Total Action Against Poverty In Roanoke Valley

TAP'S MISSION IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE THROUGH EDUCATION, EMPLOYENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS.

HEAD START- THE TAP HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM IN THE AGENCY AND WAS TAPS FIRST PROGRAM STARTED IN 1965. THE OBJECTIVE OF HEAD START IS TO PREPARE ENROLLED CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE BY ENCOURAGING THEIR DEVELOPMENT IN ALL AREAS; PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, LANGUAGE, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL. IN OUR CURRENT PROGRAM YEAR, HEAD START SERVED 1,240 CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE TAP SERVICE AREA THROUGH CLASSROOM AND HOME-BASED INSTRUCTION AND CARE.

WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY CONSERVATION - THE TAP ENERGY CONSERVATION AND HOME REPAIR COMPONENT PROVIDES HOME WEATHERIZATION, ENERGY CONSERVATION, AND CRITICAL REHABILITATION AND REPAIR SERVICES TO CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE, ROANOKE COUNTY, SALEM CITY, BATH COUNTY, CRAIG COUNTY, AND THE ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS. WEATHERIZATION AND HOME REPAIR SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE COST OF HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM LOCAL UTILITIES LIKE DOMINION ENERGY AND APPALACHIAN POWER. ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL SERVICES IS DETERMINED BY THE CLIENT'S INCOME. DURING THE CURRENT PROGRAM YEAR, 77 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED WITH IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY AS A RESULT OF THE COMPONENT ACTIVITIES, 6 HOMES WERE REHABILITATED, AND 3 SUBSTANTIAL RECONSTRUCTION WERE PERFORMED.

THIS VALLEY WORKS (TVW) - THIS VALLEY WORKS' EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS FOCUS ON SECURING AND IMPROVING AN INDIVIDUAL'S EMPLOYABILITY BY PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF INSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDER-SKILLED. WORKING WITH FOUNDATIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, TVW PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS NEEDED TO GET AND HOLD A JOB. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE PROGRAMS HELP DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY THROUGH CUSTOMIZED TRAINING INCLUDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CAREERS, CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION, LITERACY, GED, COLLEGE ACCESS, ETC. DURING THE CURRENT PROGRAM YEAR, TVW'S PROGRAMS EDUCATED AND TRAINED 1,146 YOUTH AND ADULTS, HELPED 853 YOUTH AND ADULTS SECURE JOBS, AND ENCOURAGED AND ASSISTED 306 STUDENTS TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY TAP INCLUDE FAMILY SERVICES SUCH AS COVINGTON CLOTHING CLOSET, DENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE, INCARCERATION RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES, SUPERVISED CUSTODY EXCHANGES AND VISITATIONS, AND HELP AND ESCAPE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN ADDITION, TAP PROVIDES FINANCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM, HOUSING COUNSELING AND DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE, TAX CLINIC, PERSONAL FINANCE COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE, AND HELPING NEW ENTREPRENEURS.