Community Action Commission Of Santa Barbara County

CAC PROVIDES EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE CAUSES AND CONDITION OF POVERTY.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES PROVIDES HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMSTHAT OFFER COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITIONAND PARENT INVOLVEMENT SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.FULL AND PART-DAY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION ARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDRENAGES 0 TO 5 IN 24 SITES THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY WITH A GOAL OFPREPARING OUR MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL ANDIN LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL. IN ADDITION, BOTH PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TOASSIST FAMILIES IN MEETING THEIR OWN PERSONAL GOALS AND ACHIEVINGSELF-SUFFICIENCY ACROSS A WIDE VARIETY OF DOMAINS, SUCH AS HOUSING,CONTINUED EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL SECURITY.THE HEAD START PROGRAM DELIVERS SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BYFOCUSING ON THE AREAS OF EARLY LEARNING, HEALTH, AND FAMILY WELL-BEINGWHILE ENGAGING PARENTS AS PARTNERS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. CALIFORNIASTATE PRESCHOOL AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ARE ALSO OFFERED ANDBLENDED WITH HEAD START SERVICES. THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM PROMOTESTHE PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTSAND TODDLERS THROUGH SAFE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY ENRICHING CAREGIVING. THEPROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PARENTS, BOTH MOTHERS AND FATHERS, INTHEIR ROLE AS PRIMARY CAREGIVERS AND TEACHERS OF THEIR CHILDREN. IN2022, 952 INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS WERE PROVIDED WITH HIGHQUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION (ECE) AND HEALTH SERVICES.

FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES (FYS) ENHANCES THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL ANDPHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY TOHELP THEM ACHIEVE A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE FUTURE. SERVICES FOCUS ONCULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MENTORING, TUTORING, HEALTH EDUCATION AND SKILLDEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS HELPING FAMILIES COPE WITH MENTAL HEALTHISSUES. IN 2022, 3,475 YOUTH AGES 6-17 PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNIFY'SYOUTH PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, COMMUNIFY SERVED 115 YOUNG ADULTS IN THE TRANSITION AGE YOUTH (TAY) PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY SERVICES IS COMPRISED OF A VARIETY OF SERVICES DESIGNED TOHELP DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES BYREDUCING THEIR HOME ENERGY BURDEN, PROMOTING FINANCIAL LITERACY,REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING SELF- SUFFICIENCY, AND LINKING RESIDENTSTO AVAILABLE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.SERVICES INCLUDE ENERGY ASSISTANCE, WEATHERIZATION SERVICES, SENIORHOME REPAIR PROGRAM, FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM, ECONOMICEMPOWERMENT PROGRAM AND EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT OUTREACH PROGRAM.COMMUNIFY'S ENERGY SERVICES WEATHERIZED 98 HOMES AND ASSISTED A TOTALOF 1,261 FAMILIES WITH THEIR ENERGY BILLS, WHILE AN ADDITIONAL 77SENIORS' HOMES WERE REPAIRED, ENABLING THEM TO AGE SAFELY IN PLACE. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PORTFOLIO OF COMMUNITY SERVICES IS 2-1-1 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, A COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM. DIALING 2-1-1 CONNECTS PEOPLE TO OVER 2,000 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DISASTER RELIEF, AND PUBLIC INFORMATION RESOURCES. 2-1-1 IS A FREE SERVICE, AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY / 7 DAYS A WEEK IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. IN 2022, 2-1-1 HANDLED 13,639 CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES AND ASSISTED USERS THROUGH THE 2-1-1 WEBSITE.