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Head Start: Helping Ohio's Youth

09-11-2013 11:47:00 AM

In 2012, more than 6 million children under age six lived in poverty in America. Head Start served 1,146,468 children and pregnant women last year. In Ohio, Head Start served 49,702 children. Head Start is a national program that promotes the school-readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development, as well as providing health, nutrition, social services and other services determined to be necessary by family needs assessments. Most Community Action Agencies in Ohio offer Head Start programs, but these programs have been hit hard by the sequestration.Because of the $405 million in cuts nationally, 57,265 children will lose services and 18,000 staff will suffer job losses or pay cuts. In Ohio, 2,782 fewer children will be served this year and there will be 11,168 fewer days of service provided to the remaining children served. Many teachers will lose their jobs and transportation and other services and supplies will be cut, affecting those who need it most.Following is the story of how Head Start helped one young boy at the Head Start provided by Lorain County Community Action Agency (LCCAA):.

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If You Have a Personal or Client Success Story that You'd Like to Share, Email Colleen

September 2013

Agency Happenings

Two Ohio CAAs Chosen for Bridging Health and Human Services Pilot Project

The Community Action Partnership has partnered with the Corporation for National and Community Service - a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through its core programs of Senior Core, AmeriCorps, and the Social Innovation Fund - to create a pilot project called Bridging Health and Human Services. The goal of the project is to increase awareness and link uninsured Americans to affordable healthcare through the Affordable Care Act. Eight Community Action Agencies throughout the country were chosen for this pilot project, including two Ohio agencies - the Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area (CAP Dayton) and IMPACT Community Action in Franklin County.

Agency Happenings

WSOS Community Action Receives National Recognition

Recently WSOS Community Action received national recognition in two different areas of their agency, housing and Head Start. WSOS's affordable housing project, Port Clinton Pointe, was highlighted in a national report produced by the firm Rapoza and Associates to demonstrate the success of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, while four of their Head Start centers received accreditation from the National Association of the Education of Young Children.

Agency Happenings

Community Action Agencies Partner to Offer Services to Low-Income Veterans

Three Community Action Agencies have received a grant for $507,000 from the Veterans Administration for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to serve homeless veterans in five Ohio counties. With the grant, Washington-Morgan Counties Community Action, Gallia- Meigs Community Action and Muskingum Economic Opportunity Action Group, Inc. will partner to serve approximately 100 veteran families in their five-county area.

OACAA News

Reentry Conference a Success

The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies partnered with the Ohio Association of Local Reentry Coalitions to host the Ohio Reentry Best Practice Partnership Conference September 24-25 in Columbus, Ohio. The conference was a huge success, far exceeding attendance expectations and providing a valuable educational experience to 250 reentry professionals.