Western Indiana Community Action Agency Inc

TO PROVIDE GREATER USE OF NEW TYPES OF SERVICES & INNOVATIVE APPROACHES IN ATTACKING THE CAUSES OF POVERTY, SO AS TO DEVELOP INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE METHODS OF EMPLOYING AVAILABLE RESOURCES & TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM FEASIBLE PARTICIPATION OF THE ECONOMICALLY & MENTALLY DISADVANTAGED & ELDERLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL PROGRAMS & PROJECTS DESIGNED TO SERVE THIS CLIENTELE.

CHILD EDUCATION - HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START ARE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS BY ENHANCING THE SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, NUTRITIONAL, SOCIAL AND OTHER SERVICES TO ENROLLED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP THE EARLY READING AND MATH SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. PRENATAL EDUCATION IS ALSO PROVIDED TO PREGNANT MOTHERS. WICAA HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS HAVE SERVED 425 CHILDREN AND THIER FAMILIES ACROSS VIGO, CLAY AND PUTNAM COUNTIES. STAFF RECOGNIZES THAT PARENTS ARE THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS OF THEIR CHILDREN. WE WELCOME PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND WORK AS PARTNERS WITH PARENTS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT BEST MEETS THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILD. HOUSEHOLD INCOME ELIGIBILITY IS BASED UPON 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. TO BE AGE ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY HEAD START SERVICES CHILDREN MUST BE YOUNGER THAN 3 YEARS OLD OR A PREGNANT MOTHER. TO BE AGE ELIGIBLE FOR HEAD START SERVICES A CHILD MUST BE AT LEAST 3 YEARS OLD BY BY AUGUST 1ST, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CUT-OFF DATE.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE - DESIGNED TO ASSIST LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH THE HIGH COST OF HOME ENERGY. THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HEATING SEASON BEGINS IN NOVEMBER AND WESTERN INDIANA COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INC. PROVIDED SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 4,800 IN 2022.

FOOD PROGRAMS - THE WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN PROGRAM (WIC) IS A SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS, POSTPARTUM NON-BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS (UP TO SIX MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY), INFANTS AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE. THE WIC PROGRAM PROVIDES AT NO COST TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY, CHECKS FOR SPECIFIED NUTRITIOUS FOODS SUCH AS MILK, CEREAL, FRUIT JUICE, EGGS, CHEESE AND PEANUT BUTTER. BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE, AND FORMULA IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR INFANTS WHO ARE NOT BREASTFED. PARTICIPANTS RECIEVE INDIVIDUAL NUTRITION COUNSELING, NUTRITION CLASSES, AND HEALTH CARE REFERRAL. OVER 7,500 CLIENTS WERE SERVED IN 2022.