Community Action Council Of Howard County Md Inc

TO END MULTI-GENERATIONAL POVERTY AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED BY GIVING THEM A HAND UP AND EMPOWERING THEM TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL OF HOWARD COUNTY ADMINISTERS AND DELIVERS FIVE CORE SERVICES TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN HOWARD COUNTY. THE SERVICES INCLUDE ENERGY ASSISTANCE, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HEAD START AND PRE-K, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, FOOD ASSISTANCE AND WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION TO PAID STAFF THOSE SERVICES ARE OFFERED WITH THE HELP OF 789 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING OVER 15,834 HOURS OF SERVICE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: CAC PROVIDES FULL DAY FULL YEAR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO CHILDREN THREE-TO-FIVE YEARS OLD. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES HEAD START AND PRE-K PROGRAMING AND PROVIDES ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN AND SUCCEED. CHILDREN RECEIVE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AS NEEDED. CAC USES A 2 GENERATIONAL APPROACH FOCUSING ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY IN A HOLISTIC MANNER BY PAIRING ACCESS TO QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FAMILY TO FOCUS ON LONG-TERM SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOALS SUCH AS EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. CAC MAXIMIZES ITS RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS THE FAMILY USING A COACHING CASE MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO GENERATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF THE FAMILY. CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACK ON A DAILY BASIS. THE PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AS WELL AS LICENSED BY THE MARYLAND OFFICE OF CHILD CARE. ALL CENTERS HOLD THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MARYLAND EXCELS RATING, THE HIGHEST QUALITY RATING OFFERED BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S MARYLAND PROGRAM. IN FY 2023,ONLY 14 OF THE 180 TOTAL CHILD CARE CENTERS IN HOWARD COUNTY WERE RATED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. ALL FOUR OF CAC'S HEAD START CENTERS ARE AMONG THE 14 THAT RECEIVED THE HIGHEST RANKING.

FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES PARTNERSHIP. FOOD BANK: THE HOWARD COUNTY FOOD BANK IS THE HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAM OF CAC. THE FOOD BANK COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED FOOD DIRECTLY TO 19,482 HOUSEHOLDS IN HOWARD COUNTY AS WELL AS TO 17 PARTNER PANTRIES IN 2023. THE PANTRIES FUNCTION AS AN ARM OF THE FOOD BANK THAT REACH CLIENTS IN THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY. THE MAJORITY OF THE FOOD PANTRIES ARE LOCATED IN CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HOWARD COUNTY. ELIGIBILITY FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE IS BASED ON INCOME AND RESIDENCY. THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF REVENUE AND PRODUCTS FOR THE FOOD BANK IS FROM FINANCIAL OR FOOD DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WHO CONDUCT FOOD DRIVES IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AT THEIR SCHOOL OR WORKPLACES. IN FY 2023, CAC DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1,185,647 POUNDS OF FOOD.

HOUSING AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE: THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES EVICTION PREVENTION AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING THE POTENTIAL OF HOMELESSNESS. IN FY 2023, THE PROGRAM PREVENTED 529 FAMILIES FROM BECOMING HOMELESS. ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: THE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING TURN OFF OR HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF BY THEIR FUEL OR ENERGY PROVIDER. IN FY 2023, CAC SERVED 6,281 HOUSEHOLDS.

WEATHERIZATION: THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAP) HELPS ELIGIBLE LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE INSTALLATION OF ENERGY CONSERVATION MATERIALS IN THEIR DWELLING UNITS. ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES LIKE HEAT PUMPS, REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER MAY BE REPLACED. THESE MEASURES BOTH REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY AND ASSOCIATED COSTS AND MAKE THESE HOMES MORE COMFORTABLE,SAFE AND HEALTHY. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE ELDERLY,DISABLED, HAVE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND HAVE THE HIGHEST ELECTRICAL BURDEN. EACH FAMILY SAVED AN AVERAGE OF 677 PER YEAR IN ENERGY COSTS. 588 HOMES WERE WEATHERIZED IN FY 2023.