LCCAA's 2023 Annual Report by LCCAA

Annual Report 2023 Lorain County Community Action Agency

Table of Contents Our Leadership............................... 4 Feeding Our Neighbors.................. 6 Keeping People Housed................. 8 Meeting Basic Needs..................... 10 Providing Transportation................ 11 Pathways to Better Health .............12 Serving Our Youth.......................... 14 Offering a Head Start.................... 16 Hard Working Staff........................22 Finances........................................ 24 Community Support.......................26 Future Focused..............................27

Leadership Change Coming On December 15, Jackie Boehnlein will step down as Chief Executive Officer of LCCAA, a position she has held for the last 11 years. LCCAA is a very different agency today compared to the organization Jackie took over in 2012. She guided the agency through a comprehensive reinvention. Through public-private partnerships, the agency relocated administrative offices in downtown Lorain, closed the Hamilton Head Start location in Elyria and moved into a fully renovated space near Midway Mall, erected a new Head Start warehouse in Lorain and will build the South Side Center produce market in south Elyria in 2024. “The community and residents of Lorain County have benefitted from Jackie’s expertise, generosity and collegiality,” said Board Chair Gerald Pippens. Beginning Dec. 16, Head Start Director Shauna Matelski, Ed.D. will serve as Acting CEO. Dr. Matelski has been the Head Start director since October 2011 and has spent more than 30 years with LCCAA. “Jackie leaves big shoes to fill,” she said. “We have worked well together for a number of years and I hope for a seamless transition.” Most significantly, Jackie’s impact on the culture of LCCAA has been profound. From the priority she placed on building capacity and systems to drive access and service, to her unwavering commitment to serving and empowering Lorain County residents in need, Jackie successfully struck a balance between “doing now” and positioning for the future. LCCAA is in strong financial standing with systems the board and staff can continue to use to expand the agency’s outreach and service to Lorain County. “The LCCAA staff, board and our many partners feel privileged to have worked with Jackie and are enormously grateful to her for her many achievements,” Pippens added.

Thank You and Farewell I am extremely honored to have led LCCAA and I am proud of the role this agency has played in the lives of Lorain County residents.

Directors completes its executive search.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support, partnership and contriAs I look ahead, I could not be more confident in butions over the last 11 years. I have greatly valued the agency’s ability to serve. I could also not be more and enjoyed engaging with each of you. It has been confident that Dr. Shauna Matelski is the right acting a wonderful, transformational journey made special leader for the organization. She has great organiza- by working with others determined to make a tional and program knowledge, understands the needs difference too. of the community and will continue the agency’s In service, practice of putting mission first. I also know she will continue to be supported by our talented employees - whose compassion and dedication fuel our every effort - as the Board of

Our Leadership LCCAA’s leadership includes a 15-member Board of Directors, meeting the requirements of our federal funders. Additionally, the Office of Head Start requires convening of a Parent Policy Council for each program throughout the country. LCCAA’s Board includes people from three different sectors of the community: public officials or their designees, private individuals or business people, and low-income people or those who serve them. Terms are five years each with no one permitted to serve more than three consecutive terms. At the annual meeting each December, officers are elected from among the board members. Through Policy Council, parents are encouraged to participate in making decisions about the program. Policy Council members are elected annually at the start of the school year. Parents are elected by their centers to serve on the council. The Policy Council President serves on the Board of Directors.

Mike Szekely

Joe Falbo

Nancy Sabath

Vice Chair Mike Szekely has served his three five-year terms and will leave the board at the end of 2023. Fortunately for all involved, Szekely will continue to chair the agency’s Annual Wine Tasting event. In September, Treasurer Joe Falbo resigned from the board citing personal and professional obligations. Director Barbara Burrill will serve as interim treasurer until officer elections can be held. The LCCAA family also mourned two former board

members this year. Barbara O’Keefe, former mayor of Wellington, passed away Jan. 12. The long-time mayor and Wellington fixture served on the LCCAA Board from 2007 to 2015.

2023 Board of Directors

23-24 Policy Council

Chair, Gerald Pippens Vice Chair, Mike Szekely Secretary, Eddie Henson Interim Treasurer, Barbara Burrill Joe Bott Rochell Corn Sherry Green Michele Henes Debbie Hughes Melinda Mathews Elizabeth Meadows Jocelyn Melendez Vasyl Rabosyuk

President, Melinda Mathews Vice President, Coreasa Portis Secretary, Genesis Rodriguez Asst. Secretary, Chrystine Masarik Veronica Belen Amanda Bruce Jalisa Campbell Kaitlin Fisher Nateisha Fitzgerald Damaris Guevara Roberto Hoyle Precious Lara Tana Panter Tabatha Smith

Nancy Sabath, who retired from the Board last fall, passed away March 12. In addition to serving on the board from 2012 to 2022, she worked as LCCAA Head Start’s Early Childhood Services Coordinator from 1994 to 1997.

Our Leadership Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 Goal 1: Serve Individuals and families using a data-driven approach. (Family) Goal 2: Use community coordination expertise to expand outreach, leverage local funding and tackle rates of change. (Community) Goal 3: Build organizational capacity to meet current and emerging community needs. (Agency) LCCAA uses strategic planning as a structured process to define success for the agency. A strategic plan helps us determine priorities for both our programs and our operations and allows us to align resources and staff to achieve goals. LCCAA’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan is aligned with state and national goals for the Community Action Network and the agencies that fund our grants. We use the Results-Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) system to follow the framework of national performance indicators created for agencies like ours that receive Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding. ROMA’s standardization has made it possible to speak

about the national impact of CSBG funding and the other resources it leverages. In 2016, ROMA was expanded to include other indicators and agencies were encouraged to create goals for families, their community and their agency.

Community Action Agencies are required to complete a comprehensive strategic plan every five years. The planning process includes stakeholder engagement and participation as well as the latest Community Needs Assessment and other data-driven sources.

All of LCCAA’s strategic priorities for 2023-2026 are aligned to the plan’s three main goals (above) as well as the agency’s mission statement.

Our mission is to serve and empower Lorain County residents in need

Justin Paige Finance and Administration Director

Carla Rodriguez Human Resources Director

Bobby Taylor Planning and Community Services Director

Stefanie Drew Acting Head Start Director

LCCAA’s Executive Team is strong. Each member has a long history with the agency and impeccable credentials. LCCAA is well-positioned to enter 2024 stronger than ever and ready to impact our community by helping in emergencies and empowering families to prosper. 5

Feeding Our Neighbors A combination of inflation, changes to SNAP benefits and other factors have driven up the cost of most food items. LCCAA is working to fill gaps.

In 2023, the LCCAA Bike Shop was converted to the Produce Pickup Center. Lorain County residents living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($60,000 for a family of four in 2023) are eligible to order from the pantry. LCCAA has partnered with Second Harvest Foodbank of Northeast Ohio to pilot Feeding America’s Order Ahead system. From the LCCAA website, residents pre-order food boxes and set appointments for drive through pick up. As the center has ramped up, pre-packed boxes have been distributed.

Food insecurity is at an all time high in Lorain County. In 2024, the system will expand to provide choice ordering for residents.

The center focuses on fresh produce which can be hard to get, particularly for families in downtown Lorain closest to the center. LCCAA also works with Food Forward Lorain and received a start-up grant from the City of Lorain for the center. To convert the space, LCCAA’s youth workers were employed to remove bike shop inventory which was donated to the Elyria Bicycle Center, a long-time partner with the bike shop.

Youth are now employed in the Produce Center packing boxes and staffing distribution hours as well as participating in other activities.

LCCAA is also working to provide tips for using and storing produce and will work with neighbors who need a different type of pantry experience. Scan the QR code to view “Making the Most of the LCCAA Produce Center” which is distributed with most boxes. 6

525 food boxes have been distributed from the

Produce Center

since it opened at the end of August.

In 2024, choice

ordering will be introduced so neighbors have more control over what they receive.

Sustaining Food Efforts LCCAA’s partnership with the Elyria Library System and OUR F.A.M.I.L.Y. was reinvigorated in 2023 with new crops, new soil and new partners.

The garden on the grounds of the South Branch Library, built in 2021, produced 13 different crops this season. After a major crabgrass infestation was eradicated by volunteers from Road to Hope, 12 yards of premium soil were brought in from Barnes Nursery. Many hands made light work of reviving the garden, whose irrigation system did not make it through last winter.

Volunteers were supervised by Produce Center Manager Deirdre Paynter, Inventory and Sustainability Coordinator Janet Skinner and Master Gardner Sue Shillig from the Ohio State University Extension office. In addition to supplying produce to the Elyria neighbors, some products were brought to and distributed from the Produce Center.

The agency has also built raised beds next to the Produce Center and new agency warehouse. Thanks to a Healthy Places Grant from Lorain County Public Health, the raised beds were installed along with a composter and hydroponic system. The long-term plan is to collect compostable food waste from LCCAA’s HopkinsLocke Head Start Center on nearby Reid Avenue. Staff have also been experimenting with vermiculture and worm castings, which are an excellent fertilizer. Vermiculture makes use of paper and cardboard waste in addition to organic material giving an additional use to the agency’s recyclables. LCCAA has also taken steps to sustain food growing operations in the area. The agency sponsored two pollinator gardens created by Lorain City Parks last winter. Youth workers from LCCAA scattered seed and spread straw in Danley Square and Highview Park.

Pollinator gardens support and maintain insects that pollinate by supplying food to ensure the important animals stay in the area to keep pollinating crops for continued fruit and vegetable production.

In 2024, the agency will create a People’s Garden in Elyria designed to provide green space, create a wildlife habitat and offer educational opportunities. The garden will be installed on six vacant parcels owned by the agency on Huron Street near Gateway Boulevard and the CSX railroad line.

In addition to attracting pollinators in general, the garden will be designed as a way station for migrating monarch butterflies. Certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be sought.

Keeping People Housed Federal funding for the Emergency Rent Assistance program continued to help Lorain County residents in 2023. LCCAA continued to work with the State of Ohio and local partners to bring the aid to those in greatest need.

Renters were eligible for help with rent or utilities if they lived at or below 80% of the Area Median Income. With the expiration of eviction moratoriums, LCCAA needed to connect differently with courts and shelters (see Haven Center story opposite) to keep people housed.

193 Households $719,456 Rental Assistance

109 Households $78,137 Utility Assistance

Homeowners were able to apply for help with non-mortgage expenses thanks to programs of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA). Save the Dream Ohio - Utility Assistance Plus provides eligible Ohio homeowners with financial assistance to pay delinquent utility bills, property taxes and other housing costs not included in the mortgage payment. This can also include lot fees for mobile homes. To qualify, the home must be a primary residence and the owner must have experienced hardship or loss of income due to COVID-19. Income thresholds are high compared to other programs. A family of four cannot have an annual income exceeding $147,600. In 2023, 146 households were helped with a total of $344,388, mostly for property taxes. HOA & Condo Fees Sewer & Trash $3,438

$1,899

Internet $787

Water $47,613

Electric, Gas, Bulk Fuel $72,512

Property Taxes $218,139

How OHFA Money Helped in 2023 8

Safe Housing Services Rent Funding Helps After Homeless Shelter Floods Nearly 60 Lorain County residents were doubly displaced in August after heavy rains devastated the Haven Center. LCCAA provided funding to help relocate the shelter residents to hotels in the area. LCCAA set aside $60,000 from the Emergency Rental Assistance round two funds to help the Haven Center cover hotel stays. The flood was the first major need for the funds. Nearly $20,000 was used to rehouse shelter residents.

“This has been an arduous period for our agency,” said Neighborhood Alliance Chief of Staff Rebecca Haywood. “As we work through the clean-up and restoration of our center, however, we have been able to ovens and all of the center’s washers and dryers. Most keep our residents safe and still provide much needed of the doors in the center no longer function due to the wooden frames swelling. services to them.” In all, 58 people, including children, were displaced. “We were able to mobilize our staff and quickly move Some were helped with LCCAA’s funding and some residents out of the shelter and into motels with the funding from LCCAA,” Haywood said. with other resources. The Haven Center at 1536 E. 30th St. in Lorain can house up to 68 people and also provides meals, toiletries, laundry and clothing. The flood destroyed five HVAC units, several freezers and refrigerators, two

LCCAA was pleased to provide the assistance.

“We admire Neighborhood Alliance so much,” said CEO Jackie Boehnlein. “Their incredible resourcefulness is only rivaled by how much they care.”

‘We were able to mobilize our staff and quickly move residents with the funding from LCCAA.’ Kennedy Plaza Refrigerator Project Completed LCCAA has partnered with Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority to provide new energy-efficient refrigerators to a number of LMHA residents in the past few years. The project at Kennedy Plaza was completed in the spring of 2023 after supply chain issues were overcome. The 177-unit building was finished in April. LCCAA began collaborating with subsidized housing in 2019. To date, appliances have also been replaced in Pearl Village, Westgate Gardens, Harr Plaza and Lakeview Plaza. Community Connections is a partnership with the Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy and Ohio Edison. The program also replaces freezers and light bulbs for income-eligible customers.

Meeting Basic Needs

LCCAA Energy Services helps hundreds in Lorain County stay connected every year. Residents can apply for regular services (HEAP and PIPP) 24 hours a day online or by mail. Emergency services and service transfers require an appointment with an LCCAA advocate. Most appointments are made online and conducted over the phone. To qualify for any of the Energy Services programs, households must be living at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Level. Other eligibility requirements apply to some programs.

1,988 Households $172,814 Winter Crisis 22-23

849 Households $185,626

Summer Crisis 2023

1,443 Households $741,577 LIHWAP 2021-2023

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides an annual benefit to help pay to heat homes in the winter. The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) reduces utility bills to a percentage of the household’s income.

Benefits of the PIPP program include forgiveness of arrearages. To remain on PIPP, households must reverify their income annually.

The Winter Crisis Program is for households who have had their primary heating source disconnected or who have received a disconnect notice. Bulk fuel users are considered in crisis if they have less than a 10-day supply of wood, propane or oil. Residents who have received a disconnect notice can have their disconnection held if they have made an appointment with LCCAA. Winter Crisis operates between Nov. 1 and March 31.

The Summer Crisis Program operates between July 1 and Sept. 30 to help households stay cool in the summer. The program is primarily geared toward seniors (60 or older) and residents who have a documented health condition worsened by extreme heat. In addition to help with electric bills, Summer Crisis benefits can include free window air conditioner units or box fans.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provided up to $1,500 in benefits to incomeeligible Lorain County residents. LCCAA’s LIHWAP program ended in May. Most Energy Services appointments are conducted over the phone from LCCAA’s main office at 936 Broadway Ave., Lorain.

In-person services are offered during limited hours at three locations. Seniors can walk-in at the Lorain County Office on Aging in Elyria. Anyone can walk in at Second Baptist Church in Elyria. Appointments will be scheduled at the Wellington Office on Aging one day a week. Scan the QR code for the latest hours at the satellite offices. 10

Providing Transportation In 2023, LCCAA’s By Car program supported job seekers, refugees and new drivers. As a supportive service of OhioMeansJobs Lorain County, the program matches earned income at a rate of $3 to $1 to help participants who are working or attending school. In addition to the many assessments and tools available through OMJ, participants complete a financial class and also receive one year of car insurance up to $2,500.

Participants in 2023 included a refugee family fleeing the war in Ukraine. David and Alana Zagurskyy and their daughter Olivia learned about the program while visiting area food pantries after settling in Lorain. Thanks to By Car, they were able to purchase a car to help with their job searches and general quality of life.

Job seekers who have used the program this year also included Laterrica Smith who planned to use her car to complete her culinary degree. In addition to taking classes, the car allowed Smith to get a job at McDonald’s to provide for her three children. Ashley Mauricio first drove her new car to pick up her children.

“Hearing about the program was actually the best thing that could have happened to me because of the requirements,” Mauricio said. “I have been wanting to go back to school for a long time but just kept putting it off. The requirements of this program gave me the push I needed to go back.” Teens Adamaris Guzman, Kristina Fernandez and Yariel DeJesus also completed the program. Many of their early drives were taken to support their families. “It’s one of the best choices in my life,” DeJesus said. “And I did it all myself.”

Most participants rely on family and friends for rides to work, appointments and errands prior to completing By Car. The program makes a genuine difference, they say. “I just want people to know that my experience was amazingly and surprisingly enjoyable and the help you get through the process is priceless,” said April Mitchell, after purchasing her car. “Thank you for making life just a little easier for me and my family.”

Pathways to Better Health Funded in partnership with the Ohio Commission on Minority Health the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Centers for Disease Control, the Lorain County Pathways HUB (LCPHUB) is a free program seeking to improve health outcomes for our most at-risk residents. LCPHUB is particularly focused on reducing infant mortality and improving the health of Black and Hispanic moms and infants in Lorain County. LCPHUB is designed to find, reach and serve those who need help the most. By addressing key health or social issues, known as the Social Determinants of Health, the LCPHUB works to transform our community to achieve equity and reduce the alarming disparities in mortality and general health within minority and other low-income communities

The Social Determinants of Health are the conditions where we are born, work, live and age. Our social and physical environments have the ability to affect our health, functioning and quality of life.

The Social Determinants of Health are: economic stability, education, social and community support, health and health care, and neighborhood environment. LCPHUB recruits, trains, equips and then assigns Community Health Workers (CHWs) to create a comprehensive risk assessment for each program participant. It then connects them to federal, state and local government and community services to address their unique risks. We call these connections Pathways and they lead to improved health and mortality.

Though the HUB is currently focused on pregnant women and their families in at-risk African American and Hispanic communities, the program is open to all Lorain County pregnant moms in need. Our CHWs have these key goals: ◊ Assist pregnant women throughout their pregnancy and up to their child’s first birthday. ◊ Assess families’ unique health needs and apply Pathways, as needed. ◊ Help reduce and eliminate Ohio’s infant mortality rates.

◊ Help reduce and eliminate barriers preventing mothers from receiving excellent pre-natal and post-partum care. ◊ Incorporate CDC lessons-learned from the COVID crisis to help CHWs address future pandemics and vaccine resistance.

In 2024, a new $300,000 grant from the Centers for Disease

Control will add at least 5

Learn more or make a

positions to the

referral by scanning

LCPHUB.

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On Track for Better Outcomes 317

Community Health Workers currently working with LCPHUB Participants

LCPHUB Director Nina Brooks and Pathways Program Coordinator Gary Mitchell have been speaking around the county and state about the new LCCAA Pathways HUB. They celebrated Community Health Worker Day in the spring and shared information with parents and partners across the community.

Pathways HUBs working cooperatively throughout Ohio

◊ Finding secure, affordable housing. ◊ Assisting with immunizations. ◊ Assisting with medications.

◊ Helping with substance use issues.

LCPHUB links you with a local, trusted and caring Community Health Worker (CHW) who focuses on the health of families and children. CHWs provide outreach, health education, care coordination and advocacy. They bridge the gap between communities and the health and social services system while advocating for individual and community needs. Direct pregnancy services may include:

◊ Obtaining a car seat, crib or other baby items. ◊ Assisting with food and basic needs. ◊ Finding transportation.

◊ Helping updating skills and finding employment.

Serving Our Youth

Young people in Lorain County need hope and help.

LCCAA’s 2022 Community Needs Assessment showed that younger adults in Lorain County were having trouble breaking into the workforce. The assessment showed only 46.5% of 16 to 19 year olds were working and 77.1% of 20 to 24 year olds were working. Year round, LCCAA partners with the Lorain County Workforce Development Agency and OhioMeansJobs to offer employment for teenagers and young adults. The program develops leadership and job skills. This summer, LCCAA partnered with Men of Courage and the Lorain County Commissioners to assist young men and women with seeing their value and seeing the possibilities in their future. LCCAA’s regular program serves youth ages 16 to 24 whether they have completed high school or not. All eligibility requirements are determined and reviewed by the Lorain County Workforce Development Agency and OhioMeansJobs. The summer program served young people from 8th grade through recent high school graduates.

LCCAA received a $75,000 grant from Lorain County for the Summer Program.

And Teaching Them to Serve The 2023 summer Youth Mentoring and Development Program included college tours, tours of local businesses and guest speakers. Mentors who have partnered with Men of Courage also provided stories of inspiration. The program served a total of 27 young men and women as young as 8th grade and as old as one year out of high school. Eighteen completed the entire series. Participants received a stipend for each session they attended.

Career exploration included entrepreneurship as well as the armed forces. Aspirations among the participants range from writing and other arts to engineering to professional sports. LCCAA received a grant of $75,000 from the Lorain County Commissioners to fund the summer program. The funding came from the county’s grant under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Also beginning this summer, LCCAA’s regular youth participants gained the majority of their work experience by helping operate the LCCAA Produce Pantry in the Ronald Nabakowski Youth Center on 10th Street in downtown Lorain.

Youth in LCCAA’s regular program also help with community service projects such as painting bike lanes or seeding pollinator gardens.

2,424 Work Hours Completed by Youth Workers in 2023 15

Offering a Head Start

Directly Operated LCCAA Head Start @ Central Plaza, 1949 Broadway Ave., Lorain 44052 Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs focused on comprehensive child development. LCCAA is Lorain County’s only Head Start provider. We offer center-based, school-based and home-based options.

Head Start serves children ages 3 to 5 and prepares them for kindergarten. Early Head Start serves pregnant women and children from birth to age 3.

Current funding allows 891 slots in Head Start and 58 in our Early Head Start program. At full enrollment, we are currently able to serve approximately 20 percent of the eligible children in Lorain County.

Both programs use 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for priority placement. In addition, the programs can serve 35% of families whose income is between 101 and 130%. Ten percent of families can exceed 130% of the FPL. Families in the following situations are also automatically eligible:

◊ Receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) ◊ Receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) ◊ Receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income) ◊ Homeless, Foster Care or Kinship Care

Ohio created its five-star rating system to recognize and promote early learning and development programs that meet quality standards over and above the minimum health and safety licensing requirements.

All of LCCAA’s directly operated centers have earned the highest rating from Step Up to Quality: five stars. Higher ratings are given to programs employing teachers with more specialized training as well as enhanced parent, family and community engagement, among other criteria. 16

LCCAA Head Start @ Elyria, 631 Griswold Road, Elyria 44035 LCCAA Head Start @ Firelands 10643 Vermilion Road, Oberlin 44074 LCCAA Head Start @ Hopkins-Locke, 1050 Reid Avenue, Lorain 44052 LCCAA Head Start @ LaGrange 12079 LaGrange Road, LaGrange 44050 LCCAA Head Start @ Wellington 305 Union Street, Wellington 44090 Partners Horizon Educational Centers (4 sites) Little Lighthouse Learning Center (1 site)

Kindergarten Preparation LCCAA Head Start graduates are curious, creative and ready for kindergarten. They can confidently leave their parents and caregivers, care for their own basic needs and are ready to learn to read and write. They are also beginning to reason and solve problems as they learn to imitate their teachers in becoming enthusiastic lifelong learners. LCCAA Head Start follows exacting standards from both federal and state agencies as well as our agency’s own core values and strategic goals. Among the criteria we follow are:

Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: a comprehensively researched set of standards regarding what young children should know and be able to do.

Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards: child development standards reflecting the rapid development of young children.

Teacher Credentials: 62% of LCCAA employed teachers have a bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field.

Screenings and Assessments: all students are evaluated within 45 days of enrollment so their unique needs can be met. Quarterly assessments monitor growth and progress. Environment: classrooms are well-equipped with abundant supplies. Both classroom environments and teacher interaction with students are regularly evaluated. The federal Office of Head Start (OHS) defines school readiness as children possessing the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for success in school and for later learning in life.

As a Head Start grantee, LCCAA Head Start is required to have school readiness goals and we are responsible for measuring outcomes to ensure children’s development and learning progress throughout the school year.

Child outcome data is gathered in November, February and May. Individual growth reports are shared with families during conferences and home visits. Each age group - infants, toddlers and preschoolers - has multiple goals to reach under each of the domains in the national framework.

For more detailed information on these, please see the School Readiness Goals document on our website.

LCCAA Head Start has a strong connection to the State of Ohio’s new Early Learning and Development Standards. Site Administrator Kara Goodwin served on the content and review team for the standards which were nearly two years in the making. Released earlier this year, the document is the result of a collaborative effort between the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The standards cover the essential domains of development and school readiness from infancy through the end of preschool. They describe what children need to learn and illustrate how skills may develop in the first five years of life. Goodwin and the Wellington Head Start site are also involved in a cohort to improve kindergarten readiness even further. Goodwin has prepared a series of social stories that will be used in 2024.

Head Start Works LCCAA Head Start families find strength, hope and a voice in the program. Teachers and staff work closely with children and parents to set and meet goals as well as marking significant milestones.

Mila Sclimenti headed to kindergarten after finally talking under the tutelage of LaGrange Head Start. Her grandmother had been concerned that she would struggle socially and academically and was grateful for the help. “Mila stepped out of grandma’s car on the first day with a smile that lit up the room,” said teacher Justina Morgan. “We welcomed her into our classroom family. I could tell from that moment that she felt safe and trusted us.” Mila’s hard work paid off and she became a sponge in the classroom, Morgan said. At Hopkins-Locke Joniel Ruiz and his mother were both helped through their tears by Head Start staff.

“Mom was emotional about leaving him at school especially if he was crying,” said Site Administrator Alicia Risner. “I assured her that he was safe and we would be ok soon after she left.” Ninoshka Ruiz was grateful for the support and has returned Joniel to the same classroom for another year.

“She made him feel so comfortable,” Mrs. Ruiz said. “Every single day she made sure we were okay.” Alicia Rush especially appreciated the whole family approach used by her son’s home-based teacher.

Avion has been a student in LCCAA’s home-based program for two years receiving weekly visits from Sabrina “Miss Ellen” Osborne. But those visits were equally important for Alicia, who was mourning her mother.

“I was really distressed,” she said. “I was kind of losing my hope and faith. Miss Ellen was really a big, huge cheerleader for me.” In addition to all the progress Avion has made, Rush herself found a job she loves and a true purpose as well as a goal to become a State Tested Nursing Assistant.

“This is a true success for her,” Osborne said. “From the beginning her confidence was low, but now I see a confident young lady with goals and ambition for herself and her child.” Andrea Bailey’s sons Emmanuel and Elliott were in class together in Wellington where teachers used their bond to draw Elliott out of his shell. 18

“The teachers put in the time and effort for your children,” Bailey said. “They give your child the opportunity to find their way.”

Supporting the Whole Family Head Start is designed as a two generational approach. We support parents with information about important developmental milestones, guidance on family self-sufficiency goals and more. Family Service Assistants empower parents by connecting them with other needed services. They also provide support by building relationships and making sure each unique need is met. LCCAA Head Start addresses health and nutrition every day. Head Start serves breakfast, lunch and snacks to hundreds of kids daily while managing dozens of food allergies. Quality, balanced meals are often made from scratch and meet strict USDA standards. The central kitchen provides more than 78,000 meals annually. Efforts continue on a new state-of-the-art central kitchen. Annually, Head Start also conducts screenings of vision, hearing, lead exposure, dental health and more. All these work together to make sure children are ready to continue learning in kindergarten. During the school year, staff provide Try Day experiences to introduce new foods. Try Day is a multi-sensory event with teachers capitalizing on kids’ curiosity to create lessons.

With the help of a registered dietitian, LCCAA created a virtual series of cooking demonstrations. As part of the Out of the Box series, participants received a box of ingredients and sometimes tools to make the recipe at home. Nutrition staff also facilitate student participation in larger events such as the October Great Apple Crunch and the annual Green Eggs and Ham Day during Dr. Seuss Week.

LCCAA Head Start’s Pregnancy Support Services Program works in partnership with Lorain County Public Health to impact the startling rate of infant mortality in Lorain County. In Lorain County, 13 out of every 1,000 Black or African American infants die in their first year of life. The rate for white infants is 4.5.

Community Health Worker Melissa Carroll focuses on supporting African American mothers to improve those outcomes by supporting women during and after their pregnancies. Pregnancy Support Services are available to everyone in the county with no income qualifications for participants. Women can reach out to Carroll at any stage of their pregnancy.

Support Led to Safe Delivery

Carolyne Ledesma no longer feels alone thanks to the support she and her new daughter, Victoria, have received from multiple LCCAA programs.

“They’ve really helped me,” Carolyne said. “I was lonely, depressed. I didn’t know where to go with my pregnancy.”

As a pregnant woman with limited English, Carolyne faced job loss, eviction, utility bills she couldn’t pay and, later, threats to the health of her child. Seeking stability for her baby, she searched the Internet and found Pregnancy Support Services last October.

“Our first visit was an emotional visit,” said Melissa Carroll, the Community Health Worker who operates the Pregnancy Support Services program.

Born in Dominican Republic, Carolyne moved to Puerto Rico as a teenager and trained as a registered nurse. After several years working with Hospice patients, job prospects were severely curtailed by Hurricane Maria. Carolyne had visited her aunt in Lorain and saw many more opportunities for nurses. She was attending classes at Lorain County Community College to get her Ohio nursing license when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Carroll reached out to Early Head Start and Teresa Pagan joined the support team. The two began connecting Carolyne with legal aid for eviction help, with rent and utility assistance, and more. A long process for getting an apartment through Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority began.

connected Carolyne with experts at Akron Children’s Hospital who recommended intrauterine surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She spent three weeks “sola” (alone) in Cincinnati with both Carroll and Pagan texting and calling her to support her through a successful surgery. Then came multiple trips to Akron to check Victoria’s circulation, ultrasounds to make sure the bands hadn’t regrown and a trip to eviction court, all while Carolyne was on bed rest and unable to work. “It was a long process,” Carroll said. “She had court while she was recovering so we helped her get a Spanish speaking legal aid volunteer. We also got her help with rent and utilities all at the same time.”

At 30 weeks gestation, Carolyne’s water broke. Fearing the worst, she went to the nearest hospital, Fairview, where Victoria was born two weeks later. She weighed only three pounds and two ounces.

“I feel this is where the miracle comes in because the baby didn’t need any oxygen, she was perfect,” Pagan said. Fingers on both of Victoria’s hands are malformed and the toes on one of her feet are webbed. She has already begun physical therapy to work on reflexes and has some surgeries in her future. Carolyne’s mother Griselda Nunez arrived from Dominican Republic and she continues to have the support of Carroll and Pagan.

Then in December, Carolyne had her 20-week ultrasound which found the baby had amniotic band “From the beginning, it was very hard emotionally, syndrome. psychologically,” Carolyne said. “I remember Melissa Amniotic band syndrome (ABS) occurs when told me you are not alone and I couldn’t believe these the lining of the amniotic sac is damaged during people. Now I’m so grateful.” pregnancy, creating fibrous, string-like strands of tissue that entangle the fetus or parts of the fetus and or umbilical cord. Called amniotic bands, these strands may wrap around different parts of the developing body, restricting blood flow and disrupting the baby’s normal growth.

Pregnancy Support Services provides help through the baby’s first year and Early Head Start through age three, so the support she feels will continue. In addition to managing Victoria’s health, Carolyne will be working on her English skills and getting her Ohio nursing license.

Victoria had bands wrapped around both her “And then I’ll go visit her and she can take care of me,” hands and one of her feet as well as a band danger- Pagan said. “We are making memories together. This is ously close to the umbilical cord. Pagan and Carroll the beginning of her successful life.” 20

Hard Working Staff LCCAA’s core values of compassion, wisdom and momentum apply to staff as well as clients. We encourage and value all employees and celebrate their achievements and milestones. LCCAA emphasizes professional development by supporting staff members as they seek credentials and degrees, including offering tuition reimbursement.

LCCAA also knows existing employees are our best source for future employees. We offer a generous referral bonus when employees help us fill vacancies. We also offer a variety of wellness activities and, where possible, flexible working hours.

Credentials Earned

“Miss Jen” Potapenko earned her associate’s degree last spring while working to help others in new ways.

In her second year as a classroom floater at Hopkins Locke, Miss Jen overcame a number of obstacles to achieve her career and degree from Liberty University.

As a senior at Vermillion High School, she lost both her parents, putting on hold her original dream of attending college. A few years later, she began teaching Sunday school at her church and found she loved working with children. Last year, one of her two sons was a student at Hopkins Locke. “If you had asked me 10 years ago if I wanted to be a teacher, I would have said no way,” she said. “I love the kids here. It doesn’t feel like a job.”

After 10 years with LCCAA Head Start, LaToya Alexander knows better than most the importance of continually “building my skills and keeping my brain working.” In other words, she’s a lifelong learner. Alexander completed a certification in business management at Lorain County Community College. This builds on her 2009 associate’s degree earned at the University of Phoenix and puts her one step closer to her bachelor’s degree, she said. “I love business and learning more skills that give me more depth,” she said. “There are a lot of things I learned that are going to help me and help the agency as well.” Alexander’s position provides support for the Head Start Director including administrative coordination for parent engagement and recruitment activities. Steve Ortiz grew up with great role models and to gain a deeper understanding of how to support realized he would like to repay that gift by working to children’s learning. become one himself. “The journey in this program helped me develop and He reached a milestone in that journey by earning his reflect a deep understanding of adult learning and how bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from to apply what I have learned to my teaching career,” he the University of Toledo. He joined the LCCAA Head said. Start staff in 2017 and has worked at Central Plaza, “I now have the proper certification to guide and Hopkins-Locke and in collaborative classrooms in handle children so that they may have a bright future Lorain City Schools. by implementing all of the ideas I have learned 22

Ortiz completed the university’s Fast Track program

throughout this program.”

Dedication to Service Henry Retires After Long Career

Three decades after being encouraged to volunteer in the classroom, Sharon Henry has retired from LCCAA Head Start. When she started volunteering, Dorothy Flanders encouraged her to apply for a job. “I came to work at Head Start because of a person who loved Head Start like I do,” Henry said. “Many of the folks are family. We have gone through the highs and lows together.”

Henry started out as a family advocate more than 30 years ago. Her assignments took her all over the county and she also worked with the home-based and collaborative programs.

“What I really love about Head Start is that it’s given ME more than I’ve given it,” she said. “It’s given me the chance to learn and grow, meet fantastic people and be part of a great team.”

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with Sharon for nearly 30 years,” said Asst. Director Stefanie Drew, who was hired by Henry. “She has shown her dedication, leadership and a willingness to be an integral team member.”

Drew added that Henry has been the program’s historian, strong recruiter, celebrator of parents and a true advocate of the agency.

Family Service Assistant Bernadette Dickey was promoted to Family Service Supervisor and Asst. Site Administrator at Hopkins Locke after Henry’s retirement.

Employees Honored for Service Annually, LCCAA recognizes employees for their years of service at the beginning of the school year. This year, Facilities/Safety Manager Abraham Beltran was recognized for 35 years with the agency. He started as a volunteer bus attendant when his son was a Head Start student. Griswold Family Service Assistant Kathryn Ramsey was recognized for 30 years. Employees recognized for 25 years of service were: Griswold Family Service Assistant Dana Daniels, Teacher Twania Henderson, Family Engagement Specialist Maria Vasquez and Family Service Assistant Jackie Watkins. Kimberly Allgood and Sabrina Osborne were recognized for 15 years of service. Both are Preschool Home Visitors. Ten-year awards were given to: Head Start Administrative Assistant LaToya Alexander, Family Service Assistant Nilsa Baez, Facilities/Safety Supervisor Milton Card, Assistant Director of Planning and Community Services Tosha Craighead, and Assistant Teacher Melanie Hupp.

Assistant Teacher Kiara Olmo Velez published My First Day of School in both English and Spanish on Amazon.com.

The book walks readers through a preschooler’s day to ease the concerns of students and parents. Learn more about the book and how to purchase it by scanning the QR code.

Five-year awards were given to Administrative Coordinator Kaleena Gallaher, Food Service Manager Melinda Gray, Finance and Administration Director Justin Paige, Assistant Teacher Alicia Rosa, Controller Christopher Schneider and Teacher Ashley Spencer. 23

Revenues & Expenditures Revenues

Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Head Start USDA Early Childhood Expansion Grant Elyria Memorial Hospital Foundation Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) PIPP In-Kind Ohio Partnership for Affordable Energy (OPAE) Home Relief Grants (HRG) Pandemic Relief Pathways HUB OHFA Utility Assistance Low Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWAP) PNC Lorain National Bank Dollar Bank Lorain County ARPA WE-3 Corporate Lorain County Public Health LCCAA Fund-Raising

Unaudited 2022-2023

571,605 8,991,300 695,540 552,298 -927,469 25,763 2,538,883 72,774 1,290,171 1,025,007 176,996 342,926 567,667 70 --24,951 -11,908 71,977 10,025

Audited 2021-2022

644,131 10,136,123 555,758 534,005 (7,546) 897,225 30,500 2,314,482 141,120 7,180,059 78,551 30,696 240,217 373,162 (2,595) (1,261) (2,328) -280 8,824 8,466 4,888

Total Revenue by Funding Source

17,897,330

23,164,757

Grant Revenue Donations Other Income In-Kind Total Revenue by Income Type

15,338,662 11,225 8,560 2,538,883 17,897

20,836,563 5,152 8,560 2,314,482 23,164,757

Expenditures Community Services Block Grant Energy Services PIPP Grant Head Start (Including USDA, Head Start, Early Childhood) Home Relief Grant (HRG) Elyria Memorial Foundation PNC Foundation OHFA Utility Assistance Low Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWAP) Pathways HUB Pandemic Relief Lorain County Public Health Corporate LCCAA Fund-Raising

Total Expenditures by Source

Personnel Fringe Benefits Consultants/Contracts Travel/Transportation Space Costs Supplies/Food Equipment Lease/Purchase/Depreciation Energy/Rental/Mortgage/Utility Assistance Payments Insurance Other General Administrative Expense In-Kind Expense

Total Expenses by Category Net Assets

Unaudited 2022-2023

571,605 978,079 25,763 12,772,021 1,290,171 -70 342,926 567,667 174,116 1,025,007 79,977 62,791 3,719

Audited 2021-2022

644,131 1,058,971 30,500 13,540,368 7,180,059 (197) -240,217 373,444 30,696 78,551 8,466 49,481 2,400

17,893,911

23,237,087

5,290,206 2,005,982 1,544,800 75,554 1,492,122 546,669 190,340 2,215,528 54,556 484,875 1,454,395 2,538,883

4,775,969 1,749,590 1,391,779 41,558 1,493,671 1,096,590 437,349 7,524,484 40,248 1,033,197 1,338,170 2,314,482

17,893,911

23,237,087

3,419

(72,330)

Statement of Financial Position Unaudited 2023

Audited 2022

ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents

297,438

1,415,173

Grants Receivable

1,285,406

1,379,237

Accounts Receivable (net of allowance for uncollectable account)

1,605

Prepaid Expenses

598

181,650

Other Current Assets

33,107

4,448

1,618,154

2,980,508

Land

26,881

26,880

Building and Improvements

665,276

692,157

692,156

Less Accumulated Depreciation

(652,010)

(621,992)

Total Property and Equipment

40,146

70,164

1,658,300

3,050,672

364,901

828,005

Payroll and Related Expenses and Withholdings

52,991

313,005

Vacation

63,997

62,715

621,559

1,256,456

10,614

11,804

29,302

70,101

80,709

474,137

468,676

Temporarily Restricted

Permanently Restricted

474,137

468,676

1,658,300

3,050,672

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Long Term Assets Endowment

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts Payable Accrued Expenses

Refundable Advances Current Portion of Long-Term Debt Other Current Liabilities

LONG TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT PORTION NET ASSETS Unrestricted

Community Support LCCAA’s 2023 Wine Tasting benefited our new Produce Center (see page 6). We welcomed friends to celebrate the achievements of the agency in the past year. LCCAA also participated in the Lorain County Community Foundation’s Connect to a Cause event again this year to raise unrestricted dollars.

Many thanks to our event sponsors, listed at right. Wine was provided by Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar in Amherst and poured by volunteers Cara Muchmore and Rachel Drum.

Help LCCAA Secure the Future of Our Mission To ensure its long-term future, Lorain County Community Action Agency has established an endowment fund with our friends at the Community Foundation of Lorain County. Regular contributions to the endowment are invested and grow to allow us to serve and empower the residents of Lorain County for decades to come. One of the agency’s Strategic Priorities for 2023-2026 is to grow the endowment by securing and maintaining recurring monthly donors. Scan the QR code to join our mission by becoming one of those recurring donors, or by making a one-time tax deductible gift. We appreciate your support! 26

Coming in 2024: South Side Center

Future Focused

West Avenue, Elyria LCCAA and partners will construct a new food security center in south Elyria in 2024.

The South Side Center will be built on privately-owned vacant lots on West Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets, near the South Elyria Public Library branch and the exisiting community garden partnership on library property. LCCAA’s 2021 Community Needs Assessment clearly shows a need for the center. The pandemic exposed challenges of food and nutrition insecurity. Locally, food pantry usage is 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Inflation has also driven food prices much higher. The center will house a produce market and intake offices for LCCAA programs including utility assistance.

The 3,900-square-foot building will face West Avenue and feature a covered front entrance with sidewalk access, a rear entrance with a portico, a windowed cupola, exterior stone skirting, and a glass-paneled service door for an open-air market as weather permits. The center is being built to be adaptable and responsive to the neighborhood. Jon Veard of United Properties owns the project land and design work is being done by James Yorks Architect and Associates. Ground breaking will be scheduled pending building permit approval from the City of Elyria. Construction will take approximately one year. The estimated cost is $600,000. LCCAA will occupy the center under a 10-year lease.

Income Screening Tool Launching People in need of assistance make many applications to many different programs. They often are forced to share personal information repeatedly.

Even internally at LCCAA, cross-program referrals are difficult because not all funders consider income in the same way. Determining eligibility is a challenge because federal programs include and exclude income sources differently and use different poverty thresholds (federal poverty level, average median income, etc.). The income screening tool will allow potential clients to enter information about their sources of income only once. LCCAA staff will then be able to determine eligibility for its various programs and serve the client. One of the agency’s new Strategic Priorities is to serve at least 80% of applicants in more than one LCCAA program.

Watch for this new tool to launch early in 2024. 27

Lorain County Community Action Agency 936 Broadway Ave., Lorain, Ohio 44052 www.lccaa.net 888-245-2019