C E F S Economic Opportunity Corp

Head start 0-5:head start is a federally funded program which has been in existence since 1965. The cefs head start 0-5 program offers center-based (half and full day classroom sessions) services to preschool children and home-based services to pregnant women, infants, and toddlers in cefs economic opportunity corporation's seven county service area.eligibility is largely income-based, although other eligibility criteria such as disabilities and services needed by the family are also used to determine acceptance into the program. Families must earn at or less than 100% of the federal poverty level. Families may also qualify under a categorical eligibility category (receipt of snap or tanf funds, supplemental security funds, or homelessness as per the mckinney vento act). Up to 10% of the program's enrollment can be from higher income families or families experiencing emergency situations.the program is required to provide services to children with disabilities who must comprise 10% of the total enrollment. The head start 0-5 program provides comprehensive early childhood education, health and developmental screenings, parent involvement opportunities, and family socializations. Head start promotes school preparation by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services. The program's services and resources are designed to foster stable family relationships, enhance children's physical and emotional well-being, and establish an environment to develop strong cognitive skills. The head start philosophy is to provide all children with individualized care and guidance in reaching their potential.grant funding for the cefs head start 0-5 program is provided by the us dept. Of health and human services, under the administration for children and families, office of head start. The program also receives funding for meals served to participants under the child and adult care food program administered by the illinois state board of education and funded by the us dept. Of agriculture.

Workforce innovation and opportunity act program:the workforce innovation and opportunity act (wioa) program delivers activities aimed at enhancing employment, retention, earnings, and skill levels within the american workforce. The c.e.f.s. Wioa program serves thirteen counties in illinois workforce area #23. The program encompasses youth, adult, dislocated worker, and trade adjustment act initiatives.program participants can easily access a preliminary assessment of their skill levels, aptitudes, abilities, and support service needs. Additionally, they can obtain comprehensive information on a wide range of employment-related services. Workforce centers provide job search and placement assistance, career counseling, and up-to-date labor market information that identifies job vacancies, skills required for in-demand jobs, and trends at local, regional, and national levels.individuals requiring more intensive support can benefit from comprehensive assessments, employment plan development, group and individual counseling, case management, and short-term pre-vocational services. In some instances, eligible participants may receive training services, including on-the-job training, tuition assistance, work experience, and supportive services linked directly to local job opportunities.wioa youth services focus on aiding out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment, preparing them for employment and postsecondary education opportunities. This includes attaining educational and/or skills training credentials and securing employment with career prospects. The youth program offers a variety of services such as training, paid work experience, on-the-job training, job readiness training, supportive services, leadership skill development, resume writing, job search help, and classroom training. Follow-up services are also available.funding for these programs is provided by the u.s. Department of labor through a block grant administered by the illinois department of commerce and economic opportunity, office of employment and training, and illinois local workforce area 23.effingham county is the grant recipient and c.e.f.s. Is the administrator and service provider under the name effingham county public transportation. In addition to demand response service, effingham county public transportation operates a deviated route within the effingham city limits.

Rural transportation:c.e.f.s. Central illinois public transit and effingham county public transportation programs are federally and state-funded public transportation systems operating in clay, christian, effingham, fayette, shelby, moultrie, and montgomery counties. The illinois department of transportation provides operating assistance for public transportation in non-urbanized areas. Additional financial support comes from fares, service contracts, title iiib funding through area agencies on aging (agelinc and midland aaa), the illinois department of human services, and donations from municipalities. Shelby county, with c.e.f.s. Economic opportunity corporation as the administrator and service provider, operates central illinois public transit in clay, christian, fayette, montgomery, moultrie, and shelby counties. Effingham county, with c.e.f.s. Economic opportunity corporation as the administrator and service provider, operates effingham county public transportation in effingham county. Ridership is open to the public with no qualification requirements to utilize the service. The program operates on a demand-response basis. Monthly passes are available for purchase at discounted rates. Our reduced fare program allows seniors 60+ to ride on a suggested donation basis, provides monthly passes at a further reduced rate for disabled individuals, and provides for veterans in effingham county to receive in-county transportation. Payment is also accepted through medicaid and modivcare for non-emergency medical transportation needs.

Senior programs:meals on wheelsthe meals on wheels program of c.e.f.s. Provides nutritionally balanced meals on a donation basis to individuals who are 60 years of age and older, as well as to their spouses. There are no income guidelines or restrictions other than the age limit. In addition to nutrition, educational, informational, and social activities are offered. Meals are served on a reservation basis at seventeen sites within the counties of clay, effingham, fayette, christian, and montgomery. The program receives funding from the administration on aging, including title iiic funding through the area agencies on aging (agelinc and midland aaa), local united way agencies, and participant contributions.there are two components to our meals on wheels program: congregate meals: seniors share a nutritious meal and enjoy activities and fellowship at a nutrition site. Home-delivered meals: nutritious meals are delivered to homebound seniors along with a daily check-in.senior insurance counselingthe senior health insurance program (ship) is a health insurance counseling service sponsored by the c.e.f.s. Economic opportunity corporation within the counties of clay, effingham, fayette, christian, and montgomery. Funded by the illinois department on aging (idoa), this program is for medicare-eligible beneficiaries and their caregivers. Ship counselors are trained to educate consumers and answer questions about medicare, medicare supplement, long term care insurance, medicare hmos, ppos, private fee-for-service plans, and other health insurance options.ship counselors assist consumers with analyzing medicare part d plans, medicare supplement plans, and long-term care policies. Additionally, they help file medicare and medicare supplement claims. With the guidance provided by ship counselors, medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers will gain the necessary information to make informed decisions about their health insurance needs.ship offices also help with applications for the following programs: benefits access (ba) (state license plate discount) medicare part d, extra help/low income subsidy (lis) (assistance in paying for medicare part d costs) medicare savings programs (msp) (assistance paying for part a & b premiums, deductibles, and co-pays) medicare part b prevention and wellness benefits medicaid (assistance for the aged (65 or older), blind, or people with disabilities (aabd)) supplemental social security (ssi) (for the aabd)furthermore, ship provides information on programs and services that help senior citizens remain living independently in their own homes, as well as numerous other programs available to the aged, blind, or disabled population.retired senior volunteer program (rsvp):the retired and senior volunteer program aims to provide meaningful opportunities for individuals aged 55 and older to contribute actively to their communities through volunteer service. Volunteers can engage with various non-profit agencies, schools, day care centers, nursing homes, libraries, and more. Regardless of experience, education, income, skills, or profession, volunteers are crucial.rsvp members serve in the counties of clay, effingham, fayette, shelby, moultrie, christian, and montgomery. The program is funded by americorps, the illinois department on aging, and local donations.

Home weatherization programs:illinois home weatherization assistancethe illinois home weatherization assistance program offers complimentary energy-saving measures for qualifying applicants in christian, clay, effingham, fayette, montgomery, moultrie, and shelby counties. Services include insulation, air sealing, caulking, weather-stripping, glass replacement, and window/door repair or replacement.the program also offers retrofits, repairs, or replacement of heating units. A qualified assessor will check the unit's safety; if hazardous and irreparable, a higher efficiency furnace or heater may be installed. Studies show these measures reduce energy costs by 25% to 30%, allowing recipients to allocate more income to other essential needs.eligibility is based on twelve-month income verification, homeownership documentation (homeowner or landlord), and a fuel bill copy. Funding comes from the illinois department of commerce and economic opportunity, department of energy, department of health and human services, and ameren illinois.affordable housing programthrough the affordable housing program (ahp) general fund, cefs completes rehabilitation of affordable owner-occupied housing for low-income individuals. The ahp subsidy is provided as a forgivable grant from the federal home loan bank of chicago, through midland states bank (as a member) to cefs (project sponsor).

Outreach programs:community services block grant:the c.e.f.s. Economic opportunity corporation provides outreach and referral services in our field offices across the seven-county service area. Staff members at these local offices are trained in basic information and referral to assist with issues related to social services. They offer intensive case management services to individuals and families, often serving as the first point of contact for assistance. Some major programs offered directly by the offices include liheap, weatherization, tax assistance, emergency food and shelter, budgeting, literacy, senior services, and housing counseling. If outreach staff cannot provide direct assistance, referrals will be made to other programs and providers. The community services block grant program is funded by the illinois department of commerce and economic opportunity.adult volunteer literacy:many adults in illinois have limited incomes due to poor skills in reading, writing, math, or english proficiency. The c.e.f.s. Learning center is committed to providing adult literacy program services that enable participants to fully engage in their family, work, and community roles. The center administers adult literacy, ged preparation, and english as a second language programs, offering basic adult literacy instruction to improve reading, writing, math, or english proficiency for qualifying participants. Certified volunteers conduct one-on-one tutoring sessions tailored to the learners' needs. Volunteers receive fifteen hours of training through the c.e.f.s. Literacy coordinator and the secretary of state. These services are provided free of charge, funded through the community services block grant program and the secretary of state/illinois state library literacy office.housing counseling:the c.e.f.s. Housing counseling program assists residents in meeting their housing needs and addressing housing problems, prioritizing low and moderate-income households. The c.e.f.s. Economic opportunity corporation is a certified housing counseling agency by the u.s. Department of housing and urban development (hud). Outreach offices employ professional staff who are hud-certified counselors and have received certifications through neighborworks america. Counselors provide in-depth housing counseling in areas such as pre-purchase, pre-rental, mortgage default, rental delinquency, post-occupancy, energy conservation, housing consumer education, displacement, relocation, and referrals. Funding is provided by the department of housing and urban development through housing action illinois.rapid re-housing program:the rapid re-housing program aims to help individuals living on the street, in places not meant for human habitation, or in emergency shelters transition into permanent housing. Supportive services, including budgeting, benefit enrollment, referrals, and case management, are provided. Participants must meet with case managers to continue receiving rental assistance, but no other restrictions apply. The program's goal is to reduce the time spent homeless, assist in acquiring necessary skills to remain housed, and minimize the chances of returning to homelessness. Services are available throughout the c.e.f.s. Economic opportunity corporation's service area, funded by the department of housing and urban development. The rapid re-housing program is a competitive grant through the south central illinois continuum of care.rental housing support program:the rental housing support program (rhsp) promotes permanent housing by funding rent subsidies for extremely and severely low-income households. The program provides rental assistance but does not cover costs such as security deposits or emergency rental assistance. The illinois housing development authority contracts with local community action agencies like c.e.f.s. To manage and operate the program within the service area. C.e.f.s. Collaborates with local landlords to provide units and accepts applications from eligible tenants who are low-income and not receiving assistance from another source. The program is funded by the illinois housing development authority.permanent supportive housing program:funded by the u.s. Department of housing and urban development (hud), this program provides funding for five rental units in the seven-county service area for individuals with disabilities. Priority is given to the chronically homeless, but units may also be allocated to homeless individuals with at least one family member having a documented disability. Extensive case management is provided to help households secure necessary resources to maintain housing stability.dhs housing assistance programs:the illinois department of human services provides funding for seven grants: homeless prevention, supportive housing services, emergency and transitional housing, arpa supportive housing, shelter diversion, scattered site permanent housing, and emergency solutions. Homeless prevention grants offer rental assistance to those facing eviction, helping them maintain or obtain new housing. To receive assistance, individuals must demonstrate financial sustainability after one-time grant support. Emergency and transitional housing provides hotel and food assistance to homeless individuals and families until permanent housing is secured.supportive housing grants allow us to work with the homeless population to stabilize their current situation, provide growth and development opportunities, obtain and retain long-term stable housing, and achieve self-sufficiency. Necessary supportive services may include shelter, food, clothing, literacy training, vocational training, education, work experience, transportation, mental health counseling, physical health remedies, family counseling, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Participant needs are assessed to determine necessary interventions for gaining stability.the emergency solutions grant (esg) program aims to identify homeless individuals and provide services to help them regain stability in permanent housing quickly. Authorized by the mckinney-vento homeless assistance act and funded by the u.s. Department of housing and urban development, the program is administered at the state level by the illinois department of human services. C.e.f.s. Uses esg funds to locate permanent housing for homeless individuals and households, offering financial assistance for rent, security deposits, and utilities. Participants receive case management, including housing counseling, budget counseling, and goal setting to improve their housing situation.our goal with the supportive housing program grant is to work with the homeless population in their attempt to stabilize their current situation, provide opportunities for growth and development, and to obtain and retain long-term stable housing and become self-sufficient. Supportive services needed for the homeless to stabilize may include shelter, food, clothing, literacy training, vocational training, education, work experience opportunities, transportation, mental health counseling, physical health remedies, family counseling and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Participant needs are determined through a needs assessment to determine what is needed to gain stability. Supportive housing funds are administered by the illinois department of human services. The arpa supportive housing grant provides hotel assistance to homeless individuals and families until permanent housing can be obtained. Funds are administered by the illinois department of human services. Shelter diversion meets people on the brink of homelessness and provides services to prevent them from becoming homeless. Case management is provided to address immediate needs to ensure housing is obtained or maintained. Supportive services that can be provided to assist in stabilizing housing include rent, deposits, utilities, and transportation assistance to get permanent housing options. Scattered site permanent supportive housing provides funding for six rental units in our seven-county service area for those having a disability. Priority is given to the chronically homeless, but units will be filled with homeless individuals with at least one family member with a documented disability. Extensive case management and utility allowances will be provided in order to assist the households in securing necessary resources to keep them housed.

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