Community Action Partnership Of Lancaster And Saunders Counties

TO HELP LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN LANCASTER & SAUNDERS COUNTIES ATTAIN ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENTCOMMUNITY ACTION PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN (AGES BIRTH TO FIVE) AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS FOCUS ON READINESS -- CHILDREN READY FOR SCHOOL, FAMILIES READY TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT, AND SCHOOLS READY TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN WHO WALK THROUGH THEIR DOORS TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. PROGRAMS ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN RECEIVE THE COGNITIVE, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND LINGUISTIC INTERVENTIONS THEY NEED TO BE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND EXTEND BEYOND THE CHILD TO SERVE THE WHOLE FAMILY. OUR EDUCATORS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT STAFF PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO EMPOWER THEM TO SET GOALS, MOVE TOWARD GREATER ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND PREPARE THEM TO BE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER. ADDITIONALLY, OUR FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM WORKS ALONGSIDE OUR EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START PROGRAMS TO ENSURE CHILDREN RECEIVE THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS NECESSARY TO DEVELOP TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, 374 CHILDREN WERE SERVED THROUGH EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START PROGRAMS."

COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMUNITY ACTION'S VISION FOR A HEALTHY, VIBRANT, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY MOTIVATES US TO OFFER NUMEROUS VITAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. AMONG THESE SERVICES IS LANGUAGELINC, A PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICE, AND A HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS KITCHEN, WHICH IS LEASED BY A LOCAL CATERING COMPANY TO PREPARE HEALTHY MEALS TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN, AND A FOOD DISTRIBUTION COMPANY THAT UTILIZES THE SPACE TO WASH, CUT, AND PACKAGE LOCALLY SOURCED PRODUCE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO LARGER RETAIL MARKETS. TO DRAW UPON JUST ONE OUTCOME, IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 OVER 12,860 INDEPENDENT TRANSLATION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED BY OVER 60 CONTRACTED INTERPRETERS MAKING A LIVING WAGE IN LINCOLN AND SURROUNDING AREAS."

FINANCIAL AND FAMILY WELL-BEINGCOMMUNITY ACTION'S FINANCIAL AND FAMILY WELL-BEING PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TOWARD INCREASING FINANCIAL STABILITY OF LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. OUR INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS (IDA) PROGRAM AND FREE TO SAVE PROGRAM PROVIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION PAIRED WITH 4:1 MATCHED SAVINGS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A HOME, POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, VEHICLE, OR SMALL BUSINESS START-UP/EXPANSION; OPPORTUNITY PASSPORT(TM) IS SIMILAR IN SCOPE OF SERVICES TO THE IDA AND FREE TO SAVE PROGRAMS, BUT TARGETS YOUTH AGES 14-26 IN OR AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. OUR LINCOLN COMMUNITY RESPONSE PROGRAM SUPPORTS AND LINKS FAMILIES TO RESOURCES TO PREVENT ENTRY INTO THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AREAS OF ENERGY INEFFICIENCY IN LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME HOMES AND PROVIDES SERVICES (WHICH MAY INCLUDE FURNACE TUNE-UPS, WINDOW/DOOR CAULKING, AND INSULATION) TO REMEDIATE. SERVICES PROVIDED RESULT IN DECREASED UTILITY BURDENS AND IMPROVED HOUSING STOCK. JUST TO NAME A FEW OUTCOMES ACHIEVED IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 337 YOUTH AND ADULTS IN THE IDA, FREE TO SAVE AND OPPORTUNITY PASSPORT (TM) PROGRAMS. 435 WEATHERIZATION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 163 INDIVIDUALS."