Illinois Valley Economic Development Corporation

Programs: Energy programs - the illinois valley economic development corporation operates two programs providing home utility assistance and energy security in the agency's four county service area. These programs are the low income home energy assistance program (liheap), and the illinois home weatherization assistance program (ihwap). Liheap annually provides benefits to eligible households to offset winter and summer utility costs, provide for reconnection of utility services, and provide for furnace repair or replacement. The number of households assisted varies each year due to the changing allocations provided. For a typical program year, the agency provides nearly 5,000 households with utility assistance, over 500 households with funds for emergency reconnection, and approximately 10 households with furnace repair or replacement. For fy17, the percentage of income payment program (pipp) was restored with limited funds and therefore the agency provided utility assistance to approximately 375 households. Senior citizens represent up to 50% of the households receiving assistance. Ihwap provides weatherization assistance in the form of insulation, weather stripping, sealing cracks, air-sealing, repairing windows and doors, purchase of refrigerators, and providing for maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of heating systems. The number of households the ihwap program can assist yearly depends on program funding, making homes more energy efficient, affordable, and comfortable. For fy17, ihwap funding decreased and new requirements for weatherization assistance were more costly lending a total of 29 weatherized homes.

head start/early head start program - the head start program provides opportunities for economically disadvantaged children, ages 3 through 5, to receive comprehensive child development services and assistance to their parents in formulating and achieving self-sufficiency goals. We are funded to serve a total of 242 children, 10% with disabilities, within our service area of macoupin, greene, jersey, and calhoun counties. Children attend either a center based model with classes 5 days a week, 5. 5 hours a day, for a total of 160 days or a home based model in which children and parents participate in a weekly home visit for 37 weeks with group activities held twice a month. As part of the program, children receive education, medical, dental, nutrition, and mental health services. Educational progress and outcomes are tracked through the teaching strategies gold, dial 4 screenings, and observational instruments three times during the year. Children show dramatic progress in the areas evaluated which include social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. Approximately 50% of the children transition into kindergarten each year. Over 44,000 breakfasts,lunches and snacks are provided to the children from late august through may. The early head start program offers similar age appropriate and parenting opportunities for economically disadvantaged families who have children up to age 3. The program is a home based model serving 12 families a minimum of 48 weeks/year. Parents are encouraged to become directly involved in the program by volunteering in the classroom, attending parent meetings, serving on the policy council, participating in home visits and parent/teacher conferences, and entering into family partnership agreements for goal setting purposes. By providing individualized services for both children and parents, the head start program prepares the children for kindergarten and the parents for setting and achieving family goals as well as strengthening their role as the first and primary educators of their children.

rehabilitation programs - the agency's rehabilitation programs provide a full range of rehabilitative services for persons eighteen years of age or older who have a diagnosed developmental disability. Development training services include assessment and individual program planning. Employment services are provided through the sheltered workshop, where contract work is competitively bid and individuals earn a paycheck while learning real work skills. The programs are designed to teach life skills and good work habits to develop potential and increase self-sufficiency, so that each individual may have the best possible quality of life within the least restrictive environment. Approximately 125 developmentally disabled adults were served through programs and work opportunities.

the community services block grant (csbg) is the cornerstone of a community action agency. Services are designed by the agency to meet the needs of our clients and include emergency service, housing and employment assistance, case management, educational scholarships, and support other agency activities. We have emphasized job creation with our services providing assistance with short-term training and job search. The agency networks with the social service agencies such as the united way and il dept of human services and administers other emergency assistance funds utilizing csbg resources for administrative costs and staff time. Over 470 families have received direct services and several agency projects including cardboard recycling and production/sale of crafts by developmentally disabled adults have been financially assisted. Senior programs - over 62,000 meals were served to seniors utilizing a central kitchen in carrollton and transporting meals to senior centers throughout our service area. More than 50% of those meals were delivered to homebound seniors who would have gone without a well-balanced meal. In addition, seniors were provided approximately 6,300 units of van transportation to meal sites, medical, or shopping. Our in-home care services were provided to 130 elderly clients averaging 20 hours of service per month. Services include assisting with self-administered medication, assisting with bathing, dressing, shaving, as well as helping with daily living chores such as light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, cooking, etc. Both the homemaker and nutrition services maintain, strengthen, and safeguard our seniors in their own homes while prolonging their need for nursing home care. Regretfully, reduced funding continues for these services, and managed care through insurance companies for in-home care appears to be in the future. The agency's housing funds consist of hud, emergency solutions, and idhs homeless prevention grants. These grants have enabled us to assist, support and educate over 60 individuals who are in a housing crisis. Services provided include case managementincludes rental assistance and also referrals to other programs internally and throughout the community. Tri-county rural transit is an operator for public transportation and medicaid approved provider for non-emergency transport. Tri-county rural transit is a door-to-door, demand response and deviated route service. Transportation is provided to residents 16 years of age and older unless accompanied by an adult or approved in advance. Transportation to and from hospitals, medical appointments, banks, libraries, shopping centers, laundromats, etc. Fare schedule is suggested for all passengers up to 60+ years of age. Donations in any amount by seniors are accepted. In the first full year of operation, over 29,800 rides were provided by tri-county rural transit across the service area consisting of jersey, greene, calhoun counties and neighboring communities.