Community Action Partnership Of Strafford County

OUR VISION IS TO ELIMINATE POVERTY IN STRAFFORD COUNTY.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE: CAP PRIMARILY ADMINISTERS THE FEDERAL LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) AND THE NH UTILITIES ELECTRICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP). BENEFITS ARE GIVEN TO CERTIFIED ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND ARE CALCULATED BASED ON: TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME, NUMBER OF ELDERLY, DISABLED AND/OR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSEHOLD, CURRENT ENERGY COSTS & HOUSING TYPE. LIHEAP & EAP PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN PAYING ENERGY BILLS. THE HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES AND HIGHEST ENERGY COSTS GET THE GREATEST BENEFIT. HOUSEHOLDS MUST APPLY ANNUALLY. EAP PROVIDES CUSTOMERS A % DISCOUNT ON THEIR MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILLS.

CHILD SERVICES: HEAD START IS A NATIONAL SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION AND PARENT ANDCOMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM ELIGIBLE FAMILIES.EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PROVIDE EARLY, CONTINUOUS, AND COMPREHENSIVECHILD DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. EARLY HEAD START IS A HOME-BASED PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 AND PREGNANT WOMEN. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES INFANT-TODDLER ACTIVITIES, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE, NUTRITION, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HOUSING: THIS PROGRAM OFFERS CASE MANAGEMENT TO GUIDE AND EDUCATE CLIENT'S TRANSITION INTO STABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE A SECURITY DEPOSIT LOAN PROGRAM AND AN EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANT TO COVER BACK HOUSING AND UTILITY PAYMENTS TO PREVENT LOSS OF EXISTING HOUSING.

WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT: THIS PROGRAM HELPS THOSE WHO ARE RE-ENTERING THE WORK FORCE AND ARE SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES WITH TANF. A DETERMINATION IS MADE OF THE CLIENT'S EXISTING SKILLS SET. ASSISTANCE IS THEN FOCUSED ON RESUME WRITING AND INTERVIEW SKILLS. LASTLY, CLIENTS ARE THEN MATCHED TO PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS SEEKING THE CLIENTS SKILL SET.WEATHERIZATION: FROM THE LIST OF CLIENTS COLLECTED IN OUR ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, HIGH USAGE CLIENTS, WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND/OR DISABILITIES ARE SELECTED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AUDITS. SUBSEQUENT INSTALLATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES WILL REDUCE OUR CLIENTS' OVERALL ENERGY CONSUMPTION. COMMUNITY SERVICES: CAP OPERATES MORE THAN 25 PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR OUTREACH OFFICES & HOME VISITING SERVICES TO INCOME ELIGIBLE CLIENTS. THIS INCLUDES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE DIETS OF LOW- INCOME CHILDREN, ADULTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH OUR OWN FOOD PANTRIES AND BY COORDINATING WITH MORE THAN 20 OTHER PANTRIES & SOUP KITCHENS.WE COORDINATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF USDA COMMODITY FOOD COUNTYWIDE. CAP ENSURES CHILDREN RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS DURING THE SUMMER THROUGH THE USDA SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SUMMER MEALS) WITH SUPPORT FROM THE SHARE OUR STRENGTH FOUNDATION. SEVERAL HOME VISITING PROGRAMS PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT ON TOPICS SUCH AS: NUTRITION, BABY AND CHILD HEALTH CARE, BREAST AND FORMULA FEEDING AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CONCERNING: CHILD GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE.