Report from the Community Partner Meeting

by Susan Weikel --  Members of the Community Partner/Resource Committee met recently and heard several reports from representatives of the partners, beginning with a presentation from Kim Burgess and Garrett Kalt from the U.S Census Bureau who provided information on the Census 2020. The presentation stressed how important this census is to the State of Nevada.  Many people may not know that this information is what determines the reapportioning for the seats in the House of Representative and the redrawing of the boundaries for the congressional and state legislative districts. The information gathered is also used in the allocating of federal funds (about $675 billion came to Nevada as a result of the information from the prior census) for support to numerous programs throughout Nevada. It was stressed that this information is completely confidential, and as mandated by the Constitution, everyone residing in the United States must be counted every 10 years. To make this easier, this year the census can be completed online, by phone, or by mail. Important dates to remember are March 12-20 when invitations will be sent out to complete the census online or by phone. April 1st is Census Day. Reminders and paper questionnaires will be sent April 8-16 to all households that have not completed the census. Final reminder postcards will be mailed April 20-27. During the month of May, Federal Census Bureau canvassers will be going door to door to attempt to complete the census. Kelly McKiddie from Nevada Department of Health and Human Services gave a presentation on the continuous need for foster care homes throughout the state. The rural counties in Nevada have nearly 400 children in care; placement in homes can often be very difficult. Siblings are often separated and at times children are placed outside of their community. In the Fallon area, there are seven foster care homes with a total of 21 beds.  Children, 62%, come into care due to neglect and 35% are due to parental drug abuse. Many of these children suffer with depression and emotional and behavioral health problems. To help children adjust better in their placements, a program, Advanced Foster Care, provides training where foster parents learn strategies to provide emotional support to children under their care. If anyone is interested in becoming a foster parent, contact Shana Rogers at [email protected]. Rosa Hall gave a presentation on Nevada 211, a statewide call center that connects callers to health and human services resources. The center is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free, and confidential. Handling around 10,000 calls per month, the center has helped to take some of the burden off 911 operators. By partnering with Nevada 211, clients’ resources are easier to find, there is always access to a live person, and the information given out is current and accurate. Nevada 211 cannot give out information on any agency or make a referral to any agency that is not a participant in their program. To contact them call: 211 or 866-535-5654, text: 898211, or visit: www.nevada211.org Program Activity Updates: Social Services has hired four new Resource Liaisons: Kathy Peterson, Kristy Martin, Shelly Chamberlain, and Rosalinda Berreman. This program was housed under the Churchill Coalition and recently was moved over to the county. Hannah Arthur from the Fallon Tribal Health Clinic is currently working to set up a Tribal Youth Advisory Council. Fallon Family Wellness Center has expanded and recently moved to Maine Street just across from the Main Post Office. There will be an open house on January 24^th from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. State of Nevada Welfare Division has an EAP (Energy Assistant Program). The program number is given on the back of energy bills. Rural area residents can make contact or go online and receive information on what assistance maybe available. High school students involved in the STOP program will be presenting their project ‘Murals for Mental Health and Wellness’ at the Board of Health Youth Working Committee meeting on January 23rd. The Coalition’s Youth Summit will be coming up May 15-17. The focus will be on displaced and foster youth. Storytelling will be one of the tools used to help youth of trauma address, heal, and advocate. Point and Time Homeless Count will start at 4:00 AM on January 30^th. This will be happening statewide. The county has been working on a land trust so it can begin to build rental and for-purchase housing.  A development team will be working to mentor the county in the development of this project. There will be a series of focus groups held on January 23^rd to gather information from community members so that planning efforts are focused on what people of the community want and need. One meeting will be for 50 and older, one for military and service members, and one for the general population. The focus groups will be around 10-15 people from various areas and interests within the community. Board of Health meeting will be on February 10^th. This meeting will involve a review of what has happened throughout the county in the past year and will begin the planning for the upcoming year. Marijuana funds ($88,000) will be looked at to continue programs such as behavioral health services inside the jail and a partnership with UNR to provide social work interns in the schools. Pinwheels for Prevention will kick off on April 3^rd. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. There will be a Crisis Intervention Training taking place in Fallon the first week of May. The goal is to train 30 new individuals, 25 spots from within the community and 5 for outside areas.       Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page.