WESTERN EGYPTIAN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL INC

ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:THE MONTHLY COST REPORT FOR FY25 SHOWS TOTAL LIHEAP PAYMENTS OF $3,058,623 IN PAYMENTS VS. $3,165,585 FOR FY24. WHICH IS A DECREASE IN PAYMENTS OF $106,962. THE LIHEAP PROGRAM WAS TO GO THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2025; HOWEVER, THE AGENCY RAN OUT OF FUNDING IN MID-APRIL, 2025. OUR APPLICATION COUNT TOTAL ENDED WITH 4411 APPLICATIONS FOR FY25 VS. 4328 FY24, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 83 APPLICATIONS. THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WILL HAVE NO SUMMER COOLING PROGRAM THIS YEAR. OUR OUTREACH OFFICES WERE ABLE TO CONDUCT LIHEAP APPLICATIONS VIA IN-PERSON BY APPOINTMENT, TAKE AN APPLICATION BY PHONE OR CLIENTS COULD PICK UP AN APPLICATION PACKET AT THEIR LOCAL OUTREACH OFFICE VIA THE OUTSIDE LITERATURE BOX. WE ALSO HAVE TUESDAY'S AS "WALK-IN" DAY FOR LIHEAP APPOINTMENTS AT 3 OF OUR OUTREACH OFFICES IN JACKSON PERRY, AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES. WE ALSO HAD THE APPLICATION AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S WEBSITE. FURNACE: THE FY25 FURNACE VOUCHER PROGRAM WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. THE TOTAL CLIENT BENEFITS FROM THE FURNACE VOUCHER PROGRAM WERE $182,020. WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL $23,000 TO THE FURNACE FUNDING FORM LIHEAP FUNDS TO HELP WITH 5 ADDITIONAL FURNACES FOR CUSTOMERS. PIPP: THE YEAR ENDED WITH 404 ACTIVE PIPP CLIENTS. NO NEW PIPP APPLICATIONS WERE TAKEN IN FY25, PER THE STATE. PIPP CLIENTS BEGAN RECEIVING RECERTIFICATION LETTERS FROM THE STATE AS OF JULY 1, AND LIHEAP STAFF ARE CURRENTLY TAKING APPOINTMENTS TO START THE RECERTIFICATION'S.WE HAVE A COUPLE AMEREN PROGRAMS WE ARE DOING TO HELP AMEREN CUSTOMERS. ONE IS CALLED THE MARKET DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE {MDI}. WE ENGAGE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH RESOURCES AMEREN HAS AND SIGN THEM UP TO RECEIVE FREE ENERGY KITS. FROM THIS MDI PROGRAM, WE HAVE MADE $7,690 JUST FOR ENGAGING WITH CUSTOMERS ABOUT AMEREN'S PROGRAMS AND GOING TO OUTREACH EVENTS. OUTREACH WORKERS HAVE GONE TO SEVERAL OUTREACH EVENTS WE WERE INVITED TO. THEY TALK WITH CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE LIHEAP PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS THE AGENCY OFFERS. THE OTHER PROGRAM WE JUST STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IS CALLED THE MOBILE HOME INITIATIVE {MHI}. THIS PROGRAM IS FOR MOBILE HOME OWNERS OR RENTERS. THE CUSTOMER FILLS OUT AN APPLICATION AND WE RECEIVE $200 FOR EVERY APPLICATION WE TURN IN. THIS PROGRAM IS SIMILAR TO WEATHERIZATION IN MAKING THE HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. WE HAVE RECEIVED $400 SO FAR WITH THIS PROGRAM.

HEAD START PROGRAM:PROVIDES LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ASSIST CHILDREN TO DEVELOP SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY IN A MANOR APPROPRIATE IN AGE AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT. PROVIDES AN INDIVIDUAL APPROACH BY ASSESSING EACH CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT LEVEL AND ALIGNING A CURRICULUM PLAN AND PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WILL MAXIMIZE SCHOOL READINESS SUCCESS. ENGAGES IN MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL GOAL-ORIENTED PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES TO PROMOTE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND WELL-BEING. PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES PREVENTION, EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION AND REFERRAL SERVICES. FACILITATES NETWORKS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES' STRENGTHS, INTERESTS AND NEEDS. COLLECTS AND ANALYZES OUTCOME DATA TO IMPLEMENT PLANS THAT REFLECT THE DESIRE FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION. RESULTS AND KEY BENEFITS FROM 2023-24: WESTERN EGYPTIAN EOC HEAD START PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH LOW-INCOME. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVICE THE TRI-COUNTY AREAS OF MONROE, RANDOLPH AND PERRY COUNTIES IN ILLINOIS WITH FUNDING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE HEAD START PROGRAM PARTICIPATES IN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM. CHILDREN IN FULL-TIME PRESCHOOL ARE SERVED BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND AFTERNOON SNACK. WE HAVE 3 CENTERS AND 2 PARTNERSHIPS THAT CHILDREN ATTEND AUGUST JUNE. THERE WERE 100 CHILDREN IN FULL DAY, FULL YEAR. THERE ARE 4 CLASSROOMS THAT ARE FULL-DAY, PART-YEAR. THESE CLASSROOMS ARE OPERATED 148 DAYS IN THE SERVICE YEAR. THE 3 PART-YEAR, PART-DAY CLASSROOMS PROVIDE TRADITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTING WITH CLASSROOMS IN 2 HEAD START LOCATIONS FUNDED TO SERVE 54 CHILDREN. THE PART-YEAR CENTERS ARE OPERATED 128 DAYS IN THE SERVICE YEAR. DOOR TO-DOOR BUS TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED FOR ALL CHILDREN IN THE PART-YEAR PROGRAM OPTION.