Making Opportunity Count Inc

ALLEVIATE POVERTY, PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES, COORDINATING RESOURCES AND ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.

CHILD CARE & HEAD START SERVICES: MOC PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE SCOPE OF SERVICES TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN THAT FOCUS ON HEALTH AND WELLBEING, PARENT DEVLOPMENT AND EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE. OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS PROMOTE COGNITIVE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT N SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS. CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN PRESCHOOL CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE NORTH CENTRAL REGION OR THROUGH HOME-BASED PROVIDERS. FAMILIES HAVE PART AND FULL-DAY OPTIONS INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL, AS WELL AS INFANT AND SCHOOL AGED PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF FAMILY NEEDS. MOC'S CHILD CARE SERVICES PROVIDE PARENTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK OR CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT, CAREER TRAINING OR FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. IN ADDITION, PARENTS ARE CONNECTED TO TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND SELF-ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: MOC'S ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM AIMS TO REDUCE ENERGY USAGE AND HEATING COSTS FOR LOW-INCOME AND ELDERLY HOUSEHOLDS. MOC'S TRAINED STAFF AND TRUSTED CONTRACTORS PROVIDE FULL WEATHERIZATION SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE CITIES AND TOWNS OF NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS. IN ADDITION, MOC REPLACES UNSAFE OR INOPERABLE HEATING SYSTEMS AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCY NO HEAT CALLS. MOC ALSO PROVIDE AN APPLIANCE MONITORING AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY SERVICES TEEN & YOUTH SERVICES: MOC SUPPORTS THE YOUTH AND TEENS OF THE NORTH CENTRAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SERVICES THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INCLUDE: AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AT-RISK YOUTH IN EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT IMPROVE ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES; CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT TEENS TO SKILL-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES AND LINK YOUTH TO LOCAL EMPLOYERS; ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY EDUCATION THAT SUPPORTS IN- AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL EFFORTS TO REDUCE RISK BEHAVIORS AND PREVENT PREGNANCY AMONG YOUTH; AND INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT TARGETBULLYING, ABUSE AND ASSAULT TO REDUCE VICTIMIZATION AND PROMOTE POSITIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERVICES: MOC OFFERS EDUCATION AND COUNSELING TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREAS TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL LITERACY SO THAT CLIENTS CAN MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT LEAD TO AND SUPPORT ECONOMIC SECURITY ESSENTIAL TO REACHING LONG-TERM FINANCIAL AND LIFE GOALS. MOC'S PORTFOLIO OF SERVICES INCLUDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING THAT CONSISTS OF SKILL BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA OF SPEDING AND SAVING, BUDGETING, CREDIT BUILDING AND REPAIR, INVESTING AND ASSET BUILDING. MOC ALSO PROVIDES FREE ELECTRONIC TAX FILING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS UTILIZING VOLUNTEER TAX PREPARERS. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: MOC'S EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AIM TO INPROVE THE EMPLOYABILITY OF THE UN- AND UNDER EMPLOYED IN OUR COMMUNITY BY BUILDING WORK SKILLS, INCRASING CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYERS, AND DEVELOPING HABITS THAT RETAIN LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT. PROGRAMS SUPPORT TEENS THROUGH MULTIPLE YOUTH WORK PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN AVAILABILITY INCREASES, AS WELL AS ADULTS IN OUR SECURE JOBS CONNECT PROGRAM THAT HELPS HOMELESS OR NEAR HOMELESS CLIENTS MAKE STRIDES TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE THROUGH TRAINING, CASE MANAGEMENT AND JOB PLACEMENT. ALL CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS FOCUS ON SOFT SKILLS, OCCUPATION SPECIFIC TRAINING, JOB COATING AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT REDUCE BARRIERS TO PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT. HOMELESS SERVICES: MOC'S HOMELESS SERVICES ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING HOUSING CRISES TO FIND AND MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING. THE FULL SCOPE OF SERVICES INCLUDE: PREVENTION SERVICES FOCUSED ON KEEPING FAMILIES WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOUSD BUT AT-RISK FOR BECOMING HOMELESS IN EXISTING HOUSING; DIVERSION SERVICES FOCUSED ON KEEPING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ELIGIBLE FAMILIES OUT OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM; RE-HOUSING SERVICES FOCUSED ON ASSISTING INDIFIVUALS AND FAMILIES IN SHELTER TO FIND PERMANENT HOUSING; STABILIZATION SERVICES FOCUSED ON ASSITING FAMILIES WHO HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM TO REMAIN STAVLY HOUSED; AND A SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS FAMILIES WHO ARE DISABLED AND HOMELESS/AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS TO FIND AND MAINTAIN SAFE, DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. EMERGENY SERVICES: MOC PROVIDES EMERGENCY ASSITANCE TO SUPPORT THE BASIC NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NORTH CENTRAL MA THROUGH: FOOD PANTRIES IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS; SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH UNABLE TO ACCESS THE BENEFIT OF SCHOOL-BASED MEALS DURING SUMMER RECESS; RENT/UTILITY ASSISTANCE; AND HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES. HEALTH HOMES: MOC PROVIDES ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WITH A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF THEIR HOMES INCLUDING LEAD POISONING PREVENTION.

NUTRITION WIC NORTH CENTRAL WIC, A PROGRAM THAT ENHANCES NUTRITIONAL CARE FOR PRE-NATAL AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS REGION. ELDER SERVICES - MOC'S ELDER NUTRITION PROGRAMS PROMOTE HEALTHIER LIVING AND A LONGER LIFESPAN FOR SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED MEALS TO ELDERS THROUGH CONGREGATE SITES AND A HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM. BOTH SERVICES PROVIDE MEALS THAT ARE ONE-THIRD OF THE DAILY RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE FOR ADULTS, AND IMPORTANTLY, REDUCE THE SOCIAL ISOLATION OFTEN EXPERIENCED AMONG AGING POPULATIONS TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE. INDIVIDUALIZED AND GROUP NUTRITION EDUCATION ALSO IS AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS OF OUR ELDER NUTRITION PROGRAM.