CEFS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORPORATION

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP):LIHEAP IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS PAY FOR THEIR UTILITY SERVICES. LIHEAP WILL PROVIDE A ONE-TIME BENEFIT TO INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS TO HELP REDUCE THE BURDEN OF THEIR ENERGY COSTS. RECONNECTION ASSISTANCE IS ALSO PROVIDED TO QUALIFYING HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED OR ARE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF DISCONNECTION. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EMERGENCY FURNACE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE INOPERABLE FURNACES. ELIGIBLE AMEREN CUSTOMERS ARE OFFERED A CHOICE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL LIHEAP PROGRAM BENEFIT AND PARTICIPATION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF INCOME PAYMENT PLAN (PIPP). PIPP PROVIDES LOW AND FIXED-INCOME CUSTOMERS WITH A BETTER WAY TO MANAGE THEIR HOME ENERGY COSTS THROUGH FIXED MONTHLY PAYMENTS, ARREARAGE REDUCTION CREDITS, CLIENT EDUCATION, AND ENERGY CONSERVATION. PIPP CAN HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF DISCONNECTION AND RECONNECTION LEADING TO IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR PARTICIPANTS. AMEREN CUSTOMERS THAT ARE BETWEEN 200% - 300% OF POVERTY OR 80% OF A COUNTY'S AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI) MAY QUALIFY FOR A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM CALLED WARM NEIGHBORS/ COOL FRIENDS. FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED THROUGH AMEREN'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION. ENERGY SAVINGS EDUCATION IS ALSO PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS THROUGH A SERIES OF AMEREN AND AGENCY SPONSORED EVENTS THAT PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH ENERGY CONSERVATION INFORMATION AND KITS.FUNDING FOR LIHEAP IS PROVIDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (DCEO) OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE (OCA). PIPP IS FUNDED WITH STATE UTILITY ASSISTANCE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED BY DCEO.

HEAD START 0-5:HEAD START IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1965. THE CEFS HEAD START 0-5 PROGRAM OFFERS CENTER-BASED (HALF AND FULL DAY CLASSROOM SESSIONS) SERVICES TO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND HOME-BASED SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS IN CEFS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORPORATION'S SEVEN COUNTY SERVICE AREA.ELIGIBILITY IS LARGELY INCOME-BASED, ALTHOUGH OTHER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA SUCH AS DISABILITIES AND SERVICES NEEDED BY THE FAMILY ARE ALSO USED TO DETERMINE ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM. FAMILIES MUST EARN AT OR LESS THAN 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. FAMILIES MAY ALSO QUALIFY UNDER A CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY (RECEIPT OF SNAP OR TANF FUNDS, SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY FUNDS, OR HOMELESSNESS AS PER THE MCKINNEY VENTO ACT). UP TO 10% OF THE PROGRAM'S ENROLLMENT CAN BE FROM HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES OR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.THE PROGRAM IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO MUST COMPRISE 10% OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT. THE HEAD START 0-5 PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, PARENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND FAMILY SOCIALIZATIONS. HEAD START PROMOTES SCHOOL PREPARATION BY ENHANCING THE SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, NUTRITIONAL, SOCIAL, AND OTHER SERVICES. THE PROGRAM'S SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER STABLE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, ENHANCE CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP STRONG COGNITIVE SKILLS. THE HEAD START PHILOSOPHY IS TO PROVIDE ALL CHILDREN WITH INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND GUIDANCE IN REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL.GRANT FUNDING FOR THE CEFS HEAD START 0-5 PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE US DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, OFFICE OF HEAD START. THE PROGRAM ALSO RECEIVES FUNDING FOR MEALS SERVED TO PARTICIPANTS UNDER THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND FUNDED BY THE US DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE.