Cayuga-Seneca Community Action Agency Inc

TO RESPECTFULLY ASSIST PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE AND SUSTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. THE AGENCY ADMINISTERS MORE THAN 50 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START, HOMELESS INTERVENTION AND HOMELESS VULNERABLE PROGRAMS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, FOOD PANTRY, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM (SEE SCHEDULE O):THE AGENCY'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN CAYUGA COUNTY. CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, NUTRITION, AND FAMILY SERVICES. THE AGENCY WORKS CLOSELY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AUBURN, MORAVIA, SOUTHERN CAYUGA, AND CATO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL READINESS GOALS AND NEW YORK STATE EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS. THE AGENCY HAS UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN (UPK) PARTNERSHIPS WITH AUBURN, SOUTHERN CAYUGA, AND MORAVIA. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: EARLY HEAD START - A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PREGNANT WOMEN, SERVING CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 2. HEAD START - A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 5, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, NUTRITIONAL, SOCIAL, AND FAMILY SUPPORT. UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN (UPK) - A NEW YORK STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM FOR 4-YEAR-OLDS, ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THEIR ENTRY INTO KINDERGARTEN. 3PK - A PRE-KINDERGARTEN STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS. BACKPACK PROGRAM - PROVIDES CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM IN AUBURN WITH NUTRITIOUS FOOD ON THE WEEKEND, DURING THE THIRD WEEK OF EACH MONTH WHEN OTHER HOUSEHOLD RESOURCES HAVE DWINDLED.

EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM (SEE SCHEDULE O):EMERGENCY SERVICES ASSISTS CUSTOMERS ON A WALKIN BASIS IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS SITUATION. STAFF WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, GATHER INFORMATION AND RESOLVE THE CRISIS. CUSTOMERS CAN THEN BE REFERRED TO A COMBINATION OF PROGRAMS WITHIN THE AGENCY OR PARTNER AGENCIES THAT CAN PROVIDE LONGTERM ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED. ALL OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED IN EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN A STRENGTHBASED MANNER, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT HOUSEHOLDS WILL MOVE TOWARD SELFSUFFICIENCY. THE EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE TO AGENCY CUSTOMERS TO HELP ALLEVIATE HUNGER IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FOOD PANTRY IS UNIQUE IN THE COMMUNITY AS IT IS THE ONLY PANTRY WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN BE SERVED REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE FOOD TWICE MONTHLY AS OPPOSED TO MONTHLY. EMERGENCY BABY PANTRY PROVIDES INCOME ELIGIBLE FAMILIES IN SENECA COUNTY WITH CHILDREN AGED 0-24 MONTHS WITH DIAPERS, FORMULA, WIPES DIAPER CREAM, CAR SEATS, CLOTHING AND BLANKETS MONTHLY. PERSONAL CARE PANTRY PROVIDES PERSONAL CARE ITEMS INCLUDING DIAPERS, BABYWIPES, FEMININE PRODUCTS, TOOTHBRUSHES, TOOTHPASTE, SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, DEODORANT, AND HAIRBRUSHES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN CAYUGA COUNTY. CAYUGA HAS EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SOLUTIONS (CHESS) PROGRAM PROVIDES FLEXIBLE ONETIME ASSISTANCE TO HELP TANF ELIGIBLE WORKING FAMILIES TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN EMPLOYMENT. FUNDS MAY ASSIST WITH HOUSING UTILITIES, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS, CAR REPAIRS, AND OTHER NEEDS. CAYUGA COUNTY CHRISTMAS ELF COLLABORATIVE, MULTIPARTNER PROGRAM PROVIDES TOYS TO INCOME ELIGIBLE CHILDREN IN NEED IN CAYUGA COUNTY, AGED 18 YEARS OR YOUNGER, DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. HOMELESS INTERVENTION FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) AND FROM THE CITY OF AUBURN IS USED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS OR NEAR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AN AGENCY ADVOCATE WORKS WITH THE CUSTOMER TO DETERMINE THEIR HOUSING NEEDS AND HOW THEY CAN BE BEST ADDRESSED TO PROVIDE PERMANENT, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS. ONCE THE CUSTOMER ENTERS THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THEIR HOUSING NEEDS, A CASE MANAGER THEN WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH ASSISTANCE CAN SECURE HOUSING AND MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL TO AVOID A REPEAT BOUT OF HOMELESSNESS. CAR SEAT DISTRIBUTION PROVIDES CAR SEATS TO FAMILIES IN NEED AND ACCEPTS BOTH IN-AGENCY AND OUT-OF-AGENCY REFERRALS. A CERTIFIED CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN PRESENTS AN HOUR LONG WORKSHOP THAT INCLUDES A VIDEO ON CHILD SAFETY AND CAR SEAT INSTALLATION. A HANDSON DEMONSTRATION IS PROVIDED BY THE TECHNICIAN AND THE CUSTOMER MUST ALSO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN INSTALLATION PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE CAR SEAT. HEALTH BENEFITS EXCHANGE CONTRACT WITH NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE NAVIGATOR SERVICES TO ASSIST POTENTIAL ENROLLEES WITH ACCESSING AFFORDABLE CARE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE. RAPID REHOUSING ASSISTS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND INTO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, IN SOME INSTANCES TO HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. A REFERRAL IS THROUGH CAYUGA COUNTY. FREE CLOTHING PROVIDES GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO PEOPLE IN NEED. TO ACCOMMODATE AS MANY SHOPPERS AS POSSIBLE, VISITS ARE LIMITED TO ONCE PER WEEK FOR 30 MINUTES, AND VISITORS ARE LIMITED TO 3 SHOPPING BAGS PER VISIT (UNLESS SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES APPLY).WARM THE CHILDREN COLLABORATIVE, MULTIPARTNER PROGRAM PROVIDES WARM WINTER COATS AND ACCESSORIES TO INCOME ELIGIBLE CHILDREN IN NEED IN CAYUGA COUNTY AGED 14 AND YOUNGER.

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: FAMILY AND VICTIM SERVICES: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES PROGRAM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES PROGRAM IS A VITAL RESOURCE, PROVIDING CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDING EMERGENCY SAFETY SERVICES SUCH AS SHELTER AND A 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE. PROGRAM ADVOCATES HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ARE EXPERIENCED IN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE. THEY UNDERSTAND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE, COURT AND SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEMS, AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO VICTIMS. IN ADDITION, AN ADVOCATE CAN ACCOMPANY A VICTIM TO COURT, THE POLICE STATION, OR TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THE AGENCY'S ADVOCATES ALSO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HELP FIND A SAFE PLACE TO STAY, PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING LEGAL RIGHTS, PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT, SUPPORT GROUPS, FINANCIAL ADVOCACY, MEDICAL ADVOCACY, LAW ENFORCEMENT ADVOCACY, FAMILY COURT ADVOCACY, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, PROVIDE REFERRALS TO NECESSARY COMMUNITY RESOURCES. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES RENTAL SUBSIDIES AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN. VICTIM COMPENSATION CLAIMS ASSISTANCE THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH THE NYS OFFICE OF VICTIM SERVICES AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF CRIME WITH APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ASSIST WITH ITEMS SUCH AS MEDICAL BILLS, LOST WAGES, AND COUNSELING EXPENSES RELATED TO THE CRIME. INTERVENTIONS MAY INCLUDE HOME VISITATIONS THROUGH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOLLOWUP PROGRAM BY AUBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CAYUGA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE: SENECA WOMEN'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION, SUPERVISED VISITATION/SAFE EXCHANGE, EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS COVID-19, HUNGER PREVENTION AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE, HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE, KINSHIP CAREGIVER, SENECA PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER GENERATIONS, VOLUNTEER MEDICAID TRANSPORTATION, DRESS FOR SUCCESS, BRENDAN MCGRATH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, ACCESS VR, EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS PROGRAM, IMPROVING CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES, AND SENECA COUNTY CHRISTMAS PROJECT.