WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES ACTION INC
411 INDUSTRIAL PARK BOULEVARD, ELBOW LAKE, MN 56531 www.wcmca.org

---

Organizations Filed Purposes: PARTNERING TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO OVERCOME POVERTY AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

HEAD START WCMCA'S HEAD START PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGN THAT SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITHIN THE FAMILY AND THE GROWTH OF FAMILY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF HEAD START IS THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST AND ONLY PROGRAM TO ADHERE TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT PARENTS ARE THE FIRST TEACHER OF THEIR CHILDREN. WE BELIEVE PARENTS ARE THE PRIMARY NURTURERS, EDUCATORS, AND ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THIS FAMILY CENTERED APPROACH WORKS TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES. AREAS OF SERVICE INCLUDE: HEALTH, NUTRITION, SOCIAL SERVICE, PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND EDUCATION. PROGRAM SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH CENTER BASED (CLASSROOM) AND HOME-BASED (HOME-VISIT) APPROACHES. WE IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS PARENT ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN FAMILIES LIVES AND IN CHILDREN'S LEARNING OUTCOMES. THE STAFF OF OUR HEAD START PROGRAM ARE IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH STRATEGIES IN THE CLASSROOM AND DURING HOME VISITS TO PROMOTE POSITIVE, SUSTAINED CHILD OUTCOMES. WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE POSITIVE CHILD OUTCOMES IN LITERACY AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING YOUNG CHILDREN THE LANGUAGE-RICH, STIMULATING ENVIRONMENTS THEY NEED TO DEVELOP STRONG VOCABULARIES. A DUAL FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INTENTIONAL SCAFFOLDING OF SUPPORT TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE MATCHED WITH PARENT/FAMILY NEEDS TO ACHIEVE GOALS TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. AN ADDITIONAL UNIQUE PART OF HEAD START IS THE POLICY COUNCIL AND PARENT COMMITTEES. POLICY COUNCIL MEMBERS OVERSEE THE DELIVERY OF THE PROGRAM SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. POLICY COUNCIL IS COMPRISED OF PARENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE HEAD START CENTERS AND THE EARLY HEAD START HOME-BASED PROGRAMS. THE PARENTS AT EACH CENTER ELECT THE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES SUBMIT LETTERS OF INTEREST. POLICY COUNCIL APPROVES THE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. THROUGH POLICY COUNCIL PARENTS AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES SHARE ACTIVELY IN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM. LOCAL PARENT COMMITTEES PROVIDE EACH PARENT OF AN ENROLLED CHILD WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE EDUCATION AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE LOW-INCOME CHILDREN. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED: REGULAR HEAD START: 298, EARLY HEAD START: 109.

WEATHERIZATION, EAP, HOUSING SERVICEWCMCA'S WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE FUNDED BY THE LOCAL UTILITY COMPANIES. THESE PROGRAMS HELP HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOWER INCOMES CUT THEIR HEATING COSTS AND IMPROVES THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THEIR HOMES BY MAKING ENERGY SAVING HOME IMPROVEMENTS. SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE: INSULATION, CAULKING, AND WEATHER-STRIPPING. TO BE ELIGIBLE, HOUSEHOLDS MUST HAVE INCOMES THAT ARE AT OR BELOW 200% OF POVERTY. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE A PRIORITY SYSTEM TO TARGET THE NEEDIEST. THE PRIORITY SYSTEM CONSISTS OF: HOUSEHOLDS OF ELDERLY, HIGH CONSUMERS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS, AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS RENTERS. WCMCA STAFF COMPLETES AN ENERGY AUDIT OF THE HOME TO DETERMINE THE IMPROVEMENTS ALLOWED. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE USE OF WEATHERIZATION COMPUTER SOFTWARE. LOCAL CONTRACTORS ARE THEN HIRED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. THE STATE AVERAGE WEATHERIZATION COST PER HOME IS $7,535; THROUGH LEVERAGING WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUR AVERAGE PER HOME DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY $2500 PER HOME IN OUR PRIMARY DOE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED: 447. THE WEATHERIZATION DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO ASSIST MORE HOMES DURING THIS TIMEFRAME THROUGH THE USE OF FUNDS TOWARDS EAP/WX STANDALONE JOBS DUE TO ENERGY RELATED REPAIR FUNDING NOT BEING AVAILABLE ON 10/1 AS IN YEARS PAST. WCMCA'S ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS LOW-INCOME PEOPLE MEET THEIR HOME ENERGY NEEDS. ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE GRANTS TO HELP PAY ENERGY COSTS. ENERGY CONSUMPTION IS REDUCED THROUGH HEATING SYSTEM AUDITS, RETROFITS, CONSERVATION, AND REPAIR ACTIVITIES. CRISIS ASSISTANCE GIVES IMMEDIATE HELP TO THOSE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ENERGY RELATED REPAIRS PROVIDE HEATING RELATED REPAIRS FOR EMERGENCIES. ACTUAL HEATING COSTS FROM THE PREVIOUS HEATING SEASON AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THAT IS RECEIVED. ALL PAYMENTS FOR PRIMARY HEAT ($2,414,812) AND CRISIS ($1,147,871) ARE GENERATED FROM THE STATE OF MN THROUGH THE E-HEAT SYSTEM, ENERGY RELATED REPAIRS PAYMENTS ARE GENERATED IN-HOUSE. HOUSEHOLDS SERVED WITH PRIMARY ASSISTANCE: 4,397, CRISIS ASSISTANCE: 2,199, AND ENERGY RELATED REPAIRS: 214. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDS ARE PROVIDED BY COMPANIES AND DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE CRISIS PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CLIENTS: 33THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THE BUILDING OF NEW HOMES, THE CONTRACT FOR DEED HOMES, THE REHABILITATION OF HOMES, AND LEAD TESTING SERVICES. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SERVED: NEW HOMES - 6 PARTICIPANTS, CONTRACT FOR DEED HOMES - 26 PARTICIPANTS, LEAD TESTING SERVICES - 20 PARTICIPANTS, AND HOUSING REHABILITATION - 5 PARTICIPANTS.

FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES (FCS), FAIM, OTHERTHE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT OPERATES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE LOW-INCOME, WHICH INCLUDES EMERGENCY SERVICES, HOMELESSNESS, PARENTING TIME AND EXCHANGE CENTER, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SERVED: EMERGENCY SERVICES - 124 PARTICIPANTS, HOMELESS ASSISTANCE - 100 PARTICIPANTS, HOMELESS PREVENTION - 88 PARTICIPANTS, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING - 2 PARTICIPANTS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - 46 PARTICIPANTS, HOUSE KEYS - 12 PARTICIPANTS, 8 HOUSEHOLDS, HOMEWORK STARTS AT HOME -17 PARTICIPANTS, LONG TERM HOMELESS - 20 PARTICIPANTS, LAUNCH PAD - 9 PARTICIPANTS, HOUSING SUPPORTS - 8 PARTICIPANTS, HOMELESS TO HOUSED - 13 HOUSEHOLDS, 34 PARTICIPANTS, PARENTING TIME & EXCHANGES - 967 PARTICIPANTS, AND PARENT RESOURCE PROGRAM - 116 PARTICIPANTS.FAIM IS A MATCHED SAVINGS PROGRAM THAT ENABLES MINNESOTA LOW-INCOME WAGE EARNERS TO BUILD ASSETS THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF A HOME, PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, OR THE LAUNCH OR EXPANSION OF A SMALL BUSINESS. FUNDING FOR FAIM IS PROVIDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS. WCMCA CONTRACTS WITH 23 AGENCIES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES, TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL COACHING TO PARTICIPANTS. PARTICIPANTS MAKE MONTHLY DEPOSITS OF $40 (OR MORE) FROM EARNED INCOME INTO THEIR FAIM SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT BREMER BANK. DEPOSITS MADE DURING THE SAVINGS PERIOD WILL BE MATCHED AT A RATE OF 3:1. PARTICIPANTS MUST COMPLETE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CLASSES AND ASSET-SPECIFIC TRAINING AND REQUIREMENTS BEFORE REQUESTING A PAYOUT TO A THIRD PARTY VENDOR. FAIM HAS ENROLLED A TOTAL OF 5,127 PARTICIPANTS OF WHICH 2,825 HAVE OBTAINED THEIR ASSET AND 183 ARE ACTIVELY SAVING TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL.THE HOUSING COUNSELING SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, FORECLOSURE MITIGATION AND HOMEBUYER EDUCATION ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS MINNESOTA HOUSING AND THE MINNESOTA HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER. HOUSING PROGRAMS IN PARTICULAR PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ASSIST CLIENTELE IN OBTAINING OR PRESERVING THE ASSET THAT IS THEIR HOME IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-RELIANCE IN THE FIVE-COUNTY AREA OF DOUGLAS, GRANT, POPE, STEVENS AND TRAVERSE COUNTIES. IN FY 2020 WE SERVED 2 HOUSEHOLDS WITH FORECLOSURE MITIGATION SERVICES, 8 HOUSEHOLDS WITH PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, AND 5 HOUSEHOLDS WITH HOMEBUYER EDUCATION SERVICES. WE WERE MUCH LOWER IN HOUSEHOLDS SERVED THIS YEAR COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND STAFF TRANSITIONS.THE FREE TAX PREPARATION PROGRAM SERVES LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT WCMCA'S FIVE COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE IRS, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, AND THE OTTO BREMER FOUNDATION. THE PROGRAM SERVED 685 HOUSEHLDS THIS PAST TAX SEASON.WCMCA OPERATES VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS TO SERVE THE LOW-INCOME, WHICH ENABLES THEM TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS TOWARDS LIVING A LIFE OUT OF POVERTY. SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE: APPLICATIONS FOR MN SURE - 143 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED, AND READY RIDE REGION FOUR- 20 PARTICIPANTS AND 60 RIDES. ADDITIONALLY WCMCA DOES REFERRALS, OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY.

---

---

Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202140409349301409_public.xml