Cowlitz County Community Network Board Meeting
Cowlitz County Administration Building Annex, 2nd Floor Conference Room
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 | 11:30 – 1:00PM

MINUTES

Present: Kay Gunter, Louise Brown
Present by Phone: Michael O’Neill, Olivia Aumiller, Laurie Severson
Absent: Tiffany Ames
Quorum: Yes
Staff: Amber Rosewood

Additions to Agenda
There were no additions to the agenda.

Welcome and Introductions
Michael welcomed attendees and thanked everyone for their participation. A call-in option was provided, gathering guidelines were observed and seating allowed for social distancing.

August 18, 2020 Minutes and Updates
The Board meeting minutes were sent to members for their review prior to the meeting. Of the five Aug action items, four were completed. CCN will write and distribute a press release for the Child Care Partnership Grant once the agreement is finalized.

Motion to approve the Aug 18, 2020 Board meeting minutes as presented (Kay); second (Louise). The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.

Monthly Financial Report
The Sep Itemized Voucher amounting to $3,010.78 was presented to the Board for review and approval. The bills presented for Sep Payment were:

Invoice 464-2020 Cowlitz County Purchasing Svc Phone, Jul 2020 $ 10.78
Invoice 2020 9T Cowlitz County Treasurer, Oct. Payroll/Processing $3,000.00

Motion to approve the voucher as presented (Kay); second (Olivia). The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.

Expenses and account balances for the period of Aug 1, 2020 through Aug 31, 2020 were:

Payroll $ 2,335.55 Red Canoe Savings $ 10.16
Payroll Fees $ 54.66 Red Canoe Checking $ 4,543.22
$ 2,390.21 Cowlitz County Treasurer $ 62,726.49

ACTION: Update the monthly financial reporting document to include account transactions. (Amber)

Under Notice 2020-65, a payroll tax deferral is available to Network staff between Sep 1, 2020, to Dec 31, 2020. Staff requested that CCN continue collecting payroll taxes rather than deferring.

Motion to continue collecting payroll taxes for CCN staff through the allowed deferral period (Louise); second (Kay). The vote was unanimous, and the motion carried.

Grant Status Report
The Board discussed options for updating the website and adding social media platforms for CCN and directed staff to start working on the project. Staff will build a new WordPress site on another domain and then request a transfer by the Network’s IT service provider More Power Technology Group. The current CCN Facebook page is inaccessible, and staff will create a new page in addition to adding Instagram and Twitter accounts.

ACTION: Begin updating the Network website and add social media platforms that include Financial Literacy, Behavioral Health and Child Care content. (Amber)
ACTION: Research community resources and add the correct guide/links to the website and social media platforms (Amber)

Cowlitz County Health & Human Services Financial Literacy Grant $10,000
Financial Literacy Training | Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
Aug Request: $686.00 | Remaining Balance: $8,162.00

Financial Literacy funding is for training at-risk youth and financially vulnerable families. Training topics are geared to the audience and may include Bank on It, Setting Financial Goals, Borrowing Basics, Saving for Cars/College/Housing, etc. CCN sends Financial Literacy emails to community partners and families, including lessons for children, and information on budgeting and credit for adults.

Cowlitz County Health & Human Services Behavioral Health Grant Yr 3 $10,800
Help for At-Risk Youth with Behavioral Issues in Child Care | Jul 1, 2019 – Jun 30, 2021
Aug Request: $629.00 | Remaining Balance: $ 8,942.00

Behavioral Health funding provides technical assistance and training for childcare providers who serve children with behavioral issues and offers training and resources for family members who have children with behavioral challenges. CCN sends Behavioral Health best practice emails to community partners, child care providers and families.

Community Foundation of SW WA Behavioral Health Grant: $25,000
Help for At-Risk Youth with Behavioral Issues in Child Care | Awarded Dec 2019
Aug Expenditures: $936.00 | Remaining Balance: $13,665.35

The Behavioral Health funding provides technical assistance and training for childcare providers who serve children with behavioral issues and offers training and resources for family members who have children with behavioral challenges. The Network applied for Cycle 2 funding.

WA Department of Commerce Child Care Partnership Grant $60,000
Child Care Access Report | Apparently Successful Applicant
Aug Expenditures: N/A | Remaining Balance: N/A

CCN is an apparently successful applicant for a WA Department of Commerce Child Care Partnership grant to support local partnerships to develop action plans that stabilize and expand child care capacity for underserved areas and for historically marginalized communities. CCN’s proposal funds the supplemental work of the Cowlitz Community Charter (CCC) as outlined in the 2020 Annual Agenda and Objectives. CCN will call a meeting of the CCC for Sep 24, 2020 to review the grant objectives and gain commitments from partners. CCN has submitted a letter of support for a Round 2 Child Care Partnership Project proposal by Workforce Southwest, focused on addressing the child care crisis from the business perspective. Board members reviewed the proposed agenda for the Sep 24 meeting of the Cowlitz Community Charter and discussed meeting objectives.

 ACTION: Prepare meeting space and technology for in-person attendees attending the virtual CCC meeting on Sep 24, 2020. (Amber)

Upcoming Events
Youth and Family Link is holding virtual Community Baby Shower events and distributing Beyond the Alphabet activities to client homes.

Board Action Items

Staff Action Items

  1. Update the monthly financial reporting document to include account transactions.
  2. Begin updating the Network website and add social media to include Financial Literacy, Behavioral Health and Child Care content.
  3. Research community resources and add the correct guide/links to the website and social media platforms.
  4. Prepare meeting space and technology for in-person attendees attending the virtual CCC meeting on Sep 24, 2020.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 20, 2020, 11:30am-1pm