Well, the end of the state fiscal year was a little crazy around here but I think we have all survived! While working on our year-end reports, I gathered some information about services we provide and areas that we serve. The name Phelps County Community Partnership may lead one to believe that we only serve Phelps County – but this is not the case. We are only able to offer Caring Communities and Mentoring programs to Phelps County residents but we serve almost twenty additional counties with our other programs.
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION provides services to childcare providers in Phelps, Crawford, Dent, and Maries Counties. Services provided include training, on-site visits, loan equipment, and small grants to help providers become licensed and eventually achieve accreditation. ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT: Staff provided 1590 training hours. ONE RESULT: Kindergarten Readiness scores for children who participated in programs sponsored by the Partnership scored 17-46% higher than the average Kindergarten readiness test score.
THE SMILE MOBILE provides full dental services to children in Phelps, Crawford, Dent, Maries, Miller, Gasconade, Laclede, Pulaski, Texas, and Camden Counties. This year the dental team served 22 schools in the region. ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT: 1,872 appointments. ONE RESULT: Because of the Smile Mobile 1,623 children were treated for dental problems – they said things like: “Dear Dr. Matt, Thank you so much for making my teeth stop hurting!”
CAPABLE KIDS AND FAMILIES provides services to families who have children with special needs in Phelps, Crawford, Dent, Maries, Gasconade, Laclede, Franklin, Pulaski, Texas, Calloway, Boone, Lincoln, Montgomery, St. Francois, Osage, Cole, Camden, Greene, and Iron Counties. ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT: This year, thanks to the Phelps County Developmental Board, we added several new programs including PEAK (Physical Education for all Kids). This program allows us to bring adaptive equipment to schools so that all kids can have fun participating in gym class! ONE RESULT: A wonderful letter from a very grateful mom in St. Robert: I can't believe that this program is the FIRST of it's kind that we have encountered in our travels with our son, due to the fact we are a military family and move every three years. THANK GOD FOR YOU ALL!!!!! Jean and Lydia are AWESOME and they are SO SO kind and thoughtful, so when we have to say goodbye in a couple of years it will NOT be easy!!!! This program is ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!!! Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!!!
MMP provides services for Phelps County youth including mentoring, training, education, life skills, and other supports. The Young Parents Program works with pregnant and parenting youth. ONE RESULT:outh Employment Skills (YES) Program Nationally, the proportion of babies with low birth weights born to teens is 21% higher than the proportion for mothers age 20-24. Phelps County’s low birth weight is 9.1%. Low birth weight among Partnership MMP Participants: ZERO. The Y offers employment skills training to youth. ONE RESULT: 88% of YES participants who are in mentored employment have completed more than 90 days of continuous employment. ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT: The Partnership was allowed to pilot a new anger management program for youth – The Youth Empowerment Program (YEP). YEP graduated 21 youth and has had such outstanding results that we have been able to continue this program for the coming year.
CARING COMMUNITIES: Is charged with Six Core Results to improve the lives of children and families. In Phelps County Caring Communities is: The Newburg Revitalization Group, The Smile Mobile, Linking Hearts, The Youth Transition Team, Volunteer Coordination, and many other community-led programs and ideas. ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT: Newburg community members donated 2,856 hours of volunteer service – this could translate into every resident of the Newburg community (District population: 2,838) contributing a little over one hour each to support the work of their community! ONE RESULT: Because of the generous donation of one years rent from an anonymous community member, The Partnership Resale Shop opened their doors in April. This resale shop has been overwhelmed with generous contributions of clothes, furniture, and household items. Funds raised will be used to continue and/or grow Partnership programs.
We received word that one of our Capable Kids, beautiful 2 and-a-half-year old Jordan died last month. This was an unexpected tragedy for Jordan’s family who will be struggling to move forward. Jordan was a curious and happy child and a true joy to her family. I asked Jean what she remembered most about Jordan. “I will always remember Jordan's eyes. They were the most beautiful eyes you have ever seen. She was curious about the toys and equipment we brought and eager to engage you in play. And Jordan had very definite ideas about how we should play! Although her ability to communicate was very limited, she found her own ways to reach out to each of us.” Thank you for your care and concern for Jordan and her family.
Medicaid cuts have, and will continue to have, a significant impact on members of our community. Please find listed below some web-links to resources and information:
The Partnership would love to be able to own a building that could better meet the needs of our organization and community. We dream of being able to have all of our operations under one roof – with more community.