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2019 Annual ReportThe Road to Self-Sufficiency:

Supporting Individuals & Families

As They Forge Ahead

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AGENCY PROFILERacine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc. (RKCAA) has successfully operated anti-poverty programming in Racine County since 1967 and in Kenosha County since 1978. The RKCAA mission is “improving lives by providing quality programs and innovative solutions for individuals and families”. RKCAA’s vision is “changing the communities we serve.” The RKCAA Board of Directors is comprised of a three-part structure that includes representation from civic, low-income and government sectors of Racine and Kenosha counties.

Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc.’s ability to assist families as they strive to become self-sufficient would not be possible without the support of partners, volunteers, community residents and dedicated staff.For this, I am grateful.

In addition to the agency’s strategic plan, its mission and vision serve as a compass that ensures the work remains focused on critical needs in both communities. For more than five decades, services provided by RKCAA has equipped individuals and families with information, options and resources to utilize as they forge ahead and develop a plan of action. While some progress has been made, still, the number of Wisconsin children living in poverty has increased, and poverty has increased across every level of educational attainment and among employed and unemployed adults. With the help of vital partners in both Racine and Kenosha counties, including businesses, churches, governmental entities, schools, service providers and vendors, RKCAA assisted more than 23,000 individuals and families in 2019. RKCAA remains dedicated to supporting individuals and families struggling to meet their basic needs, by providing services in the areas of Housing, Food & Nutrition, Health and Asset Attainment. Essie Allen, Chief Executive Officer

LEADERSHIP MESSAGEAs Chairman of the Board of Directors of Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc., I’m fortunate and honored to lead a team of benevolent overseers, whose job is to develop and approve policies and procedures that guide the work of RKCAA. The Board and I are hopeful about our quest to initiate and effectuate positive change in the communities we serve.

The Board uses the Agency’s mission statement as a blueprint in carrying out and setting policies and procedures that comply with the agency’s number one golden rule, “Improving Lives by Providing Quality Programs and Innovative Solutions for Individuals and Families”. We are proud of our social service agency, the people we serve and the essential work that we accomplish on an annual basis. Some of the programs provided to the community are Weatherization Assistance Program, Emergency Food Assistance Program, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), ”WIC” Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Fit Families, Breastfeeding Program, Skills Enhancement, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Dedicated Dad / Fatherhood Initiative, Kenosha Senior Veggie Voucher Program, Blood Lead Testing Project and Nutrition Assessment Services.

The Board and I would like to thank both communities for the support they provide. Lee H. Broadway, Sr., Board Chairperson

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HEALTH RKCAA implements direct service programs and convenes stakeholder groups that are focused on impacting the health of residents in Racine and Kenosha counties. Fit Families

Fit Families Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) is a thirteen-month nutrition education program targeting families of two-to-four-year-old children enrolled in WIC. Fit Families’ coaches assist families in adopting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors through in-person and phone/text coaching. Fit Families strives to prevent childhood obesity. One hundred ninety-eight (198) children participated in Kenosha Fit Families in 2019. Fit Families core messages and 2019 results are highlighted below. •Make Every Bite Count, More Fruits and Vegetables: Forty-six (46%) percent of children were consuming four or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily after one year, compared to forty (40%) percent at enrollment.•Move More, Watch Less: Sevety-seven (77%) percent of children were engaging in less than two (< 2) hours of screen time per day, compared to sixty-two (62%) percent at enrollment. Ninety-four (94%) percent of children were engaging in more than sixty (> 60) minutes of physical activity each day.•Make Every Sip Count, More Healthy Beverages: The percentage of children consuming less than six (<6) ounces of juice each day remained at sixty (60%) percent.•Eat Healthy, Be Active Your Kids are Watching: Strategies that promoted parents as role models for their children were shared with participants. These discussions took place during each session. The Fit Families project, utilized Policy, System and Environmental (PSE) approaches to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles. RKCAA’s Kenosha office had monthly wellness challenges and implemented wellness policies that incorporated each of the core messages. The Kenosha office also hosted its annual Healthy Halloween Party in October, which provided a fun venue for the community to celebrate the success of WIC families who are choosing healthy and active lifestyles. One hundred forty-two (142) clients attended the event. Lead Testing

RKCAA’s Kenosha office offers blood lead testing for children participating in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, with a focus on one and two year-old children. In 2019, sevent hundred seventy-four (774) children were tested for blood lead poisoning; thirteen (13) had lead levels between five (5) and less than ten* (<10 µg/dL) and five (5) children had blood lead levels exceeding 10 µg/dL. Children with high blood lead levels, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were referred to the Kenosha County Division of Health and their physician for further assessment and follow-up. The dissemination of information and counseling on preventing blood lead poisoning and ways to decrease elevated lead levels occur at the child’s WIC appointment.

Wellness Center

The Kenosha County Division of Health Wellness Center, located at RKCAA’s Kenosha office provided Nurse-of-the-Day services, including health education, immunizations, dental varnishes, blood pressure monitoring, and pregnancy testing. Services were available on a walk-in basis for Kenosha families. Through our partnership with Kenosha County Division of Health, WIC families have improved access to nursing and preventative health services.* micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood

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ASSET ATTAINMENTThe Skills Enhancement Program continues to assist participants moving toward self-sufficiency by providing financial assistance, including tuition, books, transportation, childcare, and other unmet financial needs not covered by student financial aid. The program is a part of a Community Action Agency Consortium, which currently receives funding from the State of Wisconsin. However, the Skills Enhancement Program continues to seek other streams of revenue to expand its enrollment.

Program participants must work a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week and be income-eligible. By providing this assistance, individuals receive additional education, training, and increased employment opportunities and wages, resulting in a more stable life style.

Of the participants who successfully exited the program in 2019, 66% are employed in the field in which they were trained and 75% have access to employer-sponsored healthcare benefits. The average hourly wage increased by $7.00/hour.

HOUSINGRKCAA’s Weatherization Assistance Program served nine hundred fifty-eight (958) individuals residing in four hundred forty-six (446) dwellings in 2019. Senior citizens and individuals with a disability represented 32.5% of those receiving weatherization services. The Weatherization Assistance Program provided emergency heating services to three hundred eight (308) families enrolled in the Home Energy Plus Furnace Program. Overall, over 90% of all clients were completely satisfied with their experience, based on feedback from the customer satisfaction survey.The Weatherization Assistance Program held its annual Weatherization Day on Wednesday, October 30, 2019. The day served as an opportunity for guests to learn how to save money by conserving energy, but more importantly, how to make their homes more energy efficient.Those sharing information at the event included the City of Racine Housing Program, Kenosha/Racine Lead-Free Communities Partnership, Energy Services, Inc. (ESI), and UMOS (United Migrant Opportunity Services) of Kenosha County.Energy auditors demonstrated how home assessments are performed and the steps utilized in determining what measures can be applied to homes. More than fifty (50) guests attended the event.

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FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITYFood is a basic need and access to healthy food is central to RKCAA’s wellness strategy. Attention is given to improving the nutrition of those receiving food through the Agency’s programs. RKCAA administers four programs that support individuals who are food insecure.

Cupboard Bound Program

With a caseload of 1,150, the Cupboard Bound Program provides an average of 1,050 nutritious food boxes per month to participants in Racine & Kenosha counties. The supplemental food boxes assist in meeting the dietary needs of the elderly. In 2019, 12,598 boxes were distributed. Participants who received food directly from RKCAA also received fresh produce with their monthly distribution thanks to Festival Foods, Heartland Produce and Potato King.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

RKCAA is the lead Emergency Feeding Organization (EFO) for the TEFAP Program, in Racine and Kenosha counties, administering the distribution of nutritional state commodities to TEFAP-affiliated shelters, food pantries and meal sites. In 2019, TEFAP host sites distributed approximately 3.4 million pounds of food to 42,915 families, providing nutritious food to 106,547 individuals. TEFAP also assisted in providing 291,750 meals to individuals and families through shelters and meal sites.

Holiday Food Basket Program

In December 2019, RKCAA collaborated with the Racine County Food Bank to provide 2,000 holiday food boxes to individuals, families, senior citizens, the disabled and other eligible participants in Racine County. Along with ingredients for a holiday meal, fresh fruits and vegetables were distributed.

Kenosha Senior Veggie Voucher Program

The Kenosha Senior Veggie Voucher Program (SVVP) is a local initiative aimed at increasing access and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income senior citizens residing in Kenosha County. In 2019, four hundred ninety-eight (498) seniors received $25 in vouchers to purchase locally grown fresh produce at local farmer markets and approved farm stands. The redemption rate was eighty (80%) percent.

Since inception, the Kenosha Senior Veggie Voucher Program has steadily grown. Voucher distribution sites increased from one (1) location in 2013 to fourteen (14) locations throughout Kenosha County. RKCAA collaborates with low-income apartment complexes, senior centers, and community organizations to assist with outreach and ensure a seamless process. Twenty-one (21) farmers and seven (7) farmer market locations are now available for clients to redeem vouchers. Many seniors enroll when local farmers are on-site, enabling them to purchase produce and participate in other services concurrently. Nutrition staff assists by cutting and packaging fruits and vegetables for those who request assistance. Delivery of fresh produce is available to homebound seniors and seniors with transportation limitations. RKCAA staff select produce chosen by the senior via phone and arrange a delivery time. The Kenosha Senior Veggie Voucher Program is supported by local foundations, SHARES funding, RKCAA discretionary funding and the Community Services Block Grant.

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Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, popularly known as WIC, is a nutrition program for new and expectant mothers and families with children younger than five (5). WIC provides nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support, healthy foods through an eWIC card which is used at grocery stores, and referrals to community resources. While participants can shop at any WIC authorized store in Wisconsin, there are currently thirty-seven (37) WIC-authorized stores in Kenosha County.

In 2019, Kenosha WIC provided services to five thousand one hundred seventy-eight (5,178) unduplicated participants at RKCAA’s Kenosha office, a satellite office at the Kenosha County Center Building in Bristol, and via WIC on the Go mobile services. In 2019, one hundred ninety-nine (199) individuals and one hundred three (103) families received front door mobile WIC services. Evening and Saturday appointments were also available to WIC families who were not available during regular business hours.

In 2019, eight hundred ninety-two (892) Kenosha families participated in the WIC Farmer Market Nutrition Program. Each family received checks totaling $35 to purchase locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmer markets and approved farm stands. The season runs June 1 through October 31. RKCAA’s teaching kitchen provided an opportunity for families to engage in hands-on cooking activities, like trying new recipes using seasonal produce. Families also received cookbooks and tips for picking, preparing and storing fresh produce.

Breastfeeding

WIC’s breastfeeding support activities are strongest when lactation-support professionals, peer counselors, and nutrition staff work together to provide a seamless continuum of care for WIC moms. This is evidenced by RKCAA’s strong breastfeeding education and support services available to WIC families. The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor is available to assist women through one to one (1:1) support, text messaging, home visits, phone calls and group education. Advanced level breastfeeding support is available through RKCAA’s Breastfeeding Coordinator, who is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). In 2019, 73.8% of Kenosha WIC enrolled mothers initiated breastfeeding and 44.5% were exclusively breastfeeding at one month.

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Dedicated Dads

RKCAA’s Dedicated Dads Program uses a two-pronged approach for father engagement. By increasing Father Involvement at WIC visits and events and, Father Specific Education & Support. Father-specific programming included Power Hour sessions, which utilized the Nurturing Fathers curriculum. These evidenced-based classes were designed to teach parenting and nurturing skills to fathers. Each two-hour class provided proven, effective skills for healthy family relationships and child development.

Since its inception in July 2015, two hundred twenty-two (222) low-income fathers have graduated from Dedicated Dads. One to one (1:1) case management is available for more in-depth support and referrals. Dads were linked to employment opportunities, job training, mental health services, legal aid and community resources for housing, food, and clothing.

Father-specific programming is funded through a contract with the Kenosha County Child Support Agency, United Way of Kenosha County, RKCAA discretionary funds and the Community Services Block Grant.

Testimonial

“There is a lot of us fathers that feel voiceless, feel like we just doing it, we just don’t know what we’re doing, but Thank you Sharmain, Thank you to the WIC office, you gave us the

ability to not only find our voice but to use our voice.”

- Kyle Smith, Dedicated Dads participant

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Healthy Birth Outcomes

Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc. and the Greater Racine Collaborative for Healthy Birth Outcomes (GRC4HBO) closed out its five-year Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) project grant in March 2019. RKCAA continued to provide critical services related to breastfeeding and adolescent health, areas identified as having gaps in available community resources. With support from community partners, the first ever Breastfeeding Summit was held in Racine in February 2019. The event provided an opportunity to hear from experts regarding breastfeeding and to engage professionals such as health/lactation specialists and breastfeeding supporters/advocates. Fifty-two (52) professionals attended. The agency launched a Breastfeeding Friendly Racine billboard campaign, bringing attention to the importance of breastfeeding.

Baby Expo 2019 was held at Gateway Technical College, Racine campus. The event is a one-stop shop for resources and education for pregnant and parenting families. Two hundred eighty-one (281) individuals attended. Thirty-five (35) volunteers and twenty-seven (27) vendors provided information to participants. Workshops providing information on breastfeeding, fatherhood, financial planning, maternal health and cancer screening education were available. Attendees were able to access available resources immediately, as well as secure referrals to other organizations providing a variety of needed services. Through the hard work of the Breastfeeding Advocate, a significant increase in breastfeeding initiation for black infants was observed. In partnership with UW-Extension, Racine County Child Support, Family Court Services, and the Collaborative, RKCAA co-hosted the annual Child Support and Family Court FAQ event for professionals. Fifty-two (52) individuals attended.

The Adolescent Health Project worked to improve the health of youth in the Racine community, while enhancing teen leadership skills. As part of this effort, two events were hosted at the Dr. John Bryant Community Center. Twenty-seven (27) teens attended. Eight (8) teens completed the Today’s Teens-Tomorrow’s Leaders curriculum, which encompassed eight (8) sessions.

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Testimonial

“Even though this program helped me with school, the Coordinator also helped to locate housing. Without proper

housing I would not have been able to concentrate on school.”

-Persida Merlos

DONORS AND FUNDERS

AnthemAnthem BCBSAnthem Blue CrossAurora HealthCareChildren’s Community Health PlanChildren’s Hospital of WisconsinCNH Industrial FoundationDJK Foods LLCEducators Credit UnionFestival FoodsForest County Potawatomi FoundationForward HealthHeartland Produce CompanyIndividual Donors JFG Internal Audit Charity FundKenosha Achievement Center Kenosha CountyKiwanis Club of West RacineKiwanis Foundation of Racine, Inc.Managed Health Services Insurance Corp.Medical College of WI

Molina Healthcare of WI Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.Potato King Racine Community FoundationRoma LodgeRotary Foundation of Kenosha West, Inc. Sisters of St. DominicState of WisconsinThe Benevity Community Impact FundTrilogy Health InsuranceUAW Local 180United Healthcare Svs. Inc.United Mechanical IncUnited Way of Kenosha CountyUS Administration for Children & FamiliesUS Department of AgricultureUS Department of EnergyUS Department of Health ServicesUW - MadisonWISCAP

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FINANCIAL INFORMATIONRacine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc. receives federal, state, local, and private funding. RKCAA’s Finance Department records all funds in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and funding source requirements. An independent Certified Public Accounting firm performs annual audits, and funding sources perform required regular fiscal and program monitoring. During 2019, the agency managed twenty-five (25) programs totaling $8.38 million in Racine and Kenosha counties.

CSBG, 6.10%Skills, 0.32%

TEFAP & Related Programs, 18.20%

HBO & Related Programs, 1.97%

WIC & Related Programs, 9.58%

Fatherhood Initiative, 0.62%

WX & Related Programs, 61.68%

Other, 1.52%

2019 PROGRAMS

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RKCAA Board of Directors - 2019Teri Jacobson - Chairperson

Marcia Banike – Vice-ChairpersonLee H. Broadway, Sr. – Treasurer

Carmen Ayers – Secretary

Joseph Cardinali

Karl Erickson

William Erickson

Tammi T. Fleming

Gary Flynn

Matthew Hardy

Melissa Kaprelian-Becker

Angel Kwaterski

Melissa Lemke Julie Lord

Jan Michalski

Travis Richardson

Sue Spicer

Robert Strausser

Vermetrias Warner

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Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc.2113 North Wisconsin Street

Racine, WI 53402www.rkcaa.org262-637-8377