Kennebec Valley Community Action Program

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES AND BY PARTNERING WITH OTHERS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY IN AN EVER CHANGING ENVIRONMENT.

COMMUNITY SERVICES - IS COMPRISED OF TWO DIVISIONS: (1) SOCIAL SERVICES, AND (2) TRANSPORTATION.THE SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION IMPLEMENTS THE MAINE FAMILIES HOME VISITING PROGRAM AND THE KENNEBEC/SOMERSET FAMILY ENRICHMENT COUNCILS. MAINE FAMILIES PARTNERS WITH EXPECTING OR NEW PARENTS TO ENSURE SAFE HOME ENVIRONMENTS AND PROMOTE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. IN 2021, 227 FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. THERE WERE 260 IN-HOME VISITS, 1,304 VIRTUAL VISITS, AND 6898 PHONE VISITS CONDUCTED. THE FAMILY ENRICHMENT COUNCILS WORK TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN KENNEBEC AND SOMERSET COUNTIES. THROUGH THEIR WORK 1,300 CAREGIVERS PARTICIPATED IN PARENTING CLASSES AND APPROXIMATELY 25,000 FREE DIAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO AREA FAMILIES. THERE WAS ALSO A COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER THAT NEARLY 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED WELCOME BABY BAGS FILLED WITH DIAPERS, WIPES AND CREAM; A SLEEP SACK AND HOMEMADE BLANKET; NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS; NEW BABY CLOTHING; BIBS, BURP CLOTHS, AND PACIFIERS; A BOOK AND A TOY; AND SAFETY ITEMS AND HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT LITERATURE, AND WERE ABLE TO SHOP FOR FREE AT THE GENTLY USED BABY BOUTIQUE WHICH INCLUDED SUCH ITEMS AS MATERNITY AND BABY CLOTHING, STROLLERS, AND BABY BATHTUBS AMONG OTHER ITEMS. THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION HAS TWO COMPONENTS: (1) OPERATING PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES IN THE AUGUSTA, WATERVILLE, AND SKOWHEGAN AREAS THROUGH THE KENNEBEC EXPLORER, SOMERSET EXPLORER, AND "MOVE MORE KIDS" PUBLIC BUS SYSTEM, AND (2) PROVIDING DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION THROUGH A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS AND SEVERAL AGENCY VEHICLES FOR MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. THE KENNEBEC AND SOMERSET PUBLIC BUSES GAVE 30,589 RIDES BRINGING PEOPLE TO WORK, SCHOOL, HEALTH CARE AND TO ACCESS LOCAL BUSINESS AND SERVICES. KV VAN AND VOLUNTEER DRIVERS PROVIDED NEARLY 119,000 RIDES FOR THE ON-DEMAND SERVICE DRIVING 2.6 MILLION MILES.

CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL BASED CARE, EDUCARE CENTRAL MAINE, SKOWHEGAN EARLY HEAD START, HOMESTART PROVIDER PARTNERS, AND THROUGH HOME VISITING THROUGHOUT NORTHERN KENNEBEC AND SOMERSET COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO INCREASE SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS OF CHILDREN SO THEY ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM, RECEIVING ON-SITE DENTAL EXAMS, AND RECEIVING ON-SITE LEAD TESTING. THE PROGRAM ALSO PARTNERED WITH PARENTS ON HOME VISITS PROVIDING SUPPORTS RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, RECEIVING TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND PROVIDING HELP FINDING AND SECURING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS YEAR 559 CHILDREN INCREASED THEIR READINESS FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS THROUGH 425,380 HOURS OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION; 13,968 HEALTHY MEALS AND SNACKS WERE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN; AND COMMUNITY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS RECEIVED OVER 400 HOURS OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, TO REDUCE ENERGY BURDEN, TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND TO SUSTAIN OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP IN KENNEBEC, SOMERSET, LINCOLN, AND SAGADAHOC COUNTIES. THIS IS DONE THROUGH A VARIETY OF EDUCATION/ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INCLUDING: LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP), LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIAP), EMERGENCY CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM (ECIP), CENTRAL HEATING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CHIP), WEATHERIZATION, HOME REPAIR, DEP HOME HEATING OIL TANK REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, EMERGENCY RENTAL RELIEF PROGRAM (ERA), FORECLOSURE COUNSELING, HOMEBUYER EDUCATION, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. IN THIS LAST YEAR, 7,734 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED FUEL ASSISTANCE KEEPING 16,170 PEOPLE WARM; 318 PEOPLE HAD THEIR FURNACE SERVICED OR REPLACED; 40 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HOME REPAIR SERVICES; CONSTRUCTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF 30 SENIOR APARTMENTS BEGAN IN HARTLAND; AND 3,879 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE WITH RENT AND UTILITY PAYMENTS WHILE PUTTING $9.2 MILLION BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES PROGRAMMING IS MANAGED THROUGH THE ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES OPERATES A TEEN CENTER, RESOURCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, AND FACILITATES THE POVERTY ACTION COALITION. THE SOUTH END TEEN CENTER SERVES YOUTH FROM GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 WITH MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, MUSIC LESSONS, COOKING CLASSES, HOMEWORK AND TUTORING, AND OTHER ENRICHING ACTIVITIES WHILE FOCUSED ON COMPLETING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND/OR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. THERE WERE 48 TEENS THAT ATTENDED/PARTICIPATED IN THE TEEN CENTER, AND 937 SUMMER MEALS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE SOUTH END NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER AND WATERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE RESOURCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO CLIENTS REFERRED THROUGH OTHER KVCAP PROGRAMS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO HELP ADDRESS A FINANCIAL CRISIS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM 804 PEOPLE WERE CONNECTED TO A VARIETY OF SERVICES THROUGH ONE-TIME VISITS AND LONGER-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT AND HELPED 366 PEOPLE TO QUARANTINE SAFELY DUE TO COVID-19 BY DELIVERING FOOD, MEDICATION, CLEANING SUPPLIES AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS. THE POVERTY ACTION COALITION'S (PAC) COMMUNITY INVESTORS INITIATIVE, DRAWS ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING A CRISIS THAT THREATENS THEIR STABILITY AND WHEN NO OTHER RESOURCES EXIST. SPECIAL GRANT DOLLARS AND LOCAL DONATIONS ALLOWED US TO ASSIST 409 PEOPLE FINANCIALLY AFFECTED BY COVID-19. ESSENTIAL NEEDS INCLUDED FOOD AND HYGIENE ITEMS, FUEL, UTILITY EXPENSES, CELL PHONE AND INTERNET SERVICES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN WORK AND SCHOOL FROM HOME, CAR PAYMENTS, AND INSURANCE.

AGENCY SERVICES OFFERS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCY OF THE AGENCY IN REGARDS TO PROVIDING THE TYPES OF SERVICES DESCRIBED ABOVE.