Program areas at IVEDC
Energy programs - the Illinois Valley Economic Development Corporation operates two programs providing home utility assistance and energy security in the agency's four county service area. These programs are the low-income home energy assistance program (liheap), and the Illinois home weatherization assistance program (ihwap). Liheap annually provides benefits to eligible households to offset winter and summer utility costs, provide for reconnection of utility services, and provide for furnace repair or replacement. The number of households assisted varies each year due to the changing allocations provided. In fy23 program year, the agency provided 3,702 households with utility assistance, over 868 households with funds for emergency reconnection, and approximately 11 households with furnace repair or replacement. For fy23, the percentage of income payment program (pipp) provided utility assistance to approximately 376 households. Ihwap provides weatherization assistance in the form of insulation, weather stripping, air-sealing, repairing windows and doors, purchase of refrigerators, and providing for maintenance, repair, and/or replacement of heating systems. The number of households the ihwap program can assist yearly depends on program funding, and the amount of funds needed per home to make the home more energy efficient, affordable, and comfortable. Ivedc runs a crew based program for architectural and a contractor based program for hvac. Using this hybrid approach, 28 homes were weatherized in fy23.
Community day service programs - ivedc operates two cds programs in jersey and macoupin counties, which provide a full range of services for persons eighteen years of age or older who have a diagnosed developmental disability. Development training services include assessment and individual program planning. Employment services are provided, where contract work is competitively bid and individuals earn a paycheck while learning real work skills. The programs are designed to teach life skills and good work habits to develop potential and increase self-sufficiency, so that each individual may have the best possible quality of life within the least restrictive environment. Ivedc serves approximately 101 developmentally disabled adults through programs and work opportunities at our facilities located in gillespie (macoupin county) and jerseyville (jersey county). Many participants are offered the opportunity to earn a paycheck whether working in the contracted cardboard recycling, contracted piece work, building crafts that supply local markets or maintenance personnel at the railsplitter and/or coalfield rest area on interstate i-55.
Early childhood programs - the head start program provides opportunities for economically disadvantaged children, ages 3 through 5, to receive comprehensive child Development services and assistance to their parents in formulating and achieving self-sufficiency goals. We are funded to serve a total of 210 children, 10% with disabilities, within our service area of macoupin, greene, jersey, and calhoun counties. Children attend either a center based model with classes 5 days a week, 5.5 hours a day, for a total of 160 days or a home based model in which children and parents participate in a weekly home visit for 37 weeks with group activities held twice a month. As part of the program, children receive education, medical, dental, nutrition, and mental health services. Educational progress and outcomes are tracked through the teaching strategies gold, dial 4 screenings, and observational instruments three times during the year. Children show dramatic progress in the areas evaluated which include social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language Development. Approximately 50% of the children transition into kindergarten each year. The early head start program offers similar age appropriate and parenting opportunities for economically disadvantaged families who have children up to age 3. The program is a home-based model serving 24 families a minimum of 48 weeks/year. Parents are encouraged to become directly involved in the program by volunteering in the classroom, attending parent meetings, serving on the policy council, participating in home visits and parent/teacher conferences, and entering into family partnership agreements for goal setting purposes. By providing individualized services for both children and parents, the head start program prepares the children for kindergarten and the parents for setting and achieving family goals as well as strengthening their role as the first and primary educators of their children. In fy23 ivedc served 196 children. Children were assessed using teaching strategies gold and met or exceeded objectives in social emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy and mathematics. Prevention initiative 0-3 program provided similar services as the early headstart program. Pi served 12 families with like services.
The community services block grant (csbg) is the cornerstone of a community action agency. Services are designed by the agency to meet the needs of our clients and include emergency service, housing and employment assistance, case management, educational scholarships, and support other agency activities. We have emphasized job creation with our services providing assistance with short-term training and job search. The agency networks with the social service agencies such as united way and il dept of human services and administers other emergency assistance funds utilizing csbg resources for administrative costs and staff time. Over 2954 direct services were provided to individuals and families including cardboard recycling and production/sale of crafts by developmentally disabled adults were financially assisted.
Over 73,164 meals were served to seniors utilizing a central kitchen in carrollton and transporting meals to senior centers throughout our service area. More than 90% of meals were delivered to homebound seniors who would have gone without a well-balanced meal.
Senior in-home care services were provided to over 58 elderly averaging 1300 hours of service per month. Services include assisting with self-administered medication, assisting with bathing, dressing, shaving, as well as helping with daily living chores such as light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, cooking ect. Both the senior in-home care and senior nutrition programs maintain, strengthen, and safeguard our seniors in their own homes, allowing seniors to remain in their homes into their advanced years.
Ivedc's housing programs consist of hud, emergency solutions, and idhs homeless prevention grants. These grants have enabled ivedc to assist, support and educate over 133 individuals who are in a housing crisis. Services provided include case management, mortgage/rental assistance and also referrals to other programs internally and through our community partners.
Tri county rural transit (tcrt) public transportation, a medicaid approved provider for non-emergency transport. Tcrt is a door-to-door demand response deviated route service that provides affordable and accessible transporation to the residents of greene, jersey, and calhoun counties. By partnering with surrounding area transportation providers, ivedc promotes independence and self-sufficiency to community residents. Tcrt provides transportation in its service area for the general public, senior citizens, and disabled individuals. Fare schedule is suggested for all passengers up to 60+ years of age. Donations in any amount by seniors are accepted. In fy23, 27,313 rides were provided by tcrt across the servcie area and neighboring communities. Tcrt is vital in assisting with transport to medical appointments, education, shopping (grocery and other), employment, recreation and contract.