Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties

Weatherization/energy assistance program:community Action's weatherization program installs energy-saving improvements to help low-income homeowners, renters, and landlords reduce their energy costs. In 2023, traditional weatherization funds were supplemented by funds from energy assistance, public benefits, and the federal department of energy. As a result, a total of 167 units were weatherized during the calendar year 2023.

Employment training:community Action continued to focus its core organizational efforts on building employment programs to help individuals move out of poverty through work. Key programs in 2023 included project thrive (120 individuals), fresh start (86 individuals), transitional jobs (75 individuals), and skills enhancement (6 individuals). Significant efforts were made to focus on employment placement and to work with employers and partners to provide hard skills training opportunities for program participants. In 2022, cai had a program called fatherhood, which was replaced in 2023 with project thrive.

Housing, housing rehabilitation and homeless shelter:community Action's housing activities are diverse and broad-based. They include a transitional living program serving the homeless or those at imminent risk of homelessness, neighborhood revitalization efforts, homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention counseling/assistance, and the ongoing operation of an emergency shelter. In 2023, Community Action's efforts allowed 2,386 households to obtain or maintain stable housing, and they assisted 160 homeless individuals with emergency shelter services. The number of households served in 2022 was significantly higher at 4,986 due to the wera program. Unfortunately, in 2023, wera was no longer a program Community Action was able to provide due to the state ending the programming.

Youth programs: Community Action provides after-school and summer programming for youth ages 6-13 residing in the beloit area at merrill Community center, with a focus on the merrill/hackett neighborhoods. The after-school program includes educational homework assistance and tutoring to support academic success. These academic efforts are enhanced with character education programming designed to promote self-esteem, respect for peers, healthy choices to avoid risky behaviors, and education to prevent bullying. In 2023, the after-school program served 32 individuals.

Food programs:community Action coordinates the emergency food assistance program for both Rock and Walworth Counties. In 2023, cai provided 3.5 million pounds of food to 16 pantries and 2 meal sites.

Adolescent health outreach: Community Action offers year-round learning opportunities for youth between the ages of 10-19 trhough ahop. By using evidence-based curricula, we can provide medically accurate, age-appropriate, and up-to-date information through facilitated group discussions. Our programs take place in various locations across Rock and Walworth Counties, including schools, group homes, social development clubs, churches, Community learning centers, and other community-based organizations. With each program offering different learning opportunities, we are confident students in our area will stay healthy, thrive as they transition into adulthood, and inspire others. In 2023, the adolescent health program served 694 youth participants with an 80% completion rate.

Other programs