West Central Minnesota Communities Action Inc

PARTNERING TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO OVERCOME POVERTY AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES ACTION'S (WCMCA) HEAD START PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITHIN THE FAMILY AND THE GROWTH OF FAMILY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE PARENTS ARE THE PRIMARY NURTURERS, EDUCATORS, AND ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THIS FAMILY CENTERED APPROACH WORKS TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES. WE DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES INCLUDING: HEALTH, NUTRITION, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE, PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. PROGRAM SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH CENTER-BASED (CLASSROOM) PROGRAMS FOR PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AND HOME-BASED (HOME-VISIT) PROGRAMS FOR ENROLLED PREGNANT WOMEN OR CHILDREN AGES 0-3. WE IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH CURRICULUMS THAT ARE PROVEN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN FAMILIES LIVES AND IN CHILDRENS' LEARNING OUTCOMES. THE STAFF OF OUR HEAD START PROGRAM ARE TRAINED AND COACHED TO IMPLEMENT RESEARCH STRATEGIES AND CURRICULUMS IN THE CLASSROOM AND DURING HOME VISITS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE, SUSTAINED CHILD OUTCOMES. WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND LITERACY AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING YOUNG CHILDREN THE LANGUAGE-RICH, STIMULATING ENVIRONMENTS THEY NEED TO DEVELOP STRONG VOCABULARIES. A DUAL FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INTENTIONAL SCAFFOLDING OF SUPPORT TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE MATCHED WITH PARENT/FAMILY NEEDS TO ACHIEVE GOALS TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. AN ADDITIONAL UNIQUE PART OF HEAD START GOVERNANCE AND COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS THE POLICY COUNCIL. POLICY COUNCIL MEMBERS OVERSEE THE DELIVERY OF THE PROGRAM SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. POLICY COUNCIL IS COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE AND PARENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE HEAD START CENTERS AND THE EARLY HEAD START HOME-BASED PROGRAMS. THE PARENTS OF ENROLLED HEAD START CHILDREN AT EACH CENTER ELECT THE REPRESENTATIVES. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE EQUITY BY SERVING LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED UNDER THIS PROGRAM IS 405.

WCMCA'S WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE FUNDED BY LOCAL UTILITY COMPANIES. THESE PROGRAMS HELP HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOWER INCOMES CUT THEIR HEATING COSTS AND IMPROVES THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THEIR HOMES BY MAKING ENERGY SAVING HOME IMPROVEMENTS. SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE: INSULATION, AIR SEALING, VENTILATION, AND MECHANICAL REPAIRS AND/OR REPLACEMENTS. TO BE ELIGIBLE, HOUSEHOLDS MUST HAVE INCOMES THAT ARE AT OR BELOW 200% OF POVERTY. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE A PRIORITY SYSTEM TO TARGET THE NEEDIEST. THE PRIORITY SYSTEM CONSISTS OF: HOUSEHOLDS OF ELDERLY, HIGH CONSUMERS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS RENTERS. WCMCA'S HOUSING AUDITORS COMPLETE THE ENERGY AUDIT OF A HOME TO DETERMINE THE IMPROVEMENTS ALLOWED. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE USE OF OUR ENERGY MODELING TOOL SOFTWARE. LOCAL CONTRACTORS ARE THEN HIRED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOME. THE STATE AVERAGE WEATHERIZATION COST PER HOME IS $8,007; THROUGH LEVERAGING WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUR AVERAGE PER HOME DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY $3,300 PER HOME IN OUR PRIMARY DOE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED: 400.WCMCA'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS LOW-INCOME PEOPLE MEET THEIR HOME ENERGY NEEDS. ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE GRANTS TO HELP PAY ENERGY COSTS. ENERGY CONSUMPTION IS REDUCED THROUGH HEATING SYSTEM AUDITS, RETROFITS, CONSERVATION, AND REPAIR ACTIVITIES. CRISIS ASSISTANCE GIVES IMMEDIATE HELP TO THOSE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ENERGY RELATED REPAIRS PROVIDE HEATING RELATED REPAIRS FOR EMERGENCIES. ACTUAL HEATING COSTS FROM THE PREVIOUS HEATING SEASON AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THAT IS RECEIVED. ALL PAYMENTS FOR PRIMARY HEAT ($5,137,185), CRISIS LIHEAP ($2,180,038), LIHWAP WATER CRISIS PROGRAM ($576,538) AND ENERGY RELATED REPAIR ($602,845) ARE GENERATED FROM THE STATE OF MN THROUGH THE E-HEAT SYSTEM. HOUSEHOLDS SERVED WITH PRIMARY ASSISTANCE: 4,896; CRISIS ASSISTANCE: 3,011; AND ENERGY RELATED REPAIRS: 268. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDS ARE PROVIDED BY COMPANIES AND DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE CRISIS PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENTS: 54THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THE BUILDING OF NEW HOMES, THE CONTRACT FOR DEED HOMES, THE REHABILITATION OF HOMES, AND LEAD TESTING SERVICES. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SERVED: NEW HOMES: 1 PARTICIPANT; CONTRACT FOR DEED HOMES: 23 PARTICIPANTS; LEAD TESTING SERVICES: 2 PARTICIPANTS; HOUSING REHABILITATION: 6 PARTICIPANTS; AND COMMUNITY LAND TRUST: 2 PARTICIPANTS.

THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES (FSC) DEPARTMENT OPERATES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE LOW-INCOME, WHICH INCLUDES EMERGENCY SERVICES, HOMELESSNESS, PARENTING TIME AND EXCHANGE CENTER, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SERVED: EMERGENCY SERVICES: 202; HOMELESS ASSISTANCE: 78; HOMELESS PREVENTION: 76; PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: 4 HOUSEHOLDS; TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: 51; HOUSE KEYS: 20; HOMEWORK STARTS AT HOME: 5 HOUSEHOLDS; LONG-TERM HOMELESS: 30; LAUNCH PAD: 40; HOUSING SUPPORTS: 13; HOMELESS TO HOUSED: 8 HOUSEHOLDS, 25 PARTICIPANTS; PARENTING TIME AND EXCHANGES: 1,067; AND PARENT RESOURCE PROGRAM: 127.FAIM IS A MATCHED SAVINGS PROGRAM THAT ENABLES MN LOW-INCOME WAGE EARNERS TO BUILD ASSETS THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF A HOME OR PERSONAL VEHICLE, PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, OR THE START/EXPANSION OF A SMALL BUSINESS. CURRENT FUNDING FOR FAIM IS PROVIDED BY MN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS. FAIM IS NO LONGER RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS. WCMCA CONTRACTS WITH 24 AGENCIES ACROSS MINNESOTA, INCLUDING COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES, TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM LOCALLY AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL COACHING TO THOSE ENROLLED. PARTICIPANTS MAKE MONTHLY DEPOSITS OF $84 FROM EARNED INCOME TO THEIR FAIM SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT BREMER BANK. DEPOSITS UP TO $2,000 MADE DURING THE 24-MONTH SAVINGS PERIOD ARE MATCHED AT A RATE OF 3:1 UP TO A HOUSEHOLD MAXIMUM OF $6,000. OVERALL, FAIM IS A 30-MONTH PROGRAM. FAIM PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING, ASSET-SPECIFIC TRAINING, AND REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR CHOSEN ASSET BEFORE REQUESTING PAYOUT TO A THIRD-PARTY VENDOR. SINCE ITS BEGINNING, FAIM HAS ENROLLED 5,306 PARTICIPANTS OF WHICH 2,931 HAVE OBTAINED THEIR ASSET AND 122 ARE ACTIVELY SAVING TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL.THE HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES INCLUDE PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, FORECLOSURE MITIGATION, AND HOMEBUYER EDUCATION WHICH ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS MINNESOTA HOUSING AND THE MINNESOTA HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER. HOUSING PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ASSIST CLIENTELE IN OBTAINING OR PRESERVING THE ASSET THAT IS THEIR HOME IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-RELIANCE IN THE FIVE-COUNTY AREA OF DOUGLAS, GRANT, POPE, STEVENS, AND TRAVERSE COUNTIES. IN FY 2022 WCMCA SERVED 25 HOUSEHOLDS WITH FORECLOSURE MITIGATION SERVICES, 29 HOUSEHOLDS WITH PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, AND 12 HOUSEHOLDS WITH HOMEBUYER EDUCATION SERVICES. THERE WAS A DECREASE IN NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED THIS YEAR COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND STAFF TRANSITIONS. THE FREE TAX PREPARATION PROGRAM SERVES LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT WCMCA'S FIVE-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE IRS, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AND THE OTTO BREMER FOUNDATION. THE PROGRAM SERVED 2,409 HOUSEHOLDS THIS PAST TAX SEASON.WCMCA OPERATES VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE LOW-INCOME, WHICH ENABLES THEM TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS TOWARDS LIVING A LIFE OUT OF POVERTY. SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE: -APPLICATIONS FOR MN SURE: 70 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED-READY RIDE FOR ADULTS 65+: 61 PARTICIPANTS AND A TOTAL OF 366 RIDES (MEDICAL: 209, NON-MEDICAL: 157)-READY RIDE FOR ADULTS 18 - 64, PRIMEWEST MA: 49 PARTICIPANTS AND A TOTAL OF 256 RIDES (MEDICAL ONLY) -HCR APPLICATIONS: 61-HCR CLIENTS (BY HOUSEHOLD): 39-CHORE APPOINTMENTS: 305-HOMEMAKING APPOINTMENTS: 100-MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENTS: 67ADDITIONALLY, WCMCA DOES REFERRALS, OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY.