Farewell to Employees

Richard Jackson

To The Employees of ECKAN:

As I prepare to step down as the CEO of ECKAN, I want to thank each and everyone of you for your support during my tenure of 47 years. 

The agency has been able to accomplish much in meeting the needs of those we serve.  This could not have happened without your hard work and dedication.  You cannot accomplish anything by yourself. 

It is my opinion that ECKAN is the best CAP Agency in the state and I feel will continue to be the best under your new leadership of Crystal Anderson. 

I feel so blessed to have been part of ECKAN’s journey and it will always be in my heart.  So to you, I bid farewell and Godspeed.

Richard Jackson

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ECKAN Adds Five Counties to Its Weatherization Program Service Area

To increase efficiency and maintain quality service to clients, Kansas Housing Resources Corp. announced the realignment of service providers for the Kansas Weatherization Assistance Program.

Effective June 1, ECKAN will become the new weatherization service provider for Allen, Bourbon, Linn, Morris, and Woodson counties. South Central Kansas Economic Development District – SCKEDD will become the new weatherization service provider for Butler, Harvey, and Marion counties. All 105 Kansas counties are served by a weatherization service provider as outlined in the map.

Check out our Weatherization page for information and applications.

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U.S. Rep Steve Watkins to Co-Sponsor Anti Poverty Bill

U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins has announced he will join more than 30 of his congressional colleagues to co-sponsor HR 1695, the Community Services Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2019 (HR 1695). This act is a major funding source for many anti-poverty services ECKAN provides in nine counties in east-central Kansas.

H.R. 1695 will renew the nation’s commitment to reducing poverty through more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies across America.  The Community Action Network is celebrating 55 years of services to individuals and families this year.

Rep. Watkins learned firsthand about ECKAN’s efforts to help low-income Kansans achieve self-sufficiency in April when he and his staff visited the ECKAN administrative office in Ottawa and a Head Start classroom in Emporia.

ECKAN (East Central Kansas Economic Development Corp.) is a community action partnership agency fighting poverty in 16 east central Kansas counties. HR 1695 supports self-sufficiency programming in the following ECKAN-serviced counties: Anderson, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Lyon, Johnson, Miami, Morris and Osage.

 

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New Affordable Duplexes Expected to Lease in August

Construction of a new 34-unit mixed income duplex development in north Ottawa is scheduled for completion in time for August leasing.

ECKAN, the City of Ottawa and Prairie Fire partnered on this project, which will add 28 new units of housing at below-market rates. Square footage is 1,000 for two-bedroom units and 1,250 for three-bedroom units. Depending upon unit size and income qualifications, monthly rents are projected at $240 subsidized to $995 market.

Seldin Co. is the leasing agent: 785-241-9885 / https://www.seldin.com/prairieview

ECKAN also supports affordable housing in 16 east central Kansas counties through its own below-market rental housing, federal voucher programs and weatherization of existing homes.

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Crystal Anderson Named ECKAN CEO

Crystal Anderson will assume the position of ECKAN CEO on June 1, 2019.  She is currently Assistant CEO and has been with the agency since 2013. “Over the last several years Crystal has helped grow ECKAN through new initiatives within our communities, and has become well known and respected by our partners at the local,…Read More→

Read more
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Introducing ECKAN Head Start’s Health Coordinator – Candy Burenheide

Candy Burenheide, RN

We’re excited to recognize National Nurses Day by highlighting ECKAN Head Start’s Health Coordinator, Candy Burenheide, RN.  Candy has been with the agency for a few short months and has jumped in with both feet!

What do you do at ECKAN?

I oversee the entire health program throughout our seven-county service area. It is important to ECKAN to staff fulltime nurses in the program to be available for families, children and staff. I am a Registered Nurse and Lisa Brown, who assists me with our program, is a Licensed Practical Nurse; we ensure that we stay within the scope of our practice through the Kansas State Board of Nursing.

The Head Start Performance Standards require us to ensure each child receives and is up to date on physicals and immunizations to begin school. Prior to the school year, children receive health screening within 45 days of enrollment, which includes a check of their hearing, vision, nutrition and dental needs. We support families to ensure that children have access to insurance and primary care physicians. In the classroom, we monitor safety, documentation of all health related records and nutritional intake. We work closely with Family Service Workers and Home Visitors to provide education and answer health related questions of the families of the children.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Working with children! I am beginning to connect with the children and their parents, who are their child’s first and most important teacher. ECKAN makes a positive difference in the lives of the children and families each year as evidenced in the parent and child health outcomes.

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$17,342 in Emergency Savings Funds Presented to ECKAN Clients

Emporia Stepping Stones Graduates April 2019

Twenty-six Lyon County individuals proudly graduated from ECKAN’s Stepping Stones to Success Emergency Savings program April 29, 2019, at Emporia State Federal Credit Union. Each received a 2:1 match check of $667. Added to their own six-month regular savings, this established a $1,000 emergency savings fund for each graduate. Eight more are on track to graduate in Lyon County.

Greg Bachman represented the Jones Foundation which granted ECKAN the funds for this pilot savings program. The credit union ethusiastically partnered with ECKAN to establish and maintain the savings accounts.

Graduates, who met low income guidelines, navigated very tight budgets to make monthly savings deposits of $55.50. They also met monthly with their Stepping Stones case manager.

ECKAN and our partners are very proud of these graduates’ accomplishment, and encourage them to continue to save for emergencies on their path to self sufficiency.

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Summer Lunch Bunch

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