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>>> UP NEXT ON THE FORUM, IT'S SHOW TIME FOR A PASSEL OF
PUPPETS WHO PARSE OUT SAFETY TIPS FOR ANY PINED-SIZED
AUDIENCE. MEET THE FOLKS WITH THE PILOT
CLUB IN PILOT INTERNATIONAL. AND KEEPING YOUR COOL IN THE
SUMMER. HEAT CAN BE A BUDGET BUSTER.
WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON PROGRAMS TO HELP COVER THE COST
ON HUMAN SERVICES FORUM BEGINNING RIGHT NOW.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE
FORUM. BRAIN INJURY IS THE MOST
FREQUENT CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, SO HOW CAN WE HELP
TO KEEP THEM SAFE? PREVENTION EDUCATION IS AT THE
HEART OF PILOT INTERNATIONAL, AN ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS MANY
WAYS TO REACH OUT TO FOLKS OF ANY AGE.
LYNN MOON, GOVERNOR FOR THE VIRGINIA DISTRICT AND LOIS
VALENTINE, NEWLY INSTALLED PRESIDENT OF THE
NORFOLK-VIRGINIA BEACH PILOT CLUB JOIN ME NOW WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PILOT CLUB AND A PROJECT CALLED BRAIN
MINDERS WHICH WILL EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE LITTLE FRIENDS ON THE
SET HERE IN THE FORM OF ANIMALS, SO WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF
THE TOOLS THAT ARE USED IN ORDER TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT BRAIN
INJURY AND PREVENTION. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE
SHOW. I KNOW THAT PILOT INTERNATIONAL,
BEING JUST BY IT'S NAPE, IS A LARGE -- NAME, IS A LARGE
ORGANIZATION AND IT COVERS THE GLOBE, SO WHAT -- I MENTION THAT
BRAIN INJURY IS A FOCUS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT IS ABOUT.
>> WELL, WE STARTED IN 1921, SO LAST YEAR WE CELEBRATED OUR 90th
ANNIVERSARY AND PILOT INTISH IS IN FIVE COUNTRIES AND WE'RE
9,000 PLUS MEMBERS RIGHT NOW. THE INITIAL, WE'RE A COMMUNITY
SERVICE ORGANIZATION AND THE FOCUS NARROWED DOWN TO FREE
VENTING BRAIN INJURY -- PREVENTING BRAIN INJURY AND
ASSISTING THOSE WITH BRAIN-RELATED DISABILITIES AND
INJURIES LIKE ALZHEIMER'S, STROKE VICTIMS, AUTISTIC
CHILDREN, SO THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS WENT TO.
STATISTICS, AS YOU MENTIONED, ARE PRETTY STRONG, ESPECIALLY IN
CHILDREN. OVER A MILLION EACH YEAR SUFFER
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. OF THOSE, AROUND 130,000 ARE
CAUSED JUST BY BICYCLES ALONE AND 30,000 APPROXIMATELY RESULT
IN PERMANENT BRAIN INJURY, SO PILOT INTERNATIONAL DECIDED TO
INSTITUTE THIS PROGRAM IN 2000 TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON
CHILDREN AND SAFETY FOR CHILDREN.
AND WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED TO OFFER THIS AND AS OF NOW, WE'VE
OFFERED IT TO OVER 500,000 CHILDREN HAVE RECEIVED THIS
PROGRAM. >> WOW.
>> INTERNATIONALLY. >> AND IT IS CALLED WHAT?
LOIS? >> IT'S CALLED THE BRAIN MINDERS
PROGRAM, BUT THE SUCCESS TO THE BRAIN MINDER PROGRAM ARE THE
BRAIN MINDER BUDDIES AND THEY ARE THE PUPPETS AND IF YOU THINK
ABOUT THE HUMAN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PUPPET CHARACTERS
AND CHILDREN, I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS.
PLUS IT PRESENTS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BRAIN AND
BRAIN INJURY, AND ALSO THE MAJOR FOCUS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WITH
SPECIAL -- OUR YOUNGER GROUP IS THE SAFETY, BRAIN SAFETY.
AND WE DO ENCOURAGE THAT VIA ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL FRIENDS THAT
WE HAVE PURCHASED. >> LOIS, YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING
DEVICE OR HELMET NEXT TO YOU. YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT
IS? I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS ONE IN
THE STUDIO. >> NORMALLY I BRING THIS OUT
SHOWING THE CHILDREN WHAT YOUR BRAIN LOOKS LIKE, AND WE GET
LOTS OF INTERESTING EXPRESSIONS FROM OOH TO YOUR KIDDING, THAT
KIND OF THING. LYNN, YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN WHERE
THIS COMES FROM? >> SURE.
PILOT INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
THE BRAIN ALLIANCE OF VIRGINIA AND THIS COMES FROM A MEMORIAL
FUND. LYNN CHEVERATTI WAS A WONDERFUL
WOMAN WHO SUFFERED A BRAIN INJURY AND PASSED AWAY 11 MONTHS
AFTER THE INJURY AND HER FAMILY STARTED A FUND AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THE FUND DOES IS MAKE THESE SPECIAL HELMETS AND PILOT
PURCHASES THE HELMETS FROM THE LYNN FUND.
>> THAT'S A GREAT HALLOWEEN COSTUME.
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T FIT EVERYONE, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT WE
HAVE INTERESTING THINGS THAT WE LEARN WHEN WE PRESENT THESE
THINGS. AND SOME OF THEM ARE JUST RIGHT
FROM THE CHILDREN. THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WHAT ARE
THOSE THINGS? I CAN HONESTLY SEE THAT SOME OF
THE YOUNGER ONES WOULD THINK THEY WERE WORMS.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT FROM AN EDUCATIONAL POINT OF VIEW, SO WE
TRY TO TELL IT TO THEM IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING, BUT
BASICALLY WE HAVE TWO LEVELS AND THERE ARE A CAST OF CHARACTERS.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE SHOWING THAT ON YOUR SCREEN, ARE YOU NOT?
>> IN A MOMENT WE WILL, YES. THERE'S A RATHER BUSINESS
GRAPHIC, BUT IT DOES HAVE THE AGE GROUPS AND NAMES FOR EACH OF
THE CHARACTER. >> YES, WE DO 4 TO 6 IS USUALLY
WHAT WE LOOK FOR WITH THE YOUNGER GROUP.
HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN 3-YEAR-OLDS THAT HAVE NO PROBLEM ANYMORE
WITH THIS. SO THEY LOVE IT AS WELL.
AND BASICALLY, THAT'S THE SAFETY OF CROSSING THE STREET
CAREFULLY, YOU KNOW, BE VERY CAREFUL, DON'T LET -- GO OUT ON
THE STREET WHEN THE BALL ROLLS OUT IN THE STREET.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT, I'M SURE
MOM AND DAD HAVE SAID, BUT WE WANT TO REMIND THEM.
AND ALSO, PLEASE HELP MOM AND DAD REMEMBER TO FASTEN YOUR
SEATBELT, SO THERE ARE BASIC SAFETY, BUT THEY CERTAINLY ARE
IMPORTANT. AND WE DO THIS THROUGH THE
PUPPETS AS WELL, THE INTERACTION OF THE PUPPETS.
WE ALSO DO THE OTHER END OF IT, WE DO THE STORY BOARD.
LYNN, DO YOU HAVE THE STORY BOARD?
>> I DO. >> I THINK THIS IS A WORTHWHILE
THING TO SHOW BECAUSE BASICALLY IT HAS A SCRIPT ON THE BACK IF
YOU WANT TO USE IT, BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE IT, YOU
BASICALLY CAN USE YOUR ACTING SKILLS.
OR SOME OF OUR PILOTS DRESS UP IN THE ACTUAL PUPPETS.
>> OH, FULL COSTUME. >> SO THESE -- IT REALLY DOES
HELP AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT IS WE
TALK TO THEM ABOUT YOUR BRAIN IN YOUR HEAD AND YOUR BRAIN CAN
HELP YOU DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, SEE, PLAY, BREATHE, WALK, AND
RUN, LAUGH, PRETEND, THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT WHEN WE TURN THE PAGE, WE SAY YOUR BRAIN IS LIKE A
COMPUTER. NOW, I CANNOT TELL YOU THE
NUMBER OF TEACHERS THAT ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BECAUSE
WHAT IS IN THE BASIC VOCABULARY OF THE YOUNG CHILD?
THEY ALL KNOW WHAT A COMPUTER IS, AND THEY'RE IDENTIFYING WITH
THE MESSAGES THAT WILL COME OUT. SO WE FEEL THAT THAT IS AN
EXTREMELY GOOD ANALOGY. >> ALL RIGHT, WONDERFUL.
>> AND THE KIDS LOVE IT. SO THIS BASICALLY -- AND THEN WE
BRING THE BRAIN OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND SO
BASICALLY, WE GIVE EACH CHILD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE -- I'LL SHOW
THIS. EACH CHILD RECEIVES ONE OF THESE
STORY BOOKS. WE CALL THEM --
>> ACTIVITY BOOKS. COLORING AND REINFORCES THE
MESSAGE THEY GOT IN THIS AND THEY CAN TAKE IT HOME.
>> AND USE IT FOR READ-ALONG OR MOSTLY THE TEACHERS LIKE TO HAVE
A NUMBER AND HAND THEM OUT LATER, BUT THE BEAUTY OF IT, IT
GOES THROUGH EVERYTHING WE TALK ABOUT WITH THE PUPPETS, SO THEY
REALLY DO ENJOY IT. AND AT THE END, THEY'RE GIVEN A
CERTIFICATE AND WE DO QUESTION THEM A WEE BIT.
>> SEE WHAT THEY LEARNED. >> AND THAT HELPS.
PLUS, THE LITTLE ONES, NOW, WE'VE DEVELOPED STICKERS AND THE
KIDS LOVE STICKERS. SO BASICALLY, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE
DOING. NOW, THE 7 TO 9 YEARS ARE THE
OLDER CHILDREN AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BROUGHT TODAY
IS, WELL, I CALL THEM SWIMMY. THEY HAD ALL KIND OF NAMES,
NEMO, THEY WERE NAMING THEM OFF AND THEY CALL THEM ANYTHING, BUT
BASICALLY WE TALK ABOUT THE REGULATIONS AND RULES OF
SWIMMING AND BE CAREFUL. DON'T GO TOO DEEP, DON'T GO
FURTHER THAN YOUR WAIST IN A POOL FOR INSTANCE, MAKE SURE
YOU'RE WITH A FATHER, A MOTHER, A BROTHER, SOMEBODY OLDER THAT
CAN HELP YOU. BASICALLY, THEY LOVE THIS.
THEY THINK IT'S THE GREATEST THING THAT EVER WAS.
>> I KIND OF LIKE IT TOO. >> WELL, GOOD.
>> WE KNOW WHAT'S MISSING. THAT'S TERRIBLE.
BUT BASICALLY, THE OLDER TOOLS DEAL WITH OTHER THINGS, LIKE
HOME SAFETY. FOR INSTANCE, WHAT WOULD YOU
FIND IN THE CABINETS THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE WORKING WITH.
THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND WE FIND THAT THEY REALLY WILL
LISTEN A LITTLE MORE IF WE PUT IT IN THE MORE
AGE-LEVEL-APPROPRIATE, I THINK. THE SECOND LEVEL PROBABLY WOULD
BE BETTER IN A CAMP SETTING OR OR MAYBE A PHYSICAL EDUCATION
GROUP IN A SCHOOL. >> OKAY.
>> AND ONE WAY WE ALSO TRY AND HELP REACH IS OUR ANCHOR
ORGANIZATION IS OUR HIGH SCHOOL PORTION AND THEY ARE AS STRONG
AS WE ARE. WE DO TEENAGERS TO DO THE SHOWS
WITH THE LITTLE KIDS. THEY CONNECT SO WELL WITH THE
LITTLE KIDS. >> PLUS THEY HAVE A GREAT TIME.
>> THE AND ANCHORS HAVE A BLAST AND THEY ACT OUT THE CHARACTERS
SO WELL AND THEY CONNECT AND THE KIDS GET THAT MESSAGE WHEN THEY
SEE SOMEONE CLOSER TO THEIR AGE GIVING THE SAFETY MESSAGE AND
SEE THEY WEAR A HELMET AND LOOK BOTH WAYS ACROSS THE STREET.
>> GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE. >> BASICALLY, I'D LIKE TO SHOW
ALSO, THIS IS GERALD GIRAFFE. >> HI, GERALD.
>> HE DOESN'T HAVE A HELMET ON. HOWEVER, THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS
WE CAN SHOW THE DIFFERENCE. I THINK IT'S RIGHT UNDER THE
COMPUTE -- BASICALLY, WE CAN SHOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH THE
HELMET. AND WE CAN UTILIZE THIS IN MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND A HELMET FOR
GERALD. >> YEAH.
>> BUT UNLESS YOU WANT TO PUT SOMETHING TERRIBLE LOOKING, I
DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT THE BEAUTY OF BEING
ABLE TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST. THAT'S A GOOD ITEM FOR CHILDREN.
>> DO THE KIDS HAVE A FAVORITE? >> YES.
I WILL SHOW THAT TO YOU AT THE END, BUT LET ME SHOW YOU ONE
MORE. >> OKAY.
>> AND THIS IS WISE OLD OWL. NOW, WISE OLD OWL AS BARN OWL.
I LIKE TO BRING IN THE SCIENCE CONCEPT JUST A WEE BIT THAT THEY
LIVE IN THE BARN, BUT HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING AND WATCHING,
MAKING SURE WE'RE SAFE. AND HE'S THE BUDDY THAT LEADS US
THROUGH THIS WHOLE STORY BOARD. WHICH IS KIND OF NICE.
THEN I ALWAYS SAY TO THEM, NOW, THIS IS WHAT I PROMISED YOU AT
THE VERY END, A SURPRISE. AND THIS IS HELMET MAN.
HELMET MAN -- >> OH, MY GOSH.
>> -- IS CAPABLE OF NOT ONLY JUST PLEASING THE CHILDREN, BUT
IS ALSO CAPABLE OF DOING FINGER-SPELLING AND SO WE CAN GO
TO A LOT OF SPECIAL ED PROGRAMS AS WELL AND THAT IS A WONDERFUL
ACTIVITY. >> THAT IS TERRIFIC.
>> BUT THE BEAUTY OF IT IS, IT'S A MASCOT AT THE END.
THIS IS HELMET MAN WITH ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT,
AND ALSO WE HAVE THE HELMET ON THERE AT THE CORRECT ANGLE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PUT A HELMET ON
THEIR HEAD. THEY HAVE IT WITH THE STRING
AROUND THEIR NECK HANGING DOWN THEIR BACK.
I'VE SEEN SOME INCREDIBLY POOR TYPES OF --
>> YOU JUST AS WELL NOT WEAR ONE IF YOU DON'T WEAR IT CORRECTLY.
IT CAN CAUSE JUST AS MUCH DAMAGE.
>> YOU'VE EXPLAINED ABOUT WHAT IT IS YOU PRESENT, AND SO IF YOU
HAVE AN ORGANIZATION, A GROUP, SCHOOL THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN PROMOTING THIS KIND OF SAFETY, WHICH I THINK WHO
WOULDN'T? PILOT INTERNATIONAL AND THE
NORFOLK-VIRGINIA BEACH PILOT CLUB, INC., DO THESE.
SO WE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER -- AND ACTUALLY, WE HAVE PICTURES TOO.
THIS SHOWS THE ANCHORS YOU WERE REFERRING TO, OUR TEENAGERS IN
CHESAPEAKE WHO ARE DOING THE PUPPETS FOR THE KIDS, WHICH IS
TERRIFIC. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE MORE OR
NOT. THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL
TOO. >> AND EVERY CLUB IN THIS AREA
DOES THESE, SO IF YOU'RE IN SUFFOLK OR PORTSMOUTH OR
VIRGINIA BEACH, NORFOLK-VIRGINIA BEACH, YOU CAN CONTACT AND WE
WILL BE GLAD TO COME AND DO A BRAIN MINDERS BUDDY PROGRAM.
>> GREAT. HOW LONG DOES IT GENERALLY LAST?
>> IF YOU'RE IN A CLASSROOM, 15 MINUTES AND THE REASON I SAY
THAT, THAT'S ALL THE TEACHERS WANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER
THINGS THAT THE KIDS NEED TO DO. >> EVEN WITH PUPPETS.
>> YOU CAN REALLY DO THIS IN 15 MINUTES.
IF IT WAS LONGER, I DON'T THINK THE CHILDREN --
>> IT WOULDN'T GRAB THEIR ATTENTION.
>> SO GREAT. WE HAVE PILOT INTERNATIONALS,
THE CLUBS IN EACH OF THE CITIES, LOIS IS THE PRESIDENT SO WE'VE
PUT HER E-MAIL ADDRESS UP THERE. A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL AND
WEBSITES AS WELL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL GROUP AND -- IT
WILL TAKE YOU TO THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION, SO YOU CAN ALWAYS
START THERE AND WORK FROM THERE, BUT IT'S A WONDERFUL CONCEPT AND
A LOT OF FUN, AND LOIS, CLEARLY, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ENJOY DOING
THIS. I CAN TELL FROM THE EXPRESSIONS.
>> IF YOU DON'T LIKE PUPPETS, SOMETHING'S WRONG.
>> WILL YOU GO. >> YOU HAVE TO LOVE THEM VERY,
VERY MUCH. >> THIS IS TERRIFIC AND THANKS
SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE
KIDS. HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S
WATCHING WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT ONE DAY TOO ONCE THEY
GET THAT CALL. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT.
>> APPRECIATE IT. >>> DON'T GO AWAY BECAUSE HOT
WEATHER, AS YOU KNOW, HAS ARRIVED.
TO FIND OUT HOW TO STAY COOL THIS SUMMER WHILE KEEPING YOUR
BUDGET IN CHECK, THE LATEST ON COOLING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WHEN
WE RETURN. >>> HAVE YOU HEARD?
THE U.S. TREASURY IS PHASING OUT PAPER CHECKS FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY, V.A., AND OTHER FEDERAL BENEFIT PAYMENTS AND
GOING ELECTRONIC. IF YOU CURRENTLY RECEIVE FEDERAL
BENEFITS BY PAPER CHECK, YOU WILL NEED TO SWITCH TO DIRECT
DEPOSIT OR TO THE TREASURY-RECOMMENDED DREK
EXPRESS DEBIT MASTER CARD. IF YOU PLAN TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL
BENEFITS SOON, YOU WILL WANT TO DECIDE WHICH ELECTRONIC PAYMENT
OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU. VISIT GO DIRECT.ORG TO LEARN
MORE OR TO MAKE THE SWITCH TODAY.
>>> WHEN THE THERMOMETER HITS 90 DEGREES, THE HEAT IS NOT ONLY
HARD TO IGNORE, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO THE MORE VULNERABLE
AMONG US. WHAT IF YOU WERE UNABLE TO
AFFORD TO PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILL?
SETH ATKINSON AND BRETT MEREDITH WITH THE SALVATION ARMY,
TIDEWATER AREA COMMAND, AND GLENNIS JOHNSON, THE PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE STOP ORGANIZATION ARE HERE TO OFFER
UP SOLUTIONS. EACH ORGANIZATION HAS PROGRAMS
IN PLACE THAT CAN HELP IN CERTAIN WAYS WITH PEOPLE WHO
HAVE COOLING NEEDS, AS WE SAY. THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
ALSO OFFERS THE COOLING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UNDER THE
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, CALLING OUR
AGENCY IN ORDER TO GET INFORMATION, APPLICATIONS ARE
BEGINNING TO BE ACCEPTED AS OF FRIDAY, JUNE 15th AND WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH AUGUST 15th, AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS FOR
ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WITH COOLING NEEDS AND THOSE ELIGIBILITY
STANDARDS, WE'LL GET BACK TO IN A MINUTE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SALVATION ARMY WANTS TO POINT
OUT IS THAT IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR ITS PROGRAM, WHICH IS ENERGY
SHARE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE APPLIED OR DEVELOPED OTHER MEANS.
>> CORRECT. >> SO THEY'RE NOT THE FIRST
PLACE TO TURN ON, BUT THEY ARE A PLACE TO TURN TO --
>> WE ARE, WE ARE. >> WHEN YOU CAN'T GET HELP
ANYWHERE ELSE. WELCOME.
>> WE WANT TO BE THE PLACE OF LAST RESORT SO THAT FOLKS, THEY
HAVE OTHER MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE
END, WE WANT TO BE THERE TO HELP YOU GET OUT OF THE DIFFICULTY.
>> GREAT. AND ENERGY SHARE IS A
PARTNERSHIP AND YOU IN THE SALVATION ARMY ADMINISTER THIS
PROGRAM TO PEOPLE. WHAT DOES ENERGY SHARE ACTUALLY
PROVIDE? >> PRIMARILY AT THIS POINT,
WE'RE PROVIDING -- WE'RE TRYING TO STOP DISCONNECTIONS OR
POTENTIALLY RECONNECT SERVICE. IN THE PAST, WE'VE DONE A LITTLE
BIT OF PAYMENT PLAN TYPE ASSISTANCE, BUT HAVE HAD TO
SCALE THAT BACK BECAUSE JUST THE SHEER NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT
TWANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM.
>> SO THE DEMAND IS HIGHER AND BECAUSE THERE'S HIGHER DEMAND,
SOMETIMES WHAT YOU NEED TO PUT INTO IT ISN'T ALSO THERE.
IT'S THERE ON THE OTHER END NOW I. RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> THE RECEIVING END. A POPULAR PROGRAM, I TAKE IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE FIRST DAY, AS WE WERE
SAYING, FOR JUNE 1st, LITERALLY PROBABLY 300 PEOPLE WALKED
THROUGH OUR DOORS AND IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN OUR SOCIAL SERVICE
OFFICE SEATS ABOUT 30, SO WE HAD THEM LINED AROUND THE BUILDING
AND WE HAD CASE MANAGERS COMBING THE CROWD CHECKING FOR
ELIGIBILITY SO NOBODY HAD TO STAND OUT FOR TOO LONG IF THEY
WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT IN THE FIRST
PLACE. >> I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME
CONFUSION ABOUT ENERGY SHARE VERSUS ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND
THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH IN SOME WAY THEY ARE
CONNECTED. ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND COOLING
ASSISTANCE BEING THE ONE THAT STARTED ON THE 15th OF THE
MONTH. SO I GUESS THE TIMING WAS A
LITTLE OFF, BUT FOLKS HOPEFULLY HAVE CALLED AND WE'LL PUT UP A
NUMBER ON THE SCREEN FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE OR COOLING ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS THROUGH HUMAN SERVICES AND THAT'S AT 664-6035.
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
WEBSITE AND GO TO BENEFIT AND UNDER THAT, YOU WILL SEE ENERGY
ASSISTANCE. AND IT WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE
CRITERIA YOU NEED TO KNOW ON WHO QUALIFIES, WHEN YOU CAN APPLY,
AND WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE AS A RESULT OF THAT.
SO WITH THE ENERGY SHARE PROGRAM, YOU GET WHAT
SPECIFICALLY? >> YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY GET UP TO
$300, BUT IT HAS TO GO TOWARD THE DELINQUENT PORTION OF YOUR
BILL, THE DISCONNECT PORTION, AND WE REALLY DO HAVE -- SOME OF
THE BILLS WE'RE SEEING ARE SO HIGH, WE'RE HAVING TO TELL
PEOPLE, THIS $300 LITERALLY WILL NOT STOP THE DISCONNECTION, WHAT
CAN YOU PROVIDE? AND SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS THEY
CANNOT COVER THE OTHER COST AND IF SOCIAL SERVICES CANNOT
ASSIST, SOMETIMES THAT APPS HAS TO BE NO.
>> THAT'S TOUGH. >> IT'S A HARD THING TO SAY.
>> THAT IS REALLY TOUGH. >> WELL, THE INCREASE OF NEED
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS FOR ALL OF US HAS PUT A GREAT WEIGHT
ON ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SALVATION ARMY AND HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE
SURE THAT THINGS ARE NOT DISCONNECTED, BUT WE ALSO NEED
HELP IN DOING THAT, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE PARTNERS LIKE
DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER AND VIRGINIA NATURAL GAS WHO ARE
ABLE TO HELP US DO THAT, AND YOU HAVE THE COOLING PROGRAM.
THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT
WE NEED FOLKS TO COME ALONGSIDE ALL OF US AND HELP US DO THEM.
>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. IT ALL TAKES -- IT DOES, IT
TAKES A COMMUNITY TO DO IT. NOT JUST ONE ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE TO KEEP PREACHING THAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
EVERYONE GET INVOLVED IN SOME WAY.
IT'S A STUNT FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY -- AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO DONATE TO THE PROGRAM AS WELL THROUGH THEIR UTILITY
COMPANIES. >> YES, YOU CAN CHECK THE BOX
AND WHAT I'VE STARTED SAYING IS, AND THIS IS MY FIRST DAY ON THE
JOB, CHECK THE BOX TO HELP FIGHT POVERTY BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP
KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES WITH THE PRIMARY COOLING OR HEATING
SOURCE AND THIS IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO HELP US DO IT, IS BY
CHECKING THE BOX ON YOUR BILL. >> OKAY.
VERY, VERY SIMPLE TO DO AND BENEFICIAL.
>> AND WE ALL HELP EACH OTHER. >> YES.
AND THAT'S THE BIG PART, AND SPEAKING OF HELPING EACH OTHER,
THERE IS YET ANOTHER COMPONENT HERE.
>> ANOTHER GREAT ORGANIZATION. >> YES, THE STOP ORGANIZATION
ADMINISTERING THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM AND THAT IS PART OF THE
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTERS.
>> EXACTLY. >> ONE OF THE COMPONENTS AND
COOLING ASSISTANCE FROM US, THE STOP ORGANIZATION ADMINISTERS
WEATHERIZATION. WHAT DOES THE WEATHERIZATION
PROGRAM PROVIDE? >> WELL, WEATHERIZATION, THAT'S
A PROCESS OF INCREASING YOUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF YOUR HOME
AND WE DO THAT BY WEATHERIZING YOUR HOME.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU ONE THING ABOUT THE WEATHERIZATION
PROGRAM, WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE THROUGH THE STOP ORGANIZATION
SINCE 1976. >> REALLY?
>> GOVERNED BY A GREAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WE HAVE A NEW
PRESIDENT AND CEO, REGINA LAWRENCE, AND WE'RE JUST SO
EXCITED TO STILL HAVE THIS PROGRAM.
WEATHERIZATION, WE START OFF WITH DOING AN ENERGY AUDIT ON
THE HOME. THE ENERGY AUDIT WILL DETERMINE
IF THEIR HOUSE HAVE AIR LEAKAGE, IF THE CONDITION OR THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE HEATING SYSTEM AND THAT THE HOUSE HAVE PROPER
INSULATION AND WE ADDRESS ALL THOSE MEASURES.
>> AND THEY'RE SUCH BASIC THINGS, BUT THAT'S WHERE A LOT
OF PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS. >> RIGHT.
THE SURVEY HAS BEEN DONE AND ON THE AVERAGE, A HOUSEHOLD CAN
SAVE UP TO $430 ANNUALLY. >> REALLY?
>> YES. >> WELL, THAT SHOULD BE A LESSON
TO ALL OF US, YOU KNOW. >> THERE YOU GO.
>> WHETHER YOUR BUDGET IS TIGHT OR NOT, BUT THAT IS AMAZING.
IS THERE A ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT?
>> INCOME ELIGIBILITY, BASED ON A TOTAL HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME.
>> OKAY. HOW ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
IN THE HOUSEHOLD? DOES THAT FIGURE IN AT ALL OR IS
IT JUST THE HOUSEHOLD. >> BY THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND
THE INCOME -- DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE NOT HOUSE OR
WHAT THE INCOME CAN EXCEED. >> SO THERE'S NOT LIKE A
PARTICULAR AGE GROUP FROM YOU'RE FOCUSING ON IN?
>> NO, THIS IS TO ANYONE THAT'S INCOME ELIGIBLE AND WE
PRIORITIZE OUR ELDERLY AND HOUSE HOLDS WITH CHILDREN 6 YEARS OF
AGE AND YOUNGER. >> AS DOES THE COOLING
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ANYBODY WHO IS OVER AGE TAKE PRIORITY AND
IT'S BART OF PART OF OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE HOT AND YOU
DON'T HAVE CIRCULATING AIR, THAT CAN TAKE ITS TOLL.
>> THAT. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'VE
BEEN ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM. I BELIEVE YOU'RE RATHER NEW.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF NEW PEOPLE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A
MAJORITY THAT -- IS IT ELDERLY OR OLDER THAT TEND TO GO FOR THE
PROGRAM OR DO YOU THINK IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD?
>> IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD. >> IS IT?
>> YES. >> ARE CALLS PICKING UP RIGHT
NOW WITH -- >> ALL YEAR ROUND.
>> YEAH? >> YES.
WHEN THE WEATHER STARTS TO GET COOL, WHEN IT STARTS TO GET
WARM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NEED. SO THIS IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM,
SO THE CALLS NEVER STOP COMING IN.
>> OKAY, GREAT. AND WE DO HAVE A PHONE NUMBER
FOR THAT TOO AND THIS IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM AS SHE
MENTIONED AND YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR STOP HAS
A WEBSITE AND THE PHONE NUMBER IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST WAY TO
GET AHOLD OF ONE. >> YES, IT IS.
>> IN FACT, WHEN I CALLED, I TALKED TO YOU, A VERY PLEASANT
WOMAN, AND SHE CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS, CAN YOU HAVE IT MAILED TO YOU?
>> YOU CAN CALL IN TO THE OFFICE AND WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF THERE
TO HELP WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
WE CAN MAIL THE APPLICATIONS OUT TO YOU OR YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME
TO THE OFFICE. >> GREAT.
YOU CAN MEET HER IN PERSON. AND THE SAME WITH THE SALVATION
ARMY. I'M SURE SINCE YOU'RE NEW,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE STANDING RIGHT AT THE DOOR, RIGHT?
>> EVERY DAY. >> SO YOUR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB,
HUH? >> IT IS.
>> THAT'S TERRIFIC. AND SETH, I KNOW PART OF YOUR
JOB IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> ALL RIGHT, SO HAS ANYTHING
LIKE LOST STEAM SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS
WITH THE PROGRAM OR ARE YOU STILL GETTING A LOT OF CALLS
EVERY DAY? >> THERE ARE A LOT OF CALLS
EVERY DAY AND THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR WE HELPED 592 FAMILIES AND
HOUSEHOLDS AND WE EXPECT IT COULD BE MORE THIS YEAR, SO WE
NEED MORE FOLKS TO CHECK THE BOX.
>> WOW, WOW. ALMOST 600 PEOPLE.
IS THAT IN THE TIDEWATER AREA? >> IT'S TIDEWATER, NORFOLK,
VIRGINIA BEACH, AND CHESAPEAKE. >> OKAY.
AND THAT BRINGS A POINT TOO, MS. JOHNSON, THAT THE
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM IS NOT JUST A NORFOLK THING.
>> OH, NO, WE SERVICE ALL THE HAMPTON ROADS EXCEPT FOR NEWPORT
NEWS, TWO COUNTIES, THE COUNTIES OF SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS COUNTY
AND ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY. >> AND DEFINITELY NORFOLK AND
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE HEADQUARTERS, CORRECT?
>> YES, WE'RE BASED OUT OF NORFOLK.
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THEM REGARDING
GETTING HELP? >> WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER
SERVICES BUT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO GET THE INFORMATION IS
TO GO TO SALVATION ARMY, HRVA.ORG.
>> IS THAT A NEW WEBSITE? >> NEW WEBSITE.
>> NEW ADDRESS? >> NEW WEBSITE.
>> GREAT. BRAND-NEW WEBSITE.
NOT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE BEFORE --
>> BUT IT WILL HAVE ALL THE GOOD INFORMATION TO GET OUR SERVICES.
>> THERE IT IS ON THE SCREEN AGAIN.
NUMBER TO CALL, EXTENSION TO GO TO, AND BRAND-NEW WEBSITE ON THE
SALVATION ARMY. HAMPTON ROADS VIRGINIA.ORG,
COOLING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES AND THAT STARTED UP AS OF JUNE 15th AND THERE CONTINUE
THROUGH AUGUST 15th. YOUR APPLICATIONS WILL BE
ACCEPTED DURING THAT TIME. CALL THE NUMBER, 664-6035 TO
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR
THAT. THEY DO BASE IT ON HOUSEHOLD
SIZE AND INCOME, GROSS INCOME, LIKE MANY PROGRAMS ARE.
BUT CALL THEM FIRST BEFORE YOU CALL THE SALVATION ARMY BECAUSE
THEY WILL, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE TO SEND YOU BACK TO TRY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> YOU KNOW, IF YOU CALL THEM
FIRST. BUT THEY'RE VERY NICE ABOUT IT,
SO JUST BE NICE TO THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE KNOW THE HEAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE CRANKY, BUT IT'S AWFULLY
NICE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES FOR EVERYBODY SO THEY
CAN STAY COOL THIS SUMMER. SAFETY FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND SHARING GOOD INFORMATION.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US. >> WELCOME TO THE HAMPTON ROADS
AREA. >> THANK YOU.
>> AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW, MS. JOHNSON,
WITH THE STOP ORGANIZATION. >> THANK YOU.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.
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