Publication:
ChasGazette
Category: Metro East
Published:
Page: P1
HEADLINE: Local groups to hold Clendenin fair on May 14
Byline: Clint Thomas
The Regional Family Resource Network and 25045 A New Clendenin will sponsor the
25045 Community Services Fair on Saturday, May 14.
Taking place from
Along with representatives from more than two dozen various regional agencies,
the fair will feature health screenings and door prize giveaways donated by
area merchants and agencies.
Susan Izzo, a volunteer and information specialist with the
According to
Family Resource Networks do not provide direct services, she explained, but
they work with direct service providers, families and nonproviders such as
businesses and the faith community to more efficiently provide services to the
families and children, by working together to fill gaps in services.
"Anyone is welcome to come to our monthly community meetings, which take
place in each county, to strategically plan ways to fill these gaps,"
Baranaskas said. "Quite often, task teams or committees are formed to work
together on specific areas. The group that is working on planning the 25045
Community Services Fair is called the Kanawha Community Development
Committee. Years ago the committee went by the name of the Welfare Reform
Committee and they developed a long-term plan of reaching out to the rural
and/or underserved communities of
"In addition, an outreach event was held in the East End of Charleston
last summer. The committee has evolved over the years and now has completely
different members than it did five years ago. However, they have continued
with the vision of the original group.
"The goal of the committee is to increase awareness among families and
communities about resources and services available to meet increased need due
to welfare reform. The committee seeks local leaders, be they faith
community leaders, or local community group leaders to be a part of the
planning of an outreach event. The local community decides what type of
event they would like to have, using their expertise as community leaders to
determine what type of event the community is likely to embrace.
"Experience has shown us that various communities produce different
outcomes with these events. We try to coordinate the events with very
little funds and with as little cost as possible to the community leaders,
providers who exhibit and provide screenings, and families who attend.
Very often the providers who provide screenings have outreach activities
included in their mission. Their services are provided as an in-kind
donation and are very much appreciated.
"Donated funds are very welcome. We don't often know the full impact
of these outreach events, but we all agree that if one person is helped by
finding housing, or by becoming aware of a previously undiagnosed health
problem, or by getting linked to services that they didn't realize existed,
then our efforts were worthwhile," Baranaskas said.
Founded in December 2003, 25045 A New Clendenin is a coalition of area business
owners and residents endeavoring to stimulate and revitalize the economy of the
town and surrounding areas. Last year, the group was given the former
As of presstime for this edition of Metro East, the following agencies,
organizations and companies had been scheduled to take part in the fair:
* The Appalachian Center for Independent Living
* Automated Health Systems
* Carelink
* Central Child Care
* The
* Express Mortgage Homeward Bound Program
* Family Service of
*
* The Good News Mountaineer Garage
* LifeBridge AmeriCorps
* The Make A Wish Foundation of
* The Mental Health Association in the Greater
* The
* The Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health
* The Problem Gamblers Help Network of
* RCCR
* The Regional Family Resource Network
* The Roane Family Resource Network
*
* The Senior Corps Program
* Special Olympics
* Unicare Health Plan of
* United Way Information and Referral
*
* The
* The
* The
*
* The
* The WVMHCA/Peer Recovery Network
* The YWCA ENCOREplus Breast Cancer Education and Support Program.