Schoharie County

Schoharie County
Community Action Program, Inc.
2011 SCCAP Annual Report
Community Development * Child Care Resource * Employment * Facilitated Enrollment * Family Supportive Services *
Weatherization * WIC * Workforce Services
Table of Contents - Programs
Page
Child Care Resource and Referral
7
Community Services Department
9
Energy Services / Home Energy Consultants
11
Facilitated Enrollment
12
Family Support Project
13
Women, Infants & Children
15
FIT WIC Program
Enhanced Peer Counselor Program
Workforce Services Department
Displaced Homemaker Program
17
DSS Employment
19
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Energy Services / Home Energy Consultants
Disaster Relief (Hurricane Irene/Tropical Storm Lee)
2
21
22
Mission, Vision and Values
Mission…
Provide consumers with the resources and skills necessary to enhance their quality of
life and achieve self-reliance.
Adopted by the SCCAP Board of Directors-January 27, 2003
Vision...
We envision a SCCAP that is:
Financially stable with a healthy financial reserve
Regularly assessing community needs and expanding/developing programs to meet
those needs. For example:
Economic Development
WIC Outreach Sites
Located in a space that is accessible and adequate for future expansion
Governed by a working, knowledgeable board that reaches out to the community
Able to assess and meet the technological needs of the agency
Seen as a positive human service leader
Seen as an agency and consumer partner
Values…
As an organization, SCCAP values:
Change: We value the ability of people to build on their strengths to move toward
healthy interdependence.
Respect: We value the preservation of personal dignity of our consumers, staff, board
and community.
Innovation: We encourage innovation and commit to professional policies and principles that will meet the challenges of a changing environment.
3
THOUGHTS
FROM THE BOARD VICE-CHAIR
The year 2011 has brought changes to Schoharie County that affected our community in
ways we never would have dreamed of happening.
With the fiscal crisis continuing nationwide, the agency has had to restructure its programs to
meet the decreases of our funding streams. We had to be creative to be able to continue to serve
the residents of our county. We found we were serving more residents that were being affected
by having their jobs restructured or lost for the first time in their lives.
We also had the retiring of our Executive Director, Barbara Rivenburgh, in May. We recognized her many years of service and leadership and wished her well in her retirement. Meanwhile, the executive committee set out on the search of a new executive director. We thank
Jeannette Spaulding the deputy executive director for her stellar job in working with the staff and
the board of directors during this transition period.
The end of August our county was devastated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
Never has our county been so impacted by a weather event as by these two storms. We were
blessed in that there was no loss of life, but the property destruction caused many families and
businesses to have their lives changed forever. With that said, Schoharie County Community Action Programs were also changed during our state of emergency. The staff turned their directions
to serve the homeless, displaced, and shell shocked families during the immediate days following
the storms at Head Start in Cobleskill , the CRCS emergency shelters and SCCAP’s own Disaster
Relief Center.
The community turned to our agency to be the conduit of donations of monies, food,
clothes, furniture, etc. Our staff gave of themselves, far beyond what was normally expected of
them. Their dedication in this time of need speaks volumes of the high standards of our staff and
volunteers.
As we move forward into the recovery mode, we can reflect on this year with the challenges that we have experienced. The county residents have come together to work through the
initial months after the flood. We have seen the strength of our residents and their determination
to rebuild and move forward with their lives. Our agency has been an important part of this recovery. The Board of Directors thanks the staff for their dedication and hard work to assist our
residents in cleaning up and rebuilding.
In 2012 we look forward to our agency getting back to a more normal cycle of business.
We continue to move on with our search for an executive director. We will continue to be creative in working with the fiscal challenges, to serve the residents of our county and meet the mission statement of our agency.
Betsy Bernocco
4
MESSAGE FROM
THE
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2011 – What a year!
During 2011 the country continued to struggle with economic recovery adding to the increased
number of families in need of the supportive services of community based organizations. Schoharie
County Community Action Program (SCCAP) is part of the nationwide network which supports The
Promise of Community Action – “change people’s lives, embody the spirit of hope, improve communities, and make America a better place to live.” Following through with this promise is what SCCAP has
been doing in Schoharie County since 1965 through good times and bad. Schoharie County and SCCAP
were not isolated from the struggling economy. We again endured funding fluctuations while faced with
the increased need for our services.
Twenty-eleven also marked the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 – a day of events which changed Manhattan’s skyline forever, penetrated the fortress of the Pentagon, and demonstrated self-sacrifice in its truest form in the farm fields of Johnstown, PA. Our nation required inner-strength to recover and displayed
compassion to those who suffered immense loss. Ten years later these same qualities in serving our community and living The Promise of Community Action hit home for SCCAP as never before.
For years to come, in Schoharie County the names Irene and Lee will be associated with how our
county was changed forever. The change is more than the landscape and the loss of historic landmarks.
The greater impact is to the people we serve and to the communities in which they live and work. Widespread the county experienced loss – homes, businesses and a sense of security. But amid the loss Schoharie County’s greatest asset, its people, proved stronger than the raging flood waters.
The ‘A’ in SCCAP stands for ACTION! Jump into action is exactly what the staff did. As the
water receded, not once but twice, SCCAP’s staff was there to serve. Despite their own losses as soon as
they were able, staff was coming into the office and pitching in wherever and whenever needed. Working
and volunteering at the Disaster Relief Center, helping community partners at shelters, providing updates
from the Emergency Operations Center, answering the non-stop phone calls and emails from those seeking to donate and from those in need, offering emotional support for the community and each other, delivering emergency supplies to people who were not able to come to us, working with the Schoharie County
Flood Relief Committee to distribute the generous monetary donations from all over, coordinating, communicating and so much more. Not to be forgotten as an integral part of caring for our community are the
tireless efforts of the many volunteers. They became part of the daily face of SCCAP. There was much
needed physically and emotionally – through the combined efforts of our staff, our volunteers and our
community partners the need was met.
While there are many memories from these extraordinary days, what sustained SCCAP is the
depth of compassion and unwavering dedication of the amazing individuals I am privileged to work with
each day in serving our community – they epitomize the values of SCCAP.
Twenty-twelve promises to be another year of challenges and changes. With renewed energy
and our belief in The Promise of Community Action we’re ready!
Jeannette M. Spaulding
5
Child Care Resource & Referral
Meg Parsons - Coordinator
Deb Dyer - Program Assistant
Accomplishments
Families given referrals
Technical assistance contacts
178
369
Individuals became registered
1
Providers attended Video Teleconferences
64
Informal providers offered training and free tangible safety grants
Providers/programs received technical assistance on understanding childcare
regulations
Informal providers received Health and Safety Grants
Providers received Start-up Grants
54
Providers received Best Practice Grants
25
Hours of intensive technical assistance to registered/licensed providers
Hours of intensive technical assistance to informal providers
6
16
1
131.25
28.5
2011 Special Activities
Staff continues to be active members of the Early Care and Learning Council participating in conference calls, membership meetings, luncheons and trainings offered.
Staff took on an active role in the Infant/Toddler Project attending advisory meetings and the annual Infant/Toddler Retreat.
Staff took an active role in DOCS (Department of Children Services) Infancy Circle
– a New Initiative from New York 0-3.
Staff continues to refine and perfect their roles as a CACFP Sponsoring Agency.
This involves recruitment, monitoring, vouchering monthly and contract renewal.
CCR&R hired a Health Care Consultant for daycare providers in Schoharie County.
Staff renewed their certification from SUNY to be Health and Safety Instructors.
Staff continues their role as co-trainers for the SUNY Video Conference Trainings
for day care providers.
Staff continues to attend community events including The Children’s March and
Head Start’s Family Fun Day.
6
Staff became NAP SACC (Nutrition and Physical-Activity Self Assessment Child
Care) consultants and completed the intervention with 2 day care centers in the
county.
CCR&R began holding quarterly weekend workshop trainings for day care providers.
Evaluations prove the workshops to be successful.
Staff continues to inspect legally exempt day care provider’s homes per DSS’s concerns and the state’s requirements.
Staff continues to work on completing National Association of Child Care Resource
& Referral Agencies (NACCRRA’s) Quality Assurance. This is a two year process
and includes phone conferences, webinar trainings and the submission of documents
each month to the Early Care and Learning Council.
Staff continues to present the Health and Safety 15 hour course required by the state
for prospective providers. Two classes were held in 2011.
2012 Program Goals
Continue to work on the Quality Assurance process.
Secure CACFP Expansion Grant and work on building our provider base.
Implement a marketing plan that involves quarterly Letters to the Editor, advertisements in paper, PSA’s on SCHOPEG and letters to local business in efforts to recruit
new day care providers and inform parents of our services.
Continue to refine department policies and procedures to run more efficiently.
Be more visible in the community.
Provide new and innovative trainings to day care providers.
7
Community Services
Denelle Baker - Director
Michelle Johnston - Resource Advocate
Rebecca Thillet - Family Development Coordinator
Marcy Holmes - Program Assistant
Food Pantry, Emergency Services, VITA
The Community Service Department operated a VITA site. A total of 334 returns were completed at the SCCAP office. The Community Services Director is
the CA$H (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) chair for the county. There are
three VITA sites in Schoharie County. A total of 504 income tax returns were
completed at the three sites in 2011 for the 2010 tax year.
Super Saturday event was held with a total of 25 income tax returns prepared.
This event was a kick off for the 2011 income tax season and an opportunity to
advertise the program. Taxes were prepared by volunteers in the SCCAP office.
Community Service and Facilitated Enrollment continue to partnership with the
Cancer Services Program through Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. Through this
partnership cancer screening events and client referrals for cancer screening/
treatment were facilitated.
SCCAP operated a food pantry from January 2011 to September 2011 providing
services to 2,084 people. The food pantry was closed due to fiscal constraints.
Clients are now referred to sixteen food pantries and one soup kitchen in the
county. There are also limited funds for food for clients for special circumstances.
Implementation of client choice in the food pantry to empower clients and improve nutrition. This was coupled with attendance by Cornell Cooperative Extension nutrition education.
Food drive coordination/attendance: Cobleskill Richmondville Central School
District, post office and Boy Scouts.
Feed America, coordination and pick up of donated food items from Wal-Mart.
Food items were used in the SCCAP food pantry and distributed to other Regional Food Bank member pantries in Cobleskill.
Participation with the United Way Greater Capital Region Community Garden
committee and implementation day.
Continued participation with the Spirit of Hope, Schoharie County Department
of Social Services and other entities for homeless services.
Member participation with NY Connects.
Local Recipient Organization for Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).
One hundred percent clean audit for this program.
Partnership membership in the Capital District CA$H.
8
School supply project, 60 children received backpacks filled with supplies. Additional children received school supplies through the disaster distribution center.
Committee member for Local Emergency Planning Committee and Hazard Mitigation for Schoharie County.
Human Services Coordination Council membership, active participation.
E-Food Stamp applications are taken and sent to the local DSS.
Annual Coats for Kids a total of 922 coats were distributed at the SCCAP site.
Coats were also donated to outlying areas including Schoharie, Middleburgh and
Sharon Springs for distribution. Snow pants that were distributed totaled 50. The
receipt and distribution was close to three times the normal number.
A large donation valued over $10,000.00 of winter wear was donated to SCCAP
for distribution through the Coats for Kids program.
Schoharie County was chosen to be the 2011 Lens Crafters Hometown recipient
with SCCAP as the coordination agency. The Community Services Department
coordinated a free eye exam and glasses for 40 Schoharie County individuals
without health insurance or for under insured.
Community Service staff participated in post disaster reviews and meetings as a
part of the post disaster report and planning.
Participation in the United Way Greater Capital District meetings on funding and
program changes. There were multiple meetings to discuss the changes and the
process for the future.
Grant application written and approved with funding in the amount of $1,000.
This program is to provide basic assistance with food.
Additional services including utility assistance, advocacy, prescriptions and other
services to meet the need of the client total 366.
Marcy Holmes joined the Community Services Department in November as the
Community Services Program Assistant. She assisted with the many flood applicants as well as the increased clients in need of help.
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Energy Services/ Home Energy Consultants
Carl Jackson – Director
Kelly Pitt - Assistant Director
Richard Corsall - Building Analyst
Norman McHargue - Field Carpenter
Valmer Cross - Tech Specialist
Robert Foland - Field Carpenter
Nathan Corlew - Field Carpenter
Brian Garber - Field Carpenter
2011 Accomplishments
Households
Completed
44
Gallons per
Household
Saved
328
Cost per
Gallon Oil
$3.99
Total $
Saved per
Household
$1,309
Total $ Saved under
Weatherization
$57,584
A total of 283 smoke detectors and 66 carbon monoxide detectors were installed
A total of 23 refrigerators were replaced
2011 Special Activities
Robert Foland and Heather Davenport attended Weatherization Boot Camp sponsored by the New York State Weatherization Directors Association in Syracuse.
Heather Davenport attended the Small Home Auditor Training as well as the Building Analyst for BPI certification sponsored by the New York State Weatherization
Directors Association in Syracuse.
Carl Jackson, Kelly Pitt, Richard Corsall, Norman McHargue, Brian Garber,
Heather Davenport and Valmer Cross attended the June NYSCAA conference in
Ithaca.
Kelly Pitt and Heather Davenport attended training for Multi Family housing in
Syracuse.
Heather Davenport attended trainings for Furnace Fundamental, Chimney Basics
and Clean & Tunes sponsored by the New York State Weatherization Directors Association.
2012 Program Goals
To make sure our staff has the most current training and technologies in the energy
conservation field so that we can give our customers the best service possible.
10
Facilitated Enrollment
Betty Taccone - Coordinator
Carin Fletcher - Program Assistant
Subcontractor: Planned Parenthood of Mohawk Hudson, Inc.
Number applications for 2011: 580
SCCAP continued with a successful partnership with Planned Parenthood of Mohawk Hudson, Inc. Through this subcontract SCCAP is able to provide presumptive eligibility enrollment for prenatal clients. Additionally, PPMHI enrolls other
family members in NYS Health Insurance programs. Applications taken by
PPMHI are forwarded to SCCAP for quality assurance review prior to submission
to the Schoharie County Department of Social Services.
Facilitated Enrollment staff provides assistance for application to the NYS Health
Insurance programs, and referrals to other services tailored to meet the need of the
client.
The grant as the lead agency for Schoharie County was written, submitted and approved at the end of 2011. The grant period was approved for five additional
years.
Facilitated Enrollment staff increased outreach efforts during the first part of the
year. Outreach efforts were hampered during the last quarter due to significant
disaster damage.
Program goals 2012
Increase the number of applications.
Increase the number of individuals enrolled.
New outreach methods.
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FAMILY SUPPORT AND RESOURCE CENTER
Jodi Gregory- Director
Rebecca Snyder-Family Partner
Kim Godin-Family Partner
Meg Parsons-Special Projects Coordinator
Deb Dyer-Supervised Visitation Specialist
Rebecca Thillet-Family & Community Support Specialist
The Family Support and Resource Center is in its 8 th year of being a part of SCCAP’s
wraparound services for families. We continue to maintain our work serving families
with children who have social, emotional and behavioral challenges.
Our goal continues to be maintaining children in their home in a safe and successful
manner. We provide support, work with community services, offer resources and education, encourage families to work on their goals and achieve self-sufficiency.
This is done in a creative and strength-based manner. We used peer support (Family
Partners), Family Team Conferencing and Family Skill Building to build on family
strengths and achieve individual goals. The Mentoring Project and the Time Dollar Initiative both create opportunities for children and families to explore new avenues of
growth and personal expression. Our Supervised Visitation Program allows families to
work on bonding, communication and reunification.
Child Care Resources and Referrals allow families to find quality child care and manage their lives and schedules.
We continue to network on the local, regional and state levels. We have strong community partnerships and work closely with many agencies. One of the core beliefs of the
Resource Center is to utilize community partnerships and we work hard to make sure
resources are available to families.
This past year, the Child Care Resource and Referral Program (CCR&R) came under
the umbrella of the Family Support and Resource Center.
We currently have seven active mentors and utilize several community businesses for
group activities for youth. There continue to be rosters for Family Partners and for
Mentors, especially male mentors.
2011 Activities
Staff continues to attend conferences, workshops and training to expand our knowledge
base. We network and develop new resources during this time.
Active in the CDMP (Capital District Mentoring Partnership) and have developed new
resources and contacts. This has expanded our focus with the mentoring program.
12
Supervised Visitation continues to expand. After the flood, we offered our visitation
site to DSS and they have utilized the visitation center consistently. They have also
sent referrals to us for visitation. We have collaborated with them to do a combination of parenting, anger management and supervised visitation with certain families.
Continued our collaboration with the Youth Bureau to provide Skill Building classes
for families. This year we did Strengthening Families once and the Active Parenting/
Free The Horses curriculum twice.
Continue to do Youth Development activities through adventure programming.
Family Team Conferencing is a strong link between families and their service providers. We facilitated 140 meetings for families this year. One of the strongest outcomes
from these meetings was the re-unification of families that are in the foster care system.
For part of the year we were able to fund a part time position for a transition coordinator for youth who are aging out into the adult system. This briefly filled a gap in
service delivery to the youth of our county. There is a well defined need for these
young adults to have someone to help make the move into the adult world. We will
continue to look for funding to re-establish this position.
2012 Program Goals
Continue to partner with families in the community who need our help.
Continue to expand the Time Dollar initiative.
Continue to serve families with strengths based Family Team Conferences.
Keep children safely and successfully at home with the help of wrap-around services
and community support.
Continue to serve families with Skill Building opportunities.
Continue to help families build natural supports, decrease their isolation and help remove the stigmatism of mental health.
Continue to maintain and support the Family Resource Center.
Increase funding so we can expand the number of families served. Find grants and
expand our funding sources.
Develop more youth oriented programs.
Increase and expand Supervised Visitation.
Expand the role of parents in the decision making process regarding their children.
Expand the mentoring program, especially in the area of 1:1 mentors.
Believe in families, recognize their strengths and encourage their growth.
Continue to expand our knowledge base and to remain current on policies and legal
issues that concern our families.
13
WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
&
FIT WIC Program
Katie Palmer - Director
Jackie LaLonde - Nutritionist
Nardeana Bohringer - Program Assistant
Jennifer Bernhardt- Breast Feeding Peer Counselor
Keila Levendusky-Breast Feeding Peer Counselor
Amber Shultes - Breast Feeding Peer Counselor
Accomplishments
Enrolled 9,784 Participants throughout the year.
Provided check vouchers to 8,014 averaging 668 participants served each month.
156 high risk care plans were developed for high risk participants.
511 women received breast feeding information and were invited to our one hour
Getting Started Breast Feeding class.
72% of our pregnant moms initiated breast feeding making our breast feeding initiation rates amongst the highest in our region.
28 participants received personal or hospital grade breast feeding pumps.
325 families were given farmers market vouchers in the amount of $24 allowing
them to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables for their families.
WIC held our 3rd annual wellness fair at the park in Cobleskill. The fair is a celebration of worldwide breast feeding week and also a promotion of health and wellness.
35 participants received bike helmets along with safety information.
76 children received lead screenings performed by the Schoharie County Health Department.
197 voter registration forms were completed and sent to Schoharie County Board of
Elections.
14
2011 Special Activities
WIC held our 3rdd annual Healthy Lifestyle Fair at Centre Park in Cobleskill. The fair is a celebration of worldwide breast feeding week and health and wellness in families. Over 20 different
local agencies and vendors participated in the event. There were numerous activities for the children including a bouncy house and face painting. The fair was a huge success with over 200 people attending. Representatives from both Regional and Central WIC offices attended the event.
Our breast feeding Peer Counselor continues to offers a one hour long Getting Started Breast
Feeding class. The class has become very popular and is well attended by both women and their
partners. In addition to the class held at the SCCAP office, she is also offering a class once a
month at the Middleburgh library. Our peer counselor has been making numerous home and hospital visits to our participants and has helped many moms overcome barriers and challenges of
breast feeding. Our breast feeding rates remain among the highest in our region.
Our Breast Feeding Peer Counselor and WIC Nutritionist now offer a new class for all expecting
moms called “What to Expect From Your New Baby”. This class is for all prenatal women, regardless of their preference to breast feed or bottle feed. It covers topics such as car seat safety,
SIDS, recognizing hunger cues, nutritional needs of the infant and much more.
WIC held play groups this year for 2 to 5 year old children and their parents or caretakers. The
play groups emphasized the benefits of healthy active play. The play groups also incorporated
healthy snack and recipe ideas to help families make better food choices.
WIC staff participated in the WIC farmers market setting up a display of healthy foods and information. Our farmers market redemption rates have increased dramatically since last year.
2011 Success Story
We had a mom come in with two children who had just gotten a divorce from her husband and
moved here by herself from overseas. She and her husband were very affluent and she was somewhat embarrassed of being on any kind of services. We explained to her that participants are on
WIC for many different reasons and our guidelines are very generous. We referred her to many
different agencies including workforce solutions. Three months later she came back and told us
how much we had helped her. She said our kindness and helpfulness made her feel much more
comfortable using our services. She said we referred her to places she would not have ever
known about. Workforce Solutions helped her with her resume and helped her to gain employment. She is now working and no longer in need of WIC services.
2012 Program Goals
To continue to be involved in obesity prevention and FIT WIC activities. To continue our efforts
in striving to reduce the growing rate of obesity in children under the age of five.
To continue to work with the “Healthy Places Partnership”, and increase our Farmers Market Redemption rates by encouraging participants who cannot get to the Farmers Market to use the on
line “Schoharie Fresh” site to purchase their vegetables and fruits.
To hire an outreach employee, whose main responsibility will be to network throughout the community promoting the WIC program and expanding our caseload.
Continue with our breast feeding efforts offering classes both in the Cobleskill office and at outreach sites throughout the community.
To continue of host the annual wellness fair.
To promote our playgroup which incorporates fun play and healthy food choices.
15
Workforce Services Department
Melissa Klein - Director
Marcy Holmes - Skills Coordinator
Patricia O’Connor, DSS/DHP Employment Specialist
Displaced Homemaker Program
Accomplishments
Provided 822 services to 96 participants
Classes/workshops were provided to 14 participants
22 individuals received training on computers
291 job development services were provided to 66 participants
30 participants received resume development services
6 participants received clothing/shoe vouchers
24 participants became employed
25 participants who became employed kept employment 90+ days (number contains carry-over
from employed during last three months of prior year)
2011 Special Activities
The past year brought many changes for the Displaced Homemaker Program. With a reduced staff
we concentrated more on workshops and individual services. A grant from Microsoft, for software
totaling $40,145, allowed us to update our computers with Windows 7 as well as Microsoft 2010.
This generous grant allowed us to offer our students computer training on the most current Microsoft software. We also began the process of phasing out our old desktop computers this year and
began teaching all classes on our laptops, which has proven to be very successful.
Melissa Klein attended the annual DHP Education Days in Albany to meet with Senator James
Seward, Assemblyman Peter Lopez and a number of other legislators to discuss the 2011-2012
funding of the statewide Displaced Homemaker Programs. The original state budget reduced the
Displaced Homemaker Program severely, and it looked like we would have to once again cut back
on staff and discontinue classes. Fortunately when the state legislature met for the Extraordinary
Session later in the year, they put an additional 2.5 million dollars in for the Displaced Homemaker Centers statewide, which should be available in 2012. While this additional money will not
allow us to provide the full coverage of services that we would like, it should allow us to continue
with enough staff to run full classes.
While the program suffered from funding cuts, we still worked hard to serve displaced homemakers. Marcy Holmes was able to return to the program for a short time and taught computer classes
and workshops while she was with us. Unfortunately, as of October the program could no longer
afford the computer lab and we consolidated services in the program offices. While it is a little
cramped, our laptops have proved invaluable in the situation and have allowed us to continue with
classes.
16
We continued to work closely with the Workforce Solutions Center to offer our participants comprehensive services, including access to the National Work Readiness Credential and the SMART
2010 Resume matching system. We were able to hire a consultant to come in and offer workshops
on self-esteem and dealing with stress during the summer. These workshops were open to the
Skills to Success class and as well as displaced homemakers and everyone enjoyed the discussions
that the workshops led to. Marcy worked with Key Bank to have Kathy Diamond come and offer
a presentation on financial literacy. Again, we opened this workshop to other program participants
and many people found the information very applicable to their everyday finances.
We found that while it was a little more difficult for our students to find employment this year,
their retention rates where very high. Nearly all participants who were able to find employment
stayed employed for over 90 days. With 24 newly employed participants, using minimum wage
calculations, an estimated $300,000 was contributed back into the county’s economy. While most
participants actually earned more than minimum wage, the impact is closer to $400,000. In addition, since 54% of those who became employed were also collecting some type of public assistance prior to employment, the county also benefits due to a lower social services enrollment.
2011 Success Stories
Once again among the stories of success throughout the year, there are a few that stand out in our
minds. One such case was of a woman who came to us looking for help in finding employment.
Her husband of many years had become gravely ill and had been in the hospital quite a bit. She
had taken time off to care for her husband and was once again back at work when he relapsed and
they thought they were going to lose him. Miraculously, he pulled through and was starting to recover, but her job let her go for taking too much time off.
Finding herself in a situation where her husband was still unable to work and she herself was not
bringing in an income anymore, she was panicked to find a way to support her children and family. She came to the Displaced Homemaker Program looking for computer training and help in
finding a job. Despite the many pressures from home, she faithfully came to class each day and
worked diligently at learning the Office programs we taught her. She was a hard worker and despite getting frustrated at times with her situation, she would brush herself off after a disappointment and jump back in with both feet and try again. A month after she finished her class she was
offered a job that she really wanted in office administration. She loves the job and is doing great
there. Her family is getting back on their feet and she is finally seeing there is a light at the end of
the tunnel.
2012 Program Goals
The Displaced Homemaker Program will continue our fight to provide services for its participants
locally, and around the state. We will continue to provide classes in our conference area as well
as individualized services where necessary. The Workforce Services Director will continue to
work with the Executive Director and the Finance Director to pursue additional funding through
RFPs (Request for Proposals) and other available grants.
We would like to hire a Program Assistant to help increase our outreach efforts and allow us to
hold classes on a more regular schedule. We look forward to continuing to work with other programs and agencies in an effort to offer the most comprehensive services available, allowing our
participants the best chance at reaching their goals.
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Patricia O’Connor - DSS Employment Specialist
DSS Employment
Accomplishments
Received 236 Skills to Success Referrals
148 individuals attended Skills to Success class and 147 completed requirements
136 individuals received resumes in Skills to Success classes
41 individuals entered employment
Offered 4 complete sets of Nutrition and Food Budget workshops broken down into 6 individual
sessions per set
Students attended 6 Energy workshops
Students attended 4 Credit workshops
2011 Special Activities
Patricia continued to work with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Workforce Solutions Center
to provide trainings and a complete offering of services to participants. Pat collaborated with Cornell Cooperative Extension to develop a six-part workshop series on food budgeting and nutrition.
Her classes also attended presentations on energy efficiency and the wise use of credit at Cornell’s
facility. Staff at the Workforce Solutions Center provided her with space to hold classes multiple
times during the year. In addition, they introduced an overview of services and training opportunities to new participants as they entered the class. Pat also attended Business Connections with her
classes downstairs four times throughout the year.
Working with the Displaced Homemaker Program, Pat was able to offer her summer class an opportunity to attend the self-esteem and dealing with stress workshops offered by Debra Barnes as
well as the financial literacy workshop presented through Key Bank. Pat made a strong effort to
make sure that the students in the class have the necessary skills and tools needed to overcome
their barriers not just in obtaining employment, but in maintaining it as well.
When Hurricane Irene and Lee brought extensive flooding to the area, students that were still able
to make it to class volunteered at the Donation Center, helping to stock shelves, inventory donations and assist victims as they came to the center seeking aide. While the participants provided
much needed assistance to the Flood Donation Center, they also received valuable experience and
skills that would transfer over into jobs they would be obtaining later. After the donation center
closed the Skills to Success students once again stepped up and volunteered to help with the Annual Coats for Kids campaign this year. They helped to unload and sort through hundreds of donated coats and prepare them for distribution to the community.
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Success Story
While there were many success stories throughout the year, one client comes to mind
immediately. She had been out of work for a few years due to family obligations, but recently having experienced a change in her family structure she found herself in need of employment. After completing a resume and cover letter in class she used her new job searching skills to identify a job that she was very interested in, and applied to it. Having learned
the importance of follow-up in class, when some time passed without hearing from the prospective employer, the client stopped in at the business to let the owner know that she was
still interested in the job. Her persistence was rewarded with a job offer on the spot. She was
very excited and could not wait to share the news with the rest of the class.
2012 Program Goals
As always, Pat plans on continuing to work with other programs and agencies to help
expand the students awareness of community resources, giving them the best possible
chance at successfully transitioning off of social services and into the working world. She
will continue to evaluate the class materials and workshops, updating them as necessary to
keep her topics current and viable for today’s workforce.
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Energy Services/ Home Energy Consultants
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funded
Carl Jackson – Director
Kelly Pitt – Assistant Director
Heather Davenport – Data Manager
Richard Corsall – Building Analyst
Norman McHargue – Field Carpenter
Nathan Corlew, Jr. – Field Carpenter
Valmer Cross – Field Carpenter
Brian Garber – Field Carpenter
Robert Foland – Field Carpenter
American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA)
Households
Completed
104
Gallons per
Household
Saved
302.4
Cost per
Gallon Oil
Total $ Saved
per Household
Total $ Saved under
ARRA
$3.99
$1206.58
$125484.32
A total of 520 smoke detectors and 26 carbon monoxide detectors were installed
A total of 77 refrigerators were replaced
With the ARRA funding weatherization was able to address multi- family units within
the county for the first time. Three senior housing complexes were able to take advantage of this new opportunity. The complexes were able to receive new refrigerators, windows, compact lighting, faucet aerators and showerheads for each household
by coupling some of their own money with the ARRA funds. Several contractors
within the county were utilized to do some of the work on all of the ARRA households. By utilizing these contractors we were able to keep money here in our own
county.
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Disaster Relief 2011
Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee
1688 total donors in 2011:
35 out of the 50 states we have received donations from
193 out of state donations
1493 donors from New York State
1 from Norway
1 from Germany
$541,957.52 received in donated money
We have cut 951 flood checks:
Totaling $474,300.00 in flood money distributed
Donated gift cards:
Price Chopper Cards
215 cards
$7,945.00
Wal-Mart Cards
285 cards
$10,945.00
Gas Cards
104 cards
$3,275.00
Food Cards
59 cards
$2,285.00
Phone Cards
21 cards
$538.77
Misc Cards
287 cards
$9,825.96
971 cards
$34,814.73
Totals
In-kinds:
1275 In-kinds
$218,630.00 total amount
Flood Contracts:
Administration has contacted 12 town and village clerks
Sent letters to 193 homeowners
Sent letters to 24 farmers
Donated items at the Disaster Distribution Site
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SCHOHARIE COUNTY
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
Board of Directors - As of Year End 2011
Officers
Marie Campbell ~ Chair-Public Sector
Betsy Bernocco ~ Vice Chair-Consumer Sector
Allen Spencer ~ Treasurer-Private Sector
Carol Coltrain ~ Secretary-Private Sector
Members
Jennifer Bruce ~ Consumer Sector
Diane Fischer ~ Public Sector
James Heiser ~ Public Sector
Dolores Jackson ~ Consumer Sector
Cherie Stevens ~ Private Sector
Anna Van Derwerken ~ Consumer Sector
Earl Van Wormer III ~ Public Sector
Members leaving SCCAP Board during 2011
~ Sue Loden, Barbara Parsons, Melodie Swanson ~
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Balance Sheet as of 12/31/11
(Unaudited Consolidated)
ASSETS
Current Assets
Petty Cash
Cash - Operating
Cash - FNYFCU Savings
Cash - Savings
Cash - EFSP & Flood
Cash - LLC
Cash - WES Program Income
Cash - WES Deferred Revenue
Cash - WES-ARRA
Cash - Fundraising
Accounts Receivable
Prepaid Expenses
Total Current Assets
$
100.00
59,626.19
30,001.89
3,893.04
102,823.25
3,677.42
347.11
13,696.47
7.05
1,083.25
256,220.18
25,828.48
497,304.33
Property and Equipment
Donated Equipment
Equipment
Equipment - Unrestricted
Leasehold Improvements
Vehicles
Capitalized Leases
Accumulated Depreciation
Accumulated Amortization
Total Property and Equipment
13,091.00
139,610.68
1,604.00
7,759.46
79,977.90
55,299.98
(223,410.42)
(18,122.00)
55,810.60
Other Assets
Total Other Assets
0.00
Total Assets
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable
Health Insurance W/H
Purchase Vac $ w /h
Accrued Vacation/FICA/Wages
Sales Tax Payable
Federal Income Taxe Payable
State Income Tax Payable
LLC Deposits Received
Deferred Revenue
Line of Credit Payable
Total Current Liabilities
$
$
553,114.93
75,143.20
(7,730.11)
82.97
42,883.05
31.49
(500.00)
250.00
(46,599.58)
187,039.63
54,000.00
304,600.65
Long-Term Liabilities
Total Long-Term Liabilities
0.00
Total Liabilities
304,600.65
Capital
Net Assets - Unrestricted
Net Assets
Net Income
Total Capital
47,952.30
173,105.45
27,456.53
248,514.28
Total Liabilities & Capital
$
23
553,114.93
Schoharie County
Community Action Program, Inc.
795 East Main Street, Suite 5
Cobleskill, New York 12043
Phone (518) 234-2568/296-8523
Fax (518) 234-3507
Toll Free (866) 849-2402
E-mail: admin@sccapinc.org
Website: www.sccapinc.org
Donated items at the disaster
Kim Godin, Family Partner, at the Summer Family
Gathering, July
Distribution site, September
Amber Shultes, WIC Breast Feeding
Peer Counselor, and Jackie LaLonde,
WIC Nutritionist, in the breast feeding
consultation area, April
Michelle Johnston, Resource Advocate, and
Santa at the Winter Family Gathering,
December
Staff no longer employed with SCCAP, Inc. as of December 31, 2011.
~ Jennifer Bernhardt, Lorraine Bivona, Bonnie Bywater, Nate Corlew, Heather Davenport,
Carin Fletcher, Michelle Johnston, Keila Levendusky, Tammy Pochily, Barbara Rivenburgh~
Layout and Design By: SCCAP Administration ~
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