Here is the latest CEO News for September 2014

Foster Grandparents

• The Foster Grandparents had their picnic on Thursday, August 28^th.  Good food, laughs and their favorite, BINGO!!! Katherine shared a few jokes along with Kristin and Erin who greeted the grandparents. It was the windiest day of the summer!
• There will be 2 trainings for the Foster Grandparents in 7 counties in September.  We are looking forward to the start of the new school year.

Food Pantry

• September is Hunger Awareness Month.

Financial Resource Center

• Completed their first Financial Foundations 5 week Budgeting Class with the current cycle of YouthBuild participants. If your program is interested in a 5 week class on Budgeting or a 5 week class on Asset Building and Credit Management, please contact Kristine Darling or Byron Smith.

Housing Solutions

• Housing Solutions received a stellar review from OTDA on the 25^th of June.

Early Childhood Programs

• All Early Childhood staff came back for the 2014-2015 school year on Tuesday September 2^nd. We kicked off the school year with great in-service training for our staff. We facilitated a two day conference training at the Hilton on Hoosick Street. Staff were able to participate in  a variety of training sessions to enhance their professional development. It was a great week for all staff and a great deal of useful information that staff will be able to apply in their daily work with children and families.
• Early Head/Start and Head Start programming for children will resume on Monday September 8^th for 12 month programs and Wednesday September 10^th for 10 month programs. This school year we have reinstated the 52 Head Start children that we had to cut last school year due to sequestration. We re-opened a classroom at SSI and one at FRC. We also are expanding our preschool services at HFFRC and service 7 children. We are also expanding Head Start services to our collaboration with Hoosick Valley UPK.
• September 16^th will be Bring Your Father to School Day for all centers.

Community Connections

• The Community Backpack program served a total of 580 kids this year. Volunteers engagement for this event  doubled from last year, expanding to include the Lions Club, Kohl’s Associates in Action, The Gap employees, I H S  Global Spec employees, Teal, Becker, and Chiaramonte CPA, PCs employees, and numerous individuals who worked tirelessly to make the distribution for this program a success. We have a limited number left and will give them to customers whose children are in grades 1-5 in Troy City Schools.   Customers can call the Service Navigator at 272-6012 ext 302 to arrange an appointment to come in to complete an intake for the backpacks.
• Our internship program has placed 22 students from various area colleges for their Fall 2014 semester.