TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION INC

TRI COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. (TCCA) HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START SERVES ANGELINA, JASPER, NEWTON, SABINE, SHELBY, SAN AUGUSTINE, AND TYLER COUNTIES. THE VISION STATEMENT IS TO SERVE AS A MODEL COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, EMPOWERING FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE SELF-RELIANCE THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, STRATEGIC COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS, STRONG STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT, AND EFFECTIVE AGENCY LEADERSHIP. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF).TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM, TEAMWORK, AND COMPASSION ARE IMPORTANT TO EACH EMPLOYEE, AND WE WORK DAILY TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO MEET AGE AND INCOME CRITERIA. THE PROGRAM IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL, DENTAL, MENTAL WELLNESS, NUTRITIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS FUNDED TO SERVE A TOTAL OF 414 CHILDREN AGED 0-5. THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM HAS 136 SLOTS FOR CHILDREN IN A CENTER-BASED SETTING. THE HEAD START PROGRAM HAS 278 SLOTS FOR CHILDREN IN CENTER-BASED SETTINGS. THE HEAD START PROGRAM CUMULATIVELY SERVED A TOTAL OF 334 CHILDREN IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM AND 168 IN THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM.TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START TAKES PRIDE IN PROVIDING PARENTS WITH AN ONGOING SOURCE OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START HAS A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WEST SABINE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE WE SERVE A TOTAL OF 37 HEAD START CHILDREN WITHIN TWO CLASSROOMS.TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PARTNERS WITH THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM. TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START ALSO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COLLEGES, SUCH AS ANGELINA COLLEGE, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, AND PANOLA COLLEGE. THESE PARTNERSHIPS HELP PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP ACCOMPLISH GOALS FOR STAFF AND PARENTS. PANOLA COLLEGE STUDENTS EVEN PROVIDED ONSITE TRAINING TO OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HANDWASHING AND TOOTH BRUSHING.TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN THROUGH WORKING TO MEET THE SCHOOL READINESS GOALS. CHILDREN ARE ASSESSED 3 TIMES A YEAR AND OUTCOMES ARE MONITORED, ANALYZED, AND AGGREGATED BY THE EDUCATION TEAM. FAMILIES ARE KEPT INFORMED OF THEIR CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM YEAR THROUGH 2 HOME VISITS AND PARENT CONFERENCES. THE TEACHING STAFF ALSO PROVIDE OUTCOME REPORTS TO OUR PARENTS ALONG WITH ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN DO IN THE HOME SETTING TO WORK WITH THEIR CHILD. THIS IS IN HOPES OF CLOSING THE HOME SCHOOL CONNECTION. SCHOOL READINESS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MUST WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY ARE MET. THIS PROGRAM SETS GOALS FOR FAMILIES IN SEVEN OUTCOME AREAS; FAMILY WELL-BEING, POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILIES AS LIFELONG EDUCATORS, FAMILIES AS LEARNERS, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSACTION, FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO PEERS AND COMMUNITY, AND FAMILIES AS ADVOCATES AND LEARNERS. FAMILY OUTCOMES PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE CHILD AND THE ABILITY OF THE FAMILY TO MOVE FORWARD OUT OF POVERTY.TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PARTNERS WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND AREA RESOURCES TO ENSURE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. THE PROGRAM DOES THIS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND JOINT COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS RESOURCE FAIRS, FAMILY SERVICE ADVISORY MEETINGS, COMMUNITY RESOURCE COORDINATION GROUPS (CRCG) MEETINGS, POLICY COUNCIL MEETINGS.WE HAD 574 VOLUNTEERS FOR LAST PROGRAM YEAR.THE PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THROUGH OUR SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.FAMILY SERVICE WORKER/ADVOCATES HAVE MONTHLY STAFF MEETINGS TO ENSURE THEY RECEIVE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THEY HAVE IN ASSISTING FAMILIES MEET THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.TCCA HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IMPLEMENTS COACHING WITH FIDELITY USING THE CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT SCORING SYSTEM (CLASS) AS AN OBSERVATION TOOL THAT ALIGNS WITH HEAD STARTPERFORMANCE STANDARDS. THE MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLASS TOOL IS A KEY ELEMENT THAT CONTRIBUTES SUSTAINED QUALITY SUPPORT AND TRAINING FOR EDUCATION STAFF. MONITORING, MENTORING, AND COACHING WILL ENSURE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE SCHOOL READINESS GOALS. TEACHING STAFF SET GOALS TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS UTILIZE TRAINING THAT HAS RESEARCH-BASED RESOURCES. HEADSTART.GOV, MYTEACHSTONE, AND HEAD START EARLY LEARNING OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK (ELOF) ARE USED TO PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH BEST PRACTICES FOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. PRACTICE-BASED COACHING PRACTICE BASEPD COACHING IS BEING USED TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD ACHIEVES THE DESIRED OUTCOMES AND TEACHERS HAVE CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. TEACHERS WORK WITH THE EDUCATION/DISABILITIES COORDINATOR, HEAD START MENTOR, EARLY HEAD START MENTOR, AND CENTER MANAGER TO COMPLETE ASSIGNED TASKS THROUGH MYTEACHSTONE TO ENSURE ALL TEACHING STAFF ARE SUCCESSFUL IN PREPARING THEIR STUDENTS TO BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS.

COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CEAP REGULAR PROGRAM GRANT): DURING PROGRAM YEAR 2025, TRI-COUNTY ASSISTED: APPROXIMATELY 1,841 HOUSEHOLDS WITH UTILITY ASSISTANCE (ELECTRIC, GAS, AND/PROPANE). THIS INCLUDED ELDERLY, DISABLED, AND CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER. THESE 1,841 HOUSEHOLDS WERE MADE UP OF 3,607 INDIVIDUALS. APPROXIMATELY $1,935,596 DOLLARS WERE SPENT TO ASSIST THESE HOUSEHOLDS/INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE 2025 PROGRAM. ALL HOUSEHOLDS MUST QUALIFY AND MEET THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL OF 150% OR LESS TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE THROUGH LIHEAP CEAP GRANT.