Akron Summit Community Action Agency

TO REDUCE POVERTY AND PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

CHILD EDUCATION:THE HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN AGE-APPROPRIATE, NURTURING AND SECURE CENTER-BASED INFANT/TODDLER AND PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. THE HOME BASED OPTION IS ALSO OFFERED FOR 44 EARLY HEAD START FAMILIES AND 16 PREGNANT MOTHERS.THE PROGRAM GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY PRENATAL OUTCOMES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, PROMOTE HEALTHY FAMILY FUNCTIONING, AND PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS BY ENHANCING THE SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHILE FOSTERING SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND LIFE-LONG PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS.HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROVIDES EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH SERVICES, NUTRITION SERVICES, SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO 1,246 LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OLD AND THEIR FAMILIES.IN ADDITION TO THE SCOPE OF SERVICES ABOVE, THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES A HOME-BASED PRE-NATAL EDUCATION/CURRICULUM TO ENROLLED PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN, PROMOTING HEALTHY PRENATAL OUTCOMES WHILE ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE OF INFANT/TODDLER DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPING HEALTHY FAMILY FUNCTIONING.THE ENTIRE SCOPE OF HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START SERVICES IS RESPONSIVE AND APPROPRIATE TO EACH CHILD'S AND FAMILY'S DEVELOPMENTAL, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, AND LINGUISTIC HERITAGE.

COMMUNITY SERVICES:COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. THE CIRCLES PROGRAM IS PART OF A NATIONAL MOVEMENT CREATING A FRAMEWORK FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS CLASS AND RACE LINES WITH THE GOAL OF ENDING POVERTY. JOB TRAINING (CDL AND OTHER) IS PROVIDED THROUGH COMUNITY SERVICES. THE AKRON SUMMIT EITC PROGRAM PROVIDES FACE-TO-FACE FREE TAX PREPARATION BY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS WHO PREPARE FEDERAL, STATE, AND CITY OF AKRON RETURNS AT NO COST.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE:THE EMERGENCY HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (E-HEAP) ASSISTS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE THREATENED WITH A UTILITY SHUT-OFF NOTICE OR THAT HAVE RUN OUT OF BULK FUEL, SUCH AS OIL OR PROPANE.THE WINTER CRISIS PROGRAM (WCP) ASSISTS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN DANGER OF HAVING THEIR GAS OR ELECTRIC UTILITIES DISCONNECTED, HAVE ALREADY HAD SERVICES DISCONNECTED, OR THOSE WITH LESS THAN A TEN DAY SUPPLY OF BULK FUEL.THROUGH THE SUMMER CRISIS PROGRAM (SCP), ASSISTANCE IS MADE TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WITH AN ELECTRIC UTILITY PAYMENT.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AKRON SUMMIT COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. ALSO ENROLLS OR RE-VERIFIES GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITY CUSTOMERS IN THE PERCENTAGE OF INCOME PAYMENT PLAN (PIPP). PIPP IS AN EXTENDED PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT THAT REQUIRES REGULATED GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANIES TO ACCEPT PAYMENTS BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF THE MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME.