COMMUNITY6 - The San Saba News & Star - September 24, 2020

Listening to the Experts

I still remember the first exposure I had to experts talk-ing about land management in the Hill Country. It was in January of 2002 in an all-day symposium on land manage-ment in one of the local hotels in Kerrville. The speakers were all college professors or government agency people from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Forest Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service.

I still remember vividly my impressions from that day. I was surprised at the near unanim-ity of opinion of the different speakers representing different disciplines, as well as different agencies with different missions and experiences as to what con-stitutes good land management for the Hill Country. I was also inspired by the passion and dedication of these folks for the work they were doing and its importance.

I had grown up in the country in the high plains of Texas and had worked on a farm and hiked and hunted the open pastures as a kid. And I had spent a lifetime of vacations in State and Na-tional Parks being interested in wildlife and conservation. But I had no formal academic train-ing in the disciplines most of the speakers at the symposium represented.

What I learned from that first symposium was that na-ture, native habitats, ranching, wildlife and conservation are much more complicated than I thought, and some of what I thought I knew was probably wrong. But that symposium was truly a life-changing event for me. Since then, I have been learning everything I can about all of these topics, and working to help others learn about them as well. This has become my

Hill Country Naturalist

full-time “job” in retirement.In the intervening years

since that first symposium, I have had the opportunity and privilege to attend literally many hundreds of presentations and demonstrations by scores of experts on many different topics having to do with the land and the flora and fauna of the Hill Country. Many of those opportunities were facilitated by my becoming a member of the Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, but many of those opportuni-ties were events sponsored by various government agencies and other organizations.

Almost without exception, I have found these agency and university people to be eager to share their knowledge and experience as well as their time to help landowners and other interested folks better understand the natural world around them. Some of the gov-ernment agents will even visit a landowner’s property to discuss various management issues, and in some cases, there is even government money available to assist some landowners with specific problems.

I can say that I have been able to get to know many of these experts and can count many of them as friends. I have to thank all of them for not only sharing their knowledge and experience, but for their encouragement and guidance as I have tried to do my part in educating folks in the Hill Country about the natural world around them and how they can become better stewards of the land.

The Texas Master Naturalist organization, which is jointly sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is a program that not only facili-tates the education of interested Texans on all topics related to

the natural world around us, but also provides trained naturalists to volunteer for hundreds of projects involving education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas. This program also would not be possible without the in-volvement of many government agents.

When I was 10 years old, I started to work for the cotton farmer near our house. I remem-ber a time when the AgriLife Extension agent (we called them County Agents back then) came out to count boll worms to tell the farmer if he needed to spray them. That same county agent helped me choose my first 4-H lambs and later my calves and hogs, and he taught me how to take care of all of them and how to show them. I have more fond memories of that agent and my animals and 4-H than I do of going to school in those years.

My experience is that too few people avail themselves of the free advice, knowledge, experience and help from these government agents when it comes to land management. Their advice is free of any eco-nomic interests in the decisions you make.

I am again available every Friday at Riverside Nature Center from 10 to 12 to talk one on one with anyone with questions or who just wants to talk about any issues related to nature.

Until next time…Jim Stanley is a Texas

Master Naturalist and the au-thor of the books “Hill Coun-try Ecology,” “Hill Country Landowner’s Guide” and “A Beginner’s Handbook for Rural Texas Landowners.” He can be reached at <jstmn@ktc.com>. Previous columns can be seen at <www.hillcountrynaturalist.org>.

The Central Texas College (CTC) Continuing Education department is currently hold-ing registration for its Pharma-cy Technician program which starts Monday, September 28. The program consists of 200 hours of live online instruction and small group, hands-on lab training on campus. The program prepares students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board national test required by the state of Texas. Pharmacy technicians help the pharmacist package or mix prescriptions, maintain client records, refer clients to the pharmacist for counseling, assist with inventory control and purchasing and collect payment and coordinate bill-ing. The need for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 12 percent by 2026 with an earning potential between $12-20 per hour.

The CTC program con-sists of four courses in which students will learn about law, e thics , terminology, body systems, calculations, purchasing, inventory, com-munication and profession-alism in the workplace. The classes must be taken as a cohort in the order they are offered. First is Introduction to Pharmacy which provides an overview of the job qualifica-tions, operational guidelines and the duties performed by a pharmacy technician. It is followed by Pharmacy Law which details federal and state laws governing the practice of pharmacy. It also includes the code of ethics, the role of the pharmacy technician and the pharmacist and their associ-ated responsibilities.

The third c lass in the program is Pharmaceutical Math. Students will solve

CTC Continuing Educationoffers Pharmacy Tech career program

pharmaceutical calculation problems encountered in the preparation and distribution of drugs. It is followed by the fourth class, Community Phar-macy Practice, which covers the skills needed to process, prepare, label and maintain records of prescriptions. Also covered in this class are pour techniques, prescription cal-culations, drug selection and preparation, over-the-counter drugs, inventory management, legal parameters and customer service.

Based on instructor ap-proval, students can also participate in the clinical In-stitutional Pharmacy Practice which starts midway through the program. It includes an in-depth coverage of hospital pharmacy organization, work flow and personnel, safety techniques, data entry, pack-aging and labeling operations, in-patient drug distribution systems including investiga-tional drugs, continuous qual-ity improvement and inventory control.

Upon completion, students will have acquired numerous skills and be able to prepare medications for distribution; dis tr ibute medicat ions in multiple pharmacy settings; assist the pharmacist in the identification of clients who desire or require counseling to optimize the use of medica-tions, equipment, devices and maintain the pharmacy equip-ment and facilities; assist the pharmacist in preparing, stor-ing and distributing investiga-tional medications; and assist the pharmacist in monitoring medication therapy.

New to the Pharmacy Tech-nician program is the addition of private (one student-one instructor) and semi-private

lessons (two students-one instructor) for a variety of medical math and pharmacy technician topics such as drug calculations, law, pharmacol-ogy, IV calculations and other topics. Private lessons are geared toward students and medical professionals looking to further their understanding of dosage calculations needed for the pharmacy, nursing and EMT fields.

To enroll in the Pharmacy Technician program, students must be at least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment. They should also be competent in basic computer operations and will be required to have access to the internet, print-ing capabilities and an email address. Application packets must include a high school diploma/transcript or G.E.D or official transcripts of higher education. Also, two refer-ences (relatives may not be used) must be completed on the forms available through the CTC Continuing Educa-tion department or on the CTC website at <www.ctcd.edu/myctcd/assets/File/Students/CE/ ApplicationReferences.pdf>.

The CTC Pharmacy Techni-cian program runs September 28 through April 26 with classes on Monday/Wednes-day evening from 5-9 p.m. The program costs $2,595 plus the cost of textbooks and supplies. The optional clinical is an additional $649 while private tutoring is $199 and semi-private tutoring is $119. Payment options including MyCAA benefits, a Sallie Mae loan and installment plans are available. For more informa-tion or to register, contact the CTC Continuing Education department at 254-526-1586.

Commissioner Miller connects Texans with healthy meals through Child and Adult Care Food Program Program combines nutrition and education to promote healthy lifestyles for Texans of all ages.

Texas Agriculture Commis-sioner Sid Miller is reminding Texans that the federally funded Child and Adult Care Food Pro-gram (CACFP) offers nutritious meals to children and adults in need across the Lone Star State. The Texas Department of Agri-culture (TDA) has partnered with approximately 13,000 adult day care centers, child care centers and home-based day cares in Texas to serve nutritious free or reduced-priced meals through CACFP.Benefits

CACFP partners offer healthy meals and snacks coupled with nutrition education to promote healthy eating habits. Com-missioner Miller and TDA encourage connections between CACFP programs and Texas agriculture. TDA is committed to guiding families towards healthy lifestyles and a healthier future for the great state of Texas.

Meals that are provided through CACFP are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). CACFP provides nutritious meals to children and adults enrolled in participating child care centers, day care homes and adult day care centers.

The following groups auto-matically qualify for free meals:

• Children in households getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits; or who are enrolled in Early Head Start; Head Start or Even Start Pro-grams; or who receive Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits automatically qualify for free meals through participating CACFP providers.

• Foster children placed with a caregiver by the state or courts are eligible for free meals. If you have foster children living with you and wish to apply for free meals for your foster child, contact your participating child care center or day care home for assistance.

• Adults who receive Supple-mental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Food Distribution Programs on Indian

Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, Medicaid or Supplemental Secu-rity Income (SSI) automatically qualify for free meals.

The following groups may qualify for free or reduced-price meals depending on their eligi-bility information as indicated in their application:

• Children in households that do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income. To see the chart for income eligibility guidelines, go to: <https://www.texasagriculture.gov/NewsEvents/NewsEvents-Details/tabid/76/Article/5631/Texas-Department-of-Agricul-ture-Connects-Texans-In-Need-With-Healthy-Meals-In-C.aspx>.

• Parents or guardians who become unemployed may apply for free or reduced-price meals on behalf of their children at any time during the period of unem-ployment.

• Children and adults in house-holds participating in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women; Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

• Adults who do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household in-come. See the chart below for income eligibility guidelines. Application

The information provided on the application will be treated confidentially and be used only for eligibility determinations and verification of information.

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, you may request an application from your child care center, adult day care center or day care home provider. An ap-plication for free or reduced-price meals cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions. Only one application is required per household, and households may apply at any time.

If your application for free or reduced-price meals is denied, you have the right to request a fair hearing from your child care center, adult day care center or day care home.

Verification of the accuracy of your application for free or reduced-price meals can occur at any time.

To locate a center or day care home participating in CACFP, call (877) TEX-MEAL. Participat-ing child care locations will also display the official "Building for the Future" poster.Rights

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disabil-ity, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabili-ties may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: <http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_fil-ing_cust.html>, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the As-sistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202)690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@

usda.gov.This institution is an equal

opportunity provider.

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