Community Action Organization

Programs: Child development: in 2013-14 community action head start and early head start provided high quality early childhood education to 997 children, including 203 with special needs, ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Sixty-three percent were from families with income below 100% of the federal poverty level. Twenty-two percent were receiving public assistance, eight percent were homeless, and three percent were children referred by dhs. The research-based teaching strategies gold assessment tool is used to track childrens development in multiple domains. Across the program, children made significant, measurable gains in social-emotional development, cognitive reasoning, fine and gross motor coordination, language, literacy development, and mathematical skills. By the end of the program year, 94 percent of children were up to date on a schedule of age-appropriate medical care and immunizations and 97 percent had medical homes - continuous, accessible sources of medical care. 94 percent of the children also had dental homes. At the end of the year, 580 children transitioned to kindergarten classes in local schools. We served 946 families in 2013-14 and connected them with supportive services to help them fulfill their role as their children's first teachers. We referred families to sources of assistance for food, clothing, and shelter (24%); adult education (10%); english as a second language training (13%); parenting education (18%) health education (12%); mental health services (8%) job training services (2%); child abuse and neglect services (>1%); substance abuse and prevention and/or treatment (>1%); 47. 5 percent of families in our program benefitted from these supportive services. In 2013-14, parents contributed 10,771 hours of volunteer time. We participated in the smart (start making a reader today) program to develop early literacy skills. We were selected to participate in the planned language approach to improve the program's ability to serve dual language learners. The classroom assessment scoring system (class) scores improved for a second consecutive year. Seventeen current or former head start parents are enrolled in the individual development account (ida) program which provides matched savings accounts linked to financial literacy education.

family & community resources: through programs focused on addressing the causes and conditions of poverty, community action was able to provide families with access to the resources necessary to meet immediate needs, alleviate suffering, and promote self-sufficiency. In 2013-14, 37,973 individuals benefitted from community action's leadership in responding to 28,954 requests for assistance. Additional outcomes: 858 parents (638 with incomes below $25,000 per year) were able to go to work or school because they could access quality, affordable child care. The quality of local child care resources improved as 1,583 providers participated in 11,873 hours of training in early childhood development. With access to appropriate prenatal services, 392 low-income pregnant women were better equipped for a healthy birth. 36 at-risk pregnant women received comprehensive services to enable healthy delivery and 90% gave birth to healthy babies. In addition, parenting support to prevent child abuse and neglect was provided for 78 at-risk new parents and 712 new parents were provided with information about early childhood development and parenting resources. 332 families, including 77 veteran families, participated in home-visiting support services to set and achieve goals to help avoid or recover from homelessness. By promoting housing stability and sheltering families in times of crisis, 128 homeless children and parents had the chance to get back on their feet by staying at community action's family shelter for a total of 5,118 bed nights; 681 individuals received comprehensive case management support; emergency food boxes were provided to 560 families. 176 families experiencing homelessness were re-housed with short-term rent assistance. With bill paying assistance for heat and electricity, 8,037 households stayed warm and safe in their homes; 374 households avoided evictions with rent assistance provided by community action. 189 households had lower fuel costs and warmer, safer homes because community action provided comprehensive weatherization services; and 376 households reduced energy costs, improved home safety and increased energy efficiency by receiving energy education and conservation services. 1,193 individuals participated in energy education workshops, which provided energy saving information and tools for reducing energy costs. Community action is the washington county partner for 211 info, a four county collaboration which provided 13,374 callers with information and referral to critical health and human service needs. Financial education classes were provided to 153 individuals and 13 families began the process of saving funds to increase their education or start a business through community action's individual development accounts.

community action's community outreach program educates the public about issues of poverty and economic insecurity, informs low-income individuals and families about available services and how to access them, and engages people in reducing the causes and conditions of poverty in washington county. Activities include educational forums, outreach activities, print and electronic information distribution, and volunteer participation. In 2013-14 more than 50 public education presentations were made to businesses, civic groups, faith organizations, and partnering agencies. Community action staff also represented the agency at a variety of public events and resource fairs, providing information about programs and services in both english and spanish. Community action produces informational brochures that promote programs and maintains a website focused on educating clients about available services. The community was engaged in volunteer activities that ranged from making repairs to the hillsboro family shelter to reading to children in head start classrooms. Head start parents also devoted significant volunteer time to support their child's classroom. In total, head start parent volunteers, community volunteers, interns or students dedicated service to community action totaling 1709 individuals, 11967 hours and $219,300 worth of time.