C E F S Economic Opportunity Corp

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION & SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE STABILITY.

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP):LIHEAP IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS PAY FOR THEIR UTILITY SERVICES. LIHEAP WILL PROVIDE A ONE-TIME BENEFIT TO INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS TO HELP REDUCE THE BURDEN OF THEIR ENERGY COSTS. RECONNECTION ASSISTANCE IS ALSO PROVIDED TO QUALIFYING HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED OR ARE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF DISCONNECTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EMERGENCY FURNACE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE INOPERABLE FURNACES.ELIGIBLE AMEREN CUSTOMERS ARE OFFERED A CHOICE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL LIHEAP PROGRAM BENEFIT AND PARTICIPATION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF INCOME PAYMENT PLAN (PIPP). PIPP PROVIDES LOW AND FIXED-INCOME CUSTOMERS A BETTER WAY TO MANAGE THEIR HOME ENERGY COSTS THROUGH FIXED MONTHLY PAYMENTS, ARREARAGE REDUCTION CREDITS, CLIENT EDUCATION, AND ENERGY CONSERVATION. PIPP CAN HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION LEADING TO IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR PARTICIPANTS.AMEREN CUSTOMERS THAT ARE BETWEEN 200% - 300% OF POVERTY OR 80% OF A COUNTY'S AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI) MAY QUALIFY FOR A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM CALLED WARM NEIGHBORS/COOL FRIENDS. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED THROUGH AMEREN'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION. ENERGY SAVINGS EDUCATION IS ALSO PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS THROUGH A SERIES OF AMEREN AND AGENCY SPONSORED EVENTS THAT PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH ENERGY CONSERVATION INFORMATION AND KITS.FUNDING FOR LIHEAP IS PROVIDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (DCEO) OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE (OCA). PIPP IS FUNDED WITH STATE UTILITY ASSISTANCE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED BY DCEO.

HEAD START 0-5:HEAD START IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1965. THE C.E.F.S. HEAD START 0-5 PROGRAM OFFERS CENTER-BASED (HALF AND FULL DAY CLASSROOM SESSIONS) SERVICES TO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND HOME-BASED SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS IN C.E.F.S. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORPORATION'S SEVEN COUNTY SERVICE AREA.ELIGIBILITY IS LARGELY INCOME-BASED, ALTHOUGH OTHER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA SUCH AS DISABILITIES AND SERVICES NEEDED BY THE FAMILY ARE ALSO USED TO DETERMINE ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM. FAMILIES MUST EARN AT OR LESS THAN 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. FAMILIES MAY ALSO QUALIFY UNDER A CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY (RECEIPT OF SNAP OR TANF FUNDS, SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY FUNDS, OR HOMELESSNESS AS PER THE MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT). UP TO 10% OF THE PROGRAM'S ENROLLMENT CAN BE FROM HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES OR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO MUST COMPRISE 10% OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT. THE HEAD START 0-5 PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, PARENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND FAMILY SOCIALIZATIONS. HEAD START PROMOTES SCHOOL PREPARATION BY ENHANCING THE SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, NUTRITIONAL, SOCIAL, AND OTHER SERVICES. THE PROGRAM'S SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER STABLE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, ENHANCE CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP STRONG COGNITIVE SKILLS. THE HEAD START PHILOSOPHY IS TO PROVIDE ALL CHILDREN WITH INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND GUIDANCE IN REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL.GRANT FUNDING FOR THE C.E.F.S. HEAD START 0-5 PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE US DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, OFFICE OF HEAD START. THE PROGRAM ALSO RECEIVES FUNDING FOR MEALS SERVED TO PARTICIPANTS UNDER THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND FUNDED BY THE US DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE.

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM:THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAM PROVIDES ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASE EMPLOYMENT, RETENTION, EARNINGS, AND SKILLS IN THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE. THE C.E.F.S. WIOA PROGRAM SERVES THIRTEEN COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS WORKFORCE AREA #23. WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT PROGRAMS INCLUDE YOUTH, ADULT, DISLOCATED WORKER, AND TRADE ADJUSTMENT ACT. CUSTOMERS OF THE PROGRAM ARE ABLE TO EASILY RECEIVE A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THEIR SKILL LEVELS, APTITUDES, ABILITIES, AND SUPPORT SERVICE NEEDS. CUSTOMERS CAN OBTAIN INFORMATION ON A FULL ARRAY OF EMPLOYMENT RELATED SERVICES. THE WORKFORCE CENTERS ALSO OFFER JOB SEARCH AND PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, CAREER COUNSELING, AND UP-TO-DATE LABOR MARKET INFORMATION WHICH IDENTIFIES JOB VACANCIES, SKILLS NECESSARY FOR IN-DEMAND JOBS, AND PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT TRENDS. INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED MORE INTENSIVE HELP TO BECOME EMPLOYED CAN RECEIVE MORE COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS, DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYMENT PLANS, GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SHORT-TERM PRE-VOCATIONAL SERVICES. IN SOME CASES, QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS MAY RECEIVE TRAINING SERVICES SUCH AS ON THE JOB TRAINING, TUITION ASSISTANCE, WORK EXPERIENCE, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WHICH ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR LOCAL AREA.WIOA YOUTH SERVICES FOCUS ON ASSISTING OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH AND IN-SCHOOL YOUTH, WITH ONE OR MORE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, PREPARE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES; ATTAIN EDUCATIONAL AND/OR SKILLS TRAINING CREDENTIALS; AND SECURE EMPLOYMENT WITH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. THE YOUTH PROGRAM OFFERS YOUTH TRAINING SERVICES, PAID WORK EXPERIENCE, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, JOB READINESS TRAINING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE, FOLLOW-UP SERVICES AND CLASSROOM TRAINING.DEVELOPMENT, JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE, AND CLASSROOM TRAINING.GRANT FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THROUGH A BLOCK GRANT ADMINISTERED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, OFFICE OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING AND LAKE LAND COLLEGE / ILLINOIS LOCAL WORKFORCE AREA 23.