Annual Report

J C E OJ C E OJoint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties, Inc.

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MESSAGE FROM THE CEOAs I sit to write this message, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that in just over seven weeks I will complete forty years working in Community Action. When I first started as a Youth Employment and Training Counselor for the Committee for Economic Improvement in Essex County, I never thought that I had found my life’s work. The job was supposed to be a fill in until I could land that High School teaching job that I had spent four years in college preparing for. However, within just a few months, I knew that Community Action was something that I wanted to do for at least a little while. After all of this time, it seems like it has been only a little while. So why, after all these years, am I still in Community Action?

I could give you lots of reasons but there are really only two that matter. First, I believe in what we do. Community Action agencies were created as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. In the preamble of the Act, it says:

“ The United States can achieve its full economic and social potential as a nation only if every individual has the opportunity to contribute to the full extent of his capabilities and to participate in the workings of our society. It is, therefore, the policy of the United States to eliminate the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in this Nation by opening to everyone the opportunity for education and training, the opportunity to work, and the opportunity to live work in decency and dignity.”

I believe in those words and they are the guide for how we at JCEO conduct ourselves and our programs. I cannot think of a more worthy goal then to help people live in decency and dignity.

The second reason is simple. I get to go to work every day with the most dedicated, diligent, kind, caring people you will ever meet. Every day that the staff at JCEO comes to work, they are working to make someone else’s life better. Their work is demanding and often emotionally stressful but they come to work every day and they are always ready to help someone. I cannot think of a finer group of people to work with. Someday, when I retire, the daily interaction with the staff, the people that I respect and admire, that is what I will miss the most.

Sincerely, Bruce Garcia

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OUR MISSIONJCEO is dedicated to providing resources and services that enhance people’s dignity and self-reliance.

2017 FAST FACTSWe made 409 emergency fuel or utility payments so individuals could stay in their homes.

We made 7,283 information and referral calls.

Volunteers gave 30,238 hours of their time to support JCEO.

Volunteers provided 41,724 rides to medical appointments.

We distributed 942,001 pounds of food.

JCEO assisted 13,053 unduplicated individuals in 2017!

BOARD OF DIRECTORSKeith Wells, President

Maria Alexander, Vice President

Barbara Zelinski, Secretary

Martha Bachman, Assistant Secretary

Karl Schenck, Treasurer

James King, Assistant Treasurer

Steve Novacich, Officer-At-Large

Jill Abdallah

Mark Bennett

Deborah Coryer

Dave Gervais, Esq.

Thomas Gosrich

Mark Hamilton

Rich Holcomb

Greg Janisewski

Mark Kaiser, CPA

Mark Lukens

Maxine Perry

Rebecca Preve

Darlene Trombley

Patrick Sherwin

Rev. Rick Wilburn

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“Head Start helped

bring my daughter out of her shell. Her imagination and

creativity have been kicked into high gear, and she’s developed into a

compassionate and socially active young person with their help. Head Start has also

helped to encourage us to engage in our community more, and given us opportuni-

ties we didn’t realize existed.”

– Charles Raymond, Head Start Parent and

Policy Council President

2017: WE MADE A DIFFERENCEWe Gave Children a Head Start The Head Start/Early Head Start program provided comprehensive early childhood education to 317 children in the 2016-2017 school year. Head Start is a unique program that works with income eligible children and their families on school readiness goals and successful transitions to UPK or Kindergarten. There are transition activities throughout the year that help children learn skills to help them succeed in their new school environment. Parents are introduced to school administrators and teachers, join their children during visits to the school, and receive information about parenting, life skills, and any materials or trainings needed as requested by them.

JCEO’s Head Start program uses the Creative Curriculum, a research-based curriculum that promotes hands-on exploration and discovery as a way of learning. TSGold observation assessments are used to measure the progress of all children in eight domains: Approaches to Learning, Mathematics, Creative Arts, Physical Health and Development, Language Development, Science, Literacy, and Social Emotional Development. Portfolios maintained on each child include examples of their work, notes about their development, and indicators or progress toward the completion of individual objectives.

Head Start recognizes that parents are their child’s first teacher. Therefore, there are many activities arranged throughout the year to emphasize the importance of the family being involved in their children’s education. All parents are encouraged to participate in Policy Council/Committees, Parent Trainings and Workshops,

Parent Curriculum Activities, Parent/Teacher Conferences, MICE/Male Involvement, and Individualizing Education Plans.

JCEO’s Early Head Start program serves infants and toddlers from birth to three, pregnant women, and their families. The program

provides support to families in their own home, ensuring children are developing in a safe and enriching environment. At this time, JCEO is serving for 48 families in an Early Head Start home visiting program.

No Federal Program Reviews this year. All systems are in place as per Program Performance Standards. Office of Head Start Grant submitted through June 30, 2021. The most recent external audit was conducted by Martindale and Keysor & Co., Certified Public Accountants and the program was in compliance. The audit is available upon request.

HEAD START BY THE NUMBERS: 2016 – 2017

Funded enrollment ....... 317

Actual enrollment ......... 328

Number of children with Health Insurance .......... 326

Number of children diagnosed with a disability .................88

Number of children completing a well-child physical examination .... 328

Of the children examined, the number needing treatment ....................... 71

Number of children who received treatment ......... 71

Number of children completed dental examination ................. 301

Of that number, number needing treatment .......... 49

Number of children receiving treatment ....................... 31

Number of families who set goals to better their families ......................... 308

Number of community services accessed .......... 212

“They are friendly and eager to make things

as easy for you as possible… This is an invaluable service and surely one every senior citizen

should take advantage of.”

- Press Republican Editorial

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We Supported Day Cares Providers In 2017, JCEO’s Day Care program assisted 12 individuals to become Registered and Licensed Day Care Providers through the local Department of Social Services and New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Registered day cares provide care to 1,000 children in Clinton County, but child care is still in high demand. In 2017, the program also provided 45 families with information on the types of child care and the availability of care in their area. The Day Care program provided 88 hours of training to providers on topics such as child abuse, nutrition, and safety regulations.

JCEO’s Day Care program also assists child care providers to enroll in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Presently, 53 providers are enrolled, serving 505 children. Through this program, providers are reimbursed for serving nutritious meals in their day care. Providers in Clinton County served 5,755 breakfast meals, 6779 snacks, 5328 lunches, and 93 dinners in 2017!

We Helped Seniors Maintain Their IndependenceIn 2017, JCEO’s Senior Outreach program served 1,272 seniors in programs designed to meet the diverse needs of the aging population. Senior Outreach workers provide information about programs, benefits, and services that may be available to seniors in our community. They can assist seniors to fill out paperwork and sign up for the services they need and are eligible to receive. In 2017, the program added three staff funded by an expansion grant!

In addition, the Senior Outreach program matches seniors with volunteers who call or visit a senior’s home. These services are especially important for homebound seniors or seniors whom live alone. The program also recruits volunteers to help with seniors with shopping and home repairs, as well as transportation to medical appointments. In 2017, volunteer drivers provided 1,272 rides to medical appointments!

In 2017, JCEO helped seniors navigate Medicare through the Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program. JCEO and Clinton County Office for the Aging team up to offer this service to seniors at no cost. JCEO’s Senior Outreach workers are trained to help answer questions regarding covered costs, deductibles, benefits, prescription plans, and more.

New program: In September 2017, JCEO received funding to provide a Senior Community Service Employment Program. This program assists low-income individuals 55 years and older to enter the workforce. Participants complete a 6-month paid training program that will serve as a bridge to enhance their employment opportunities in a related field.

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Did You Know? JCEO’s Medical Transportation program

provides Medicaid eligible individuals living in Clinton and Franklin

Counties with transportation to medical appointments. All transportation is done by volunteer drivers. In 2017, volunteer drivers

gave 41,724 rides to medical appointments!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver, contact JCEO at (518) 561-6310. Drivers are reimbursed mileage and can choose when they want to volunteer.

We Helped Children ThriveFostering Komfort: JCEO’s Community Action Angels and the Plattsburgh Kiwanis Breakfast Club teamed up in 2016 to start the Fostering Komfort project. The project’s goal is to provide children entering foster care with basic items to get through their first night. Backpacks are housed at Clinton County DSS and are tailored to age and gender. Some of the items in the bags are diapers, toothbrushes, blankets, coloring books, and shampoo/conditioner. Since the projects start, 30 backpacks have been distributed to children in need.

Summer Camp Scholarships: JCEO provided summer camp scholarships for children whom would not have otherwise had the chance to attend camp. With help from Stewart’s and the Plattsburgh Breakfast Kiwanis Club, JCEO was able to send 38 children to camp in Clinton County and 25 children in Franklin County!

School Supplies: In 2017, JCEO provided school supplies for over 700 children in Clinton and Franklin Counties. School supplies were collected during JCEO’s annual school supply drive. Donations came pouring in from local businesses, organizations, and individuals. WPTZ News Channel 5 led the charge with a “stuff the bus” school supply drive.

Lisa Goodrow, Community Outreach Coordinator, stands with donations from the school supply drive.

“It takes a lot of anxiety away,

knowing that I’m going to have reliable and safe

transportation to my medical appointments.”

– Robert, receives rides to medical appointments

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We Saved Energy and Reduced Heating CostsIn the 2017 contract year, the Energy Services Program weatherized 130 homes. Weatherizing, the process of sealing and/or venting a home, saves energy and cuts heating and cooling costs. The Energy Services team may repair/install windows, improve insulation, and repair or replace heating systems. Safety is always a priority for the Energy Services program – all homes are inspected to assess health and safety risks, which are then repaired or fixed.

Affordable Housing: In September of 2017, the Energy Services team completed its work on the Trails at Malone, an affordable housing community located in Malone, NY and owned by WinnCompanies. The Energy Services program improved the energy efficiency of the property with air-sealing and new insulation. The property’s overall efficiency was significantly upgraded, allowing it to be certified as a Green Communities Development by Enterprise Green Community (EGC). EGC certification means the Trails at Malone achieved specific, stringent requirements for energy efficiency, water conservation, health, and materials and resources.

The 44-year-old Trails at Malone property underwent a $19.3 million rehabilitation, completed in 2017. The Energy Services program significantly improved the energy efficiency of the property.

Photos courtesy of WinnCompanies.

Energy Services employees insulate an attic to help the homeowners conserve heat and lower their energy bill.

Assemblyman Billy Jones proclaimed

October 30th Weatherization Day to recognize the lasting im-provements the Weatherization Assistance Program has had on

low income families.

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WE ALLEVIATED HUNGERFood pantries: JCEO provided an emergency supply of food to 5,921 unduplicated individuals in Clinton and Franklin Counties in 2017. JCEO’s food pantries offer families and individuals in need with a three-day supply of food; the pantry may be accessed up to 8 times a year. JCEO’s food pantries are stocked daily with fresh produce and other perishable items such as bread and dairy, thanks to daily donations from local grocery stores including Walmart, Aldi, Tops, Target, Sam’s Club, Price Chopper, and Hannaford.

Did you know? JCEO’s food pantries are located in Outreach Centers that provide others services such as application assistance for programs such as HEAP, Weatherization, Empower, SNAP and The Christmas Bureau. Staff at the Outreach Centers coordinate rides to and from medical appointments, assist clients to find housing or resolve housing issues, and offer family development support, among others. In 2017, the program assisted 409 individuals with emergency fuel or utility payments, 243 individuals with emergency rent or mortgage assistance, and made over 7,000 information and referrals calls!

“Our clients walk out of here on a daily basis with at least a bag or two of pro-

duce that they wouldn’t normally be able to bring home.”

– Lisa Goodrow, Community Outreach

Coordinator

35 YEARSDebra Ciccone

25 YEARS Jane Donahue Sandra Smith

15 YEARS Tracy Gardner

10 YEARS Toni Andrews Wendy Costin

Chantelle Latour Danielle Thompson

5 YEARS Linda Gonia Robert King Dick LaVigne Lisa Legacy

Christal Russell Tina Silver Erica Soper

Robin VanWeort

YEARS OF SERVICE The following employees celebrated a milestone anniversary this year.

Congratulations and thank you for your continued

service to JCEO.

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Partnership: JCEO & Clinton County Health Department With the help of the Clinton County Health Department, JCEO is making our food pantries healthier than ever!

JCEO has increased its ability to accept, store and redistribute perishable food items thanks to the Clinton County Health Department. The Health Department has provided the food pantries with new shelving, over 10 new refrigerators and freezers, and has assisted JCEO to purchase a new van to transport perishable food donations. In addition, the Health Department conducted surveys to better understand food pantry client’s needs and provided training on how to give “healthy nudges” to promote healthy eating.

Holiday Meals: JCEO distributed over 700 Thanksgiving meals to families and individuals in Clinton and Franklin Counties. Eligible families and individuals were given a turkey and sides for an easy to prepare Thanksgiving meal. In December, the Senior Outreach program distributed holiday meals to seniors across Clinton County. Meals were distributed to 112 seniors!

The Backpack Program: In the 2016-2017 school year, JCEO’s Community Action Angels Backpack Program ensured 100 food insecure children had food on the weekend. The program supplies a backpack of food for each child which is distributed each Friday at the Plattsburgh Elementary Schools (Bailey, Oak and Momot). Volunteers pack the backpacks and distribute them to the school each week. In the 2016-2017 school year, the program distributed 32,829 pounds of food, including 811 pounds of fresh produce, equal to 17,796 meals!

“I very much love and appreciate

this program. It enables my household to always have

fresh milk no matter my budget. Sometimes, at the end month our cupboards are bare and

this helps feed my son.”

– Parent

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FINANCIALS2017 Financial Report: February 1st, 2016 – January 31st, 2017The following illustrates the sources of JCEO revenue and expenditures through January 31st, 2017.

An audit was conducted by Martindale Keysor & Co. The auditor’s report expresses an unmodified opinion on the financial statements of the JCEO. No instances of non-compliance material to the financial statements of the JCEO were disclosed during the audit.

$5,108,145

2,412,545

882,787

Revenue

TotalFederalAwards(directandpassed-throughNYS) OtherAwards/Donations In-Kind

Federal Awards 2016-2017Head Start/Early Head Start .................................................................. 3,306,699Child Care & Development (CCR&R) ........................................................... 76,346Community Services Block Grant .............................................................. 620,777LIHEAP Weatherization Assistance ............................................................ 294,048Child and Adult Food Care Program .......................................................... 572,667Nutritional Assistance Program (NOEP) ...................................................... 26,381Weatherization Assistance Program ......................................................... 211,101Emergency Food & Shelter Program ................................................................ 126Total Federal Awards (direct and passed-through NYS) ......................... $5,108,145Other Awards/Donations ...................................................................... 2,412,545In-Kind ..................................................................................................... 882,787 Total Source of Revenue ...................................................................... $8,403,477

See all of our financial publications at www.jceo.org/about/financial-publications/.

Revenue

$5,108,145

2,412,545

882,787

Revenue

TotalFederalAwards(directandpassed-throughNYS) OtherAwards/Donations In-Kind Total Federal Awards

$5,108,145

2,412,545

882,787

Revenue

TotalFederalAwards(directandpassed-throughNYS) OtherAwards/Donations In-Kind Other Awards/Donations

$5,108,145

2,412,545

882,787

Revenue

TotalFederalAwards(directandpassed-throughNYS) OtherAwards/Donations In-Kind In-Kind

JCEO was the proud recipient of a $100,000

grant from the Walmart Foundation in 2017. The grant

will go to the Food Services Program in Malone, which grows

and distributes donated food to over 50 food pantries in a

four-county radius.

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HOW YOU CAN HELPOne of the best things you can do for those living in poverty is speak up! Educate yourself about the causes of poverty and be a champion for legislation that helps to eradicate it. Think about how your actions may help or hurt someone living in poverty.

DONATE JCEO relies on a variety of funding sources including donations from our community. Donations may be directed toward the program or project of your choice, or go towards our general fund. Donations can be made via cash, check, or our online donation page at squareup.com/store/jceo.

JCEO’s food pantries gladly accept donations of food and personal hygiene items. Items especially needed include: diapers, soap, laundry detergent, and socks. JCEO accepts clothing and household items as well. Donations are accepted during business hours at JCEO’s main offices in Plattsburgh and Malone, or any outreach center.

VOLUNTEER JCEO has a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout our agency. Volunteers can visit seniors, read to children in Head Start centers, work in the food pantry, and more. Contact us at (518) 561-6310 to learn more about how you can donate your time to make a difference in your community.

J C E OJ C E OJoint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties, Inc.

54 Margaret Street Plattsburgh, NY 12901

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 87 PLATTSBURGH, NY

12901