News – South Central Human Resource Agency

SCHRA Recognized as Top-Performing Agency

Governor Bill Lee attended an event focused on the state’s Youth Employment Program, or YEP, at Buffalo River Resort in Perry County. During this event, Gov. Lee was able to speak with youth that were employed there through the program.

South Central Human Resource Agency was recognized as the program’s top performing agency in the state, putting over 800 participants to work through this grant. In Perry County alone, there were close to 75 participants, 17 of which were employed at Buffalo River Resort.

YEP is designed to link ambitious young adults aged 14-24 with employers in diverse industries across the state of Tennessee. Participants are able to gain hands-on experience in the workforce, test-driving potential careers, improving discipline and responsibility, all while earning up to $4,000.

For more information, contact your local SCHRA American Job Center location. Find yours here.

Pictured (L-R): Jennifer Goldman, Perry County Career Advisor; Vanessa Brown, TN Youth Employment Coordinator; Tiffany Bolin, WIOA Title I Program Director; Gov. Lee; Paul Rosson, SCHRA Executive Director; Chrissy Tuten, Head Start/Early Head Start Program Director; Scarlet Patterson, SCHRA Human Resources Director; Amy Ezell, SCHRA Finance Director.

ITB Bid Packet for Waynesboro Head Start HVAC

South Central Human Resource Agency is inviting sealed bids for the goods and services listed in the document below.

Lincoln County’s Finest in Catering, 2023

It might sound unusual for a human resource agency to be the first place you think of when you need a caterer for your upcoming event. However, given the dedication and work ethic of South Central Human Resource Agency’s Nutrition Services staff, it should come as no surprise that they have become precisely that. SCHRA is honored to be chosen by Elk Valley Times readers as Lincoln County’s Finest in the Catering category for 2023.

SCHRA’s Nutrition Services Program provides meals year-round for senior nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels and congregate meals at area senior centers. These meal programs are often minimally funded, and the need for them is constantly growing. Over the years the agency found itself looking for ways to supplement state grants in order to fill the gaps in funding to maintain kitchen equipment and provide meals for as many clients as possible.

This need for additional funds is where the idea for the Catering Program was born. Catering dollars pay for the cost of food, utility maintenance, and the labor cost of each job. The remaining money goes directly to the Nutrition Services Program. “About 17 years ago, I was asked to come in and help start up a catering program here, and I’ve been here ever since,” said Nutrition Services Director Becky Christa. She has since progressed from heading up catering to directing all meal services provided by SCHRA. “I may not be the Catering Coordinator anymore, but it’s still my baby,” Christa added.

With a background in meal service and catering, Christa has passed on her knowledge of the industry to staff throughout her years at SCHRA, including current Catering Coordinator Ashley Roland. Roland has been with SCHRA for going on 10 years now and has spent much of her time with the agency in the kitchen and working catering events, as well as managing data for Nutrition Services. Ella Brown started working with the catering program in 2019, and she became an invaluable asset as well. “A lot of the times it was just Ashley and Ella at events,” Christa remarked. More recently, the program welcomed Patty Moore and Mary Burton to their regular staff. Longtime Nutrition Services staff members Becky Patterson and Dianne Edwards often assist in preparing meals for events, in addition to their normal daily food preparation for senior meals.

“It’s usually just two of us that work events, but we pull in other people as needed, depending on how big of an event we are catering,” said Roland. Sometimes others working with Nutrition Services come in to help, such as the program’s office manager, Lea Richardson, and other times staff from other SCHRA programs volunteer to lend a hand transporting and serving food and drinks. Even the agency’s Deputy Director, Sara Brown, is known to have worked on quite a few events over the years.

SCHRA offers a wide range of options in terms of catering services. Since the program began, SCHRA has catered events in settings ranging from Huntsville, Alabama, to Nashville and Spring Hill, Tennessee. Events are often catered at the client’s venue, but the conference room at SCHRA’s central office location is available for clients looking for a location to rent. For smaller events or occasions, meals may be prepared and picked up at the central office or staff may come to a local venue and set up food and drinks for events that don’t require servers on hand.

When asked about the variety of items available to be served, Christa said, “We used to have more of a set menu, but these days we can fix pretty much whatever someone wants—as long as we have time to plan it!” Staff are prepared to serve everything from finger foods and light refreshments to a full-scale formal dinner with dessert for functions ranging from a small family gathering to a wedding with 400 or more guests. Holidays and the summer wedding season are often their busiest times of the year, so clients have the best luck securing their booking by contacting program staff as early as possible.

Clients interested in SCHRA catering services may call Ashley Roland at 931-433-7182 ext. 1145 or email aroland@schra.us for more information. Menu consultation and pricing are available upon request. You may also contact Patty Moore at 931-433-7182 ext. 1149 or email pmoore@schra.us.

Pictured (L-R): Ashley Roland, Mary Burton, Patty Moore, and Becky Christa

Recovery Court Helps Graduate Make a Statement

South Central Human Resource Agency, through the Community Corrections Department, supports three Recovery Courts: one in Lawrence County, one in Maury County, and one in Lincoln County. Even with the current COVID-19 crisis, Stephanie DeMay, Community Corrections Director and Tony Patterson, Recovery Court Program Coordinator, worked hard to make sure everyone stayed on track ensuring successes and support continued no matter what.

We have had our first couple of Recovery Court graduations– days of incredible joy, pride, and sometimes trepidation. After all, some of those who are standing up to be recognized for the hard work they put in to be a successful graduate of these programs have previously been at their very lowest. They were determined to make a better life for themselves and their loved ones. The judges, attorneys, probation officers, social workers, and counselors all believed in them as well and were resolved to make sure they succeeded. For many of the graduates, as well as those that are currently in the program right now, this is not where they necessarily saw themselves being. However, sometimes life gets tough for whatever reason, bad decisions are made, and you end up dealing with the consequences. The big question is, how will you deal with those consequences? What path will you take? Where will you find the determination and the fortitude to make the important decisions to get to the other side a healthier, more positive person, ready to take on the world and make a positive impact for yourself, your family and your community?

Todd Bean, a lifelong Lincoln County resident, has always had a passion for cooking. Where he is right now is a testament to his determination, sense of responsibility, and love of and for his family. He is the first person to tell you that he has made some bad decisions; but he knew that those decisions were not who he really was nor were they going to determine who he could or would be. Todd is a recent graduate of the Lincoln County Recovery Court. He is also the co-owner of one of Lincoln County’s newest restaurants, Beano’s. I had the honor of being able to spend a little time talking with Todd about his journey with the program and getting ready to open a restaurant.

Social media along with his natural born talents share responsibility for where he is right now. He has a pasta dish that he is known for, and after making it, he posted a photo of it onto Facebook. He got a great response from the photo and ended up taking samples of it to people who had commented. That photo eventually led to Todd becoming certified for catering. He started making plates from home, and his food business boomed. When he got to the point where he was having to turn down business, he realized that he had to get into a commercial kitchen. You can call it fate, good karma, or just being at the right place at the right time; but right as Todd was realizing that he wanted to continue to move forward and make a real business out of this, he got a notice that a kitchen and restaurant building was opening up in Park City right on Hwy. 231/431. It was a great location and opportunity that he wasted no time on. He called late that night to set up a time to see the building the next morning. Todd saw his vision in that building and what he could turn it into. Even though the owner of the building said he should wait, Todd said no, he was ready to get moving on it, and Beano’s was born.

Todd has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is right now, not only with the restaurant but with his work in the recovery program. He gives all of the glory and credit to God and said that God is the upmost influence in his life. He told me, “I have tried to change myself, when I first started the program I submitted.” Once he did this he says he started to see the things he needed to do to be successful, both spiritually as well as with the requirements of the program, which are rigorous. He told me he was taught structure, responsibility to self and others, and the importance of staying clean. He learned a lot about himself, too– his fight with addiction and about his cravings and triggers and how to handle and respond to them. He said, “on cravings you don’t have to ride the wave but you learn to surf.” He learned a different route and he changed his friends. He says that it is not easy, “ but it is easier by following what I’ve learned.” He also added, “I learned to pause, to realize the drug was the wrong choice, to think through the consequences and realize what can be lost.”

I asked Todd about the people in his life and in the program that he thought made a difference. The first person he mentioned was his wife Latisa, stating “She has been extremely supportive in all that I have done.” She is also co-owner of Beano’s with Todd. Todd has dealt with a couple of different therapists but one made a definite impression on him and that was Katelyn Armstrong. He said she was different, “she made me face some things. Even when things got heated she stayed with me – even when I was stubborn. She gave me closure, she made me talk.” Todd also mentioned Tony Patterson, the program coordinator. He called him Superman, “ you know he is there for you, you can’t pull anything over on him, you can rely on him and can call him any time.” He wanted to make Tony proud, he wanted a great report at each Recovery Court meeting. Finally, he mentioned his mom and dad. Regarding his mom he said, “back then, everything she said I listened to but not really listened”. Today so many people tell him that now his mom is looking down on him and saying “my baby got it”. He says this with a huge amount of well-deserved pride and happiness.

Now as if all of this does not seem like a mountain to climb, try having a restaurant grand opening days before the State goes into lock-down over COVID-19. Todd dealt with it all in stride. He had a great, well attended ribbon cutting on March 19^th. Once the shutdown was in effect he like most other restaurants, went to pick-up and delivery only. Since that is where Todd started this was not about to hold him back and was an easy transition and the restaurant did not skip a beat. I was so happy when I was able to visit for lunch and see that his success is continuing; that and I was able to have a great meal.

Todd had to miss the actual graduation ceremony because it happened at 11:30 and well, he was running a restaurant. However that did not stop Tony and the rest of the group from making sure that he received the recognition of a job well done, they just went to Beano’s for lunch and celebration. Todd’s final words were about his future, “these same principles, I will continue to apply to whatever I am doing.” Congratulations to Todd and to all of the recent graduates of this Recovery Court.

South Lawrence Head Start Scores Special Guest Readers

The children at South Lawrence Head Start have been lucky to have some very special guest readers recently. In October, State Representative Clay Doggett, Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams and County Commissioner Bert Spearman all took their turns reading to the kids during the building dedication. In January, their guest reader list took a community athletic turn.

David and Ryan Weathers surprised the kids to read to them and take some photos with the class. The Weathers family is well-known for their community support in Lawrence County. David and Ryan had their hands full reading a couple of the kids favorite books and the kids were more than happy to help them out while they read.

The Weathers family, while originally from Lawrence County, traveled the country while David played Major League Baseball. From 1991-2009, he played for a number of teams coast to coast from the Florida Marlins to the Toronto Blue Jays and in 1996 pitched for the World Series Champion Yankees. The apple did not fall far from the tree with Ryan. He was drafted in 2018, during the first round, by the San Diego Padres. Once the family returned to Lawrence County they started to give back in many different ways including partnering with the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club in building an outdoor basketball facility at Rotary Park. Today the Weathers family continues to make a positive impact in the communities in Lawrence County.

The children at South Lawrence Head Start were fortunate to catch David and Ryan before they headed west to Arizona for the Padres spring training session. The staff at the center were able to present them with Certificates of Appreciation for their support of the site and continued support of the community.