Program areas at BCAP
Pre-k Program: the pre-k Program is designed for children who are at risk of school failure because of income 300% of the federal poverty level, language, or special needs. Pre-k classroom activities helps children grow academically and socially. The child's progress is regularly reviewed and the activities are chosen that are the best for each child. In addition, pre-k helps the parent and child to adjust to pre-kindergarten and move smoothly on to kindergarten. During the 2023 Program year, bcap provided services to 552 children 3-5 years of age in Berks county, Pennsylvania free of charge to families who are up to 300% of income guidelines.
Work ready Program: the work ready Program provides job readiness instruction, job search/job placement services as well as on site job coaching to clients to move them off the rolls of public assistance to self-sufficiency. Referrals are made directly from the county assistance office and provides for follow-up and outreach. During the 2023 Program year bcap provided services to 88 individuals of which 47 achieved employment.
Weatherization Program: the weatherization Program provides energy conservation measures to homeowners and tenants by providing insulation, weather-stripping, caulking, furnace tune-up and repair and counseling in an effort to reduce energy consumption and cost while saving low and moderate income individuals and households money. During the 2023 Program year bcap provided services to 419 individuals / homes.
Budget counseling center programs: the bcap's budget counseling center administered the following programs; -certified hud counseling to individuals seeking to purchase a home to ensure the process was fair and affordable and to prevent predatory lending traps 0 clients received services.-delinquency and mortgage assistance and counseling on foreclosure issues. There were 1,038 clients enrolled of which 713 avoided evictions and 57 clients avoided foreclosure.-individual and family budgeting and credit repair. There were 11 clients who received services with 10 achieving success over a 90 day period.
Community programs:family center Program: the family center Program focuses on building parenting skills through interactive training sessions incorporated into home visits. The main objective is early child development using parents as teachers curriculum. It also is designed to identify developmental problems that may impact a child's learning ability and impede school readiness. It also acts as a parent/child resource center. During the Program year 2023, 42 parents received services and of these 54 children received services.teens Program (take each & every necessary step): the teens Program is designed to help teens that may come from low-income families that are homeless, living in an unhealthy situation, dropouts, learning disability, mental illness, substance abuse etc. The target ages for the Program are 12-25. The Program assists in enhancing programs with schools, Community partners, non-profits already involved with youth and creating our programs in lacking areas. The teen Program focuses on giving kids as many opportunities to ensure they stay on a more positive path. There were 21,213 teens enrolled in various educational activities through 3 school districts.fast Program (family assistance & support for teens): this Program was created by bcap through pccd (Pennsylvania commission on crime and delinquency). This Program offers activities and opportunities that provide services to the families in high needs, family mentoring sessions & life skill sessions for the youth that are participating in teens. Bcap's initiative to reduce at-risk youth with gang and gun violence within the city of reading. Fast services include job readiness skills, abe, esi, and ged through classroom instruction.