McKenzie County ND

People from poverty mindsets may demonstrate 1 to 3 characteristics to obtain status in their community. These characteristics may be:
A Lover
A Fighter
An Entertainer.

Students from a poverty mindset might exhibit one or all of those three characteristics. This may explain the “entertainer” student who acts up or is always goofing off and making the other kids laugh. And of course the other two characteristics are self-explanatory.

The best way to handle these students from poverty is to teach them to live by two sets of rules. First, they need their own set of rules at home to survive until the next day.

Second, they need to (BE TAUGHT) the school rules and that they must abide by them in order to be successful in school and to stay out of trouble. They must be told to use their HOME rules at HOME. And they need to be told they MUST use the school rules at school. If teachers or administrators will take the time to explain the school rules, I think the kids will do their best to comply.

It would be wonderful if every teacher understood where the poverty kids are coming from. But 10 to 15 percent of the teachers send 85% of the students to the principal. I am sure these are the poverty kids and the characteristics at the top of the page are the underlying factors in their behavior and that is why they are getting in trouble. Now that YOU understand the reason for the behavior, you can understand the student, and I know you will come up with some unique ideas on how to assist that student.

Do you find it hard to understand students in poverty? Poverty students seem to have no higher goals for jobs or education. Please understand that they do have goals. Those goals are to have food, shelter, and a few clothes for their back. They also may have a goal of trying to stay alive. In very bad situations, they may rightly believe they may not be alive tomorrow, so why should they plan anything further than right now, today.

Source: A framework for Understanding Poverty Ruby Payne, Ph.D The leading U.S. expert on the mindsets of Poverty, Middle Class, and Wealth.

Equipping community members with tools needed to move them into the future are goals of McKenzie County Horizons as well as the Community Coalition based out of Watford City. These two groups are partnering; helping one another tackle tough issues.

“Mapping Successes for Our Children” will be held on March 31 starting with a 6 pm supper at the Watford City Civic Center. Area community members are invited to attend this session and learn research based information about the dangers of underage drinking. Local and regional experts and community leaders will speak out about the issue and opportunities to share problem solving ideas leading to action will follow. The North Dakota Youth at Risk Behavior Survey results for Watford City, 2007, reveal that 1 in every 1.6 high school kids had consumed alcohol in one or more of the past 30 days. This figure, as well as numbers indicating binge drinking behaviors, top regional average figures statewide.

“Sources of Strength” suicide prevention training for youth and adults will take place on April 14 at the Civic Center in Watford City. This “Gatekeeper” training is designed to equip those who want to be part of solutions with the tools and skills they need to identify and assist others who are or may become suicidal. McKenzie County is one of six areas in the state identified by the North Dakota State Health Department as high-risk for youth suicide.

I’m excited to share these upcoming sessions, sponsored by Horizons and Community Coalition, and designed to help create awareness, solve problems, build skills, empower youth and adults and strengthen our communities. Please give me a call at 444-3451 or e-mail me at marcia.hellandsaas@ndsu.edu if you would like to participate or receive more information.

Wow, folks, here is some great news from Deeann Long at Community Action!

Individuals can get an extra $300 and married couples filing jointly double that to $600. Tell your friends and make sure everyone gets the good news.

This is what Deeann has written:

The tax stimulus package is available to retired individuals who normally do not have to file an income tax return. This includes individuals who receive: Social Security, Veterans Disability, Rail Road Benefits and SSDI. Anyone receiving over $3000 in these benefits will receive:

$300 for Single Individuals and

$600 for Married Filing Joint Returns

To receive the benefit individuals must:

Complete Form 1040A

Write on top of form 1040A ”Stimulus Package” in red Ink

Complete Name – Address – Social Security Numbers

Check Filing Status – Single or Married filing jointly

Insert Social Security benefits in Line 14A

If Married Filing Jointly, the total of both would be input in 14A

For faster refunds complete line 44a – bank and routing numbers (not required)

Sign the return and mail to:

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service Center

Fresno, CA 93888-0015

And more good news from Deeann is that the Watford City area will have access to these forms locally.

Form 1040A – with the above required information hi-lighted will be available at the McKenzie County Senior Center after March 10.

Deeann said, “The forms and envelopes will be provided locally.”

She didn’t say anything about a stamp, but I bet you can come up with that stamp in return for such a nice check! Many of you will be able to do your Christmas Shopping early this year!

And even better, if you need some help with all of this paper work check out your local McKenzie County, Outreach worker, Nadine.

Nadine Sovig will be available at the Senior Center in Watford City on March 19 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to help anyone who might need assistance.

If you know of anyone who doesn’t know about this incentive, please help them get the information. Our country needs your help both to receive and spend the money!

Blog. Take pictures. Transfer photos to files. Download. Relocate and upload. Want a slide show? Here’s where and how.

Mike Miller taught a blogging update session to seven bloggers from around New Town early Friday afternoon, Feb. 15, 2008. Two bloggers from New Town and three from Stanley worked with us from McKenzie County.

Dorothy Reil of Alexander and I, Dale A. Swenson from Arnegard, learned much and practiced well in the computer lab. Doro planned on practicing Saturday. Everyone has something to do!

Readers! Please register on our blog site to become subscribers and leave comments for us, especially about Poverty reduction and Leadership development in McKenzie County, and how the topic of our blog works toward those goals. Thanks!

If it’s Tuesday, ladies are quilting at Wilmington Lutheran Church in Arnegard. Pictured are Phylis Hystad, Margaret Eikren, Ida Harmon, Margaret Hovde, Gen Bruins and Carol Mjelstad as they lay out fabric.

Ladies of Arnegard and Alexander Lutheran Parish meet every Tuesday to quilt for Lutheran World Relief, for people in the county who may have lost their homes to fire and for presentation to high school graduates who are members of the congregation(s). They sent quilts away last spring and resumed quilting Aug. 1, 2007. So far this winter they have 84 quilts prepared. They expect to send away more than 100 quilts this spring.

Lutheran World Relief is an international nonprofit organization that works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world’s most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives.

The Horizons program in McKenzie County is just 16 months old, and is scheduled to end the end of June, 2008, compared to LWR, which has worked in international development and relief since 1945. However, the organizations are both nonprofit and work to end poverty.

Please read Our Vision statement on the right column at the top of this page by clicking on the words. You will see 22 strategies. Why not volunteer to help with one you favor most? Leave a comment to that extent, please.

The third wave of Oil Boom is going strong in McKenzie County. Lessons of the past, revenues set aside by legislation to provide money to offset the impact and increased wages to retain hired help are factors that have eased its impact.

Ron Anderson, McKenzie County commissioner from Keene was first to present information on local and county issues at Tuesday’s (Feb. 12, 2008) meeting in a Town Hall Meeting sponsored by the McKenzie County Jobs Development Authority, the North Dakota Petroleum Council and the North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Counties held in Watford City. (more…)

If you are at least 18 you may be interested in serving as a VISTA worker.

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is the domestic version of the Peace Corps. VISTA members sign up with a host agency to a full-time term of service - 365 days. In return for their service, members are provided with orientation and training, a living stipend calculated at no less than 95% of the poverty line, settling in and transportation costs, child care benefits, and a basic health care plan. Upon completion of their one-year term, VISTA members have the option of receiving $1,200 or an education award of $4,725.

A VISTA is a catalyst for change. They channel their ideals and energy into becoming poverty-fighters who build successful and sustainable programs that help people and communities lift themselves out of poverty.

While VISTAs appreciate these benefits, many say the most attractive part of VISTA is the skills and leadership they gain and the deep sense of satisfaction they feel when they know they’ve made a difference.

If you are trying to figure out what they want to do with your life, or if you are through college and want to gain skills, experience, and a network, please look into a year with VISTA. Information for this article was obtained from http://www.americorps.org
and from the area contact person:

Miriam Smette
RSVP Project Director and who also signs up Vista workers.
307 5th Avenue SE
Minot ND 58701
701-852-3799 Williston Area Phone 701-770-7905

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) offers maximum flexibility and choice to its volunteers as it matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans with opportunities to serve their communities. RSVP volunteers choose how and where they want to serve—from a few hours to more than 40 hours a week. RSVP volunteers provide hundreds of community services.

Some of the areas that would directly affect the Horizons Vision would be for volunteers to do the following:

Modeling parenting skills to teen parents;
Participating in neighborhood watch programs;
Planting community gardens;
Helping community organizations operate more efficiently;
Providing counsel to new business owners;
Building houses.

Several other important areas where RSVP’s could serve are:
Offering relief services to victims of natural disasters; and
Tutoring children in reading and math;
And helping get children immunized;

RSVP volunteers must be at least 55 years of age.

Benefits: RSVP volunteers are able to put their unique talents to work for community and faith-based organizations that are significant to them. In addition, they receive the following benefits:
Pre-service orientation;
On-the-job training from the agency or organization where they are placed;
Supplemental insurance while on duty.

For anyone interested in becoming a volunteer please contact:
Miriam Smette
RSVP Project Director
307 5th Avenue SE
Minot ND 58701
701-852-3799 Williston Area Phone 701-770-7905
http://rsvp.ndsu.nodak.edu

Seniors 60 and over and who meet income requirements are encouraged to apply to become a mentor at their local school. Grandparents help students gain reading skills by listening to them read or reading to them. They can also help in any subject area depending on the needs of individual students. It goes without saying interested people have to love being with young folks.

Benefits gained by the senior is a chance to utilize their skills and talents and to supplement their income. Benefits gained by students is another loving adult at school to give them love, support, patience and guidance.

To qualify as a Foster Grandparent a senior must:

be 60 years of age or older
Meet income guidelines
able to serve a minimum of 15 up to a maximum of 40 hours a week
receive a clear Criminal Background Check and Child Abuse and Neglect Check
have a sincere interest in children and a desire to help in their growth and development.

For more information about the Foster Grandparent Program and application forms contact:
Paula Messmer, Director
600 South 2nd Street Suite 8
Bismarck, ND 58504

Phone: (888) 603-8376 ext. 17

According to Bonnie Johnson of Experience Works located at 512 4th Ave E Suite 16 in Williston, ND, “Life is full of changes! Let’s see if we can be of any help now!”

Bonnie or Galen Germundson can be reached at 701 774 9675. Candidates for the program must meet income guidelines, and be 55 or older. The training rate of pay is currently $5.85 per hour for an average of 20 hours per week. This of course, is subject to change, depending on the funds available. If you are interested in learning new skills be sure and call.

Included here are some facts of the Experience Works program taken from the website http://www.experienceworks.org.

Experience Works helps low-income seniors, many with multiple barriers to employment, get the training they need to find good jobs in their local communities.

Experience Works is a national, charitable, community-based organization. Originally named Green Thumb, and chartered in 1965 as a small, rural demonstration program, Experience Works has grown to be the nation’s leading provider of training, employment, and community service for low-income older people.

Mission: Improve the lives of older people through employment, community service and training.

Strengths:
Assisting employers to take full advantage of the talents of older workers
Helping older people who are low income or at risk of becoming low income.
Using community service as a path to employment.
Building strong relationships in local communities.
Addressing the challenges facing older people in rural America.

Beliefs:
Older people should have an opportunity to learn new skills and contribute to their community throughout their lives.
Employers who hire, train and retain older workers will be most successful.
People who are productive and active throughout their lives will have better health, increased longevity, and a more positive impact on their community.