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Hey everyone! Beth here at the Cabell County Family Resource Network. Spring has officially sprung! The Bradford Pears and dogwoods are in full bloom, and with the warmer weather comes an abundance of free community events.
Free community events are more than just fun outings—they’re incredible opportunities for personal and professional growth. Whether you're looking to expand your network, engage your family, support local initiatives, or make the most of available resources, these events have something for everyone. Let’s break it down! Networking & Relationship Building In a past blog post, I talked about stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s not always easy, but taking that leap can lead to meaningful connections and unexpected opportunities. Think about it—if you trace back to a resource, job, or friendship that impacted your life, chances are it started with a single introduction. Tips for making meaningful connections: ✅ Introduce yourself with confidence ✅ Ask questions and show genuine interest ✅ Be yourself—authenticity builds lasting relationships Family & Youth Engagement As a parent, I get it—sometimes it’s hard to take advice from others when it comes to your children. I was hesitant when my son was referred to Birth to Three, but in time, I realized: why not take advantage of available resources? Free events provide learning opportunities for both children and parents. Kids get exposed to new activities, people, and potential future interests, while parents discover valuable community programs designed to support them. Supporting Local Initiatives Even if you don’t think you personally need a particular resource, just showing up at a community event helps build a stronger, more connected community. When organizations see strong attendance, it reinforces the importance of their work and helps them continue serving others. Plus, you get a front-row seat to see how different groups collaborate to maximize resources. Ways to show support: ✅ Volunteer (not sure where to start? I’d love to help!) ✅ Spread the word in your networks ✅ Partner with local organizations to bring fresh ideas Maximizing Resources Not every event will be a perfect fit for you, but if you ever think, "Should I go?"—the answer is YES! You never know what you might learn, who you’ll meet, or what opportunities might arise. How to find free community events: ✅ Join local Facebook groups and neighborhood pages ✅ Follow businesses and organizations on social media ✅ Keep an eye out for flyers when you're out and about ✨ Check out our community events page for free events in Cabell and surrounding counties! → Community Events Hope to see you out and about this Spring! 🌸
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Hey everyone! Beth here from the Cabell County Family Resource Network. I wanted to take a moment to share my personal experience with budgeting—how I went from barely thinking about it to actually feeling in control of my finances.
Let’s be real—budgeting isn’t something most of us are taught in school. And if you’ve ever worked in the service industry like I did, where your income can change from week to week, the idea of setting up a budget might feel impossible. Back when I was a server and bartender, I was just focused on making ends meet, not tracking every dollar. Then life threw a few big changes my way. I met my husband, we had our first son, and then—boom—COVID hit. My restaurant shut down, and I had to rethink everything. That’s when I decided to go back to school and shift to a steady 9-to-5 job with a reliable paycheck. For the first time, I knew exactly how much money I’d bring home every two weeks, and I realized it was time to get serious about budgeting. Getting Started with Budgeting My husband introduced me to the EveryDollar app (shoutout to Dave Ramsey fans). There’s a free version that works just fine—I’ve never paid for the premium one, so I can’t say if it’s worth it. But even the free version helped me get a handle on my expenses. The first step? Writing everything down. And I mean everything. I sat down and made a list of every bill, every expense, and even those sneaky little charges (looking at you, monthly subscriptions!). My current list looks something like this: Income:
Expenses:
How I Make My Budget Work One of the best tips I learned? Plan for the highest bill. For example, if my highest-ever electric bill was $250, I budget for that amount every month. If the bill ends up being only $125 one month, I take the leftover $125 and immediately move it to my savings account. (Pro tip: A high-yield savings account earns you extra money just for keeping it there!) Even if you can only set aside $5 or $10 a month, it adds up. The key is to start. When you see your savings grow—even little by little—it feels like progress, and that momentum helps you keep going. Final Thoughts I know budgeting can feel overwhelming, especially if money is tight. But having a plan, even a simple one, can make such a difference. It helped me go from feeling stressed about money to knowing exactly where it’s going. If you’re just getting started, don’t overthink it—just start tracking! How do you budget? Do you have any go-to apps or tricks? I’d love to hear what works for you! Hey everyone! Beth here at the Cabell County Family Resource Network.
Today, I want to talk about higher education—aka college. In full transparency, I was a great high school student but a terrible college student… until I wasn’t. It took me years to finally earn my bachelor’s degree, and the secret to making it happen was both simple and complex: a support system and recognizing that my failures were just opportunities to be better the next time. The Early Struggles Right out of high school in 2008, I enrolled at Marshall University as a Forensic Chemistry major. My ACT scores were high enough to get me in, but I had taken zero chemistry and zero biology in high school. At the time, chemistry majors were required to minor in biology, and as a freshman, I didn’t know how to advocate for myself—or even that I needed to. Without guidance or a support system, I struggled. I dropped most of my courses and failed another. Eventually, I dropped out. Over the years, I re-enrolled at Marshall too many times to count, trying different majors—Criminal Justice, then Natural Resources and Recreation Management. It wasn’t that these programs were bad; I just couldn’t commit to the work while also holding a job to support myself. Without a support system, college felt impossible. A Different Path During one of my many transitions, I enrolled at Mountwest Community & Technical College to pursue an associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies. However, in my last semester, I realized that wasn’t the career path I wanted. Instead of giving up completely, I looked into how I could still earn a degree with the credits I had. In May 2013, I graduated with a Board of Governors degree—a general studies associate’s degree with most of my credits in paralegal studies. Coming Full Circle Fast forward to 2020. COVID hit, the world shut down, and I was home with my six-month-old. I needed something to do. With the support of my now-husband, I re-enrolled at Marshall—this time, for the last time (or so I thought). I pursued a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree, which allowed me to apply all my previous credits toward a degree. Between May and December 2020, I completed seven online courses and finally earned my bachelor’s degree—with a minor in Criminal Justice! Ironically, in January 2021, I started working as a paralegal—remember when I said I didn't want to be a paralegal all those years ago? A New Chapter In January 2022, I had my second son. That March, our family moved to Louisiana while I was still technically on maternity leave. I was at a crossroads—should I find a job or go back to school? My husband and I talked about it for months, and ultimately, I decided to return to school. In January 2023, I started graduate school for a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies. After my first semester, I decided to pursue a second master’s degree. For over a year, I worked on both degrees simultaneously. I graduated with my MA in Leadership Studies in 2024 and will complete my Master of Public Administration (with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management) in May of this year. The Takeaway The point of this long-winded story? You will fail—maybe more than once. But failure doesn’t mean you should give up. It is never too late to go back to school and do the hard work. Find a good support system. Sometimes, that won’t be the people closest to you. Step outside your comfort zone—go to community meetings, attend events that interest you, and connect with others. You might be surprised where you find support. Your journey won’t look like mine, and that’s okay. Just don’t be afraid to take the first step, and if you need support in doing so, please reach out to me! Hey everyone! Beth here at the Cabell County Family Resource Network (often called the Cabell FRN). Navigating public resources can be exhausting, frustrating, and overwhelming. I know because I’ve been there. Today, I want to share my story to remind you that you’re not alone in your struggles—and to show you that with persistence, things can get better.
Getting Started with Assistance Programs When I became pregnant in 2018, I found myself without insurance and barely making enough money to cover my basic needs. The thought of navigating these systems felt daunting, but I knew I needed help. My doctor’s office (Valley Health A Woman’s Place) gave me a proof of pregnancy form and sent me to the DHHR to apply for Medicaid. At first, the idea of proving I was pregnant to access “emergency” Medicaid seemed absurd, but I went anyway. That trip was the beginning of my journey through what felt like an endless sea of paperwork. I filled out form after form and signed what felt like a billion pages. While I was there, I also applied for SNAP benefits, which provided me with less than $30 a month—but it was something. I also learned about WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), which became a lifeline. WIC provided nutritional food for me during pregnancy and postpartum and continued to support my son through his early years. Overcoming the Paperwork Struggle The biggest challenge was the sheer amount of repetitive paperwork. Each program—Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC—required its own application, even though they all asked for the same information. Later, I applied for LINK to help with childcare expenses, and, again, it was the same story: new forms, same details. To make things more complicated, my son had been on a daycare waiting list for over six months. (Pro tip: If you’re pregnant and know you’ll need childcare, get on the waitlist as soon as possible. Most centers allow you to apply before your child is born!) During this time, I worked in the service industry, earning just enough to keep going but nowhere near a living wage. My husband couldn’t contribute financially because of his university commitments, so I had no choice but to keep going through the tedious process of applying for every program I could. Why It’s Worth It I won’t sugarcoat it: navigating these systems takes patience and perseverance. It’s not ideal that we have to visit multiple offices and fill out redundant applications, but it’s the reality of the current system. Here’s the good news: once you take that first step and commit to the process, it gets easier to take the next steps. Doing the hard, tedious work today can lead to opportunities that feel impossible right now. Whether it’s accessing childcare, putting food on the table, or getting the medical care you need, these resources are there to help you build a better future. You’re Not Alone If you’re feeling overwhelmed, reach out to us at the Cabell County Family Resource Network. We’re here to guide you through the process and connect you with the support you need. Remember, you’re not alone in this. Together, we can overcome the challenges and create a brighter future for you and your family. |
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