Ocab Inc Community Action Agency

THE MISSION OF OCAB COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INC. IS TO ELIMINATE THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF POVERTY IN THE SERVICE AREA BY DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO ENSURE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS.

HEAD START IS A FULL DAY PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THREE, FOUR AND FIVE YEAR OLDS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. IT PROMOTES THE COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, NUTRITIONAL, HEALTH, DISABILITIES, FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSITION SERVICES COMPONENTS. STAFF MEMBERS WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO MEET THE COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS OF ALL CHILDREN.

THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE (LIHEAP) PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP THE STATE'S LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS PAY THE PRICE OF HOME ENERGY, DEFINED AS RESIDENTIAL HEATING AND COOLING, AND TO INCREASE ENERGY SELF SUFFICIENCY; THEREBY REDUCING THE VULNERABILITY RESULTING FROM ENERGY NEEDS. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO DESIGNED TO INTERVENE IN ENERGY-RELATED CRISIS SITUATIONS (42 U.S.C. 8623(C) AND 8624(B)(1)) AND TO CONDUCT OUTREACH (42 U.S.C. 8624(B)(1)). THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE HOUSEHOLDS TO REDUCE HOME ENERGY NEEDS AND CONSEQUENTLY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE INCLUDING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, ENERGY AND INCOME COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE WITH ENERGY VENDORS (42 U.S.C. 8624(B)(16)). PAYMENTS ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO VENDORS AND CREDITED TO THE APPLICANT'S BILL.SERVICES PROVIDED ARE AS FOLLOWS: UTILITY PAYMENT INCLUDING REGULAR LIGHT BILLS & DEPOSITS.PROPANE

COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) SERVICES SEEK TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH THE ACHIEVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, THE SKILLS AND ABILITIES THAT WILL ENABLE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO AND MANAGE THOSE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR WELL-BEING AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF LIFE GOALS. THROUGH THE STRENGTHENING OF INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COMPETENCIES, SERVICES SHALL ENABLE LOW-INCOME PERSONS TO MOBILIZE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH EXISTING PROBLEMS, NEEDS AND FUTURE ASPIRATIONS. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:EMPLOYMENTEDUCATIONINCOME MANAGEMENTRENTAL ASSISTANCEEMERGENCY SERVICESNUTRITIONSELF-SUFFICIENCYHEALTH

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CHILD AND ADULT FOOD PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT ADEQUATE NUTRITION, THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM THAT ENLISTS RETIRED SENIORS TO SIT WITH OTHER NEEDY SENIORS DURING THE DAY, AND THE TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAM.

HEAD START IS A FULL DAY PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THREE, FOUR AND FIVE YEAR OLDS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. IT PROMOTES THE COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, NUTRITIONAL, HEALTH, DISABILITIES, FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSITION SERVICES COMPONENTS. STAFF MEMBERS WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO MEET THE COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS OF ALL CHILDREN.

THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE (LIHEAP) PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP THE STATE'S LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS PAY THE PRICE OF HOME ENERGY, DEFINED AS RESIDENTIAL HEATING AND COOLING, AND TO INCREASE ENERGY SELF SUFFICIENCY; THEREBY REDUCING THE VULNERABILITY RESULTING FROM ENERGY NEEDS. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO DESIGNED TO INTERVENE IN ENERGY-RELATED CRISIS SITUATIONS (42 U.S.C. 8623(C) AND 8624(B)(1)) AND TO CONDUCT OUTREACH (42 U.S.C. 8624(B)(1)). THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE AND ENABLE HOUSEHOLDS TO REDUCE HOME ENERGY NEEDS AND CONSEQUENTLY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR ENERGY ASSISTANCE INCLUDING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, ENERGY AND INCOME COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE WITH ENERGY VENDORS (42 U.S.C. 8624(B)(16)). PAYMENTS ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO VENDORS AND CREDITED TO THE APPLICANT'S BILL.SERVICES PROVIDED ARE AS FOLLOWS: UTILITY PAYMENT INCLUDING REGULAR LIGHT BILLS & DEPOSITS.PROPANE

COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) SERVICES SEEK TO PROMOTE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH THE ACHIEVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, THE SKILLS AND ABILITIES THAT WILL ENABLE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO AND MANAGE THOSE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR WELL-BEING AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF LIFE GOALS. THROUGH THE STRENGTHENING OF INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COMPETENCIES, SERVICES SHALL ENABLE LOW-INCOME PERSONS TO MOBILIZE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH EXISTING PROBLEMS, NEEDS AND FUTURE ASPIRATIONS. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:EMPLOYMENTEDUCATIONINCOME MANAGEMENTRENTAL ASSISTANCEEMERGENCY SERVICESNUTRITIONSELF-SUFFICIENCYHEALTH

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CHILD AND ADULT FOOD PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT ADEQUATE NUTRITION, THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM THAT ENLISTS RETIRED SENIORS TO SIT WITH OTHER NEEDY SENIORS DURING THE DAY, AND THE TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION PROGRAM.