Page 14 - Stuart Exposure - May '24

Page 14, Stuart Exposure

Good works senior Matters

#25by2025 Campaign To

Recruit Foster Homes Kicks Off Council On Aging
With A Story Stroll Martin Starts New Mobile
Service With Impact100

Martin Grant

The Council on Aging’s Elder Care Mobile Outreach
program will soon be available to help seniors throughout
Martin County neighborhoods who need assistance with
the challenges of aging.
Thanks to a $100,000 impact grant from the generous
members of Impact100 Martin, the Council on Aging will
be able to hire a second case manager navigator to go
directly to underserved seniors throughout Martin County Council on Aging President and CEO Karen Ripper, Chief
who face social isolation and loneliness, and then connect Philanthropic Officer Michele Jacobs, Board Chair Nicki
them with essential services. Schoonover, Case Manager Navigator Brian Sullivan and
“The pandemic taught us that there is a reluctance Director of Case Management and Meal Services Annette
among seniors to contact us to ask for help,” said Council Lopez received the check from Impact100 Martin that will
on Aging Martin County CEO Karen Ripper. “Yet there help to fund a mobile office to take elder services directly
Communities Connected for Kids (CCKids) launched a are seniors in our affluent county who live in the shadows, to seniors in their own neighborhoods.
communitywide foster-home recruitment campaign Saturday possibly even in our own neighborhoods, who would
at its Third Annual 1K for Kids and Story Stroll. benefit from our services. Now we will be able to go Impact100 Martin was able to award four $100,000 grants
Called #25by2025, the campaign’s goal is to recruit and directly into the community to find them and offer the in April.
license a minimum of 25 foster homes by Jan. 1, 2025 – homes assistance they need.” “The Council on Aging Martin and all of those we
that will help reverse a downward trend in the number of foster Funds from the Impact100 grant will help to purchase serve are grateful to Impact100 Martin,” Ripper said.
homes being licensed since the COVID pandemic. a new high-top van, which will ultimately be converted “Everyone deserves a quality life at every age, and we’re
Since 2020, the community has experienced a 58 percent into a mobile office. A case manager navigator will use eager to continue our mission to make this a reality for
decrease in homes in Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast, said this office to go into mobile home parks and various seniors in our community.”
Christina Kaiser, CCKids community relations director. neighborhoods throughout Martin County to help seniors About The Council On Aging Of Martin County
“We have many wonderful homes and nurturing caregivers, find ways to minimize expenses so they can better The Council on Aging of Martin County is the
but it’s not enough to keep up with the number of children afford to remain living in their own homes for as long as community’s hub for senior resources and the county’s
coming into care or the number of homes closing,” said Kaiser, possible. The navigator will help with securing affordable lead agency on aging. Founded in 1974, the organization
adding that many caregivers close their homes after adopting housing, make referrals to Meals on Wheels or the Adult offers expertise, programming and support for older
or for related family reasons. Day Club located at the Kane Center, offer assistance adults and their families to help seniors maintain lives of
“We have too many children and teens in group care or placed with utility bills, link seniors for medical consultation quality and purpose. Services include the Day Primary
in other parts of the state,” she said. “Twenty-five new homes and screening with the Day Medical primary care office Care Center, Memory Enhancement Center, Adult Day
will be enough to start bringing them home.” and provide support to caregivers. Club, Meals on Wheels, care management, caregiver
A more robust network of foster homes also makes it possible “By meeting people in their own neighborhoods,” support, and a robust offering of educational, cultural,
to keep siblings together and to keep children closer to their Ripper said, “we will relieve some of the stigma of asking fitness and wellness programs.
homes and schools while in foster care. for help and overcome any transportation challenges. The Kane Center located at 900 S.E. Salerno Road
The #25by2025 campaign offers the community many Our community will be healthier as we address problems in Stuart is the Council on Aging of Martin County’s
opportunities to get involved in advocating for and recruiting before they become catastrophes for seniors and their headquarters and is also an event venue available to the
homes, Kaiser said. families.” The Elder Care Mobile Outreach program will public. It serves as a special needs hurricane shelter when
“We created a list of 25 ways to help – from sharing campaign be operational by later this summer. necessary. The Council on Aging of Martin County also
information on social media to selecting foster-care themes for Impact100 Martin is a membership driven nonprofit operates senior outreach facilities in Hobe Sound, Jensen
book clubs,” she said. “Some of it might seem small, but one organization that enables women to leverage their Beach, East Stuart and Indiantown. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit
small act can make a huge difference – one connection can individual philanthropy and create positive, lasting organization, the Council on Aging receives funding from
change the life of a child.” change in the community. Each member contributes state and federal agencies and relies on philanthropic
That was the message Saturday morning at Port St. Lucie’s $1,000 a year and participates in choosing nonprofit support from the community, including other agencies,
Hillmoor Lake Park, where CCKids launched the campaign as projects to receive a $100,000 grant that will have true private foundations and individual donors. For more
part of its 1K for Kids and Story Stroll. impact and sustainability. With 422 members in 2024, information, visit www.coamartin.org.
Nearly 200 people registered for the event, which included a
1K interactive trail where walkers could use QR codes to learn
more about the foster-care community.
Also at the event were several foster-parent licensing
agencies and a series of celebration stations where participants
could join the #ManicureMovement to raise awareness for the
prevention of child abuse or record a three-second video to
celebrate families being reunified this summer.
Walkers also had the opportunity to join the Starfish Society,
a special tier of giving for those who elevate their commitment
to the #25by2025 campaign.
For a complete list of ways to help, or to join the campaign’s
Starfish Society, visit our campaign site at cckids.net and then
click the #25by2025 banner.
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