Semcac

Child education services:semcac head start is a high quality program serving six counties in southeast Minnesota: dodge, fillmore, houston, mower, steele and winona. Head start is family-focused; parents and teachers work together to plan activities that support each child's growth and well-being. Most head start families have incomes at or below the federal poverty level. Children participate in a variety of educational activities that encourage a love of learning and lifelong healthy habits. The children work on their listening and speaking skills. As a result, they learn to get along with others, solve problems, and gain confidence. Children also receive medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks and enjoy creative play in safe settings indoors and outdoors. Children leave head start more prepared for kindergarten, excited about learning and ready to succeed as shown in our annual report on our web-site.

Weatherization:semcac's weatherization assistance program provides energy conservation home improvements to reduce energy consumption costs. Each home is inspected before and after work is done in order to ensure that homes are more energy efficient upon project completion. Homeowners are made aware of all areas of the home on which work will be completed. Improvements may include exterior wall and attic insulation, air infiltration and bypass sealing, and the testing, repair or replacement of the home's mechanical systems to ensure efficiency and safety. The weatherization assistance program also provides (1) education to consumers regarding home energy efficiency and safety, (2) energy audits to evaluate home energy usage, (3) conservation improvement programs in collaboration with local utilities and fuel suppliers. Homeowners and renters who apply and are eligible for the energy assistance program are automatically screened for participation in the weatherization assistance program. Priority is given to households with at least one senior citizen, individuals with a disability or a child, or to households with the highest heating costs. In fiscal year 2019, weatherization improved the energy efficiency of people's homes and reduced their energy consumption as shown in our annual report on our web-site.

Older americans:semcac senior nutrition serves mid-day meals monday through friday to person 60 years of age or older and their spouses, regardless of age, through senior congregate dining and meals on wheels. The programs target the low-income, nutritionally at risk senior. The programs promote healthy living by (1) providing a meal that meets 1/3 of recommended daily allowance standards, (2) offering nutrition and health-related presentations at our sites, and (3) providing opportunities to socialize and provide meaningful volunteer duties. For most participants, these programs provide the main meal of the day and the fact that our meals are low cost and affordable allows them to stay within their budgets. Studies have shown that our programs keep seniors living in their own homes and postpone long-term care placements as long as possible.senior congregate dining provides seniors with an opportunity to receive a low-cost, nutritious meal, enjoy the fellowship of neighbors and friends, and take part in programming and/or volunteer activities. In fiscal year 2019, (program year january 1 december 31, 2019), senior dining empowered seniors to maintain their health and nutritional well-being, while offering educational programs and an opportunity for socializing. Meals on wheels provides the homebound senior with the similar meal delivered to their home. Some of the participants are recuperating from surgery or illness, some are physically disabled, and many are unable to shop and cook due to limitations brought on by advanced age. Local community volunteers do the home delivery. Their daily visit doubles as a safety check for the meals recipient. There have been times when this safety check has resulted in saving the life of a senior. In fiscal year 2019 (program year january 1 december 31, 2019), meals on wheels helped seniors remain in their own home and maintain their health as shown in our annual report on our web-site.