Bi-County Community Action Programs Inc

BI-CAP'S MISSION IS TO HELP LOW INCOME PEOPLE OBTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

BI-CAP'S LARGEST PROGRAM IS THE HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS A SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM WHICH HELPS FAMILIES PROVIDE THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN PREPARATION FOR KINDERGARTEN. WITH A TWO-GENERATION APPROACH, PROGRAMS WORK WITH FAMILIES TO MAKE CONNECTION IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY LIVE, SUPPORT NEEDS, AND SET GOALS. EARLY HEAD START PROMOTES HELATHY PRENATAL OUTCOMES, ENHANCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS, AND PROMOTES HEALTHY FAMILY FUNCTIONING. SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY. 224 CHILDREN AND 197 FAMILIES WERE SERVED IN 2021-2022.

THE WEATHERIZATION DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH CLIENTS TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND TO DECREASE THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF THEIR HOME. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED HOUSEHOLDS WITH HIGH ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND SINGLE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN.

THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM CONSISTS OF OVER 15 PROGRAMS UTILIZING A VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES INCLUDING HUD, MN HOUSING, AND MN DHS. SERVICES RANGE FROM ONE-TIME ASSISTANCE TO ON-GOING CASE MANGEMENT AND RENTAL SUBSIDIES. BI-CAP PROGRAMS TYPICALLY SERVE THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY HOMELESS AND ARE IN THE GREATEST NEED OF HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES. BI-CAP UTILIZES THE "HOUSING FIRST" STRATEGY OF RAPIDLY RE-HOUSING PARTICIPANTS TO MITIGATE CRISIS SITUATIONS AND THEN PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS AS THEY WORK ON HOUSING STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOALS.

THE MINNESOTA ENERGY ASSITANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS TO HELP PAY A PORTION OF THEIR HOME ENERGY AND HEATING BILLS. THE GRANTS ARE BASED ON THE HOUSEHOLD SIZE, INCOME, FUEL TYPE, AND ENERGY USAGE. PRIMARY HEAT GRANTS ARE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE HOUSEHOLD'S FUEL AND/OR ELECTRIC VENDORS TO ASSIST HOUSEHOLDS' ABILITY TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE AND CONTINUOUS ENERGY BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO LOWER THEIR ENERGY BURDEN.YOUTHBUILD IS A COMPREHENSIVE WORK EXPERIENCE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, AGES 16-24, WHO HAVE LEFT THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO SPEND 29 HOURS PER WEEK IN ACADEMICS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION/WORK EXPERIENCE TRAINING, LIFE SKILLS LEARNING, AND CAREER/POST-SECONDARY EXPLORATION. YOUTHBUILD PARTICIPANTS ARE MENTORED FOR FOUR DAYS A WEEK, ALTERNATING THEIR TIME BETWEEN THE CLASSROOM, CONSTRUCTION SITE, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO RESOLVE BARRIERS, SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS, EXPLORE CAREERS AND MORE. THEY RECIEVE SCHOOL CREDIT AND AN HOURLY WAGE FOR PARTICIPATION IN ALL ACTIVITIES DURING THEIR TIME IN THE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT WHILE PURSUING POST-PROGRAM PLACEMENT AND A FULL YEAR OF FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM. CASS LAKE BENA ALC IS BI-CAP YOUTHBUILD'S EDUCATIONAL PARTNER. THEY PROVIDE AN ONSITE TEACHER/LEARNER MANAGER TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS IN WORKING TOWARD THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. THEY ALSO PROVIDE TEACHING STAFF THROUGH ADULT BASIC EDUCATION TO PREPARE THOSE PARTICIPANTS MORE SUITED TO EARNING THEIR GED OR ADULT DIPLOMA EQUIVALENCY.