CAYUGASENECA COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY INC

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM: (SEE SCHEDULE O) THE AGENCY'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN CAYUGA COUNTY. CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, NUTRITION, AND FAMILY SERVICES. THE AGENCY WORKS CLOSELY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AUBURN, MORAVIA, AND CATO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL READINESS GOALS AND NEW YORK STATE EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS. THE AGENCY HAS UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN (UPK) PARTNERSHIPS WITH AUBURN AND MORAVIA. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: EARLY HEAD START - A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PREGNANT WOMEN, SERVING CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 2. HEAD START-A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 5, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, NUTRITIONAL, SOCIAL, AND FAMILY SUPPORT. UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN (UPK) - A NEW YORK STATEFUNDED PROGRAM FOR 4-YEAR-OLDS, ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THEIR ENTRY INTO KINDERGARTEN. 3PK - A PRE-KINDERGARTEN STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS. BACKPACK PROGRAM - PROVIDES CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM IN AUBURN WITH NUTRITIOUS FOOD ON THE WEEKEND, DURING THE THIRD WEEK OF EACH MONTH, WHEN OTHER HOUSEHOLD RESOURCES HAVE DWINDLED.

EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM: (SEE SCHEDULE O) EMERGENCY SERVICES ASSISTS CUSTOMERS ON A WALK IN BASIS IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS SITUATION. STAFF WORK WITH THE CUSTOMER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION, GATHER INFORMATION AND RESOLVE THE CRISIS. CUSTOMERS CAN THEN BE REFERRED TO A COMBINATION OF PROGRAMS WITHIN THE AGENCY OR PARTNER AGENCIES THAT CAN PROVIDE LONG TERM ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED. ALL OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED IN EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN A STRENGTH BASED MANNER, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT HOUSEHOLDS WILL MOVE TOWARD SELF SUFFICIENCY. THE EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE TO AGENCY CUSTOMERS TO HELP ALLEVIATE HUNGER IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FOOD PANTRY IS UNIQUE IN THE COMMUNITY AS IT IS THE ONLY PANTRY WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN BE SERVED REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE WITHIN THE COUNTY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE FOOD TWICE MONTHLY AS OPPOSED TO MONTHLY. EMERGENCY BABY PANTRY PROVIDES INCOME ELIGIBLE FAMILIES IN SENECA COUNTY WITH CHILDREN AGED 0-24 MONTHS WITH DIAPERS, FORMULA, WIPES, DIAPER CREAM, CAR SEATS, CLOTHING AND BLANKETS MONTHLY. PERSONAL CARE PANTRY PROVIDES PERSONAL CARE ITEMS INCLUDING DIAPERS, BABY WIPES, FEMININE PRODUCTS, TOOTHBRUSHES, TOOTHPASTE, SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, DEODORANT, AND HAIRBRUSHES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN CAYUGA COUNTY. CAYUGA HAS EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SOLUTIONS (CHESS) PROGRAM PROVIDES FLEXIBLE ONE TIME ASSISTANCE TO HELP TANF ELIGIBLE WORKING FAMILIES TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN EMPLOYMENT. FUNDS MAY ASSIST WITH HOUSING UTILITIES, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS, CAR REPAIRS, AND OTHER NEEDS. CAYUGA COUNTY CHRISTMAS ELF COLLABORATIVE, MULTI PARTNER PROGRAM PROVIDES TOYS TO INCOME ELIGIBLE CHILDREN IN NEED IN CAYUGA COUNTY, AGED 18 YEARS OR YOUNGER, DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. HOMELESS INTERVENTION FUNDING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) AND FROM THE CITY OF AUBURN IS USED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS OR NEAR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AN AGENCY ADVOCATE WORKS WITH THE CUSTOMER TO DETERMINE THEIR HOUSING NEEDS AND HOW THEY CAN BE BEST ADDRESSED TO PROVIDE PERMANENT, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS. ONCE THE CUSTOMER ENTERS THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THEIR HOUSING NEEDS, A CASE MANAGER THEN WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH ASSISTANCE CAN SECURE HOUSING AND MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL TO AVOID A REPEAT BOUT OF HOMELESSNESS. CAR SEAT DISTRIBUTION PROVIDES CAR SEATS TO FAMILIES IN NEED AND ACCEPTS BOTH IN AGENCY AND OUT OF AGENCY REFERRALS. A CERTIFIED CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN PRESENTS AN HOUR LONG WORKSHOP THAT INCLUDES A VIDEO ON CHILD SAFETY AND CAR SEAT INSTALLATION. A HANDS ON DEMONSTRATION IS PROVIDED BY THE TECHNICIAN AND THE CUSTOMER MUST ALSO DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN INSTALLATION PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE CAR SEAT. HEALTH BENEFITS EXCHANGE CONTRACT WITH NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE NAVIGATOR SERVICES TO ASSIST POTENTIAL ENROLLEES WITH ACCESSING AFFORDABLE CARE THROUGH THE MARKETPLACE. RAPID REHOUSING ASSISTS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND INTO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, IN SOME INSTANCES TO HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. A REFERRAL IS THROUGH CAYUGA COUNTY. FREE CLOTHING PROVIDES GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO PEOPLE IN NEED. TO ACCOMMODATE AS MANY SHOPPERS AS POSSIBLE, VISITS ARE LIMITED TO ONCE PER WEEK FOR 30 MINUTES, AND VISITORS ARE LIMITED TO 3 SHOPPING BAGS PER VISIT (UNLESS SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES APPLY). WARM THE CHILDREN COLLABORATIVE, MULTI PARTNER PROGRAM PROVIDES WARM WINTER COATS AND ACCESSORIES TO INCOME ELIGIBLE CHILDREN IN NEED IN CAYUGA COUNTY AGED 14 AND YOUNGER.