service delivery locations - access agency · youth group homes youth mentoring emergency shelter...
TRANSCRIPT
The Promise of Community Action
Community Action changes people’s lives,
embodies the spirit of hope,
improves communities,
and makes America a better place to live.
We care about the entire community,
and we are dedicated
to helping people
help themselves and each other.
Service Delivery Locations
Willimantic 1315 Main Street, Suite 2 Willimantic, CT 06226 (860) 450-7400 Access and Visitation Access to Assets Administration & Finance Case Management Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Climb the Ladder to a Successful Future Emergency Food Bank Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention (EFPP) Housing Preservation Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Parent Education Program (PEP) Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition (WIC) Weatherization (Energy Conservation) Windham Area Hour Exchange
Danielson 231 Broad Street Danielson, CT 06239 (860) 412-1600 Access and Visitation Beyond Shelter Case Management Climb the Ladder to a Successful Future Community Based Life Skills Emergency Food Bank Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention (EFPP) Next Steps Supportive Housing Parent Education Program (PEP) Supportive Housing for Families® Youth Group Homes Youth Mentoring
Emergency Shelter 51 Reynolds Street Danielson, CT 06239 (860) 774-4977
Hawkins House Adolescent Group Home Danielson, CT 06239
Crossroads Adolescent Transitional Supervised Apartments Norwich, CT 06360
Senior Services Beckish Senior Center 188 Route 66 Columbia, CT 06237 (860) 228-0759
Senior Housing Willington Woods 60A Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279 (860) 429-8777
Elisha Brook 56 New Park Avenue Franklin, CT 06254 (860) 886-0367
www.accessagency.org The Access Community Action Agency is
an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Together We Are Strong
A letter from our Board Chair and President/CEO
Dear Friends:
Welcome to the Access Community Action Agency’s 2012 Annual Report. As in years past, this report provides you a sampling of the results Access has achieved during the past year, including some examples of people who’ve been able to overcome barriers that impair their ability to be economically stable – which is our core mission.
We hope you will take a few minutes to look at the report and gain some insight into the good work that was done during fiscal year 2012, which covers July 2011 – June 2012. You’ll also be able to see how Access effectively used the community’s resources that we hold in stewardship to strengthen the region.
The past year was another challenging one for Access, as it was for many in this region. Yet with the support of a strong board of directors, other community leaders, local individuals, businesses, foundations, faith communities and of course dedicated staff, we have effectively and efficiently partnered to fight poverty and meet challenges every day.
The theme of this report is “Together We Are Strong”. It is only by working together that we can support each other and build a community that nurtures economic opportunity for all who are able and provides compassion, care and support for those in need — when they need it.
With ongoing support and partnerships, Access will continue to work as your eyes, ears and hands in the region to ensure that all families and individuals can overcome the barriers that get in the way of realizing economic stability. There is no more important work than this, and no more important partner than you.
We hope you find this Annual Report informative and inspiring. We are certainly inspired by both the outstanding support and collaborations that are at the heart of our success.
Sincerely, Mary A. DeMarco Peter S. DeBiasi Board Chair President/CEO
Borner, Aleman & Davis, LLC
Brownstone Exploration & Discovery
Carlin Construction Company
Celebrations Gallery & Shoppes
Christ Church of Pomfret
Control Concepts, Inc.
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Congregational Church of Thompson
Core Plus Credit Union
CT Department of Labor Employees
D. H. Copeland Builders
Danielson Rotary
Design Center East
Eastern Connecticut State University
Federated Church of Christ
Foster Corporation
Friendly Spirits Liquor Store
Generations Family Health Center
Gerardi Insurance Services
Hampton Congregational Church
IBC, Inc.
Killingly Quiet Corner Lions Club
King Cadillac-GMC
Landon’s Tire
Lefkowitz, Garfinkel, Champi & Derienzo, LLP
Loss Solutions Group
Lowe’s Heroes Program
PAP Auto and Hardware
Pomfret Community School Teachers & Staff
Putnam Bank
Putnam Emblem Club #209
Putnam Ford
Quiet Corner Democrats
Quinebaug Pomona Grange #2
R & R Insulators
Rawson Materials
Saslow Lufkin & Buggy, LLC
Savings Institute Bank and Trust
Scott’s Cyclery
Smith Insurance
St. James Council Knights of Columbus, Danielson
St. Mary’s Church, Coventry
Staples
Storrs Friends Meeting
Taylor Brook Winery
Temple B’nai Israel
Tazmanian Tree Devil, LLC
Town of Brooklyn
Town of Chaplin
Town of Hampton
Town of Scotland
True Value Cash Home Center
Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern CT
Donations received Oct. 2, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2012.
Financial Statement
Meeting Basic Needs WIC, CACFP, LEAP, Emergency Shelter, Food Banks, Energy Assistance, Case Management, Housing Prevention, EFPP, ASHoW, ASHoF
INCOME $9,652,305 EXPENSE 9,645,259
Fostering Positive At-Risk Youth Development Residential Services, Mentoring, Parenting Programs
INCOME $1,405,876 EXPENSE 1,739,827
Building Capacity for Income & Asset Accumulation IDA Programs, ARRA CSBG Projects, Energy Conservation, Workforce Development
INCOME $8,647,299 EXPENSE 7,760,375
Administration & Property INCOME $902,487 EXPENSE 993,610
Unrestricted Contributions INCOME $32,000
TOTALS INCOME $20,639,967 EXPENSE 20,139,071
Change in Net Assets $500,896
Funding Sources
Federal Agencies Department of Labor (DOL) Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Department of Energy (DOE) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
State Agencies Department of Children & Families (DCF) Department of Social Services (DSS) Department of Education (SDOE) Department of Labor (SDOL) Department of Public Health (DPH) Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) Judicial Branch
Local Agencies Northeast Utilities (NU) Yankee Gas (YGAS) United Way
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Individual Donors Samantha Abbamonte
Dewitt C. Allen
Maggie Appleton
Gary & Donna Arpin
Jody Aubin
Ken Avery
Angela Bachand
Jo-Ann Barrows
Sandy Barton
Mitch Beauregard
Michael and Elaine Bernier
Harry & Honey Birkenruth
Judy Blakeley
Kathy Borner
Joan Bourque
Ann & Bruce Branchini
Stephen Broderick
Irene Q. Brown
Melissa Burdick
Howie Bursen
William & Nancy Cooke Bunnell
Marlene Cady
Lawrence Carey
Hugh & Cynthia Casey
Matilde Casoni
Charles Chatterton, Jr.
Lauren Cheslick
Dan Coleman
Raymond Congelosi
James Correira
Kjrsten Cote
Joe & Audrey Courtney
Karen & Michael Credit
Kathryn Crees
Carmen Cruz
Douglas Cutler
Sherry D’Alessandro
Robert & Cheryl Darling
Peter & Gloria Murray DeBiasi
Dorothy Delvalle
Carla Demers
Mary A. DeMarco
Danielle Deschenes
Jean deSmet
Mary Lou DeVivo
Thomas Dombrowski
Robert Dubois, II
Carlyn Duncan
Joan Dunham
Cindy Dupointe
Katelyn Dupointe
Leslie Dutil
Karen & Robert Dyson
Phillip & Jamie Elliott
Olga Kurnyk Ezis
Steven & Lorna Fairless
Yesenia Figureroa
Mae Flexer
John Folsom
Kate Fortier
Alejandro Fuentes
Patricia Gaenzler
Stephen & Joan Garfinkel
David Gaudreau, O.D.
Lionel Gaudreau
Bruce Goldstein
Ronald Goldstein, Esq.
Veronica Gomez
James Goodwin
Sam Gordon
Ann Gruenberg, Ph.D.
Kevin Grunwald
Anthony Guglielmo
Gregory Haddad
Kristen Haddad
Christopher Hagen
Betty Hale
Jennifer Hart
Jo-Ann Heath
Rachel Heath
Sarah Heminway
Shana & Rob Heon
Joy Hollister
Atty. John Horak
Katherine Ives
Rev. Raymond Introvigne
Bianca Jimenez
Donna Johnston
Kevin & Margaret Johnston
Thomas & Joanne Kasprzak
Gail Kennedy
Hal & Susan Keshner
Ann Kouatly
Carol Kraus
Lindsay (Bowes) Kyle
Claire LaBelle
Robert & Susan Langevin
Rusty Lanzit
Deborah Lax
Karen Lechene
Lynn Legary
Mary Lenzini
Kristian Lester
Mark Light
Atty. Nicholas Longo
Perry Mandanis
Peter B. Mann
Kathleen Martin
Rebecca (Mainville) Mather
Catherine McNeill
Brenda Mitchell
Kathy Mitchell
Judith & Richard Miller
Peter Millman
Anne Moore
Yanaira Morales
Jo D Nafis
Erin Noren
Terrence O’Brien
Bob & Leslie O’Connell
Giselle Ortiz-Ruiz
Paula & Charles Panteleakos
Raymond F. Parlatto
Cynthia Perkins
Melissa Phillips
John M. Potvin
Parrish Protheroe
Mildred Rapp
Anthony Reale
Dorene Reale
Peter & Barbara Rich
The Richards Family
Shirley Riemann
Jasaira Rivera
Angelique Roberts
Ronald & Christine Robinson
Dahianna Rodriguez
Jessica Rodriguez
Ines Rolon
Myrna Romero
Dan Rose
Damaris Ruiz
Jessica Sacilowski
Atty. Christian Sarantopoulos
Helen Scanlon
David Shadbegian
Carol Shea
Nancy & William Shevin, MD
Jennifer Smith
Richard Smith
Brenda Soileau
Lissette Soto
Jessica Stomberg
Erik Swanson
Mary Jean Sznurkowski
Lee E. Terry
Rev. Gregory Thomas
Donna Tomasso
Luz Torres
Virginia Valentine
Juanita Vazquez
Dolly Von Husen
Steven & Catherine Vollweiler
Douglas Warner
Robert & Leslie Westhaver
Cathy Whitehead
Patricia Wilson Pheanious
Jennifer Witter
Henry Woodbridge, Jr.
Walter Zoldak
Foundations Amica Companies Foundation
Bank of America Foundation
Eastern Federal Bank Foundation
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
Windham Area Women & Girls Fund
Business Donors 101 Business Solutions
Amplisound Hearing Products
Benick Machineworks
Bob’s Discount Furniture
2012 Annual Appeal Many thanks to our donors, who prove that “Together We Are Strong.”
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Our Community Vision
Windham and Tolland Counties will be a region whose residents
and communities have and effectively use the resources
necessary to ensure that all of its families and individuals thrive.
Our Mission
To create the conditions that empower individuals and families
to overcome the barriers that impair their ability
to be economically stable.
Strategic Commitments
Meet Basic Human Needs
Build Capacity to Accumulate Income and Assets
Foster Positive At-Risk-Youth Development
Our Values
Compassion Empowerment
Respect Synergy
Accountability Excellence
Thank you to our July 2011 –June 2012 Board of Directors!
The Access Community Action Agency Board of Directors consists of dedicated volunteers who generously donate their
time and talent in service of the local community. They represent the region’s towns, private businesses, organizations,
and constituent groups.
Mary DeMarco, Chair
Tammy Miner, Vice Chair
Grace Curran, Treasurer
Ann Gruenberg, Ph.D., Secretary
Douglas Cutler
Mae Flexer
Veronica Gomez
Joy Hollister
Olga Kurnyk-Ezis
Patricia Wilson Pheanious
Melissa Phillips
David Pinney
Ines Rolon
Jessica Sacilowski
Dolly Von Husen
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Table of Contents
Strategic Framework ................. 1
Meeting Basic Needs ................ 2
Asset Accumulation .................. 4
Youth Development .................. 6
Annual Appeal ........................... 8
Financial Statement .................. 9
D orothea came to the Access Community Action Agency’s Homelessness Prevention Program after having been referred
to the agency by another support organization. Dorothea had suffered through years of chronic homelessness, domestic violence, and substance dependence, and was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result.
Dorothea was relocated to Access’s Emergency Shelter, where she was empowered to address her mental health and wellness, substance abuse, and housing needs. “Life at the Emergency Shelter offered me hope that I would get back on my feet again,” she remembers, “and it made me feel confident about my life.”
Staff was impressed with how diligently Dorothea worked to achieve her desired goals, following up on all recommendations toward housing and treatment services. Not only did she thrive in the supportive environment provided at the Shelter, but her hard work resulted in her successful move out of the Shelter and into permanent supportive housing.
Dorothea marvels at how much she has achieved, noting that without Access’s Homelessness Prevention Program, “Maybe I’d still be on the street or at another shelter.”
Dorothea will continue to receive critical support toward her next goals as well as services from Access through the agency’s Next Step Supportive Housing program. She is excited about her future, affirming, “I never want to be homeless again. I want to get my GED, get part-time employment, and continue to work toward my well-being. […] I’m so grateful for being able to get into Access’s shelter.”
Meeting Basic Human Needs
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Results That Matter
Access works with youth and their families to overcome obstacles and challenges in their lives while teaching them skills so they can become economically stable.
141 divorcing parents of 196
children completed the Parent
Education Program to learn how
to help their children deal with
difficulties related to divorce.
72 children and youth were able to
remain or were reunited with their
biological parents through positive
parenting skill development as
well as home health and safety
improvement and education.
76 children were able to maintain
positive relationships with their
non-custodial parents through
supervised visitations.
20 adolescent girls were supported
in developing independent living skills
at school, work, and volunteering
experiences while living in safe,
nurturing group homes.
14 youth improved their academic,
athletic, and/or social skills for
school success through
one-on-one mentoring.
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Belinda is grateful for the learning she accomplished during her time at Crossroads. “It helped with my education — not only with school — but with knowledge of time management skills and financial literacy. It helped me learn the basics, such as grocery shopping and opening a bank account. Crossroads helped alleviate the struggle of being independent at a young age.”
Today, Belinda is a junior at Eastern Connecticut State University, majoring in social work with a minor in women’s studies with hopes to advocate for women’s reproductive rights and social justice.
This year, two more young women from Crossroads — Kat and Zana — achieved major milestones on their ways to following in Belinda’s path toward successful independent adulthood. Both young women graduated from high school and are embarking on college studies armed with the educational success tools learned in the program. Kat is now pursuing a degree in accounting at Three Rivers Community College and has also secured a job in a local office. Zana worked over the summer as a counselor at a local summer camp and, this fall, started attending the University of Connecticut at its West Hartford campus.
Crossroads Director, Katrina Kettle, acknowledges the hard work these young women put in to achieving this very important milestone in the face of all their past struggles. “We are very proud of Kat and Zana!”
Fostering Positive
At-Risk-Youth Development
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W hen adolescents begin their residencies at the Access
Community Action Agency’s Crossroads Supportive Work Education and Transition Program, they have already faced great obstacles in their young lives.
When Belinda arrived at the program, she had spent years bouncing back and forth between the homes of family and friends until she had “burned her bridges” and had nowhere else to go. “Crossroads was my last resort,” she remembers.
Crossroads is a community-based, transitional living program for adolescent females — and more recently, adolescent males. Crossroads youth are referred to the program by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) because they are near aging out of the department’s system and need support to transition into independent adult lives.
Often these youth come to Crossroads still wrestling with the demons of their pasts — histories of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Some struggle with making positive choices, leading to poor school performance, dysfunctional relationships, substance abuse, and other dangerous circumstances and behaviors. As Belinda recalls, “I would have continued on my path of self-destruction if I hadn’t gotten to Crossroads.”
Crossroads offers these youth opportunities to overcome the barriers borne of the issues that haunt their pasts and to learn — through practical application — critical independent living skills needed to succeed as adults. Youth residents live in a supervised apartment setting and practice budgeting and money management, health and medical care management, household management, and educational and vocational achievement. They also participate in scheduled recreational activities
and cultural events to increase their positive
engagement in the community. Program staff
works closely with the program’s youth to
help them define and achieve
their goals.
Results That Matter
Access provides access to food, housing, and other basic needs
assistance to people going through difficult times, giving them
help and hope so they can get back on their feet and move
toward economic stability.
4,216 adults and 2,399 children received 76,515 meals from Access’s
two food banks.
2,419 women, infants, and children had access to nutrition education,
and to monthly supplemental healthy food vouchers worth $1,446,165.
213,116 nutritious meals and snacks were provided to 502 low-income
children enrolled in 64 licensed home child care settings.
287 homeless individuals, comprised of 42 families with 66 children
and 176 single adults were temporarily housed in our Emergency
Shelter.
64 families and individuals moved from emergency or transitional
housing to safe, stable housing.
77 families were able to maintain permanent housing because of
rental assistance.
12 single, previously chronically homeless individuals attained and
maintained permanent housing.
17 evictions were prevented with the use of funds to cover back rent
and the development of payment continuation plans.
59 one-bedroom senior housing units provided affordable living to
seniors at Elisha Brook in Franklin and Willington Woods in Willington.
8,160 households received help paying their heat utility bills.
23 low-income households were cleared of lead hazards; 6 residents
of these homes were children under six years old.
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A fter losing his job, Walter found himself falling far behind in paying
his rent and other bills. Month after month went by with no job prospects and, as is the case for so many long-term unemployed, as Walter remained without employment prospects and his financial situation deteriorated, he began to suffer from depression.
Walter remembers the desperation of his search and his frustration as each employment lead went nowhere: “I went to three different staffing sources with no luck, until I eventually ran out of money.”
Ultimately, Walter lost his apartment where he had been living in Groton. So, with only the shirt on his back, he drove his moped scooter from the Connecticut coastline to Danielson in the state’s northeast corner. A friend invited Walter to stay with him until he could find work and get back on his feet.
But, even that living arrangement ended as the symptoms of Walter’s depression became more pronounced.
That is when Walter came to Access’s Emergency Shelter in Danielson, where he began a program of comprehensive case management and worked closely with his case manager to build an action plan that connected him with
important resources, including programs to address his emotional and medical well-being.
Walter also participated in Access’s workforce development program, and received referrals to a host of job-readiness resources, such as skills assessments and training opportunities through the Department of Labor’s CT Works. Walter recalls how hard he worked at improving his employability, noting, “I went to CT Works every day and attended every workshop I could.”
Walter rebuilt his self-esteem, created a strong resume, and launched himself into an enthusiastic job search. He remembers how supportive his case worker was, sharing, “I was encouraged to apply for a job every day and look for affordable housing.”
With his new-found confidence, Walter quickly found a full-time job at a popular
Building Capacity for Income and Asset Accumulation
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restaurant in Brooklyn. “Hank’s was the first place I applied, and I was so persistent, they gave me an interview and hired me that night for an immediate start the next day!”
Walter is happy in his work and was thrilled to move out of the Shelter into an apartment of his own. He is grateful for the help he received from Access and says one of the best things about leaving the Shelter was enabling “someone else who needs help to have his room.”
Results That Matter
Access helps people to prepare for work and to budget their hard-earned money to be able to purchase assets, with the ultimate goal of achieving family economic stability.
1,760 low-income homes have
lowered home heating costs due
to their homes being weatherized
at an estimated annual savings
totaling $961,100 in reduced
energy costs; 2,746 homes
lowered their energy costs
through HES-IE (formerly WRAP)
program work.
23 full-time jobs were created or
retained in the Weatherization
Assistance Program (WAP) funded
by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
39 individuals completed job-
related training and received
licenses and/or certificates.
35 low-income adults and youth
actively participated in a matched
savings and financial literacy
program; of those, two adults and
nine youth were able to purchase
the qualifying asset for which they
had saved.
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