Community Action Organization

ELIMINATE THE CONDITIONS OF POVERTY, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT ENCOMPASSES CAO'S HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS. *HEAD START IS FUNDED FOR 817 PRIMARILY LOW-INCOME PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN, AGES 3 TO 5, INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND STRIVES TO PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. CHILDREN WERE IN THE FOLLOWING MODELS: 583 IN PART-DAY PRE-KINDERGARTEN, 212 IN FULL SCHOOL DAY-FULL SCHOOL YEAR, 18 IN FULL-DAY FULL YEAR, AND 4 AT COFFEE CREEK CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. *EARLY HEAD START IS FUNDED FOR 142 CHILDREN, AGES 0 TO 3 WITH 114 CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN IN A HOME-BASED MODEL, 24 IN FULL-DAY FULL-YEAR CLASSROOMS, AND 4 AT THE COFFEE CREEK CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. EARLY HEAD START PROMOTES PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS AND SUPPORTS POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS. *TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD, A RESEARCH-BASED ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT ALIGNS WITH THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM (RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM). HEAD START CHILD DEVELOPMENT EARLY LEARNING FRAMEWORK, AND OUR PROGRAM'S SCHOOL READINESS GOALS ARE USED TO TRACK CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT IN MULTIPLE DOMAINS. CHILDREN MADE SIGNIFICANT, MEASURABLE GAINS IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE REASONING, FINE AND GROSS MOTOR COORDINATION, LANGUAGE LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, AND MATHEMATICAL SKILLS.

ENERGY AND EMERGENCY RENT PREVENTS HOMELESSNESS AND ASSURES THAT FAMILIES CAN REMAIN SAFE AND WARM IN THEIR HOMES BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE FACING EVICTION OR TERMINATION OF HEAT AND ELECTRICITY SERVICES. 7,325 FAMILIES STAYED WARM AND SAFE IN THEIR HOMES WITH HEAT AND ELECTRICITY BILL PAYING ASSISTANCE FROM COMMUNITY ACTION. 3,494 FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS WERE STABILIZED WITH SHORT-TERM RENT ASSISTANCE.

HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING LONG-TERM, STABLE SOLUTIONS FOR RENTERS, AND UTILIZES A HOUSING-FIRST MODEL - GETTING HOMELESS PEOPLE HOUSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND GETTING THEM THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM STABILITY. RENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS AIM TO INTERVENE AND PREVENT HOMELESSNESS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE BY PROVIDING A RANGE OF SUPPORT FROM EMERGENCY PAYMENTS TO LONGER TERM ASSISTANCE DEPENDING ON THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR HILLSBORO FAMILY SHELTER IS THE LEAD PARTNER IN A THREE-SHELTER NETWORK IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. DURING A STAY IN OUR SHELTER, STAFF HELP RESIDENTS DEVELOP A PLAN TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING AND ADDRESS OTHER NEEDS THAT WILL SUPPORT LONG-TERM SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND STABILITY. 101 HOMELESS CHILDREN AND PARENTS HAD THE CHANCE TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET BY STAYING AT COMMUNITY ACTION'S HILLSBORO FAMILY SHELTER. 2,232 FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS WERE ASSESSED FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CONTINUUM OF HOUSING PROGRAMS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 279 FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WERE RE-HOUSED WITH SHORT-TERM RENT ASSISTANCE.