Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership Inc

TO ELIMINATE POVERTY BY EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES.

THE CHILD CARE CONNECTIONS DIVISION PROVIDES SERVICES TO 21 COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA THAT WORK TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. SERVICES INCLUDE COACHING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TOWARD CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH QUALITY RATING SYSTEMS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, GRANTS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TO START UP OR IMPROVE THEIR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT NEW CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. IN 2023, INCREASED FUNDING ALLOWED FOR 5 FULL-TIME POSITIONS TO BE ADDED TO MEET THE HIGH DEMAND FOR SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA AS WELL AS 2 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME STAFF THAT MAIN FOCUS IS TO DO EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIP OUTREACH IN THE 9 COUNTIES WE SERVE. THE INCREASED FUNDING IN EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS ALSO ALLOWED 151 ADDITIONAL CHILDREN TO BE SERVED. CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES WERE PROVIDED TO 361 CHILDREN THOSE OUR EARLY LEARNING SCHOLARSHIPS SERVICES AND TO FAMILIES IN NEED OF CHILD CARE THROUGH THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN WILKIN COUNTY. WE ALSO RECEIVED A PROMISING PRACTICES AWARD FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHARED SERVICE ALLIANCE WHICH EMPLOYS AND SCHEDULES QUALIFIED, SUBSIDIZED FAMILY CHILD CARE SUBSTITUTES TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT REGION 4.

THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT DIVISION SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THEIR GOALS OF ACHIEVING EMPLOYMENT, NUTRITIONAL, MEDICAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY. ALL PROGRAMS WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC SUPPORT TO FAMILIES. IN 2023 ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT DIVISION 3,026 BOXES OF FOOD TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS ACROSS CLAY COUNTY, PROVIDED FREE TAX ASSISTANCE TO 814 INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDED HOMEOWNERSHIP SERVICES TO 23 HOUSEHOLDS, AND HELPED 43 PEOPLE RECEIVE TRAINING TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT IN A CAREER THAT PROVIDES A LIVING-WAGE. OUR WHOLE FAMILY PROGRAM, REBRANDED AS FLOURISHING FAMILIES AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FAMILY-CENTERED COACHING TO HELP FAMILIES ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS TO OVERCOME POVERTY AND PROVIDE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THE HEAD START DIVISION OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGES BIRTH-5 AND FAMILIES WITH LIMITED INCOME AND FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THAT RESIDE WITHIN CLAY AND WILKIN COUNTIES. IN THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, CAPLP PROVIDED SERVICES TO 158 CHILDREN THROUGH THE HEAD START PROGRAM (3-5 YEARS OLD) AND 121 CHILDREN THROUGH THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM (BIRTH-3 YEARS OLD). THESE CHILDREN RECEIVED HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION EXPERIENCES AT NO COST INCLUDING FAMILY SUPPORT, HEALTH AND NUTRITION SUPPORT INCORPORATED INTO THE PROGRAM. IN 2023 OUR HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS MAINTAINED 100% ENROLLMENT WITH A WAITING LIST FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM YEAR, AND 91% OF CHILDREN GOING TO KINDERGARTEN MET OR EXCEEDED THE 136 POINT SCHOOL READINESS SCALE.

THE HOUSING DIVISION HELPS INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS TO SECURE SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2023, CAPLP ASSISTED 1048 PEOPLE IN SECURING SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND ASSISTED 433 PEOPLE TO PREVENT FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS. NEED FOR THESE SERVICES CONTINUES TO BE HIGH IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WITH OUR FUNDING ALLOWING US TO ONLY SERVE ABOUT25% OF THOSE IN NEED EACH YEAR, WE ALSO PROVIDED OUTREACH 182 INDIVIDUALS.