County Community Outreach Workshops

St Johns County District 5 Commissioner, Rachael L. Bennett, announces to Historic City News readers, her plans to hold Community Outreach Workshops around the county between November 7 and December 4.

The goal of these workshops, according to Bennett, is to demystify and humanize the government process citizens must navigate to reach programs, already in place, that could be of benefit to them, their families, and others in the community.

“There are many with needs that are unaware of resources that exist for them,” Bennett said. “The outreach programs are targeted towards those segments of our community who are most in need of our assistance.”

Rachael Bennett
St Johns County Board of County Commissioners, District 5

Dear Editor;

St Johns County gets top ratings on so many things: our school system, our natural environment, and our visitor amenities receive high praise. Our economic development efforts are paying off with new jobs coming to the County. In my mind, the reason that St Johns County is so great is that the people who live here are amazing. I consider our residents to be the greatest asset the County has.

During my time on the St Johns County Commission, I have been fortunate enough to meet and spend time with residents from all areas of the County. These conversations have provided valuable feedback from the community regarding County programs and services.

To that end, I (with the consensus of the Board) have initiated a series of community outreach presentations and workshops that are designed to provide St Johns County residents with information regarding services and programs that exist in our community for our senior, underserved, and fixed income population.

Beginning on November 7, the St Johns County Health and Human Services Department will host the series of meetings for residents to learn more about Amendment 11 (Senior Exemptions), Fair Housing, Social Services, and Healthcare Reform. For additional information, you can reach the St Johns County Health and Human Services Department at 904.209.6064.

St Johns County Community Outreach Workshops

• 10 a.m. on November 7 at Flagler Hospital in the Osceola and Matanzas conference rooms
• 10 a.m. on November 13 at the Hastings Branch Library in the meeting room
• 10 a.m. on November 21 at the Bartram Trail Branch Library in the small conference room
• 10 a.m. on December 4 at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center in the Multi-Purpose room

During these events, the St Johns Property Appraiser’s Office will discuss the Senior Exemptions Summary and will present information regarding how Amendment 11 allows counties and municipalities to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for qualifying low-income seniors.

In addition, St Johns County Social Services staff members will discuss various services tailored to low-income families and uninsured or underinsured residents, including assistance available for doctor’s visits and limited prescription assistance. The St Johns County Housing and Community Development Division will also present a workshop on fair housing, and the Bailey Group will present information on healthcare reform and how it affects individuals.

For the convenience of all St Johns County residents, the workshops will be held at four different locations on a variety of dates. A culmination of the community outreach program will occur with a final event scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 4 at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center. This workshop will feature a services presentation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and many Community partners will have booths open until 1 p.m. to showcase their programs. Providers scheduled to attend include Legal Aide, the Supervisor of Elections, County Social Services, Council on Aging, Home Again St Johns, Community Hospice, Wildflower Clinic, West Augustine CRA/Weed & Seed, SHINE, and the St Johns County Planning Department.

The St Johns County Employees who help facilitate these programs are compassionate, caring, and more than willing to go the extra mile to help our citizens.

I encourage you to attend one of these workshops to become more informed. If you know somebody who would benefit from these services, please let them know about this wonderful opportunity to obtain more information. The people who call St Johns County home are our community’s most valuable asset. Helping our family members, friends, and neighbors benefit from the many services and programs that are available to them will preserve a high quality of life for all St Johns County residents and ensure our community remains one of the most desirable in which to live, work, and raise a family.