Tri-County Opportunities Council

Head start is a comprehensive child and family development program that provides center services for three and four year old children from low-income families. The program operates licensed centers with part-day classes, extended day classes and full day full year classes. Key components of the program are: school readiness, social and emotional development; medical and dental, mental health and nutrition services, support to children with disabilities and special needs; family supportive services; and parent education and involvement opportunities. Early head start is a comprehensive program that provided services to pregnant women, infants and toddlers through three licensed centers and home-based programming options. This is a full-year program with the same service as those in the head start program.

The weatherization program is funded with hhs, doe, state of illinois and braided funding with utility contracts from nicor gas, commonwealth edison and ameren illinois that made homes more energy efficient. Weatherization includes such measures as weather stripping, caulking, insulation, programmable and smart thermostats, comprehensive air sealing, and replacement of water heaters and refrigerators. The program also has a repair/replacement furnace component. The outcome of this program is to reduce the amount of fuel needed to heat the home and to ensure the health and safety of the residence. In addition, multi-units were completed.

Community services block grant - this program aims to combat poverty within communities by removing the barriers to self-sufficieney that individuals and families may encounter.

Foster grandparents - this program offers supportive person-to-person services to at-risk children or children with special or exceptional needs to enhance developmental progress in reading, math, spelling, art, and other constructive projects.

Food and shelter programs - these programs assist individuals and families experiencing low-income with emergency needs such as emergency shelter, food, and rent/mortgage assistance.

All other programs