The year 6 (FFY2015) formula and competitive expansion grant applications are being developed with input provided by State and local partners. The competitive application is due October 17th and the formula application is due November 3rd. Awards for both are to be confirmed prior to March 1, 2015, in line with the recent six-month federal MIECHV reauthorization. The project periods for these funds will be March 1, 2015 - September 30, 2017 (two years and seven months).

 September marked the end of MIECHV year 3 reporting. The Kansas MIECHV Program is exercising the option to submit the year-end report early by October 15, 2014.  This will give the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the federal administrative agency and funding unit for MIECHV, more time to review our data and meet required federal timelines.  Currently, the data team at KU-CPPR is analyzing all the MIECHV data and compiling the annual performance report.  This report contains data from both formula and development grant activities.  HRSA, will use information provided in this report to determine if the state has demonstrated improvement across benchmarks from baseline.  At this time, Kansas MIECHV shows improvement on all benchmarks.   

 Cathy Shald of My Family in Montgomery County wanted to try some new networking ideas to reach families directly. She teamed up with Four County Mental Health Center's Project Before staff, Stacie Ray, to hold a Hot Dog Night event at an apartment complex for low income families in Coffeyville. The event provided families with hotdogs and activities such as making homemade bubbles and learning how to turn empty milk jugs into a game of toss and catch. Families that didn't have transportation could walk right outside their apartment and attend. The event resulted in nine families signing up with My Family. In the following weeks, three families completed the intake process and began home visiting services. One of those families was a prenatal mom with two pregnant sisters that she referred to My Family. Now, when staff goes to the apartment complex for appointments, they are recognized and people understand what they are doing there.

The Hot Dog Night event was so successful, a Fall Fling was scheduled on October 1st at Walter Johnson Park in Coffeyville. My Family provided hot cocoa and cookies to attendees. Project Before helped families make paper bag pumpkins. Early Head Start and Parents as Teachers programs were invited to participate and provide an activity to share with families. We hope these events keep the community informed about our programs and what we provide to families with young children. Submitted by Nina Alexander, My Family Home Visiting Coordinator, Montgomery County.