Community Empowerment Association

From march 20, 2020 to july 1, 2020, Community Empowerment Association, Inc. offices (cea) were closed to be in compliance with orders from the pa state governor following guidelines from the center for disease control (cdc) because of the covid-19 pandemic. Immediately after the closure, cea began to offer its food security distribution, servicing thousands of residents during that time. In addition, later in the year, cea received a grant to assist families with managing their youth virtual school program, maintaining a positive mental health state, activities for social interaction and food assistance. During the unprecedented time of the pandemic, services for each program were modified as follows:safe passage afterschool program serviced youth virtually, giving on-line school support and assisting parents in managing youth online school learning, doing well checks and distributing computers. During this time, 30 youth participated virtually. Cea was able to open back up on july 1, 2020 for its summer kamp, under following strict guidelines, limiting the number of participants at each site to 25 per site. Cea was also able to enroll 25 youth in its summer learn & earn program. During the fall of 2020, while schools were still closed down, cea was able to offer a Community hub to 50 students between its 2 sites where youth came every day for educational assistance. The Community hub continued until schools reopened in 2021.workforce development and training serviced 10 youth aged 16 to 24 in work readiness, life skills and work experience opportunities, and after offices were reopened on july 1, 2020 and the new contract began an additional 5 students were enrolled. All participants were serviced virtually or by phone. In addition, in lieu of ccac closing down during this time and then adding virtual classes, staff connected with 50 participants for virtual work readiness and life skills training. Therapeutic support program serviced 8 youth in its bhrs mobile therapy program before having to close due to the pandemic, and 9 participated in the outpatient program. Enrollment decreased significantly during the closure. After the shutdown, 6 more participants were added to the outpatient program. It should be noted that the bhrs program was in the process of being discontinued during 2020 and cea was able to write and receive a license to provide intensive behavioral health services (ibhs) in november of 2020.