Crossroads Youth & Family Services May 2022
A Simple Gift for Mom
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Steps to give back using Amazon
Teams New tool to help with communications across Crossroads
Celebrations! Community Partners
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CONTENTS 03
#SEMINOLESTRONG
04
COMMUNITY NEEDS
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SERVICE PROJECTS ACROSS CROSSROADS
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AMAZON SMILE PROGRAM
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WE ARE A TEAM AT CROSSROADS
09
HEAD START HIGHLIGHTS
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STAFF SHOUTOUTCREDENTIALS EARNED THIS YEAR
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BIRTHDAYS & WORKIVERSARIES
16
LONGEVITY 2021 & 2022
18
HAPPY RETIREMENT
19
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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#SeminoleStrong
On May 5, a tornado made its way through Oklahoma. There were no casualties, but there are continued efforts to rebuild. Volunteers can still help with tree removal.
The Seminole Strong attitude is in full force with the kickoff of the Summer Movie Series. Full details are listed on the City of Seminole OK's Facebook page.
Interview with Mayor Jeff Griffin
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TOP 3 NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITIES Mental Wellness In each county, Mental Wellness ranked in the top three areas that needs focus. Roughly 30% of those surveyed identified this as an area of focus moving forward. Crossroads maintains a focus on this area of need by providing mental wellness in all Head Start/ Early Head Start programs and a counseling staff that provides care regardless of ability to pay. Expanded programming and resources are integral components of our goals moving forward.
Communication Communication remains an area of focus for the counties we serve. This is the third highest area of need identified in the survey with 22% of respondents identifying it as an area of need. Based on survey results, direct communication with centers remains the most impactful, but the addition of newsletters and social media posts are also viewed as helpful.
Dealing with Bullying By far the area of most need is dealing with bullying. 37% of those surveyed identified this as the top area of concern for their children and families. After returning to classrooms across the state, youth are relearning how to deal with others, their emotions, and conflict. A goal of Crossroads is to utilize Conscious Discipline to help parents, staff, and youth learn to communicate effectively and work with others efficiently.
COMMUNITY NEEDS According to the 2022 Community Needs Assessment conducted from May 1-5, 2022, there are many great things happening in our communities. There are also some areas that may be opportunities to help families live healthy lifestyles with effective community-based programs. Our mission at Crossroads is to help support families create healthy lifestyles and emotional well-being for their children.
Overall, 59.2% of the Crossroads Collective Community are aware of resources within the community, 57.7% believe these resources are available, and 65.4 find resources accessible. How would you rate your awareness of existing resources to address these problems?
How would you rate the availability of existing resources in your community to address these problems?
How would you rate the accessibility of existing resources to address these problems?
Want to see the full report? MAY NEWSLETTER / 4
Service Projects Across Crossroads
Upd ate room d visitat io for f amil n ies
On May 14, a group of 30 volunteers embarked on a massive overhaul of the backyard at the Emergency Resource Center. We planted flowers by the classroom creating an amazing view while learning. The gazebo received a fresh coating of stain and looks brand new again.
Still want to Help?
Volunteer Donate Shop Amazon Smile Check out our CERC wishlist
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We are a 'team' Crossroads
1. Go to teams.microsoft.com 2. Sign in using your Crossroads' login 3. Join the code D604r6b
Announcements, updates, files, and special smaller teams to help keep us connected.
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Join the 'team' at Crossroads
MAY NEWSLETTER / 8
Head Start Highlights Health and Safety is at the forefront of what we do. Moore Head Start participated in a Safety Day thanks to our friends at Norman Regional, Moore PD, and Moore Fire Department. At Learning Tree, we celebrate mothers, mother figures, grand mothers, and other women impacting the lives of children.
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We are Hiring! Across Crossroads, our teams are hitting the pavement to find more childcare specialists to join the team. The above photo is from the Stroud recruitment event in April.
R E C R U I T M E N T
Comanche County recently attended the Mental Health Fair and the Parkinson's Walk in Lawton. We can all be recruiters! If you know anyone looking for a great place to join a team changing the world, send them our way! They can find detailed information at
www.crossroadsyfs.org/employment
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. -Aristotle
Lifesavers Imagine dropping your child off every day and trusting others to nurture their growth and development. Our team works tirelessly to help meet these needs and more for families in the five counties we serve. This year, we have so many stories of changing families' lives for the better, but one stands out as going above and beyond the call to ensure the health and safety of one of our little ones. A mother was dropping off her child one morning and the teacher immediately noticed the child seems lethargic and wasn't responding as usual. The mother insisted that the child was just sleepy. The teacher followed her instincts and training and urged the mother to take the child to the emergency room. After some urging, the mother complied and it turned out the child had ingested a life threatening substance. Had the child not been admitted, the outcome would possibly be fatal. Later, the baby returned to the center happy and healthy thanks to the work of this teacher. If this teacher didn't notice the warning signs and act, this story would have a completely different ending. Thank you to all the staff at each center, counseling services, and CERC for working to keep our kids safe. You are truly lifesavers.
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Erika Aguayo- CDA for Preschool Ayla Falland- CDA Infant and Toddler Tehya Thomas- CDA Infant/ Toddlers Paige McClanahan- Certificate of Mastery Jayla Sankadota- CDA Infant/ Toddler Zulma Santiago- CDA Infant/ Toddler Breanna Jackson- BS in Family & Child Studies Temika Burrell- BA in Human Services & Counseling Kathryn Webb- Bachelor's Degree Janice Barnett- Masters in Legal Service for Indigenous People
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Birthdays 1 Kayla S.
9 Tehya T. 11 Erika M.
15 Sharon M. Karee K. Jill V.
10 Amanda R. 16 Wailani A. Kayla S.
20 Karri H.
27 Natalie J.
28 Lexie M.
30 Dana P.
31 Jordan C. Bridget P.
25 Donna N.
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Workiversaries Dava P. 19 Years
Lexus P. 3 Years
Dawn C. 19 Years
Erika S. 19 Years
Terrie V. 19 Years
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Longevity 2021 5 Years Brittni Ellis, Data Management/ERSEA Specialist Naroba Castillo Lozano, Moore Center Director Heather Jackson, Union Street Head Start Teacher Shannon Aranda, Little Axe Assistant Teacher Dakota Cheatwood, Seminole Head Start Teacher Leanne Condray, Education Coordinator Mollie Hubbard, Purchasing Assistant Renita Corley, Learning Tree EHS Teacher Tabitha Konechney, Union Street Assistant Teacher
10 Years
Shawnda Baumann, Youth Care Specialist Shilah Baumann, Youth Care Specialist Natalie Jackson,,,,,,,, Treasured Moments EHS Teacher/Center Director
15 Years Darlene Chatagnier, HR Coordinator Catherine Butler, Director of Administrative Services Michelle Watson, Maud Head Start Teacher/Center Director Francis Godoy, Children's Chateau Center Director Sharon Mucker, Children's Chateau EHS Teacher Linda Van Pelt, First Start EHS Teacher Derease Wright, Children's Chateau EHS Teacher John Griffith, Senior Staff Accountant Annette Lyles, First Start Cook
20 Years Sharon Mucker, Children's Chateau EHS Teacher Dawn Cahoon, Learning Tree EHS Teacher MAY NEWSLETTER / 16
Longevity 2022 5 Years
Nadiuska Rivera, Summit Ridge Cook Melinda Gribble, Summit Ridge Head Start Teacher Brandi Brocker, Instructional Coach Donna Deatherage, Learning Tree EHS Teacher Glenda Woolever, Neighborhood EHS Teacher/Center Director Paola Estebane, Education Engine EHS Teacher Valerie Moore, First Start EHS Teacher Jennifer Williams, Education Engine Cook Jackie Schott, Seminole EHS Center Director Paula Gula, Beginnings Academy Center Director Kathellena Hagen, Beginnings Academy Head Start Teacher Jill Richardson-Velasco, Union Street EHS Teacher Fern Tomlinson, Education Engine Assistant Teacher Jennifer Melter, Data Management/ERSEA Specialist Laura Dawn Byrd, Learning Tree EHS Teacher Emma McClain, Summit Ridge Center Director Amanda Hammons, Seminole Head Start Center Director
10 Years Annette Garrett, Summit Ridge Head Start Teacher1 Gisela Hayes, Children's Chateau EHS Teacher Angela Frazier, Summit Ridge EHS Teacher Tabatha Langdon-Rounds, Health & Nutrition Coordinator
15 Years Jennifer Calvillo, Family Services Coordinator Zondrea Bowman, Education Engine Assistant Teacher Camrhea Smith, Treasured Moments EHS Teacher
20 Years Linda Van Pelt, First Start EHS Teacher 4/1/2002 Erika Stephens, Neighborhood EHS Teacher 8/1/2002 Elizabeth Whiteside, Learning Tree Cook
35 Years
Cheryl Ramey, Tecumseh Head Start Teacher
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Debbie Cornelius A special congratulations goes out to Debbie for her recent retirement. After almost 30 years of service to our families, she has impacted so many lives. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!
Juanita Kemp Thank you, Juanita, for almost 30 years of service. You have been with Crossroads since the beginning. We appreciate all the memories and all the lives you've enhanced while at Union Street.
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Community Partners There is no road without them.
Success by Six through United Way of Southwest Oklahoma is a great resource keeping Crossroads in the loop and introducing us to resources in the Lawton Community whether they are new or new to us.
The Chosen House in Chandler is a great resource helping Strengthen relationships between women and children; unite broken families, build confidence and self worth, and make a safer community. For more info: 405-641-3437. Address: P.O. Box 25 Chandler, OK 74834 MAY NEWSLETTER / 19