NORTHEAST KANSAS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM INC

THE EARLY HEAD START (EHS) AND HEAD START (HS) PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, RECOGNIZING THAT PARENTS ARE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, NUTRITIONAL, AND HEALTH NEEDS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. STAFF WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES TO BUILD STRONG, SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ENCOURAGE POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS, PROMOTE OVERALL FAMILY WELL-BEING, AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS WITH PEERS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. FAMILIES ENROLLED IN EHS/HS BENEFIT FROM DEDICATED STAFF WHO ASSIST THEM IN ACCESSING VALUABLE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. EARLY HEAD START SERVICES- HOME-BASED MODEL- WEEKLY 1.5 HOUR HOME VISITS- TWO GROUP SOCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES EACH MONTH- FUNDED TO SERVE 120 CHILDREN ACROSS A NINE COUNTY SERVICE AREA. HEAD START SERVICES- CENTER-BASED MODEL- FUNDED TO SERVE 195 CHILDREN IN SEVEN COUNTIES- 13 CLASSROOMS TOTAL, EACH SERVING 15 CHILDREN- 6 CLASSROOMS OPERATE PART-DAY (3.5 HOURS DAILY)- 7 CLASSROOMS OPERATE AS EXTENDED DAY (7 HOURS DAILY). NUTRITION SERVICES (CACFP)- THROUGH THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP), THE HEAD START PROGRAM PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 53,635 NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO ENROLLED CHILDREN, INCLUDING- 19,275 BREAKFASTS, 20,745 LUNCHES, AND 13,615 SNACKS. THESE COMBINED EFFORTS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO NURTURING THE WHOLE CHILD AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN BUILDING STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS.

NEK-CAP, INC. FUNCTIONS AS THE AUTHORIZED PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY (PHA) ON BEHALF OF BROWN COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL UNIT. AS THE PHA, NEK-CAP, INC. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS VERY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, THE ELDERLY, AND THE DISABLED WITH AFFORDABLE, DECENT, SAFE AND SANITARY HOUSING IN THE PRIVATE MARKET. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS ARE FREE TO CHOOSE ANY HOUSING THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND ARE NOT LIMITED TO UNITS LOCATED IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROJECTS. A HOUSING SUBSIDY IS PAID BY NEK-CAP, INC. DIRECTLY TO THE LANDLORDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS, WHO THEN PAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL RENT CHARGED BY THE LANDLORD AND THE SUBSIDY PAYMENT PROVIDED BY THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM. THE HCV PROGRAM ASSISTS AN AVERAGE OF 150 CUSTOMERS EACH MONTH OF WHICH 48% ARE ELDERLY, 26% DISABLED, 21% FAMILIES, 5% SINGLE AND OF THE FAMILIES AND SINGLES 16% ARE EMPLOYED. A UNIQUE FEATURE OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY (FSS) PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES PARTICIPANTS TO BECOME MORE SELF-RELIANT. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, ENROLLED, ELIGIBILE HCV PARTICIPANTS CAN WORK WITH THE FSS COORDINATOR TO SET GOALS IN EDUCATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND INCREASE EMPLOYMENT GOALS. THE FINAL GOALS SET BY HUD ARE TO REDUCE RELIANCE UPON STATE PROGRAMS INCREASING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. DURING THIS FIVE-YEAR, VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS CAN ACCUMULATE RENT SAVINGS BY INCREASING THEIR PORTIONS OF RENT THROUGH INCREASED EARNED JOB INCOME, THEREBY REDUCING THE SUBSIDY PAID BY THE PROGRAM. THESE SAVINGS ACCUMULATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARTICIPANT AND ARE PAID TO THE PARTICIPANT WITH INTEREST UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM PERIOD. THERE IS AN AVERAGE OF 25 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM. ANOTHER FEATURE IS THE HCV HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM THAT ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS CAN RECIEVE A MONTHLY SUBSIDY TOWARD THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT. THERE IS 1 PARTICIPANT IN THIS PROGRAM. NEK-CAP, INC. ALSO ADMINISTERS THE TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TBRA), PROVIDING AN AVERAGE OF 10 FAMILIES EACH MONTH WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE. THIS GRANT ALSO PROVIDES SECURITY DEPOSIT AND UTILITY DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE.