Semcac Inc

EMPOWER AND ADOVCATE FOR PEOPLE TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

CHILD EDUCATION SERVICES: SEMCAC HEAD START IS A FAMILY FOCUSED, HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAM SERVING SIX COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA: DODGE, FILLMORE, HOUSTON, MOWER, STEELE, AND WINONA. PARENTS AND TEACHERS WORK TOGETHER TO PLAN ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT GROWTH AND WELL-BEING. MOST HEAD START FAMILIES HAVE INCOMES AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE A LOVE OF LEARNING AND LIFELONG HEALTHY HABITS. THE CHILDREN WORK ON THEIR LISTENING AND SPEAKING SKILLS, AS A RESULT, THEY LEARN TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS, SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND GAIN CONFIDENCE. CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE, HAVE HEALTHY MEALS AND SNACKS, AND ENJOY CREATIVE PLAY IN SAFE SETTINGS INDOORS AND OUTDOORS. CHILDREN LEAVE HEAD START MORE PREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN, EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING, AND READY TO SUCCEED AS SHOWN IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE.

OLDER AMERICANS: SEMCAC SENIOR NUTRITION SERVES MID-DAY MEALS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO PERSONS 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND THEIR SPOUSES, REGARDLESS OF AGE, THROUGH SENIOR CONGREGATE DINING AND MEALS ON WHEELS. THE PROGRAMS TARGET THE LOW-INCOME, NUTRITIONALLY AT-RISK SENIOR. THE PROGRAMS PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING BY (1) PROVIDING A MEAL THAT MEETS 1/3 OF RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE STANDARDS, (2) OFFERING NUTRITION AND HEALTH-RELATED PRESENTATIONS AT OUR SITES, AND (3) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER DUTIES. FOR MOST PARTICIPANTS, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE THE MAIN MEAL OF THE DAY AND THE FACT THAT OUR MEALS ARE LOW COST AND AFFORDABLE ALLOWS THEM TO STAY WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT OUR PROGRAMS KEEP SENIORS LIVING IN THEIR HOMES AND POSTPONE LONG-TERM CARE PLACEMENTS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. SENIOR CONGREGATE DINING PROVIDES SENIORS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A LOW-COST, NUTRITIOUS MEAL, ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP OF NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, AND TAKE PART IN PROGRAMMING AND/OR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. SENIOR DINING EMPOWERED WELL-BEING, WHILE OFFERING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIALIZING. MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDES THE HOMEBOUND SENIOR WITH THE SIMILAR MEAL DELIVERED TO THEIR HOME. SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE RECUPERATING FROM SURGERY OR ILLNESS, SOME ARE PHYSICALLY DISABLED, AND MANY ARE UNABLE TO SHOP AND COOK DUE TO LIMITATIONS BROUGHT ON BY ADVANCED AGE. LOCAL COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS DO THE HOME DELIVERY. THEIR DAILY VISIT DOUBLES AS A SAFETY CHECK FOR THE MEAL'S RECIPIENT. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THIS SAFETY CHECK HAS RESULTED IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A SENIOR. MEALS ON WHEELS HELPED SENIORS REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOME AND MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AS SHOWN IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE.

COMMUNITY SERVICES: COMMUNITY SERVICES INCLUDE PROGRAM OUTREACH AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS. SEMCAC'S OUTREACH AND EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT OFFER A PERSONAL CONNECTION FOR HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLING WITH FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS TO ACCESS THE AGENCY'S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. OUTREACH STAFF ADMINISTER LOCALLY FUNDED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS BASED ON FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THAT COUNTY.

TRANSPORTATION: SEMCAC'S VOLUNTEER DRIVER PROGRAM PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION FOR PERSONS AGED 60 AND OVER AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, BLUE PLUS, AND UCARE CLIENTS TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL APPOINTMENTS. THOSE AGE 60 AND OVER MAY ALSO RECEIVE RIDES FOR PERSONAL APPOINTMENTS AND SENIOR CONGREGATE DINING. SEMCAC'S BUSES PROVIDE FARE-BASED TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PUBLIC. RIDES ARE PROVIDED TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, WORK, DAYCARE, PRESCHOOL, LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS, SENIOR DINING, AND OTHER SPECIAL REQUEST. TRANSPORTATION FOR SPECIAL EVENTS MAY BE ARRANGED. ALL BUSES ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. WEATHERIZATION: SEMCAC'S WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES ENERGY CONSERVATION HOME IMPROVEMENTS TO REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION COSTS. EACH HOME IS INSPECTED BEFORE AND AFTER WORK IS DONE TO ENSURE THAT HOMES ARE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT UPON PROJECT COMPLETION. HOMEOWNERS ARE MADE AWARE OF ALL AREAS OF THE HOME ON WHICH WORK WILL BE COMPLETED. IMPROVEMENTS MAY INCLUDE EXTERIOR WALL AND ATTIC INSULATION, AIR INFILTRATION AND BYPASS SEALING, AND TESTING, REPAIR, OR REPLACEMENT OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS TO ENSURE EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY. THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES (1) EDUCATION TO CONSUMERS REGARDING HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY (2) ENERGY AUDITS TO EVALUATE HOME ENERGY USAGE, AND (3) CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL UTILITIES AND FUEL SUPPLIERS. HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS WHO APPLY AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ARE AUTOMATICALLY SCREENED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO HOUSEHOLD WITH AT LEAST ONE SENIOR CITIZEN, INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY OR A CHILD, OR TO HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE HIGHEST HEATING COSTS. WEATHERIZATION IMPROVED THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF HOMES AND REDUCED THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION AS SHOWN IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE.HEALTH: SEMCAC HAS TWO HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAMS: SENIOR AND CAREGIVER ADVOCACY PROGRAM AND SEMCAC FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC. THE SENIOR AND CAREGIVER ADVOCACY PROGRAM SUPPORTS AND EMPOWERS SENIORS AND CAREGIVERS BY ADDRESSING THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND PREFERENCES, SO THAT THEY MAY REMAIN LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. THE SEMCAC FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY FAMILY PLANNING, REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES AND EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC, REGARDLESS OF INCOME LEVEL, INSURANCE STATUS, AGE, SEX, GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR STATE OF RESIDENCY. HOUSING/ HOUSING ASSISTANCE: SEMCAC'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF HELP IDENTIFY HOUSING NEEDS AND DETERMINE RESOURCES TO CREATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR REHAB OPPORTUNITIES. THE AGENCY HAS A STRONG RECORD OF BOTH DEVELOPING AND REHABILITATING HOUSING AND CAN COORDINATE MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCE STREAMS TO BEST FIT A COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. OUTREACH AND EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFF ALSO ADMINISTER VARIOUS FUNDS FOR RENT, DEPOSIT, AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.FOOD ASSISTANCE: CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ALLOWS HEAD START TO PROVIDE HEALTHY MEALS FOR CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM AND TO MEET PERFORMANCE STANDARDS COVERING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN. FOOD ALSO INCLUDES THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM THAT GRANTS FUNDS TO SEMCAC' S FOUR FOOD SHELVES TO BUY EMERGENCY FOOD.