Program areas at MWVCAA
Energy and housing: the arches project program is our housing and street outreach division, where we help clients navigate from homelessness to stable housing and better lives. Our approach provides referrals, housing placements, and basic services to people experiencing homelessness and housing instability in marion and polk counties. The energy services program program operates liheap (low-income home energy assistance program), oeap (Oregon energy assistance program), olga (Oregon low-income gas assistance program), and low-income home water assistance (lihwa). Energy also assists covid-19 households with ceap (covid-19 Oregon energy assistance program). Energy education is available to help clients reduce their energy consumption and take control of their energy usage. Energy assisted 7,143 unduplicated households during the fiscal year. Energy partners with city of salem providing income eligible referrals for their rate relief program.
Child care information services provides training to child care providers in marion, polk and yamhill counties. The home youth and resource center is a combined day shelter and drop-in center for non-adjudicated homeless and at-high-risk youth. The re-entry program eases the transition from incarceration back into the Community by connecting clients with vital needs, including employment, education, housing, therapy, transportation, and more, all aimed at reducing the rate of recidivism.
Community Action head start and early head start: providing preschool services to 697 preschool children, infant/toddler services to 188 infants, toddlers, and expectant mothers at 12 operating centers and 7 family child-care homes in marion & polk counties. Our goal is to build on the assets of the family from developing a life-long love of learning to meeting the social, medical, and mental health needs of the family. All of our sites strive to provide the richest learning environment possible while creating a structure that is also supportive and welcoming to parents. Through a full spectrum of services, head start promotes the health and well-being of the child and family. This usda food program provides monthly cash payments to 470 home child care providers to partially reimburse them for the healthy meals and snacks they serve to the 7,152 children in their care. We serve providers in the following counties: marion, polk, yamhill, linn, benton, lane, lincoln, tillamook, multnomah, clackamas and Washington. Our tri-lingual staff visit providers in their homes several times each year (or virtually) to provide nutrition information and resources, as well as to verify compliance with all state and federal regulation. We occasionally offer additional workshops throughout the year.