PBS North Carolina sat down with staff from Centralina Area Agency on Aging to learn more about PEARLS for its NCimpact episode on mental health and older adults. PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active Rewarding Lives) is a community- and evidence-based pilot program designed to reduce depression in physically impaired and socially isolated people. Listen to Aging Program Coordinators, Amanda Dawson and Kamiya Williams, as they discuss the elements of the program, how they measure progress and how this initiative has impacted participants.

Older and disabled adults are especially vulnerable during extreme weather events and to emergencies that often come without warning, such heatwaves, major flooding, electric outages and pandemics like COVID-19. While emergencies are out of our control, there are a number of things to do ahead of time to get and stay ready. In honor of Emergency Prepardness Month, Centralina Area Agency on Aging have prepared a checklist of things you can do to stay safe before, during and after an emergency or natural disaster.

On June 8, 2023, the Iredell Industry & Education Alliance, a collaboration of private and public sector leaders, launched Iredell Ready, a county-wide workforce initiative designed to help students and residents, K-12 through retirement age, identify opportunities to pursue individual career pathways and employment with industries in Iredell County. This collaborative effort helps to promote lifelong learning and helps to close an existing skills gap for Iredell County employers.

In August, the House and Senate are adjourned and members of Congress traditionally spend their time in their congressional districts. Members of Congress refer to this as the “District Work Period” and use it to meet with constituents and participate in local public events. Centralina Regional Council takes advantage of the district work period to meet locally with our Congressional Delegation to discuss our regional priorities and federal action agenda.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Affordability Strategy data estimated that in 2022, 33% of households in Statesville have at least one of four housing problems: incomplete kitchen facilities, incomplete plumbing facilities, more than one person per room and are considered housing cost burdened. After hearing from residents, Darbah Skaf, CEO of Statesville Housing Authority (SHA) and its nonprofit affiliate, Iredell/Statesville Community Enrichment Corporation (ISCEC) began brainstorming ideas for an event that could gather community members and service providers to address these issues. With collaboration among SHA, ISCEC, the City of Statesville and Centralina, Darbah’s ideas were brought to life in the form of Statesville Thrives on June 29th, 2023.

The South Fork of the Catawba River is the largest tributary in the Catawba River System and flows through Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties. This river is beloved by the communities it touches, offering miles of natural landscapes, great fishing spots, endless hours of kayaking within a moments’ drive and acts as home to a variety of wildlife, such as the great blue herons, osprey, bald eagles and deer. Unfortunately, population growth and development in the South Fork basin area over the years have resulted in adverse impacts on the river’s health and on the communities themselves. Frequent flooding of nearby municipalities and a decline in the water quality influenced former Mayor of Cramerton, Will Cauthen, to develop and prioritize a plan to improve both the health of the river and address its impact on the community.

According to a new AARP Report, Caregivers provide $600 billion unpaid hours of care across the United States. Many of these individuals are loved ones who put their lives on hold and sacrifice their own free time to provide essential care to someone who can’t care for themselves. Many aren’t able to afford the cost of round-the-clock care options, and while no monetary value can trump the love of a caregiver, this role can be very physically, emotionally and mentally taxing. When one local caregiver seemed to be at his wits end, Centralina Area Agency on Aging’s Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) stepped in to help ease the burden.

Local government staff across the Centralina region and beyond have more on their plates today than ever before. Between staffing shortages, communities that are still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and wave after wave of unprecedented federal and state funding opportunities, many jurisdictions are stretched thin. As a council of governments, Centralina provides critical services and support to communities across the region, helping local staff stay abreast of new developments in the field and take advantage of unique opportunities.