Finger Lakes Community Action

Head start - this federally funded Program provides comprehensive services to pregnant women, infants, toddlers and preschool children and their families. Services are provided in the areas of education, health, nutrition, family services, parent involvement and mental health. Special efforts are made to provide services for children with special needs. The Program philosophy recognizes parents as the primary educators of their children. We welcome and encourage parent involvement in all Program functions and work as partners with the family centers in ontario, sodus, huron, clyde, lyons, newark and palmyra. The Program serves 190 children and their families annually. Eligibility for both programs is based on annual income, family size and special needs.

School age Program - school age Program has shown recent growth primarily due to the steady work Program. Steady work addresses generational rural poverty one young person at a time. Participants are provided meaningful, initial work experiences that are designed to develop soft skills and achieve goals participants set for themselves in unique workforce entry plans. Participants are aged 14-24 and employed on average 20 hours per week. Intake includes screening for barriers to employment including literacy, educational attainment, possession of a driver's license, other job skills, and experience. During intake, participants also set goals for themselves. Career development can include assistance with applications directly to available jobs but may also mean assistance in applying to a trade school or Community college and assistance with financial aid paperwork. Participants are linked to Community resources for specific topics such as fiscal management. Often basic concepts like the opening of bank accounts and paying bills, or understanding interest and loans require specific tutelage. The Program uses a network of local employers to help participants seek out full time employment. (324 served)

Weatherization - this federally funded Program helps low-income homeowners and renters conserve energy, lower heating bills, and keep homes warm in frigid temperatures. All services are free of charge to Wayne, ontario, seneca & cayuga residents whom are either categorically eligible or whose incomes are at or below the Program guidelines. Weatherization serves 609 low-income and elderly individual households annually.

Community services block grant - this is the administrative arm for the organization's multi-funded programs. Its purpose is to stimulate a better focusing of federal, state and local resources while developing strategies which can maximize the effect of those resources to provide relief to the disadvantaged and assist them toward self-sufficiency. (4,752 served)

Americorps - americorps is the national service opportunity for americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their Community. Partnering with local non-profit agencies and schools, americorps members mentor youth and developmentally disabled adults. This Program serves 104 individuals annually.

Retired and senior volunteer Program (rsvp) - this Program invites men and women age 55 or better to use their lifetime experience, skills and hobbies to serve their neighborhood communities in need. Rsvp volunteers are able to report hours for volunteering in non-profit agencies and organizations with which rsvp has a memorandum of understanding. Rsvp serves Wayne, ontario and seneca counties. This Program serves 1,456 individuals annually.

The foster grandparents Program - this is a volunteer Program designed to benefit children with special needs as well as senior citizens with limited income. Foster grandparent volunteers are assigned to a variety of child care settings throughout the counties of Wayne, ontario, seneca, and yates. This Program serves 202 individuals annually.

Other programs - include the healthy families new york, transitional housing, Community respite and other miscellaneous programs.