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Volume 15, Issue 2 – November 2016

The veteran, Paul, was discharged from the United States Ar-my in June of 2015 after serving a tour of duty in Iraq and Af-ghanistan. In July, the veteran’s wife, Andrea, contacted the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). They were couch homeless upon moving back to Oklahoma. Due to Paul's work schedule and his disbelief in the pro-gram's assistance, SSVF Case Manager Ben Wilson made sever-al contacts after the initial referral. Upon enrolling the veteran family into the program, long and short term goals were created. Wilson discussed veteran benefits with the family which includ-ed the VA Home Loan Guarantee Program. The family's only income was Paul's recently acquired minimum wage car sales position and commission. The veteran family wanted to stay in the local area so they were advised to network with family, friends, and within the community on available rentals. Paul and Andrea were very active with their housing search and found a rental. The SSVF Program provided rental, security deposit, utilities and utility deposits. Upon being housed, the veteran family had many more accomplishments in their 90 day enrollment: Paul re-ceived a promotion to a desk job at the dealership and obtained a VA award for service connected disability; Andrea obtained a

(Continued on page 3)

One Proud Family…..

THE ELEVENTH HOUR - LEST WE

FORGET

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day

Of the eleventh month We stand for two minutes of silence

To honor our fallen, our daughters and sons.

They went off to war, to

places unknown They knew not what

they'd face They knew not if they'd

return But they went bravely, to

keep our home safe.

Please bow your head for two minutes

For those men and women so brave

It's only two minutes for them on this day

But it's their whole lives for us that they gave.

Special Edition…..

October and November

Paul and his family outside their new home

From the Desk of the Executive Director / CEO

Page 2 KI BOIS News

KI BOIS News is published monthly by

KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc.

200 Southeast “A” Street P.O. Box 727

Stigler, OK 74462 918-967-3325 800-299-4479

www.kibois.org

R. Carroll Huggins Executive Director / CEO

Tom Marlatt Associate Director / CFO

Larry Hall, Associate Director / COO

KI BOIS Community Action

Board of Directors Gene Bass, Board Chairperson

John Cook, 1st VP Kenneth Monroe, 2nd VP Jan Coplen, Sec/Treasurer

Cecil Williams, Parliamentarian Steve Carter, Member

Kay Box, Editor

918-967-3325, Ext. 131 kay.wood@kibois.org

KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Incorporated is privileged to have such a committed group of board members, staff, and volunteers that use their talents and resources to help those who are less fortunate. Their expertise and commitment to helping people and changing lives is commendable.

Our Community Action Agency helps people and changes lives every day in cities, towns, and rural communities all across our service area. As the Community Action Partnership promise indicates, “Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes our communities a better place to live. We care about the en-tire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”

Several of our staff were recognized at the Annual Oklaho-ma Community Action Association Conference awards dinner on September 23, 2016 in Oklahoma City, OK for their many years of committed service. Among those being recognized are:

10 years…..Kandy Abreo, Glen Bennett, Paula Beshears, Amy Blevins, Johnny Bryant, Titus Burgess, Kimber Burr, Melissa Colwell, Larry Condon, Richelle Dunham, Mary Elliott, Isidoro Garcia, LaShelle Goff, Aaron Goodman, Torri Hudson, Janee Lewis, Claudeen Peace, Heather Simerson, Sharon Smith, Karen Thompson, Tanner Turk, Johnny Wade, Diane Wallen, Mary Washburn, Terry Williams, Nora Wilson and Sherry Wright.

15 Years…..Sharon Arnett, Lori Barcenas, Patricia Kay Box, Cheryl Burns, Tammy Duncan, Patricia Glass, Paula Goforth, Gena Gray, Joyce Honeycutt, Virginia Hon-eycutt, Loretta Jones, Jimmy Knight, Rita Neal, Shaunda Noah, Kelly Ohler, Sheila Twyman, JoAnn Walden and Janifer White.

20 Years…..Carol Garner and Carolyn Hutchins

25 Years…..Ronald Davis, Mathew Gentry, Bobbie Gilreath, Rosalind Newby, Kristie Reasnor, Kathy Rowell, Tommy Taylor, Sarah Tucker and Wanda Whitfield 35 Years…..Joanna Bunch and Lynn Johnson

40 Years…..Donna Carolan On behalf of our board and staff I congratulate each of you for your many years of dedi-cated work to the Community Action effort in our service area.

Also, this time of the year makes me thankful to live in our beautiful Southeastern Okla-(Continued on page 11)

Carroll Huggins

Joanna Bunch Donna Carolan Lynn Johnson

KI BOIS Community Action Offices will be closed

Friday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day

Thursday and Friday,

November 24th and 25th for Thanksgiving

In Loving Memory

 

Vernon “Grizz” Martin January 6th, 1964 - September 26th, 2016

Mr. Martin was the husband of KI BOIS Community Action Head Start North Nutrition Coordinator Regina Martin.

George E. Mitchell May 30th, 1951 - September 30th, 2016

Mr. Mitchell was the husband of former KI BOIS Community Action Retired

Senior Volunteer Director Marcia Mitchell.

KI BOIS News Page 3

Stand Up For An Abused Child

San Bois CASA, Inc.

Serving Latimer, LeFlore and Haskell Counties.

Call 918-647-3267

for additional information.

job at a bank, then received a promotion. Upon receiving the promotion, she asked the bank manager if they worked with VA Home Loan Guarantee Program. The bank man-ager advised them to inquire again in six months. When Andrea told Wilson about the good news, both were surprised on the short amount of time needed for a home loan. The veteran family successfully completed the program by reaching housing stability after only 90 days in the program. Six months later, Andrea contacted Wilson for docu-mentation needed for their home loan paperwork. They were pre-approved for a home loan using the VA Home Loan Guarantee Program. Later, they contacted Wilson to an-nounce that they closed on the house and are now home owners. The veteran family went from couch homeless to home owners in less than a year. The family was very grateful for the SSVF Program's assistance on getting them back on their feet. Recently, Andrea has been promoted to Assistant Branch Manager. Editor’s Note: Thank you Tammy and staff for making a difference in the lives of those who have given so much.

One Proud Family………...cont. from page 1

Jean Leird June 13th, 1932 - November 1st, 2016 Ms. Leird was the mother-in-law of

KI BOIS Community Action Pittsburg County Director Rob Perryman and grandmother of Head Start Secretary

Morgan Benham and KI BOIS Accounting Supervisor

Heather Cantrell.

Myrna Cook May 6th, 1941 - October 7th, 2016

Ms. Cook was a former KI BOIS Board member from Latimer County.

The 2016 KI BOIS SSVF Annual Meeting was held September 28th & 29th in Tul-sa. SSVF Case managers from across the 21 county service area attended and were treated to an array of informative workshops that will enhance their ability to assist the veterans they serve.

Tammy Randazzo, SSVF Director, welcomed everyone Wednesday morning with an overview of the meeting. KI BOIS Community Action Director of Planning & Devel-opment Director Linda Love and her assistant Brandie Risenhoover shared information on accounting procedures and temporary financial assistance. The group was honored to have Dan Slack, SSVF Regional Coordinator update them on national SSVF updates and information. Larry Hall, KI BOIS Community Action Associate Director / COO ended day one with announcements and KI BOIS information.

On Thursday morning, the group heard from KI BOIS Community Action Commu-nity Liaison Royce Alverson on the vision, value and mission of the agency. Randazzo and Slack also updated them on the new screening process. The annual SSVF Code of Ethics and job descriptions were reviewed and the annual meeting concluded with all staff discussing DAP notes and chart integrity.

All veterans deserve a safe and stable place to call home. KI BOIS SSVF is dedicat-ed to assisting our heroes and meetings, such as the one in September, helps to give case managers and staff the knowledge and skills necessary to help to the best of our ability.

SSVF Staff Attend Annual Meeting

TED ALLEN/DAVID WALKER SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORED BY THE

OKLAHOMA WEATHERIZATON HOUSING ADVISORY COUNCIL

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 1. Applicants are limited to high school seniors with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

2. Applicants must be a direct relative (2nd degree) of an employee of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC), Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), or a Community Action Agency (CAA).

3. Applicants must be planning to attend an accredited four-year college/university or an accredited junior college with plans to complete a degree.

AWARD A one thousand dollar, one time scholarship will be awarded each year to one successful applicant based on a five hundred word essay entitled:

“THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE LOW INCOME.”

Applicants will be judged on punctuation, grammar, style and content. Final award will be presented at the annual Housing and En-ergy Conference.

ESSAY MUST FOLLOW ALL GUIDELINES LISTED BELOW:

1. ESSAY WILL CONSIST OF A COVER PAGE WITH THE ESSAY TITLE, “THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE LOW INCOME” AND YOUR NAME CENTERED AND SPACED.

2. A FIVE HUNDRED WORD ESSAY ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER.

3. ESSAY MUST BE DOUBLE SPACED AND NEATLY TYPED USING ONE INCH BORDERS.

4. BIOGRAPHY PAGE. ON A SINGLE PAGE, YOU MUST GIVE A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF TED ALLEN AND DA-VID WALKER. A SHORT BIO WILL BE ACCEPTABLE, HOWEVER, THIS WILL NOT COUNT AS PART OF THE REQUIRED 500 WORD ESSAY. YOU WILL NOT BE GRADED ON THIS PART, BUT IT MUST BE INCLUDED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP. PLEASE KEEP THESE SHORT TO NO MORE THAN ONE PAGE FOR BOTH BIO’S.

5. ALL MATERIAL MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 13, 2017.

THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL MUST BE INCLUDED FOR SUBMISSION:

1. COMPLETED APPLICATION PAGE.

2. COVER PAGE.

3. ESSAY.

4. BIO.

5. HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT VERIFYING G.P.A.

FINAL AWARD WILL BE MADE TO WINNING APPLICANT AFTER VERIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE TO ELIGIBLE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

Request for application packs may be made at the following address: Ted Allen/David Walker Scholarship

ATTN: John Jones KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc.

P.O. Box 727 - Stigler, OK 74462 918-967-3325

KI BOIS News Page 4

Page 5 KI BOIS NEWS

Thank you Cherokee Tribal members who donated to the Foster Grandpar-ents Program. The donation allowed volunteers from Adair County to at-tend the National Foster Grandparent Volunteer Conference in November. A total of $1,500.00 was donated. According to Foster Grandparents Di-rector Shaunda Noah, “We are very blessed by the Cherokee Nation and the Tribal Council members who represent them.”

RSVP Attends Conference in St. Louis

What happens in St. Louis…..Stays in St. Louis According to Foster Grandparent Volunteers!

Foster Grandparents traveled to St. Louis on a 55 passenger van chartered through the Muscogee Nation. Pictured in front of the bus are Foster Grandparents staff Rosanne Stanley, KI BOIS Community Action Board Member / FGP Advisory Council Member Joy Walker and FGP Director Shaunda Noah.

These Foster Grandparents just returned from a trip to St. Louis where they attended the Foster Grandparent National Conference. Twenty volunteers along with Foster Grandparent Director Shaunda Noah, Foster Grandparent Program Coordinator Rosanne Stan-ley and KI BOIS Board member / Foster Grandparent Advisory Council member Joy Walker not only had a good time but attended great workshops. The group also received an award during the Parade of States as Judge’s Choice. The “Cherokee Singers” also were a big hit singing Amazing Grace and “Orphan Child” in their native tongue. Jewell Millsap also entertained the conference with her “Granny Song” which she wrote to the tune of Rock of Ages.

It’s a Boy…. Kian Arthur was born September 20th, weigh-ing seven pounds, 13oz and 20 ½ inches long.

Parents are Michael and Megan Jones. Kian is the great-grandson of Regina Bratton, Head Start Assistant Technolo-gy Coordinator.

Medicare Open

Enrollment Continues Through

December 7th

Good Advice…… Live beneath your means, Return everything you borrow. Stop blaming other people. Admit it when you make a mistake. Give clothes not worn in three years to charity. Do something nice and try not to get caught. Listen more; talk less. Every day take a 30 minute walk. Strive for excellence, not perfection. Be on time. Don’t make excuses. Don’t argue. Get organized. Be kind to kind people. Be kind to unkind people. Let someone cut ahead of you in line. Take time to be alone. Reread your favorite book. Cul-tivate good manners. Be humble. Real-ize and accept that life isn’t fair. Know when to keep your mouth shut. Go an entire day without criticizing anyone. Learn from the past. Plan for the future. Live in the present. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff.

Page 6 KI BOIS News

Hmmm

2016-2017 Head Start Policy Council Executive Committee

Front row, Traci Conley, Vian - Vice Chairperson; Meloni McKesson, Spiro - Chairperson; Shelby Campbell, Sallisaw - Secretary. Back row, left to right, Anna Eakle, Quinton - Execu-tive Committee Member; Nadine Matthews, Keys - Assistant Secretary.

Page 7

Organizational Standards……by Linda Love This month we are going to continue our review of the new organiza-tional standards, specifically, we are going to look at Vision and Direc-tion: Strategic Planning.

CATEGORYSIX:StrategicPlanningEstablishing the vision for a Community Action Agency is a big task and setting the course to reach it through strategic planning is serious business. CSBG eligible entities take on this task by looking both at internal functioning and at the community’s needs. An efficient organization knows where it is headed, how the board and staff fit into that future, and how it will measure its success in achieving what it has set out to do. This agency-wide pro-cess is board-led and ongoing. A “living, breathing” strategic plan with measurable out-comes is the goal, rather than a plan that gets written but sits on a shelf and becomes stag-nant. Often set with an ambitious vision, strategic plans set the tone for the staff and board and are a key leader-ship and management tool for the organization.

KI BOIS Community Action just completed the initial strategic plan process this spring. A committee was convened which included board members, executive staff, program directors, mid-level staff, front-line staff and outreach workers. We had a Nationally Certified ROMA Trainer facilitate our process to ensure we met all required standards. The completed strategic plan with goals may be found on the www.kibois.org website un-der the resources tab. Our Action Plan to achieve the goals listed in the Strategic Plan is still under construc-tion and will be a constantly evolving document. We have now reviewed all categories in the Vision and Direction section. Next comes Operations and Account-ability. The first category we will review is Human Re-source Management. Thanks for reading and check back next month. Happy Thanksgiving! Linda

Standard 6.1 The organization has an agency-wide strategic plan in place that has been ap-proved by the governing board within the past 5 years. 

Standard 6.2 The approved strategic plan addresses reduction of poverty, revitalization of low-income communities, and/or empowerment of people with low incomes to become more self-sufficient. 

Standard 6.3 The approved strategic plan contains family, agency, and/or community goals. 

Standard 6.4 Customer satisfaction data and customer input, collected as part of the com-munity assessment, is included in the strategic planning process. 

Standard 6.5 The governing board has received an update(s) on progress meeting the goals of the strategic plan within the past 12 months.

KI BOIS NEWS

Page 8 KI BOIS News

Community Involvement…..

Do You Get It…2016 Pencils Collected for the 2016 School Year! The Oaks R.S.C., along with other community organizations and businesses, were challenged by Krebs Public School elementary students to donate pencils. The Oaks R.S.C. staff accepted the pencil drive chal-lenge and made a donation of 2016 pencils for the 2016/2017 school year. Clinical Director Alicia Mass and Brooke Mason, Director of Quality Im-provement & Operations delivered the pencils to Krebs Public School earlier this year.

The Living in Latimer Coalition sponsored an end of summer event and movie in the park (Alvin and the Chipmunks Road Chip) on Saturday, September 24th at the Gary Rosebure Park in Wilburton. The Latimer County Health Department was on site giving free flu shots, Teresa's House of Beauty gave free haircuts, and numerous community partners participated in the event. KI BOIS Community Action participated in the event by setting up the popular "Wheel of Fortune Game" with prizes awarded for every spin and it was a big HIT. We also had information on our KI BOIS Community Action programs for all who visited our booth. According to Latimer County KI BOIS Community Action Director Claudia Jef-frey, “On Monday following the event a lady came into the KIBOIS office to thank us for hosting the event. She stated she was raising her four grandchildren and had promised to do something with them at the end of the summer, but had been financially unable to do so. She said the kids had a wonderful time.” KIBOIS Community Action staff who participated were left to right Claudia Jef-frey, Cheryl Fite, Sherry Stark, Jennifer Christopher, and Danielle Spargur. The event theme was Super Heroes and our Headstart staff were definitely super heroes for the evening.

Left to right, Alicia Mass, Krebs Superintendent Patrick Turner, Megan Walters, Shylie Mason, Brionna Fryer, Gracie West, Principal Angela White and Brooke Mason are shown with the 2016 pencils donated.

Having breakfast together are Grandparent Randy Tucker and his granddaughter, Caylee. Caylee attends Washington Head Start.

October was a very busy month for Keota Head Start. One special day was Tues-day, October 11th the class went on a neighborhood walk to the Keota Fire Department. Thanks to Doug and Collin Brand for teaching the children about Fire Safety. Later in the month, the chil-dren had a visit from the McCurtain's K9 Unit, Officer Taylor and his dog Buster. The children got to meet Buster and find out how he can find missing children.

Head Start Highlights…...

The 2015-2016 National American Miss Preteen National Cover Model, Arianna Eakle, visited the KI BOIS Commu-nity Action Quinton Head Start Center. Ms. Eakle brought each one of our children a new toothbrush to take home. Everyone was very excited to meet Ms. Eakle and appreci-ate her donation.

Page 9 KI BOIS NEWS

Don’t forget to join…...We need your support! Page 10 KI BOIS News

KI BOIS Area Transit Program JOB TITLE: TRANSIT DRIVERS (Contact local Transit Office to verify opening) JOB REQUIREMENTS: Maintain a valid driver’s license. Good driving record. Must be physically able to assist passen-gers and their belongings while entering and exiting the vehicles. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs and provide wheel chair assistance. Should have knowledge of area resources and live within convenient distance of city where job opening is available.

KI BOIS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM JOB TITLE: HABILITATION TRAINING SPECIALIST - PT/FT (Stigler Group Homes, Poteau, McAlester, Ada, Ardmore, Pauls Valley and Sulphur)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Will serve as direct suppor t staff for consumers. Ability to handle sensitive issues while protect-ing others’ welfare. Able to exercise patience, understanding, creativity and flexibility. HS Diploma/GED, valid DL and auto in-surance. Must complete Foundation, CPR and First Aid Training (and any other training as required/requested.) Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

KI BOIS Community Action Job Posting

November 3rd, 2016

Continued on page

homa. The wonderful fall weather and the beautiful fall foliage add to the natural beauty of the lakes and woodlands. It seems so peaceful here compared to the events in other parts of the world that we see on television each day. When giving our daily devotions we need to remember the leaders of our state and country and especially our men and women in uniform who preserve our freedom on a daily basis some-times at a great cost to themselves and their families’.

As we start to think about Thanksgiving and the many wonderful things that we have to be thankful for. I encour-age you to be especially mindful of those in your local com-munity who are in need. Many of them we serve on a daily basis and many who are too proud to ask for help. Please take time to volunteer with your local community groups and churches that prepare annual Thanksgiving meals for the needy or deliver Food Baskets to the hungry.

I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Carroll Huggins, CCAP Executive Director / CEO

KI BOIS News Page 11

From the Desk...continued from page 2

ALL POSITIONS SUBJECT TO CONTINUED PROJECT FUNDING. All positions are open to KI BOIS Community Action Foundation Staff as well as to the public - unless otherwise noted. Deadline for all openings: Until Filled. CURRENT AGEN-CY EMPLOYEES – please submit a letter of interest, and updated resume (if applicable) to Human Resources. Applica-tions for new hires are available online at www.kibois.org, or may be picked up at any KI BOIS Community Action office. Applications should be returned to KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. P. O. Box 727 Stigler, OK 74462, Atten-tion: Human Resources or e-mailed to doylene.knowlton@kibois.org. Fax: 918.967.9100.

Applicant will be subject to a criminal history records search, as well as drug testing. KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. to not discriminate against or deny equal employment opportunity to any applicant or employee on the grounds of race, sex, color, age, national origin, genetic information, religion, or disability, so long as the disability does not render the person unable to do the work for which employed. All employees of KI BOS Community Action Foundation, Inc. are "at will" employees.

KI BOIS News Page 12

KI BOIS HEAD START PROGRAMS SOUTH and NORTH 

KIBOIS COMMUNITY ACTION FOUNDATION, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER!

KI BOIS Community Action Job Posting November 3rd, 2016

Cont. from page

JOB TITLE: CERTIFIED TEACHER - FT (Westville)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Must have BA and be certified in Early Childhood Education.

JOB TITLE: ASSISTANT TEACHER - FT (2 Openings at Briggs and 1 Opening at Pocola)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Must have HS Diploma/GED and enjoy working with children. Must be willing to acquire CDA within two years of employment.

JOB TITLE: TEACHER'S AIDES AND SUBS - PT (Inquire at your local center.)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Must have HS Diploma/GED and enjoy working with children.

KI BOIS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES SOUTHEASTERN OK - VETERANS HOUSING FIRST

JOB TITLE: VETERAN PROGRAM and COMMUNITY DEVELOPER (Muskogee Office and Service Area Travel)

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s Degree from accredited University required. Preferably in Social Services, Program or Community Development, Management or Leadership. Minimum of 4 years’ experience in community and or program develop-ment. Experience working with local, state or federal grants and programs, data collection, needs assessments, program develop-ment and implementation, and an extensive knowledge of veteran programs, services and resources. Preference will be given to those with experience working with Veteran related programs. A combination of education and experience may substitute.

JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for mobilizing veteran suppor t effor ts in the 24 county region covered by the SSVF pro-gram. Primary duties include development of veteran core teams in key communities or regions, conduct needs assessments related to veteran issues, identify gaps in veteran services and supports, develop supports and resources, work to start and develop support-ive programs for veterans in rural communities, working directly with veteran and homeless programs to develop a community plan to address veteran homelessness, build community buy in and support for veteran issues, develop a structure in rural SE Oklahoma to support the veteran needs within communities, develop plans for sustaining programs and initiatives designed to promote veteran stability