Older unvaccinated adults are more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19. To reduce the spread of the COVID-19 in our region, Centralina Area Agency on Aging has been working to provide homebound seniors and others with educational materials.
In early November 2021, Catreana Harris rang the bell at NCWorks Career Center-Stanly after obtaining employment. Ringing the bell recognizes the career seekers who have been able to obtain a job. Before this, Catreana had lost her position as a home health aide due to physical health conditions that prevented her from heavy lifting. Catreana needed to find a new way to financially support herself and sought employment assistance from NCWorks Career Center in Albemarle. The NCWorks staff looked for new ways to apply her passion for healthcare and medical skills background to a related field.
The ombudsman program advocates for the resident who call our adult care homes and nursing homes their homes. We work to resolve issues of concern and advocate to protect the rights of those living in long-term care facilities. We also provide technical assistance to residents, the public and facilities.
A community that is pedestrian friendly benefits everyone. And when sidewalks, crosswalks and transportation infrastructure are missing or in need of repair, the result is a lower standard of living for people who depend on these facilities for mobility. Pedestrian infrastructure is a key component in supporting community connections and the health of residents and visitors. Aging adults and those with disabilities are disproportionately affected by gaps in pedestrian infrastructure.
Concord Avenue is one of the main gateways into the City of Monroe, Union County. In 2015, City officials created the Concord Ave Master Plan with the purpose of having a road map with a vision for economic, housing and community revitalization along this corridor, including the enhancement of connectivity to services and facilities for both residents and visitors.
Chapter 160D of the North Carolina General Statutes represents the first major recodification and modernization of the city and county development regulations since 1905. Every jurisdiction in North Carolina was required to update their development codes by July 1, 2021. North Carolina local governments have regulated planning and development under chapters 153A and 160A with only minor changes to the enabling statutes since their inception. The deadline for 160D code revisions presented a major challenge for many governments.
As the Center Leader of the NCWorks Career Center-Union, Thomas Foster insists that there isn’t a day where his team doesn’t have a chance to make a difference in someone’s life. That statement proved itself true on a hot and sunny summer day when he had the opportunity to meet an individual whose life was positively impacted thanks to NCWorks Career Center services. On August 23, 2021, Genna Calloway entered NCWorks Career Center-Union in Monroe stating she was looking for work because she wanted a new job and her unemployment benefits were ending in September.
Centralina Workforce Development Board (WDB) Executive Director, David Hollars, began Centralina Day of Giving in 2017. Since its inception, Centralina WDB and NCWorks Career Center staff have dedicated the Friday before Thanksgiving to volunteer at different local agencies and organizations. Unfortunately, due to the unforeseen circumstances that surrounded the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional in-person Centralina Day of Giving was not an option.
The Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) helps older adults bridge the gap to retirement by providing paid job training for adults 55 and older. Although training for individuals in this age group is not common, there are several reasons why it is necessary. Adults in this age group may be too young for social security, need a second job in addition to social security or simply not be ready to retire. Centralina staff help participants develop employment plans to find jobs that match their interests, abilities and goals. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, in-person operations were derailed so Centralina AAA had to get creative with training methods.
The Town of Mooresville Fleet Department recently entered a partnership with the NCWorks Career Center in Mooresville for hiring new staff using the Center’s On-the-Job Training services. Initial outreach by the Mooresville was made by HR Generalist Violet Carter during the COVID-19 lockdown in the summer of 2020. This began a series of meetings between the Mooresville staff and Jens Schmidt, NCWorks Career Center-Mooresville Center Leader.