Opportunity Council

OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL HELPS PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE WHILE ADVOCATING FOR JUST AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITY SERVICES (CS), COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, HOUSING SERVICES, AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE - A MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM DEDICATED TO SERVING OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. CS STRIVES TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED WHEREVER THEY ARE. IN 2023 STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PREPARED AND SERVED OVER 10,000 MEALS TO PEOPLE IN NEED. OVER 110 PEOPLE GAINED JOB SKILLS AND WORK EXPERIENCE THROUGH OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAMS. OUR RESOURCE CENTERS IN THREE COUNTIES RESPONDED TO OVER 15,000 REQUESTS FOR SERVICES AND INFORMATION. WE SECURED HOUSING FOR HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS THROUGH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, TEMPORARY HOUSING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND EVICTION PREVENTION SERVICES. TENANT ENRICHMENT SERVICES AND OTHER PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WE PROVIDED OVER 11,000 PAYMENTS FOR ENERGY BILLS ON BEHALF OF HOUSEHOLDS IN NEED SO THEY DID NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING FOR ENERGY OR OTHER BASIC SERVICES.

EARLY LEARNING AND FAMILY SERVICES (ELAFS) - ONE OF OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL'S LARGEST DEPARTMENTS - IS COMPRISED OF MULTIPLE PROGRAMS FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE AND HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: HEAD START AND ECEAP (WASHINGTON STATE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) CENTER-BASED PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS FOR CHILDREN AGES THREE THROUGH FIVE YEARS AND THEIR FAMILIES, EARLY HEAD START HOME VISIT-BASED PROGRAM FOR PRENATAL THROUGH AGE THREE, EARLY SUPPORT FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS (ESIT) HOME VISIT-BASED PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR QUALITY CHILD CARE (QCC) DIVISION, WHICH INCLUDES REGIONAL WORK SUPPORTING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, INFANT/TODDLER MENTAL HEALTH, AND CHILD NUTRITION, AS WELL AS THE CENTER FOR RETENTION AND EXPANSION OF CHILD CARE (C-RECC). IN WHATCOM COUNTY, ELAFS CONTINUES TO BE A CENTRAL PLAYER IN THE SINGLE-ENTRY ACCESS TO SERVICES (SEAS) AND HELP ME GROW COLLABORATIONS AIMED AT GETTING EVERY LOCAL CHILD OFF TO A STRONG START. PROGRAM YEAR 2023-24 SAW 309 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR HEAD START AND ECEAP PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS. A TOTAL OF 99 CHILDREN AND THEIR HIGHLY-IMPACTED FAMILIES, INCLUDING EIGHT PREGNANT WOMEN, WERE SERVED BY OUR INTENSIVE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM'S WEEKLY VISITS FROM HOME EDUCATORS. SEAS NAVIGATORS PROCESSED 1,420 REFERRALS FROM HOSPITALS, DOCTORS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND EDUCATORS WHEN A CHILD WAS KNOWN TO HAVE OR SUSPECTED OF HAVING A DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY OR SPECIAL NEED. AND ESIT STAFF PROVIDED SERVICES TO AN AVERAGE OF 208 CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 3 EACH MONTH TO HELP ADDRESS DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGH THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS AND FAMILY RESOURCE COORDINATION. ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR ALL (ECSA) COMPLETED THEIR 8TH COHORT OF PARTICIPANTS GRADUATING WITH EXPANDED KNOWLEDGE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. SERVICES EXPANDED TO ISLAND COUNTY, AND WE HAVE PAID OUT AN AVERAGE OF $2000 PER GRADUATE EARNED BY COMPLETING GOALS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A MENTOR AND JOB COACH. ELAFS QCC PROGRAMS, THROUGH CHILD CARE AWARE OF WA, BROADLY SUPPORTED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, FURNISHED RELIABLE DATA TO POLICY MAKERS, AND ASSISTED FAMILIES IN SEARCH OF CHILD CARE INFORMATION AND REFERRALS OR IN NEED OF EMERGENCY VOUCHERS TO MAINTAIN CHILD CARE ENROLLMENT. OVER THE COURSE OF PROGRAM YEAR 2023-24, QCC SUPPORTED OVER 500 LICENSED CHILD CARE/EARLY LEARNING BUSINESSES IN EARLY ACHIEVERS, WASHINGTON'S QUALITY IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM (QIS), BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND COACHING TO IMPROVE QUALITY. C-RECC WORKED WITH EXISTING AND PROSPECTIVE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS OF DIVERSE SIZES IN THE FIVE NORTHWEST COUNTIES OF WA, CONNECTING THEM WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE VARIED NEEDS OF THE SECTOR AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS, IN ADDITION TO AWARDING GRANTS TOTALING $1,585,177.

WEATHERIZATION AND HOME REPAIR SERVICES - BY SERVICING EXISTING HOMES, THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PRESERVES VITAL HOUSING UNITS (A KEY COMPONENT OF ENSURING AFFORDABLE HOUSING), WHILE ALSO IMPROVING COMMUNITY HEALTH, SAFETY, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY. WE WEATHERIZED 123 HOUSES SO FAMILIES COULD REDUCE THEIR ANNUAL ENERGY USE AND EXPENSES, AND REHABILITATED 89 ADDITIONAL HOMES AND 68 FURNACE REPAIR PROJECTS TO IMPROVE DURABILITY, INDOOR AIR QUALITY, AND ENSURE HOME SAFETY.