Tri-County Community Action Inc

ELIMINATE POVERTY BY EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO MOVE TOWARD AND INTO SELF-SUFFICIENCY

PRE- SCHOOL EDUCATIONTCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START VISION STATEMENT IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY CHILD SERVICES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE FAMILIES IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF).TRI-COUNTY HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, TEAMWORK, AND COMPASSION IS IMPORTANT TO EACH EMPLOYEE AND WE WORK HARD DAILY TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START BIRTH TO FIVE PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO MEET THE AGE AND INCOME CRITERIA. THE PROGRAM IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL, DENTAL, MENTAL WELLNESS, NUTRITIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION IS FUNDED TO SERVE A TOTAL OF 626 CHILDREN AGES 0-5. THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM HAS 154 SLOTS FOR CHILDREN IN A CENTER BASED SETTING AND 40 SLOT IN THE HOME BASED SETTING. THE HEAD START PROGRAM HAS 94 SLOTS FOR CHILDREN IN HOME BASED SETTINGS AND 338 SLOTS FOR CHILDREN IN CENTER BASED SETTINGS. THE HEAD START PROGRAM ACTUALLY SERVED A TOTAL OF 382 CHILDREN IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM AND 176 IN THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, WHICH BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WAS LESS THAN THE NUMBER OF SLOTS THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED TO SERVE. THE PROGRAMS SERVES ANGELINA, JASPER, NEWTON, SABINE, SHELBY, SAN AUGUSTINE, AND TYLER COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVES 4 EXPECTANT MOTHERS IN THE HOME BASE PROGRAM.HEAD START TAKES PRIDE IN PROVIDING PARENTS WITH AN ONGOING SOURCE OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. HEAD START HAS A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN AUGUSTINE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE WE SERVE 60 HEAD START CHILDREN IN 3 ISD CLASSROOMS. SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTIES IN TEXAS AND THIS RELATIONSHIP HAS INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENCOURAGED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ENLIST SERVICES NEEDED BY LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. TRI-COUNTY HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE MARY JO GORDON CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER (BUCKNER) WHERE WE SERVE 34 EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN. MARY JO GORDON ALSO PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH HOMES ON CAMPUS, TRAINING FOR YOUNG MOTHERS, CLOSE ACCESS TO THE LOCAL COLLEGE, RESOURCES TO ASSIST PARENTS IN BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT, AND AFTER HOUR CARE PROGRAMS. HEAD START ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS TO USE IN THE HOME WITH THEIR CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM ALSO HAS 4 CLASSROOMS IN OUR CENTERS IN ANGELINA COUNTY WHERE THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS SERVE IN PERSON. TCCA PARTNERS WITH AGRI-LIFE WHICH WORKS WITH PARENTS AND STAFF WITH SUCH THINGS PLANTING GARDENS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH HEALTHY LIFE STYLES RECIPES, BUDGETING, AND SAVING WITH COUPONS.TRI-COUNTY HEAD START PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COLLEGE SUCH AS ANGELINA COLLEGE, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, AND PANOLA COLLEGE TO ENSURE OUR STAFF AND PARENTS HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS. PANOLA COLLEGE STUDENT EVEN PROVIDED ONSITE TRAINING TO OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ON THE IMPORTANT OF HANDWASHING. THESE PARTNERS ALSO PROVIDED VALUABLE IN PERSON ASSISTANCE WITH OUR PROGRAMS FALL FESTIVALS IN EACH COUNTY WE SERVE. TRI-COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN THROUGH WORKING TO MEET THE PROGRAM SCHOOL READINESS GOALS. CHILDREN ARE ASSESSED 3 TIMES A YEAR AND OUTCOMES ARE MONITORED, ANALYZED, AND AGGREGATED BY THE EDUCATION TEAM. FAMILIES ARE KEPT INFORMED OF THEIR CHILDS INDIVIDUAL GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM YEAR THROUGH 2 HOME VISITS AND PARENT CONFERENCES. TEACHING STAFF ALSO PROVIDE OUTCOME REPORTS TO OUR PARENTS ALONG WITH ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN DO IN THE HOME SETTING TO WORK WITH THEIR CHILD ON. THIS IS IN HOPES OF CLOSING THE HOME SCHOOL CONNECTION. SCHOOL READINESS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MUST WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY ARE MET. THIS PROGRAM SETS GOALS FOR FAMILIES IN SEVEN OUTCOME AREAS; FAMILY WELL-BEING, POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILIES AS LIFELONG EDUCATORS, FAMILIES AS LEARNERS, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSACTION, FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO PEERS AND COMMUNITY, AND FAMILIES AS ADVOCATES AND LEARNERS. FAMILY OUTCOMES PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE CHILD AND THE ABILITY OF THE FAMILY TO MOVE FORWARD ONCE THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE HEAD START PROGRAM. TCCA PARTNERS WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND AREA RESOURCES TO ENSURE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. TCCA DOES THIS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, MOUS, AND JOINT COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS A RESOURCE FAIR, ADVISORY MEETINGS, POLICY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND THE LOCAL FALL FESTIVALS. TCCA HOSTED A VIRTUAL RESOURCE FAIR IN EACH ONE OF OUR COUNTIES WHICH ALLOWS US TO REACH OUT TO ALL OUR FAMILIES AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT IN HEAD START, WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES AS WELL AS CONNECTING THEM TO OTHER RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS EVENT IS HELD IN EACH OF OUR COUNTIES AND IS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.TCCA HAS ALSO IMPLEMENTED FAMILY SERVICE ADVISORY MEETINGS TWICE A YEAR WORKING IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL READINESS LEADERSHIP ADVISORY MEETING TO GET THE BEST OUTCOMES. WE CONNECT WITH ALL THE COMMUNITIES IN ALL THE COUNTIES, AND INVITE ALL COMMUNITY VENDORS TO COME AND SHARE THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR CRITERIA. PARENTS ARE ALSO INVITED SO THEY CAN GET KNOWLEDGE OF ANY NEW RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.WE HAD 721 VOLUNTEERS FOR HEAD START/ EARLY HEAD START LAST PROGRAM YEAR.TRI-COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THROUGH OUR SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. ALL FAMILY ADVOCATE SPECIALIST RECEIVE MONTHLY MENTORING FROM THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CASE MANAGER. THEY REVIEW EACH MONTHS MENTORING TOPIC DURING THEIR MONTHLY STAFF MEETING TO ENSURE THAT THEY RECEIVE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THEY HAVE IN ASSISTING FAMILIES MEET THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY IMPLEMENTS COACHING WITH FIDELITY USING THE CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM (CLASS) AS AN OBSERVATION TOOL THAT ALIGNS WITH HEAD START PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. THE PROGRAM HAS HIRED A COACH TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE HEAD START TEACHING STAFF AND AN EARLY HEAD START MENTOR TO MENTOR/COACH ALL EARLY HEAD START TEACHING STAFF. MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLASS TOOL IS A KEY ELEMENT THAT CONTRIBUTES SUSTAINED QUALITY SUPPORT AND TRAINING FOR EDUCATION STAFF. MONITORING, MENTORING, AND COACHING WILL ENSURE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE SCHOOL READINESS GOALS SET. TEACHING STAFF SET GOALS TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS UTILIZE TRAINING THAT HAS RESEARCH BASED RESOURCES; EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE CENTER (ECKLC); MYTEACHSTONE, AND HEAD START EARLY LEARNING OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK (ELOF) TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH BEST PRACTICES FOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THE STRATEGY THAT IS BEING USED TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD ACHIEVES THE DESIRED OUTCOMES AND TEACHERS HAVE A CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS PRACTICE BASED COACHING. ALL TEACHERS WORK WITH THE EDUCATION SPECIALIST COACH, EHS MENTOR, AND CENTER DIRECTOR TO COMPLETE ASSIGNED TASK THROUGH MYTEACHSTONE, ECLKC, AND THE ENGAGING INTERACTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTS FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE ALL TEACHING STAFF ARE SUCCESSFUL IN PREPARING THEIR STUDENTS TO BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS.

COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CEAP REGULAR PROGRAM GRANT)DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, TRI-COUNTY ASSISTED:APPROXIMATELY 2,051 HOUSEHOLDS WAS ASSISTED WITH UTILITY ASSISTANCE (ELECTRIC, GAS, AND/OR PROPANE ASSISTANCE). THIS INCLUDED ELDERLY, DISABLED, AND CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER. THESE 2,051 HOUSEHOLDS WERE MADE UP OF 3,916 INDIVIDUALS.APPROXIMATELY $2,314,819 DOLLARS WERE SPENT TO ASSIST THESE HOUSEHOLDS/INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE 2022 PROGRAM.ALL HOUSEHOLDS MUST QUALIFY AND MEETING THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL OF 150% OR LESS TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE LIHEAP CEAP GRANT.

DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2022, TRI-COUNTY ASSISTED:2,708 FOOD BOXES TO INDIVIDUALS TO HELP ERADICATE HUNGER WITHIN OUR SHELBY COUNTY SERVICE AREA128 RENT PAYMENT ASSISTANCE27 TEMPORARY HOUSING PLACEMENTS75 INDIVIDUALS WITH VITA TAX ASSISTANCE48 INDIVIDUALS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES35 INDIVIDUALS WITH PERSONAL HYGIENE KITS2591 REFERRALS WERE MADE ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS1 INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONED OUT OF POVERTY (TOP) PROGRAM2 INDIVIDUALS GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE WITH AAS1 INDIVIDUAL GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE WITH BS