SEMCAC

CHILD EDUCATION SERVICES: HEAD START IS A CHILD AND FAMILY FOCUSED, HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAM SERVING SIX COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA: DODGE, FILLMORE, HOUSTON, MOWER, STEELE, AND WINONA. PARENTS AND TEACHERS WORK TOGETHER TO PLAN ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND WELL-BEING OF ENROLLED CHILDREN. 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 WEBSITE.

OLDER AMERICANS: SENIOR NUTRITION SERVES MID-DAY MEALS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO PERSONS 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND THEIR SPOUSES, REGARDLESS OF AGE, THROUGH SENIOR DINING AND MEALS ON WHEELS. THE PROGRAMS TARGET LOW-INCOME, NUTRITIONALLY AT-RISK SENIORS. SENIOR DINING PROMOTES HEALTHY LIVING BY (1) PROVIDING A MEAL THAT MEETS 1/3 OF THE 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. MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDES THE HOMEBOUND SENIOR WITH A 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 DELIVER THE MEALS TO PARTICIPANTS' HOMES. THIS DAILY VISIT DOUBLES AS A SAFETY CHECK FOR THE RECIPIENT. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THIS SAFETY CHECK HAS RESULTED IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A SENIOR. FOR MOST PARTICIPANTS, SENIOR NUTRITION PROVIDES THE MAIN MEAL OF THE DAY. OUR MEALS ARE LOW-COST AND AFFORDABLE, WHICH ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO STAY WITHIN THEIR BUDGETS. SENIOR NUTRITION HELPS SENIORS REMAIN IN THEIR HOUSING AND MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH, AS SHOWN IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE.