC's Barrel to Keg Relay and Garden Gnome Run!

Race season is approaching soon, and registration for both CSC's Barrel to Keg Relay and Garden Gnome Run races are open!

The 2nd Annual Garden Gnome Run comes up first on Sunday, May 4, 2014. There will be a raffle, cool prizes, Garden Gnome swag, division winner awards, runners in gnome costumes, gnomes in runner costumes, music and refreshments. And yes, there’s even a race!

Take your pick from a 1K, 5K, 10K and, new this year, a 15K race. The flat, paved course follows the bike path in Southwest Corvallis through beautiful Avery and Pioneer Parks. If you run the 10K or 15K, you’ll take a running tour of Starker Arts Park as well.

All entrants receive a Youth House tomato plant and a gnome-themed glass finisher “medal”. Awards are available for the top 3 men and women finishers in each age division. Tech shirts can be purchased for an additional $12.

The Garden Gnome Run is a benefit for the CSC Youth House Garden. Come out to support Benton County youth and sustainable, local food! For more information or to register, www.gardengnomerun.com.

The 4th Annual Barrel to Keg Relay follows on Saturday, July 12, 2014. Starting at the Harris Bridge Vineyard in Philomath, Oregon, this scenic relay goes through the beautiful back country of the Oregon Coast Range, crosses over the majestic Yaquina Bay Bridge and finishes at the famous Rogue Ales Brewery at Newport’s South Beach Marina.

Teams of 2, 4, and 6 runners split the 110K (about 70 mile) distance over 12 legs. Teams of 2, 3, 4, or 6 walkers do about half the distance - the first 3 and last 3 legs, so everyone starts and finishes together. Ultra runners are welcome, too.

All finishers receive a B2K finisher medal. Prizes will be given to the fastest teams in each of six divisions. In addition, special awards are given to Best Team Name, Best Decorated Vehicle, and Most Creative Costumes. Special prizes will be presented to the top three Fundraising Teams who raise the most money for CSC’s poverty-fighting programs! You do not have to participate in the event to have a fundraising team.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.barreltokeg.com.

Want to help but don't want to run or walk in the races? Be a fundraiser or volunteer! Contact info@barreltokeg.com or sign up to be a fundraiser here!

Second Chance Renter Rehabilitation Classes Coming in April

The Second Chance Program Renter's Rehabilitation Workshop Series will be holding classes in April. The program is designed to help prospective renters overcome obstacles which prevent them from obtaining housing. Consisting of six classes taught by qualified instructors from the community, topics include:

• How to be a Good Tenant
• Energy Education
• Landlord/Tenant Issues
• Goal Setting
• Conflict Resolution
• Basic Budgeting

Participants must attend all six workshops to receive a certificate. The series runs on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:00am to noon, on Monday, April 7th, Wednesday, April 9th, Monday, April 14th, Wednesday, April 16th, Monday, April 21st, and Wednesday, April 23rd. All workshops are held at the Community Services Consortium office in Albany, 250 Broadalbin St. SW, upstairs.

Pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 1. For more information or to register, please contact Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo at 541-758-2632 or visit the Second Chance Program website.

CSC Helps More Than 230 People to Enroll in Cover Oregon

CSC, a certified Cover Oregon community partner in Lincoln County, has helped more than 230 people to enroll in Cover Oregon.

Cover Oregon is a marketplace where Oregonians can find and purchase health insurance. If you are uninsured, buy insurance on your own, or own a small business with 50 or fewer eligible employees, you can get health insurance through Cover Oregon. Some people will also get help paying for their plan.

According to Aracelly Guevara, the CSC Health Program Coordinator and a Certified Assister for Cover Oregon, the 230 people were of all ages and backgrounds. While Guevara is bilingual in English and Spanish, she had to call in for some help.

"We had individuals that spoke Korean, Cantonese and Filipino. Cover Oregon quickly provided translation services to make sure we could get everybody enrolled."

One local artist came to Guevara for assistance with her application. She had been uninsured for a number of years, and was amazed at how simple the enrollment process was - definitely a success story for Cover Oregon.

The Affordable Care Act mandates that all individuals be covered by a health plan by March 31, 2014, or be faced with a fine. There are exceptions, such as relocation, job loss, or a change in family status.

For more information on health plan, to download an application, or to view information on deadlines and penalties, visit www.coveroregon.com or call 855-268-3767.

To get help with a Cover Oregon application in Lincoln County, contact:

Aracelly Guevara
Health Program Coordinator
Certified Assister for Cover Oregon
541-961-4073
120 NE Avery Street, Newport Oregon 97365 (2nd Floor)

Schedule:
Monday - Thursday
8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Spanish available.

CSC Head Start Employee Starts the New Year as a New Citizen

Yanina Flores made her first trip to America when she was just 12 years old. The CSC Head Start Classroom Aide visited the US on vacation with her family from her native Guayaquil, Ecuador. Little did she know that she would one day come here to stay, and become an American citizen.

Yanina headed back to the States when she was 20, teaching English as a second language classes in Los Angeles. She only planned to stay a year. And then life happened.

"I met Jerry, and my plans changed." said Yanina.

Jerry was a member of the Coast Guard. After they got married, Yanina adjusted to life as a military wife. "The hardest adjustment wasn't to American culture, it was to being a wife and mother and dealing with life with a spouse in the military." said Yanina.

Eventually Yanina and Jerry ended up in Oregon. A friend told Yanina about a job opening at Head Start in Lincoln City, and it seemed like a perfect fit with her teaching background. She was hired and started with CSC Head Start last September.

Yanina wears many hats in her work as a Classroom Aide with Head Start, going wherever she is needed - between two classrooms, the playground, the kitchen, and even the front desk. In just a few months, Yanina has become a much-valued member of the team at CSC Head Start in Lincoln City.

"Yanina is wonderful! She brings so much to us - a great spirit and presence, as well as lots of outrageously wonderful holiday decorations, like some big ghosts on Halloween." said Suzanne Miller, Director of Lincoln County Head Start.

Yanina began studying for her citizenship test last year. It was a challenge, learning a new language and a new history. Her first attempt at the test didn't go well. Like many of us, Yanina had some serious test anxiety.

"I studied so hard, but when I went in to take the test, I just blanked. And that made me more anxious, and it just went downhill." she said.

But Yanina was determined. She didn't give up, kept studying, and planned to take the test again. She headed to Portland with her husband and sons Jerry, 17, and David, 16 on December 7, in the midst of the winter storm that dumped 8 inches of snow. It took them hours to get to Portland.

But the long commute was well spent. Her sons quizzed her along the way, even offering mnemonics and other associations so she would remember the answers to the questions.

On December 8 at 7am, she took the test the second time, and it was a success. She was sworn in as a United States citizen at a ceremony later in the day.

We here at CSC are so proud of Yanina's determination and accomplishment, and so glad to have her working at CSC Head Start. Congratulations Yanina!