Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022! A new year is upon us which means we have started to work on our resolutions for the year. Lowcountry COG encourages you to stick to your goals and see them through. Choose SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound) goals to pursue in small steps. Change doesn't have to happen all at once. If you didn't start on January 1st, know that it is never too late to start to build better habits.

In this edition of our newsletter, we praise two leaders from our renowned Aging Department and highlight the importance of being "job ready". This newsletter also features essential information about Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment and an explanation for the delay of The 2021 People and the Economy Report.

Enjoy!
Kudos to the Dazzling Aging Department!
Our very own Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging Director, Letisha N. Scotland, (on the left) was selected to attend the 14th USAging Leadership Institute in Alexandria, VA in December 2021. The USAging Leadership Institute brings together a select group of peers from agencies located across the United States in an interactive, customized, and highly effective training experience. During the intense training, facilitated by Doug Krug and Christine Kahane, Letisha had the opportunity to unlearn practices that no longer serve our cause and to refocus on self-awareness and learning effective ways to implement change, maximize results, and ask the right questions to move us in the direction of growth and overcoming obstacles. Upon completion, Letisha received a Certificate of Graduation from the USAging Leadership Institute and will be recognized at the 2022 USAging National Conference to be held in July in Austin, TX.

Another star in our Aging Department is Human Services Manager, Ashley Young. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the creation of SCDOA’s Assessment Program, Ashley received the Assessment Program Pioneer Award from the South Carolina Department on Aging’s former Assessment Program Manager, Kay Taylor Hightower, Esq. Ashley was instrumental in creating the Assessment Program and made great contributions to its success. She also served as a trainer for others in the Lowcountry region and other areas throughout the state. In addition, she served on the selected committee tasked with updating the assessment tool. Her leadership has been invaluable, and we are excited for her to be recognized and honored as an Assessment Program Pioneer!
Become Job Ready in 2022!
Every month the LCOG Business Services team conducts Job Readiness Workshops for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program participants. The workshops' goal is to mold participants into career ready candidates. Throughout the class, clients learn how to craft a superior resume and are coached on how to navigate interviews. While writing a resume it is important to relate relevant job experience to the job description. Anyone seeking a job should be prepared to "tell a little about themselves" and articulate their successes. It is vital that a jobseeker can speak to their strengths and weaknesses, their valuable soft and hard skills, and their work ethic.

Currently, Job Readiness Workshops are only available to WIOA participants. It has proven to be essential in helping clients navigate through the job hunt to successfully land sustaining employment. For all Employer Services needs, you may contact Tony Pollen, Business Services Manager, at 843-473-3984. Visit our website to find an SC Works Center near you so that you can enroll in the WIOA Program today!
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP)
January 1, 2022 - March 31, 2022
Are you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan? Did you know that you can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan?

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can drop your plan and return to Original Medicare. A person returning to Original Medicare is allowed to join a Medicare Drug Plan. During Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, you cannot switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, join a Medicare drug plan if you have original Medicare, or switch from one drug plan to another if you have original Medicare.

Your coverage begins the first day of the following month after enrollment. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Dieesha Hicks, your local State Health Insurance Program Specialist, at 843-473-3996.
The 2021 People and the Economy Report will be delayed due to the late release of the 2016 - 2020 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data which is of critical importance to the report. The Census Bureau recently confirmed that it would delay the release of the ACS 5-year data, originally scheduled for December 2021. The new schedule for the ACS 5-year data will be in March 2022. We aim to have the report published in May 2022. Until then, you may read The 2020 People and the Economy Report here under the Demographic Data tab. Please visit the link below for more information about the ACS 5- Year Data. If you have any other questions, contact Maleena Parkey, Senior Planner, at 843-473-3987.
 
If you have questions concerning any of the information contained in the newsletter, please feel free to contact Kira Fuller at 843.473.3956 or by email at rfuller@lowcountrycog.org.