EAST CENTRAL KANSAS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY CORPORATION

ECKAN'S COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) FUNDED SERVICES ASSIST LOW- INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN ANDERSON, COFFEY, DOUGLAS, FRANKLIN, JOHNSON, LYON, MIAMI, MORRIS, AND OSAGE COUNTIES. IN FY2024-2025, CSBG- FUNDED SERVICES FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON CRISIS RECOVERY, ASSISTING HOUSEHOLDS WITH NECESSARY PAYMENTS TO MAINTAIN THEIR LIVING SITUATIONS; THESE DIRECT ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS INCLUDED RENT, UTILITIES, CAR INSURANCE, CAR REPAIRS, BUS PASSES, MEDICAL EXPENSES, AND MORE. CSBG-FUNDED SERVICES ALSO SUPPORTED FAMILIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH SCHOOL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTIONS, DURING THE SUMMERS WITH SUMMER LUNCH AND SENIOR FARMERS MARKET, AND DURING THE HOLIDAYS WITH HOLIDAY BUREAUS. YEAR-ROUND, CSBG-FUNDED STAFF OFFER THE STEPPINGSTONES TO SUCCESS CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO HELP PARTICIPANTS WITH SETTING AND REACHING THEIR GOALS. THESE GOALS ARE OFTEN FINANCIAL GOALS OR GOALS TO REMOVE OR NAVIGATE THE BARRIERS EXPERIENCED WHEN LIVING IN POVERTY. FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND PANTRIES ARE ALSO OFFERED YEAR-ROUND TO SUPPORT ECKAN'S COMMUNITIES. ECKAN'S WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAP) REDUCES ENERGY COSTS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ELDERLY, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND CHILDREN, BY INCREASING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THEIR HOMES SO THAT THE STRUCTURE USES LESS ELECTRICITY AND FUEL, WHILE ENSURING THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY. ECKAN WEATHERIZATION PROVIDES HOME ENERGY AUDITS AND INSTALLATION OF ENERGY REDUCTION MEASURES IN 17 NORTHEASTERN AND CENTRAL KANSAS COUNTIES. THE HOME ENERGY AUDIT CONSISTS OF A FULL HOUSE INSPECTION TO LOOK FOR AREAS OF POTENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES CONDUCTED BY A CERTIFIED WEATHERIZATION INSPECTOR. THEY COLLECT INFORMATION ON THE HOME INCLUDING RESULTS OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, USE AN AUDIT SOFTWARE TO ESTIMATE POTENTIAL SAVINGS, DEVELOP A LIST OF COST-EFFECTIVE MEASURES, AND IDENTIFY ENERGY-RELATED HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES. MEASURES THAT ARE INSTALLED IMPROVE THE THERMAL COMFORT AND PROVIDE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WARM, SAFE, AND SECURE HOUSING. ALL THE WHILE, PROVIDING NATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND LOCAL JOBS. ECKAN HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START SUPPORT HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 5. SERVICES INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL, MEDICAL, DENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND OVERALL FAMILY WELL-BEING. SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS, WITH A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO ACT AS THEIR CHILDREN'S FIRST TEACHERS.