Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership

EASTERN NEBRASKA COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP (ENCAP), A COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY PROVIDES EMERGENCY AND ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN DOUGLAS AND SARPY COUNTIES TO IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING AND ECONOMIC STABILITY.

ENCAP'S OMAHA NUTRITION CENTER REDUCES FOOD INSECURITY OF SENIORS THROUGHOUT DOUGLAS AND SARPY COUNTIES THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR FOOD DELIVERY, AND OPERATION OF THE COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM (CSFP). A USDA PROGRAM, CSFP PROVIDES ESSENTIAL FOOD TO APPROXIMATELY 1,100 INCOME-ELIGIBLE SENIORS AGES 60+ PER MONTH. THE NUTRITION CENTER DISTRIBUTES CSFP FOOD BOXES FROM ENCAP'S MAIN/DOUGLAS COUNTY OFFICE (2406 FOWLER AVE. IN OMAHA) AND DELIVERS TO CONGREGATE HOMES AND SENIORS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE AREA. IN ADDITION, THE NUTRITION CENTER SOURCES, PACKAGES, AND DELIVERS FOOD PANTRIES AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS (E.G. DIAPERS, TOILET PAPER, ETC.) TO FAMILIES REFERRED THROUGH DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY RESPONSE. THE CENTER MAINTAINS STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND FOOD RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A DIVERSITY OF FRESH AND NON-PERISHABLE FOODS TO THESE HOUSEHOLDS.

IN SARPY COUNTY, ENCAP OPERATES THE BELLEVUE FOOD PANTRY. THE PANTRY OFFERS FOOD DISTRIBUTION SERVICES MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AT 1912 HANCOCK STREET IN BELLEVUE, NE. THE PANTRY ALSO DELIVERS FOOD TO INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO VISIT THE PANTRY DUE TO MOBILITY OR HEALTH CHALLENGES. THE BELLEVUE FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES MEAL-BASED DISTRIBUTION. ITEMS SUPPLIED ARE COORDINATED WITH RECIPE SUGGESTIONS SO THAT FAMILIES CAN MAKE A MEAL OUT OF THE FOOD THEY RECEIVE. THIS IS INTENDED TO REDUCE THE STRESS OF MEAL PLANNING AND GIVE RELIEF TO ALREADY STRETCHED BUDGETS. ENCAP PROVIDES MULTIPLE EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICES WITHIN ITS SENIOR WELLNESS PROGRAM TO ADULTS AGED SIXTY AND OLDER IN THE DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING: BINGOCIZE, WALK WITH EASE, AND HEALTHY MOVES FOR AGING WELL. IN ADDITION, THE AGENCY CONNECTS PARTICIPANTS WITH EDUCATION AROUND GARDENING, COOKING AND NUTRITION CLASSES, USE OF TECHNOLOGY, AND ARTS/CULTURE. THROUGH THE SENIOR AMBASSADORS PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS PROVIDE PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT AND RECRUIT AND WELCOME NEW SENIORS. ENCAP ALSO LEADS THE GENERATION XCHANGE OMAHA PROGRAM, WHICH TRAINS OLDER ADULT MENTORS TO PROVIDE CLASSROOM SUPPORT TO STUDENTS IN GRADES K-3. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND MOBILITY OF OLDER ADULT MENTORS WHILE ALSO HELPING STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR MATH AND READING PROFICIENCY.

BASED ON SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE, ENCAP'S FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES' (FSS) DEPARTMENT PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (DIRECT AND REFERRAL), FINANCIAL EDUCATION, AND ONGOING FAMILY COACHING AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. FSS PARTNERS WITH A DIVERSE GROUP OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, VOLUNTEERS, AND CHURCHES IN BOTH DOUGLAS AND SARPY COUNTIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HOUSEHOLDS FACING CRISIS. FSS COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY RESPONSE INITIATIVES IN BOTH COUNTIES TO HELP REDUCE UNNECESSARY ENTRY OF FAMILIES INTO THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY AND CHILD WELL-BEING, AND TO HELP CREATE SYSTEMS-LEVEL IMPROVEMENTS AND PREVENTION RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES.

ENCAP'S TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SAFE, RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL TO OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS, PRE-K STUDENTS FROM HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOW INCOMES, AND STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. ENCAP ALSO PROVIDES RIDES TO OLDER ADULTS PARTICIPATING IN ENCAP'S SENIOR WELLNESS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ENRICHMENT AND EXERCISE ACTIVITIES AND FIELD TRIPS. IN ADDITION, ENCAP UTILIZES ITS FLEET TO TRANSPORT CLIENTS OF PEER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO AND FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE PROGRAMMING.