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Commodities Day, the last Wednesday
of each month at the Aspen Mine Center, offers a great
way to help stock the pantry when money is tight. About
130 families take home groceries free of charge.
Pictured: Lee Smith and volunteers Jessie Krummenacher,
Mona Gravestock and Diana
Baker. | |
County Social Services
Department
expands its presence at Aspen Mine
Staff of the Teller County Dept. of Social Services
will be available at the Aspen Mine Center more often
after an expansion this fall. Contractor Bill Pearson is
building new offices for DSS case managers and Child
Protection/Core Services staff and therapists on the
ground floor, between the reception desk and Cripple
Creek Coffee. By late November, DSS plans to staff the
office four days a week, said Debbie Evans, DSS
supervisor. Currently, staff are on site two days a week
in a basement office.
The department, which processes applications for
Medicaid and Food Stamps, has money available from
federal TANF block grants to help local families
overcome obstacles to employment. “The money is
available to assist many families depending on
circumstances,” said Ted Borden, coordinator of the
Aspen Mine Center.
As part of the nationwide welfare-reform efforts of
the last decade, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families) is designed to help clients improve their
chances of getting work by paying for training,
transportation, childcare and related
expenses. | | |
School plan aims
to build peace,
prevent bullying
By Mary Barron
Students in the Cripple Creek-Victor District will be
encouraged this year to report bullying to adults newly
trained in intervention tactics through the PeaceBuilders
training program developed in Long Beach, Calif.
The school district is one of 45 organizations granted
funds from an $8.6 million Bullying Prevention Initiative
funded by The Colorado Trust.
“Research shows that youth who bully are likely to end up
with a criminal record when they reach their 20s. And victims
of bullying often experience academic failure and low
self-esteem,” said John R. Moran Jr., president and CEO of The
Colorado Trust. “Through this initiative, our goal is to
support programs that will provide both youth and adults with
the opportunity to learn how to effectively intervene and
prevent bullying activities.”
The CCV schools are receiving $50,000 a year for three
years to fund the implementation of the program, said Rachel
Gray, counselor at Cresson Elementary.
| |