Families Living Violence Free

Town Talk: Families Living Violence Free Prepares For Event At Rucker Park

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Families Living Violence Free is hosting a back-to-school Kids Day event Saturday, Aug. 14 at Rucker Park in Granville County. Children and adults can enjoy a variety of activities, from food trucks to water games during the Fun Day, which is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to FLVF staff.

LeSha Sneed and Carly Simonton were guests on Town Talk Monday and said the event is all about fun activities for children, combined with some awareness and outreach regarding domestic violence and abuse.

It’s important for young people to be able to make connections with adults who can help, Sneed, youth advocacy counselor for FLVF, told hosts John C. Rose and Trey Snide. She added that school resource officers (SROs) will be present Saturday. Children can’t always remember names, she said, but they can remember faces. It’s important for young people to know adults they can trust if they need to confide in someone about problems they may be facing.

“Kids have to feel safe around you before they’ll open up,” Sneed said. This fun day/fundraiser will help young people make connections with those adults.

Bookbags filled with school supplies will be distributed, and food and gas cards will be raffled off as well, Simonton said. As the adult advocacy counselor at FLVF, she noted that

the last year and a half has “taken a toll, obviously.” Children were learning remotely and parents were either working from home or without jobs altogether. Sometimes, school and jobs are “safe” spots for victims of domestic violence and abuse. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down those havens and left victims isolated from help.

But FLVF stayed open throughout that period, Simonton said, providing virtual options and keeping the 24/7 crisis phone lines operational.

The crisis center has moved to a new location, Henrahand Cottage on the campus of Central Children’s Home, 211 W. Antioch Drive, but its mission remains the same: “giving voice and support to domestic violence and sexual assault victims.”

Although it is located in Granville County, Simonton said their services are open to everyone. FLVF partners with many area agencies, and counselors can make sure clients connect with programs and services most convenient to their location.

“We make sure our clients are covered, no matter what,” Simonton said.

In 2019, FLVF saw 323 “unique clients,” which means that some clients they helped more than once. She said statistics show that by the time a client reaches out to FLVF, they’ve already made seven attempts – on average – to leave a violent or abusive situation. Victims of domestic violence or abuse don’t fit into one age range, but Simonton said the majority of clients they see at FLVF are in the 34-64 age group.

Outreach into the community helps to establish connections that may be needed in a moment of crisis. “It’s a lot easier to open up when you know you have a connection with someone,” Simonton said. This type of outreach event helps establish connections so people “know we’re here from the get-go,” she said. The public needs to see us as a good resource in the community, she added. “We’re literally here for everyone.” All services are free and confidential.

The FLVF Fun Day will be held at Rucker Park, located at 5189 Old N.C. 75, Oxford.

Visit www.flvf.com to learn more. The 24/7 crisis lines are 919.693.5700 (English) and 919.690.0888 (Spanish)

 

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Home Credit Corp Donates to New Hope Elementary

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Of the many positive things Vance County Schools does, one of them is the effort that is placed in building relationships between VCS and the business, faith and civic community.

Friday at New Hope Elementary School, between Williamsboro and Townsville, Home Credit Corporation’s Bryan Yount presented Principal Letitia Fields with a check for $500.  The two are former classmates at North Vance High School, and Public Information Officer Aarika Sandlin stated in a release on behalf of Vance County Schools, “We are proud to see our alumni supporting one another through partnerships within our schools.”

Sandlin indicated in the statement that Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett joined the presentation, and Yount challenged “other businesses and civic groups to partner with our district’s schools to help make a difference.”

Farmers Market Advisory Board Meeting Thurs, Aug 12

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market Advisory Board will meet Thursday, August 12 at 2 p.m.

The meeting will take place at the Farmers Market at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson, just off Beckford Drive.

These meetings are open to the public.

For additional information, call 252 438 8188 or email paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu.

While public attendance is meant for observation, to be sure you can speak with others there after the meeting.  Hanging around after a meeting is a good way to see if new things may be on the horizon for the market and a chance to provide some input if there are things you would like to see.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Safe Routes Program Encourages Biking And Walking To School

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There may be a couple of bike racks outside some school buildings in the area, but gone are the days that students’ bicycles fill those racks during the day while children are in class. The familiar crosswalks still function, but they are more for students getting out of cars than for those who have walked from their nearby homes.

Kisha High recognizes that rural areas and small towns may face challenges when they encourage children to walk or bike to school, but the Safe Routes to School program does more than just promote those practices.

High is the Safe Route to Schools program coordinator for the Kerr-Tar COG. She spoke with WIZS News about all the ways her program can have positive impacts on schoolchildren – on or off school campuses.

“The name can be misleading,” High said. “It’s not just about school – you’re a pedestrian when you’re in the parking lot at the grocery store.” By sharing information about safety practices when people are in areas where there also are vehicles, High said the program can improve overall safety and health.

The program is funded by federal and state departments of transportation. It’s a non-infrastructure grant, so her efforts are largely aimed at outreach. Whether it’s a Back To School event or a walking competition within a particular school, she’s willing and ready to participate or help organize.

She will be at the Back to School Bash in Oxford tomorrow, for example, raising awareness about how important it is to be healthy and how important it is to be safe.

Although the program’s mission is to promote walking and biking to schools, she added the words “where possible” to take into account that there aren’t many sidewalks in rural communities and schools are in more centralized locations.

But children may still walk to bus stops, for example, and it’s important for them to understand safety rules, she said.

Friendly competitions are one way to promote walking as a way for children to exercise. High said students at West Oxford Elementary in Granville County used pedometers last spring to track their steps. They calculated their mileage in a “Walking to Tokyo” race in advance of the Olympics.

Whether walking to school, in the store parking lot, or the neighborhood, safety should be top of mind, High said.

“We’re all pedestrians at some point during the day,” she added.

For more details, listen below.

McClary, Purple Heart Recipient, To Speak At Living Stones Church Of God Aug. 8

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Clebe McClary said he enjoys playing golf, a sport he took up later in life, after meeting PGA golfer Billy Casper. It wasn’t the first time he’d met Casper however; the first time was when he was in a military hospital bed, facing a leg amputation.

First Lt. Patrick C. “Clebe” McClary III USMC (Retired) recounted the story to John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk:  He was a platoon leader in the First Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam when the Viet Cong attacked. He attributes his very existence today to a visit by the PGA golfer. “He said, ‘I’m praying for you. God’s got a plan for your life. Don’t quit,’” McClary said.

Casper wasn’t for the war, McClary said, “but he was for the troops.”

So when McClary got the chance to meet Casper at the Masters Tournament a few years ago, he took it. And he also took up golf.

He said he enjoys the beauty of the course, and the chance to witness to others while he’s out there.

McClary will be the featured speaker Sunday at Living Stones Church of God Worship Center in Oxford. He is speaking in conjunction with the annual observance of Purple Heart Day on Saturday, Aug. 7.

“Purple Hearts – that’s a medal you don’t want,” McClary said. “You’ve got to get shot to get that rascal,” he said. And he has three of them.

McClary shares his story and the message of having “a personal relationship with a living Savior. Know the Lord. You don’t know when it’s going to be your last day,” he said.

See more about McClary, visit www.clebemcclary.com.

Listen here to the full interview with Clebe McClary.

VGCC’s Dean Kali Brown Selected For Statewide Leadership Academy

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Kali Brown, dean of student access and support at Vance-Granville Community College, has been accepted to participate in the 2021 Chief Student Development Administrators Leadership Academy.

This academy, developed through the North Carolina Community College System, invites a select number of administrative leaders from the state’s 58 community colleges to participate each year in the program, according to a press statement from VGCC.

Over the course of several months, participants will study multiple topics, including best practices for serving students, continuous improvement, communications, higher education legal issues, and resource management.

“We congratulate Dean Kali Brown on being recognized as a leader in our state’s community college system, and we know that she will use what she learns in the academy to support our Vanguards,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais.

Brown is a resident of Franklinton and has worked for VGCC since 2011, when she joined the college’s financial aid office. She moved from assistant director of financial aid to director in 2013. She was named VGCC staff member of the year in 2015-16. She became dean of student support services in 2017 and has been in her current role since 2019.

“I am absolutely delighted to be selected into the 2021 Chief Student Development Administrators Leadership Academy, which provides an exceptional networking opportunity to learn from experts and leaders in the field of student services,” Brown said

Brown previously worked in financial aid and student services at her alma mater, Arkansas State University as well as Arkansas State University – Newport (a community college), and Pulaski Technical College in Arkansas. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Arkansas State, and a master’s degree in higher education – educational leadership at Liberty University.

While at VGCC, Brown has served on various committees, including the strategic enrollment management committee, academic affairs committee, marketing advisory council, scholarships committee, leadership & planning council and the recruitment & retention committee.

She is a 2018 graduate of the N.C. Community College Leadership program and has trained other professionals throughout the state by conducting workshops sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the N.C. Community College System and the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority.

Warren County Seeks New Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization

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– press release –

Warren County is now included in the group of counties that have made a decision to move to a new Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO).   These organizations are responsible for providing behavioral healthcare services in North Carolina.  Warren County is currently served in the Cardinal Innovations Healthcare catchment area, which extends from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, to the Virginia border at Warren County.

Effective August 3rd, Warren County will provide notice to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Cohen of the County’s intent to disengage from the Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, and realign with Eastpointe.

The Warren County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution and disengagement plan and will be seeking stakeholder and citizen feedback.

For more information, contact the County Manager, Vincent Jones, at the Warren County Manager’s Office at 252-257-3115.

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– Additional information provided by Warren County:

WARREN COUNTY PLAN TO DISENGAGE FROM CARDINAL INNOVATIONS AND JOIN EASTPOINTE LME/MCO.

On August 2nd, 2021, the Warren County Board of Commissioners voted to seek permission from the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) to disengage from Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, a Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO) managing mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities and substance use services. North Carolina statute 122C-115(a3) permits a county to request disengagement from a LME/MCO and to join another LME/MCO. In light of the impending merger between Cardinal Innovations Healthcare and Vaya Health, Warren County has chosen to join Eastpointe LME/MCO. The Board of Eastpoint voted to accept Warren County as a member.

We do not know how quickly this change will occur. Warren County and Eastpointe LME/MCO have requested an effective date of October 1, 2021, subject to the approval of DHHS.

  • Actions Taken in Conjunction with Resolution: The Warren County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to disengage from Cardinal Innovations and join Eastpointe. A letter making the request was sent to Secretary Cohen of DHHS on August 3rd, 2021.
  • The Eastpointe Board voted to accept Warren County as a member on August 3rd, 2021 and sent a letter to Dr. Cohen that same day.
  • Warren County has notified the other counties served by Cardinal and the Co-Chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee of the North Carolina Assembly of our decision.
  • Warren County and Eastpointe have jointly developed this plan to ensure a smooth transition for Warren County residents and providers which will ensure the continuity of service as the county transitions to Eastpointe.
  • Warren County affirms that it has no outstanding financial liabilities to Cardinal Innovations Healthcare.
  • Warren County affirms that there is no real property impacted by this proposed change.
  • Warren County will remain a member of Cardinal until the effective date of its realignment with Eastpointe, thereby ensuring no loss of services to residents.
  • Warren County has determined that Eastpointe meets the population requirements for a LME/MCO outlined in NC Statute and that its disengagement from Cardinal will not cause Cardinal nor Vaya to fall below those requirements.

Actions to be taken immediately:

  • Warren County and Eastpointe will publish this plan on their respective websites.
  • Warren County will issue a press release and post to its website and Facebook page a notification of its plan to disengage from Cardinal and join Eastpointe and will solicit public comment on the plan for sixty (60) days. Warren County will post the public comments on its website for thirty (30) days following the end of the public comment period.
  • Warren County will specifically request public comment from providers, consumers, advocated, self-advocates and the State and Local Consumer and Family Advisory Committees.
  • This same press release will serve as written notification to all Warren County providers of this proposed change.

Actions to be Taken Upon Approval by DHHS:

  • Eastpointe will hold Provider Fairs to enter into contracts with all providers in good standing currently serving Warren County residents. Eastpointe plans to contract with all current providers.
  • Eastpointe and Warren County will hold public meetings at least one of which will be in the evening to introduce Eastpointe to consumers, families and stakeholders and answer any questions about Eastpointe and this change.
  • Eastpointe and Warren County will hold at least one public meeting targeted to other public agencies in Warren County, such as schools, Department of Social Services, Law Enforcement, Courts, Public Health etc. to discuss the change and answer any questions.
  • Eastpointe will assess the current gaps in service in Warren County and recruit providers to address any identified gaps.

TownTalk: Turning Point CDC Community Day Aug 7

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Turning Point Community Development Corporation continues its outreach in the area with Community Day 2021 set for Saturday, Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Turning Point Director Chalis Henderson invites schoolchildren to come out for backpacks stuffed with school supplies and enjoy a variety of activities for the whole family.

Henderson was the guest on Wednesday’s Town Talk and shared details of the event with John C. Rose and Trey Snide.

“Everything’s going to be outside,” she said, except the barbershop. Two barbers will be socially distanced in the large multipurpose room of the Turning Point community engagement building, located near the interchange of Norlina and Warrenton roads  in Henderson. Vendors will be distanced appropriately on the lawn. “We will enjoy seeing people, but we definitely want people to feel safe and healthy,” Henderson said.

“We have a large group of community resource vendors – it’s going to be a family-friendly, fun event,” she said. And those 120 backpacks? They’ll be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so come out early.

One note to parents: Henderson said the child should be present to receive the backpack and parents should be prepared to give a name, phone number and the county they live in for the backpack giveaway.

The mobile learning lab will be up and running for the event as well. Henderson said the school bus-turned learning lab has been outfitted with air conditioning, so it will be on the road in August. A couple of young people will be on the bus to provide demonstrations of some of the lab’s functions.

Last year’s Community Day event was cancelled because of the pandemic, which makes this Saturday’s event even more special and important. It’s important for residents in the area to become aware of resources that are available to them, she added.

Established as a community development entity, Turning Point has become a place of empowerment and community engagement. Providing backpacks and having events to share resources are just two ways for Turning Point to “live” its vision statement: We believe rural communities can thrive and flourish.”

Henderson said she was heartened to see so many community members – and parents that are served through Turning Point – show up to bring donations of school supplies to help fill out the backpacks.

The non-profit had gotten the backpacks and a few school supplies, but Henderson said she felt like they needed some more. So she set up a one-week drive to collect supplies and she said there was “an overflow of resources coming in.”

Turning Point will have raffle tickets available on Saturday for the chance to win a complete HVAC system. Tickets are $10, she said. The prize is made possible by Ranes Heating and Air and Henderson said “100 percent of the proceeds go to Turning Point CDC.” The winner will be announced in October. Tickets also may be purchased via a link on its website www.turningpointcdc.org

Also available at the Community Day event are t-shirts emblazoned with the Turning Point vision statement: “We believe rural communities can thrive and flourish.”

 

Turning Point CDC Director Chalis Henderson Interview Audio. Click Play Below.