Western Indiana Community Action Agency

Child education - head start and early head start are educational programs that promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. Our head start and early head start programs provide developmentally appropriate activities with a special focus on helping children develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school. Prenatal education is also provided to pregnant mothers. Wicaa head start and early head start programs have served 425 children and thier families across vigo, clay and putnam counties. Staff recognizes that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. We welcome parent engagement and work as partners with parents to develop a program that best meets the needs of their child. Household income eligibility is based upon 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. To be age eligible for early head start services children must be younger than 3 years old or a pregnant mother. To be age eligible for head start services a child must be at least 3 years old by by august 1st, which is the public school cut-off date.

Food programs - the women, infants, and children program (wic) is a supplemental food and nutrition education program for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, postpartum non-breastfeeding mothers (up to six months after delivery), infants and children under five years of age. The wic program provides at no cost to those who qualify, checks for specified nutritious foods such as milk, cereal, fruit juice, eggs, cheese and peanut butter. Breastfeeding support is available, and formula is also available for infants who are not breastfed. Participants recieve individual nutrition counseling, nutrition classes, and health care referral. Over 7,500 clients were served in 2022.

Energy assistance - designed to assist low income families with the high cost of home energy. The energy assistance program heating season begins in november and Western Indiana Community Action Agency, Inc. Provided services to approximately 4,800 in 2022.

Community services - Community services block grant (csbg) funds central management and core activities of the Agency in its efforts to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities and to empower low-income families to become self-sufficient. In 2022, Western Indiana Community Action Agency's csbg program provided support to approximately 500 individuals.

Senior programs - the Western Indiana Community Action Agency, inc.'s foster grandparent program is dedicated to providing income eligible persons age 55 years and older the opportunity to serve as volunteers in meaningful assignments at local non-profit organizations working with children with defined needs. Helping to enhance the capacity of organizations within our Community by providing them with dependable, experienced, loving volunteers to assist with the children they serve. Through networking and partnerships, we are able to share resources to better meet the needs of children and elders of our Community. The foster grandparent volunteers receive training to help educate them on a variety of life issues and gain or enhance valuable skills. They have daily interaction with others which helps them to stay mentally alert, physically active, and more involved in social activities, and better connected with their Community. Foster grandparent volunteers also receive a small stipend that helps them afford some basic needs that they otherwise would do without. During 2022, 48 individuals enrolled as foster grandparent volunteers and despite the challenges presented by covid-19, served over 46,000 hours at 15 different volunteer stations: they served over 1,200 different children.the Western Indiana Community Action Agency, inc.'s retired and senior volunteer program (rsvp) is dedicated to providing persons age 55 years and older the opportunity to serve as volunteers utilizing their knowledge and skills to help meet identified needs of their communities. During 2022, the rsvp program had an enrollment of 60 volunteers age 55 years and older. Those volunteers reported 6,134 service hours at just 9 different volunteer stations due to the restrictions placed upon the program by covid-19. Service activities include but are not limited to food security and congregate meals; waste reduction, management, and recycling; civic involvement, Community enhancement, and veteran services.

Weatherization - the weatherization program is designed to insulate and air-seal dwellings in an attempt to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the home. Additionally, all combustion appliances are thoroughly tested to ensure the health and safety of the occupants. We also perform activities that will attempt to lessen the baseload energy usage. In 2022, 17 homes were weatherized.

Discretionary