KENNEBEC VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM
9 AUTUMN STREET, WATERVILLE, ME 04901 www.kvcap.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PARTNER WITH AREA RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ENTITIES, CREATING SOLUTIONS TO THE CONDITIONS OF POVERTY IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITY SERVICES IS COMPRISED OF TWO DIVISIONS: (1) SOCIAL SERVICES, AND (2) TRANSPORTATION. THE SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION IMPLEMENTS THE MAINE FAMILIES HOME VISITING PROGRAM AND THE KENNEBEC/SOMERSET FAMILY ENRICHMENT COUNCIL. MAINE FAMILIES WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EXPECTANT PARENTS AND PARENTS OF CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE THREE, TO ENSURE SAFE HOME ENVIRONMENTS AND PROMOTE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. IN 2019, 289 FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN RECEIVED HOME VISITS THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE FAMILY ENRICHMENT COUNCIL FOCUSES ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND INCLUDES SUCH PROGRAMMING AS PERSONAL BODY SAFETY CLASSES AND BABY THINK IT OVER PROGRAMS WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. EIGHTY PARENTING CLASSES WERE OFFERED IN 2019 THAT REACHED 488 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS. THE COUNCILS ALSO OFFERED 55 FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES INCLUDING A BABY SHOWER FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS. THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION HAS TWO COMPONENTS: (1) OPERATING PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES IN THE AUGUSTA, WATERVILLE, AND SKOWHEGAN AREAS THROUGH THE KENNEBEC EXPLORER, SOMERSET EXPLORER, AND "MOVE MORE KIDS" PUBLIC BUS SYSTEM, AND (2) PROVIDING DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION THROUGH A NETWORK OF OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS AND SEVERAL AGENCY VEHICLES FOR MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. SOME OF THE RIDES PROVIDED BY THE SOMERSET EXPLORER DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS ARE FREE OF CHARGE THROUGH THE "MOVE MORE KIDS" PROGRAM, WHICH EXTENDS ROUTES TO LOCATIONS WHERE YOUTH CAN PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. IN 2019, THE EXPLORER PUBLIC BUSES PROVIDED 76,933 RIDES, WHILE THE DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROVIDED 176,618 RIDES TO HEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER CARE ACTIVITIES.

CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL BASED CARE, EDUCARE CENTRAL MAINE, SKOWHEGAN EARLY HEAD START, HOMESTART PROVIDER PARTNERS, AND THROUGH HOME VISITING THROUGHOUT NORTHERN KENNEBEC AND SOMERSET COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO INCREASE SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS OF CHILDREN SO THEY ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS TO CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM, RECEIVING ON-SITE DENTAL EXAMS, AND RECEIVING ON-SITE LEAD TESTING. THE PROGRAM ALSO PARTNERED WITH PARENTS ON HOME VISITS PROVIDING SUPPORTS RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, RECEIVING TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND PROVIDING HELP FINDING AND SECURING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2019, 626 CHILDREN RECEIVED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND INCREASED THEIR READINESS FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS, 1200 FREE MEALS AND SNACKS WERE SERVED TO CHILDREN DAILY, 539 CHILDREN HAD VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS, 231 CHILDREN RECEIVED ON-SITE DENTAL EXAMS, AND 62% OF PARENTS OF ENROLLED CHILDREN WERE WORKING OR ATTENDING SCHOOL.

ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, TO REDUCE ENERGY BURDEN, TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND TO SUSTAIN OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP IN KENNEBEC, SOMERSET, LINCOLN, AND SAGADAHOC COUNTIES. THIS IS DONE THROUGH A VARIETY OF EDUCATION/ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INCLUDING: LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP), LOW INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIAP), EMERGENCY CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM (ECIP), CENTRAL HEATING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CHIP), WEATHERIZATION, HOME REPAIR, DEP HOME HEATING OIL TANK REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, FORECLOSURE COUNSELING, HOMEBUYER EDUCATION, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. IN 2019, 90 HOMES WERE WEATHERIZED AND SAFETY RISKS WERE REPAIRED, 99 PEOPLE PURCHASED A HOME, 6 FAMILIES AVOIDED FORECLOSURE, 308 PEOPLE HAD THEIR FURNACE CLEANED OR REPLACED, AND 14,741 PEOPLE WERE WARMER THROUGH OUR FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONTINUES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONY VILLAGE ENERGY EFFICIENT HOUSING COMMUNITY. TWO NEW HOMES WERE BUILDING AND SOLD IN 2019. THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES PROGRAMMING IS ALSO MANAGED THROUGH THE ENERGY & HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES OPERATES A TEEN CENTER, RESOURCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, AND FACILITATES THE POVERTY ACTION COALITION. THE SOUTH END TEEN CENTER SERVES YOUTH FROM GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 WITH MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, WORKING PART-TIME, AND ALL FOCUSED ON COMPLETING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND/OR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. IN 2019, 40 TEENS VOLUNTEERED 146 HOURS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL 82 MEMBERS ADVANCED A GRADE OR GRADUATED. OF THE GRADUATING SENIORS, 80% ARE ENROLLED IN COLLEGE. THE RESOURCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO CLIENTS REFERRED THROUGH OTHER KVCAP PROGRAMS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO HELP ADDRESS A FINANCIAL CRISIS, AS WELL AS, PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES THAT INCLUDE WORKREADY CLASSES AND ORGANIZING JOB FAIRS. MORE THAN 1000 FAMILIES WERE REFERRED TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL STABILITY AND MORE THAN 65 CLIENTS BECAME EMPLOYED. THE POVERTY ACTION COALITION (PAC) WAS FORMED IN 2014 WITH THE MAYOR OF WATERVILLE AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWING NUMBER OF FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY. THE PAC'S PRIMARY INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY INVESTORS, DRAWS ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING A CRISIS THAT THREATENS THEIR STABILITY AND WHEN NO OTHER RESOURCES EXIST. IN 2019, THE NETWORK OF 74 COMMUNITY INVESTORS CONTRIBUTED 20,000 TO HELP 194 PEOPLE ACCESS BASIC NEEDS.

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