JOHNSON COUNTY EMPOWERMENT AREA BOARD
COMMITTEES AND WORK GROUPS

Standing Committees
 

These standing committees have been established in the by-laws of the Johnson County Empowerment Area Board (the Board).

Executive Committee: This committee is composed of the officers and immediate past chairperson of the Board, the three standing Board members (education, health, and human services), and one community representative appointed by the Executive Committee. It is primarily responsible for developing the agenda for Board meetings and for giving direction and guidance to the Board as well as supervising the work of the Early Childhood Specialist. Chair: Alice Atkinson h: 335-5327, e-mail: amatkinson@mchsi.com. 

Fiscal Committee: This committee includes the Board Treasurer, representatives from the Dept. of Human Services (DHS), the Dept. of Public Health, Education, a Johnson County accountant at DHS and a representative of the fiscal agent. The Committee oversees all Board finances including the Iowa Empowerment Grants and other grants received by the Board, and maintains fiscal accountability. Chair:  Sally Weyer, w: 351-5193, e-mail: sweyer@icialaw.com.

Nominating Committee: This committee is composed of the Vice-Chairperson of the Board and four members appointed by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board. One of the appointed members is from the Board and three are from the community at large, with one of those three being a consumer. The committee is charged with recruiting applicants for the Empowerment Board and with selecting a slate of candidates from which the Board will elect new members. The Committee also solicits nominations for Board officers and prepares the ballot for the election of officers. Chair: Sara Baird, h: 351-6847, e-mail: mamabairds@gmail.com.

Community Resource Council: The Council has members that reflect the range of providers and school districts in Johnson County which, in some way, provide services for children ages 0-5. It is responsible for providing information to the Board about needs for parent education and family support in Johnson County, for identifying strengths and concerns with current programs, and for making recommendations to the Board regarding program development. Chair: Rotates. Contact Laurie Nash, Early Childhood Specialist, regarding meetings at 339-6179, e-mail empower@jcempowerment.org.

Community Awareness & Education Committee: This committee is composed of members of the Board and other interested citizens. It is responsible for informing the public of Empowerment programs, services, and special events; developing and distributing materials that highlight Empowerment goals, programs, services and accomplishments; and assisting staff and other committees and work groups with the development of materials and distribution of information. Contact Laurie Nash, Early Childhood Specialist, regarding meetings at 339-6179, e-mail empower@jcempowerment.org.

Evaluation Committee: This committee includes representation from the community, health, education and human services. It is the responsibility of this committee to establish evaluation criteria for Empowerment programs and to work with the early Childhood Specialist to submit a comprehensive report, which includes program specific progress and outcomes, to the Board. Contact Laurie Nash at 339-6179 or empower@jcempowerment.org.

Community Work Groups
 

All Community Work Groups are composed of interested Board members and members of the community at large.

Early Education Access, Availability, & Quality Work Group: This work group develops opportunities to increase access, availability, and quality of early educational experiences in Johnson County, focusing on families with identified risk factors. This group makes recommendations on issues such as continuity of child care; access to care during nontraditional hours; access to transportation; establishing additional neighborhood-based programs; increasing quality infant care; increasing part-day preschool slots to full-day programming; and increasing training and supports to home-based caregivers and center based programs. This work group also provides oversight to Empowerment funded programs including Continue Care, PREP, Wraparound at Twain Preschool and NCJC, Rural Preschool Scholarships, 4Cs Provider Supports, and provider training stipends. Chair: Justine Retz, w: 338-7684, e-mail: justine@iowa4cs.com..

Health Care Work Group: This work group strives to improve access to health care for at-risk children by promoting better linkages among providers; by providing training and consultation to providers (such as Family Resource Centers and child care) who might be in a position to identify health concerns; by increasing awareness of screening and other health care programs; and by overcoming access barriers to such programs. This work group provides oversight to Empowerment funded programs including UAY’s PNP program and the Children’s Health Insurance Outreach program. Chair: Nadine Fisher, w: 356-6040, e-mail: nfisher@co.johnson.ia.us.

Parent Education and Family Support Work Group: This work group provides leadership in developing outcomes and strategies which address community needs for parent education and family support; provides oversight for the Family Support Program, the Informal Networks of Support, and other parent education and family support components of Empowerment; and pursues opportunities to partner with other community groups and collaborations. This work group also provides oversight to Empowerment funded programs including the Family Support Program and parenting support/education through HACAP, Hills Family Resource Center, North Liberty Family Resource Center, UAY, and MECCA. Chair: Sara Baird, h: 351 -6847, e-mail mamabairds@gmail.com.

All Board, committee and work group meetings are open to the public. Community and Board member participation is invited in all activities.  However, decisions that require a vote are made only by committee or work group members. Please contact the chairs about becoming a member.

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