Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Inc

TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES.

CHILD EDUCATION: TRI-VALLEY HEAD START, CHILD & FAMILY PROGRAMS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS. TRI-VALLEY OPERATES BOTH A MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM AND A REGIONAL HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START WITH FIFTEEN CENTERS LOCATED ACROSS MN AND ND. IN THE 2023-2024 PROGRAM, MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START SERVED 620 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX AND 44 PREGNANT WOMEN. REGION V HEAD START SERVED 130 CHILDREN AGES THREE TO SIX YEARS OLD AND EARLY HEAD START SERVED 84 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF THREE YEARS OLD AND 4 PREGNANT WOMEN. THE AVERAGE ATTENDANCE FOR MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START WAS 94%, R V HEAD START WAS 100% AND EARLY HEAD START WAS 85%. PROMOTING NUTRITIONAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF TRI-VALLEY HEAD START, CHILD & FAMILY PROGRAMS. TRI-VALLEY'S CLASSROOMS IMPLEMENT THE FARM TO EARLY CARE CURRICULUM DEVELOPED BY TRI-VALLEY NUTRITION STAFF. CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED HOMEMADE, NUTRITIOUS MEALS WHILE LEARNING ABOUT FOOD AND NUTRITION IN THE CLASSROOM. MEALS WERE PROVIDED FOR 112,586 MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN AND 46,184 MEALS WERE PROVIDED FOR HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN. TRI-VALLEY HEAD START, CHILD & FAMILY PROGRAMS ALSO RECOGNIZES HEALTH IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION OF SCHOOL READINESS ENSURING THAT ALL CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS ARE IDENTIFIED. FAMILIES ARE LINKED TO AN ONGOING SOURCE OF CONTINUOUS, ACCESSIBLE CARE TO MEET THEIR HEALTH NEEDS. MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START ASSISTED 80% OF CHILDREN IN GETTING UP-TO-DATE ON PHYSICALS AS WELL AS 94% UP-TO-DATE ON DENTALS. RV HEAD START ASSISTED 71% OF CHILDREN GETTING UP-TO-DATE ON PHYSICALS AND 60% OF CHILDREN UP-TO-DATE WITH DENTALS. EARLY HEAD START ASSISTED 78% OF CHILDREN GETTING UP-TO-DATE ON PHYSICALS/WELL-CHILD CHECKS. TRI-VALLEY HEAD START, CHILD & FAMILY PROGRAMS IS KNOWN FOR PROVIDING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE SAFE, NURTURING, ENGAGING AND ENJOYABLE. PROVIDING CULTURALLY, LINGUISTICALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON THE PROCESS OF LEARNING AND HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE, SOCIAL COMPETENCE, CONFIDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE SUPPORTED AND ARE INCLUDED IN PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START SERVED 36 CHILDREN WITH AN IEP OR IFSP. RV HEAD START SERVED 32 CHILDREN WITH AN IEP. EARLY HEAD START SERVED 14 CHILDREN WITH AN IFSP. CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM IS AN OBSERVATIONAL INSTRUMENT USED TO ASSESS THE QUALITY OF TEACHER-CHILD INTERACTIONS IN OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. TRI-VALLEY MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START AS WELL AS HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START UTILIZE PRACTICE-BASED COACHING TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN MAINTAINING HIGH QUALITY INTERACTIONS ASSESSED AT OR ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE SCORES FOR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS KEY IN TRI-VALLEY HEAD START, CHILD & FAMILY PROGRAMS WITH THE OBJECTIVE BEING TO SUPPORT PARENTS AS THEY IDENTIFY AND MEET PERSONAL GOALS TO NURTURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN IN CONTEXT OF THEIR FAMILY AND CULTURE. MIGRANT SEASONAL HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START HAD 96% OF ENROLLED FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN THE FAMILY GOAL SETTING PROCESS. RV HEAD START HAD 98% OF ENROLLED FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN THE FAMILY GOAL SETTING PROCESS AND EARLY HEAD START HAD 91% OF FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN THE FAMILY GOAL SETTING PROCESS. TRI-VALLEY USES THE CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE CURRICULUM AS A FRAMEWORK FOR OUR APPROACH TO BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE CURRICULUM PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND CLASSROOM STRUCTURES THAT TEACHERS CAN USE TO TURN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS INTO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. WE COLLABORATE WITH PARENTS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT IN THE CLASSROOM AND HOME THAT FOCUSES ON THE WHOLE CHILD AND THE WHOLE FAMILY, WHILE TEACHING IMPORTANT PRO-SOCIAL SKILLS. TO FURTHER THE EFFORTS OF ENGAGING FAMILIES INTO THE PROGRAM THE LEARNING GENIE APP IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARENTS. LEARNING GENIE BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THE HOME AND CLASSROOM BY PROVIDING AN OUTLET TO SHARE PHOTOS, VIDEOS, MESSAGES, BOOK AND LEARNING MEDIA. TRI-VALLEY HEAD START, CHILD & FAMILY PROGRAMS PARTNERS WITH FOUR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO OFFER SUPPORT TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND STAFF ON VARIOUS TOPICS OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL WELLNESS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE CONSULTATIONS WITH TEACHING STAFF REGARDING CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING ON POSITIVE BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE, AS WELL AS PARENT TRAINING. SERVICES OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE ONGOING SUPPORT FOR COPING AND OVERALL WELL-BEING AS WELL AS TARGETED SUPPORT FOR MENTAL WELLNESS.

TRANSPORTATION:TRI-VALLEY TRANSPORTATION ALSO KNOWN AS T.H.E. BUS (TRI-VALLEY HEARTLAND EXPRESS) IS A DIVISION OF TRI-VALLEY OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL, INC. (TVOC).T.H.E. BUS IS A CURB TO CURB SERVICE AND PROVIDES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN EIGHT MINNESOTA COUNTIES, POLK, RED LAKE, NORMAN, MARSHALL, MAHNOMEN, KITTSON, PENNINGTON AND CLEARWATER. BUSES RUN THROUGH THESE COUNTIES ON VARIOUS DAYS WITH VARIOUS DESTINATIONS. IN THE CITIES OF CROOKSTON (POLK) AND THIEF RIVER FALLS (PENNINGTON), DAILY SERVICE RUNS 7 DAYS PER WEEK. IN BAGLEY (CLEARWATER) AND MAHNOMEN (MAHNOMEN), SERVICE IS AVAILABLE 5 DAYS PER WEEK AND EVERY FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAY. WITHIN THE CITIES LISTED, TRI-VALLEY TRANSPORTATION OFFERS DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE. T.H.E. BUS IS FUNDED DEPENDING ON THE SERVICE IT IS PROVIDING. THE ORGANIZATION'S PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES ARE AVAILABLE WITH NO AGE LIMITS OR INCOME GUIDELINES. BUSES HAVE SEATING AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 40 PASSENGERS. EACH BUS IS HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE WITH TWO ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCES. IF PASSENGERS ARE UNABLE TO USE THE DOOR, THEY MAY REQUEST THE USE OF THE LIFT. EACH DRIVER HAS BEEN TRAINED TO PROPERLY USE THE LIFT AND SECURE MOBILITY DEVICES WITH THE BUSES. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ARE USED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, WHICH INCLUDE MEDICAL, NUTRITIONAL, SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL, SHOPPING, WORK, SCHOOL, AND OTHER PERSONAL ACTIVITIES. DESTINATIONS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: GRAND FORKS, BEMIDJI, THIEF RIVER FALLS, FARGO/MOORHEAD, AND CROOKSTON. TRI-VALLEY TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES SAFE, FRIENDLY, AND DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION AT A REASONABLE PRICE.PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS FROM 2023NUMBER OF RIDES PROVIDED- 162,574 NUMBER OF SERVICE MILES PROVIDED- 467,812NUMBER OF HOURS PROVIDED- 34,256RURAL TRANSPORTATION COLLABORATIVE (RTC) IS A DIVISION OF THE TRI-VALLEY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR TRI-VALLEY OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL, INC.RTC IS A PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM THAT COORDINATES VOLUNTEER DRIVERS TO TRANSPORT THOSE WHO HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION OR CANNOT DRIVE. THE RTC DRIVERS DONATE THEIR TIME AND ARE REIMBURSED THE IRS RATE PER MILE THEY DRIVE TO COVER THE EXPENSES THEY OCCUR WHILE ON THE ROAD (GAS, CAR MAINTENANCE, INSURANCE, ETC.)RTC IS A CURB TO CURB, MILEAGE BASED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VOLUNTEER DRIVER PROGRAM. PEOPLE ARE TRANSPORTED FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, COURT, VISITATIONS AND OTHER APPROVED PURPOSES. RTC VOLUNTEER DRIVERS ARE AVAILABLE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH EXTENDED HOURS.THE CORE SERVICE AREA IS POLK, RED LAKE, PENNINGTON, NORMAN, MAHNOMEN, MARSHALL, ROSEAU AND KITTSON COUNTIES. WE HAVE WORKING AGREEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE OTHER COUNTIES AND HAVE PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE APPOINTMENTS AS FAR AS MINNEAPOLIS, ROCHESTER AS WELL AS MANY NORTH DAKOTA DESTINATIONS.RURAL TRANSPORTATION COLLABORATIVE (RTC) STATISTICS FROM 202313,622 HOURS DONATED394,636 MILES DRIVEN628 INDIVIDUALS TOOK 7,599 RIDES (EACH LEG OF TRIP IS A RIDE). OVER 2022 TRIPS TAKEN GREW BY 9%.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES:FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS LIHEAP ENERGY ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY HOUSING SERVICES WHICH INCLUDES HOMELESSNESS AND PREVENTION SERVICES, CHILD CARE AWARE, EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS, SNAP OUTREACH, MNSURE OUTREACH, FINANCIAL LITERACY, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER AND PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. LIHEAP - 1750 HOUSEHOLDS WERE PROVIDED UTILITY PAYMENTS TO ALLOW FAMILIES TO STAY WARM AND SECURELY HOUSED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS THROUGH THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED FURNACE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS TO 215 HOUSEHOLDS WHO WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN UNABLE TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOME DUE TO LACK OF HEAT. EMERGENCY HOUSING SERVICES - BRIDGES, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, CV2 EMERGENCY HOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RAPID REHOUSING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND AGASSIZ TOWNHOMES PROVED ONGOING RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO 442 HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UNDER 200% OF FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND EXPERIENCING EITHER A DISABILITY OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FUNDING COMES THROUGH BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS. 775 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HOUSING STABILITY WHICH IS CASE MANAGEMENT WITH NO DIRECT ASSISTANCE. CHILD CARE AWARE - PROVIDED COACHING TO 94 PROVIDERS AS THEY REACHED THEIR PARENT AWARE STAR RATING.EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS - PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP PARENTS AFFORD HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE THAT PREPARES CHILDREN TO BE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN TO 176 FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS ASSISTED 411 FAMILIES WITH REFERRALS, ASSISTANCE AND PARENTING INFORNATION.SNAP OUTREACH - PROVIDED SNAP INFORMATION TO 15,650 HOUSEHOLDS AND INDIVIDUALS. ALSO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 148 HOUSEHOLDS IN COMPLETING OR RENEWING A SNAP APPLICATION. MNSURE PROGRAM ASSISTED 88 PEOPLE APPLYING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO 61 PARENTS WHO HAVE A CHILD LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN.