Federal priorities continue to shift away from helping our nation’s neediest, a threat to our very mission. We’ve already experienced a 14% reduction in employment and training and we anticipate a large cut to energy assistance. The elimination of the U.S. Assets for Independence/IDA program has clipped our financial literacy services.

On the state level, no one seems satisfied with the proposed solutions to balance the budget. To date, our hardest hit programs will be Care 4 Kids and Summer Youth, impacting school readiness for our children and career readiness for our young adults. We anticipate a 25% cut to Care 4 Kids which helps keep working families employed while their children receive the quality care they need to be school-ready. As licensed child care centers like ours become unattainable, families will resort to “shadow” (unlicensed) facilities which have fewer support services. Down the road this will likely lower kindergarten readiness and school success levels.

Together with the federal decrease in employment and training, the state’s 50% cut to the Summer Youth Program in New Britain and Bristol is a blow to career readiness. Individuals of all ages will be less equipped to enter careers and employers will struggle to fill jobs with qualified employees.

In March more than 200 statewide community action agency network clients and staff converged on the state capitol in opposition to potential budget cuts to programs that they rely on. Encouraged by State Representative Dr. William Petit’s conviction that prevention is more cost effective than treatment, we urge all legislators to apply the same medical wisdom to their budget decisions.

Federal and state cuts are also squeezing local budgets. New Britain’s Community Development Block Grant, meant to help the most impoverished, will no longer fund our food pantry, the New Britain Food and Resource Center. Starting July 1 the city will charge us rent on property where they didn’t before and will increase our rent on other property. To prepare for leaner times, we continue to make our own operation lean while we seek alternate sources of revenue to avoid curtailing programs and laying off staff.

In spite of this gloomy forecast, we are enthusiastically exploring ways to better serve residents in all 6 of our communities. We completed the asset transfer with the former BCO in January and the transition has been mostly smooth. HRA-Bristol has upgraded technology and the facility has a facelift. We created a comfortable environment for clients and one that staff can enjoy. Client feedback is positive.

We finalized an agreement with the Town of Plymouth to deliver social services to that town’s residents. Next year we will add our youth, financial literacy and health and wellness services to the already existing energy and elderly services in greater Bristol. Three members from the Bristol area now serve on our board. We look forward to establishing new partners, becoming more visible and increasing our investment in all of our communities– in spite of the threats we face.

“We’re proud of our accomplishments this past year and excited about the new opportunities they bring – but at the same time we enter the new fiscal year with trepidation as budget cuts loom at every level of government.”

From Rocco & Cathy

Rocco R. Tricarico, JD Executive Director

Dr. Catherine R. Baratta Board President

Private Sector

Dr. Catherine R. Baratta Peggy Lampkin Lexie Mangum Kevin Nodell

Kenneth Speyer

Public Sector

Sharon Baretta Joel Moret

Laurie Mucciacciaro Francisco Santiago

Neighborhood Sector

Alton Brooks Chassidy Bermudez

Tim Camerl Lourdes Rivera Gladys Willis

Board of Directors Officers Dr. Catherine R. Baratta, President Francisco Santiago, Vice President

Gladys Willis, Secretary Kevin Nodell, Treasurer

HUMAN RESOURCES AGENCY OF NEW BRITAIN, INC. (HRA) TOP RESULTS 2016-2017

4,055 people went to work - with assistance from HRA’s Employment & Training services.

8,137 people are better prepared for work – with education (GED, ABE), job training and work

experience help from our Employment and Training services.

165 families have affordable child care so they can get or keep a job – and do so with ease, knowing their children are safe while they are at work - in HRA’s NAEYC accredited Toddler and Preschool Child Care Program.

Over 5,800 people learned to save, invest and decrease their debt with HRA’s Foundations in Financial Independence services including 5,629 tax filers who received over $8.9 million in federal tax refunds.

683 pre-school aged children are better prepared to start kindergarten after participating in HRA’s Head Start Program of Excellence.

Over 7,500 people stayed warmer this winter with a combination of funds made available

through HRA’s Energy and Housing services.

Over 2,200 seniors, adults, and children are healthier because they received medical, dental, nutritional and/or case management support services from HRA’s Health and Wellness and Early Childhood services.

Over 12,000 people each month did not go hungry because of food or meals from Emergency Assistance, Early Childhood and Health and Wellness services.

12,060 people gained access and referrals to multiple services that will support them in various ways as they strive to become self-sufficient.

HRA, in partnership with its funders and community colleagues helped over 26,000 residents in the greater New Britain area move closer to self-sufficiency.

HRA PROGRAM FAST-TRACKS COUPLE TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Unlike most, Jormarie & Danny started with an excellent credit rating. They saved the maximum and completed all requirements for matched savings in 6 months. While resolving unavoidable delays, they continued saving until their final purchase 6 months later. Jormarie was employed in a temporary position at a manufacturing company, where she inspected automobile transmission parts. Danny was a supervisor at a window surface manufacturing company.

The family left Puerto Rico for New Britain in 2009 after hitting what they term “financial rock bottom”. Jormarie’s mother was laid off from her nursing job while her father was temporarily unemployed from a construction injury. The couple was married, attending college and living with her parents and 2 brothers when she became pregnant. All of them moved in with Jormarie’s uncle, but after 5 years and their second child, their one room was too cramped.

The uncle helped Danny get a job at his employer as a temporary sweeper. The job lasted for 2 years until he was laid off. Within 3 days he landed another temporary job at his current employer. Within 6 months became a regular employee and a little over 2 years later was promoted to supervisor. Jormarie has also held temporary jobs, leaving only when pregnant with her 2nd child and when her mother was too sick to provide child care.

It takes most of the participants in the Individual Development Account program at HRA, 3 years to achieve their goal of saving money and buying their first home. Rivera and Ramirez did it in one year. “Not everyone we serve can become self-sufficient so quickly – we’re especially proud of Jormarie and Danny” says Rocco Tricarico, Human Resources Agency (HRA) Executive Director.

HRA’s IDA Program (Individual Development Accounts) is part of a rigorous national demonstration project to help low-income individuals and families purchase an asset with matched savings accounts. Participants in HRA’s program save toward first-time home ownership or post-secondary education. They start by completing U.S. Department of Labor’s Money Smarts workshop, opening a savings account and sticking to their budget. New homeowners then complete a class on home buying. HRA’s Asset Management Coordinator, David McGhee, is there every step of the way to coach participants. “Many come to this program determined to save but first they have to repair their credit.”

Like her mother, Jormarie Rivera wants to go into nursing, her mother’s profession, but first she and her husband, Danny Ramirez, want to create a new life and buy a house – which they’ve accomplished 8 years after moving to Connecticut from Puerto Rico.

Looking back, Jormarie says “HRA opened a lot of doors for us - free income tax preparation (VITA), energy assistance, my first job (Youth Employment) and Head Start. The IDA program helped us buy our own home. It was very hard at the beginning but we are very happy we came here now. We have more than we would have had in Puerto Rico – our house, our 2 cars, our 2 children.” Next September Jormarie will find a part-time day job so she can be home for her children after school. Danny plans to return to school to study criminal justice while his wife hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps and complete a nursing degree in just 3 years.

Over 5,800 people learned to save, invest and decrease their debt with HRA’s Foundations in Financial Independence services

including 5,629 tax filers who received over $8.9 million in

federal tax refunds.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing

that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

2017 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

The Alton Brooks Community Service Award is presented to an individual whose work has been a catalyst for change and has made an impact on issues of concern to the community.

This year HRA is pleased to present The Alton Brooks Community Service Award to both Ann and Kenneth Speyer whose work has been a catalyst for change and has made an impact on many issues of concern to the community. Both Ann and Ken are among those dedicated volunteers who donate their time and labor to the New Britain Food and Resource Center. Equally important, they are strong vocal advocates for the pantry in the community. Ann Speyer is a retired music teacher, holds leadership roles in the New Britain Democratic Party, is an active member of the New Britain League of Women Voters and is on the Board of the New Britain Public Library. She is as passionate about our community and world as she is about music. Ann’s husband, Kenneth Speyer is an attorney who has served on HRA’s Board since 2012. Throughout this time, he has been a champion, advocate and volunteer at the food pantry. In addition to HRA’s Board, he has served on the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of CT Board and on the Greater New Britain Bar Association as Treasurer. Ken is also very passionate about the New Britain community and our world.

The Community Partnership Award is presented to an organization/partner with visionary leadership that collaborates with HRA to provide services to the community.

Ann & Kenneth Speyer

Wheeler Clinic provides comprehensive solutions that address complex health issues, providing individuals, families and communities with accessible, innovative care that encourages health, recovery and growth at all stages of life. Their integrated approach to primary and behavioral health, education and recovery helps over 30,000 people in 11 towns each year, including New Britain, Bristol and Plainville. Susan Walkama began serving as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2007 and under her leadership the organization has grown in its ability to respond to the diverse needs of those it serves. HRA is proud to have Wheeler as a partner for behavioral health services in our Early Childcare Programs for over 12 years.

Bristol Adult Education offers adults over age 17 a variety of educational programs and services to complete high school (GED), learn the English language and prepare to become a U.S. citizen with citizenship classes. One of HRA’s newer partners, Bristol Adult Education began holding classes at the former BCO because the location was more convenient to its students. Larry has been the Director of Bristol Adult Education since 2014, having previously been a teacher/administrator in the Bristol public schools for nearly 35 years. Since assuming ownership of the building in January 2017, HRA has upgraded the classroom technology to create an improved learning environment.

Wheeler Clinic – Susan Walkama, LCSW, President & CEO

Bristol Adult Education – Lawrence Covino, Director

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Gandhi

2017 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

The Volunteerism Award is presented to an individual or group whose volunteer efforts have impacted programs, provided leadership and shown commitment to the community.

Bryant Mercado, also the IRS Community Service Leadership Award recipient this year, is an ambitious VITA Youth volunteer who has donated over 200 hours preparing over 100 income tax returns for his high school peers and others in the community. Each year for the past 4 years he raised his IRS tax certification levels so he could help tax filers with more challenging returns. Bryant holds the Basic, Advanced and Health Savings Account certifications. A member of the New Britain High School Academy of Finance and the Future Business Leaders of America, Bryant will attend UConn next fall to study accounting so he can eventually become a tax lawyer.

The Making a Difference in Our Community Award is presented to HRA Board members who have retired from the Board after many contributions to the agency and the community.

Bryant Mercado

Kim Lawther Jackson retired from HRA’s Board after serving as Vice President for six years (2010-2016). She is the District Facilitator of Family Resources at the Consolidated School District of New Britain and the co-chair of the Coalition for New Britain’s Youth Connecting Families Strategies Group. An advocate of pre-school education, she is committed to meaningful partnerships between schools, parents and the community to achieve success.

Tom was hired as the Neighborhood Services Coordinator at BCO in 1973 and left in 1982 to become the Welfare Director for the City of Bristol. In 1988, he was appointed the Executive Director of BCO, a sister community action agency established in 1965. After nearly 40 years of dedicated service and a lifetime of community advocacy, Tom retired in January 2017 when HRA finalized the asset transfer with BCO.

Kim Lawther Jackson

Tom Morrow

Special Recognition For Years Of Community Service: HRA is pleased to present this special recognition to Thomas H. Morrow, former Executive Director of the Bristol Community Organization (BCO) for having made a difference in the greater Bristol community.

165 families have affordable child care so they can get or keep a job – and do so with ease, knowing their children are

safe while they are at work - in HRA’s NAEYC accredited Toddler and Preschool Child Care Program.

Preparing Children for Kindergarten: HRA Head Start uses The Creative Curriculum for Preschool as its principal curriculum. This curriculum is aligned with the goals in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and is a guide for teachers to provide materials and activities that support children’s goals. The Creative Curriculum for Preschool meets all of the standards for effective early childhood curricula by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education. A team of teachers and administrators, with input from parents, developed HRA’s Head Start School Readiness Goals. They used the following resources to lead the development process; Connecticut Early Learning Development Standards; Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: National Association for the Education of Young Children Standards and Criteria; Creative Curriculum for Preschool; and Teaching Strategies GOLD. Family Engagement goals are incorporated into the School Readiness goals.

2016 – 2017 HRA HEAD START/SCHOOL READINESS

ANNUAL REPORT

Social-Emotional Development: Children will develop the skills necessary to foster secure attachments with adults, maintain healthy relationships, regulate behavior and emotions, and develop a healthy concept of personal identity. Children will participate fully in learning experiences and form positive relationships with teachers and peers.

Approaches to Learning: Children will develop a sense of wonder; a willingness to participate; persistence in their efforts; and the ability to connect past learning to new situations.

Literacy-Language Development: Children will increase their language and communication skills by engaging in meaningful experiences that require them to effectively express their ideas and feelings, to listen and to understand others. They will understand basic concepts about books, media, the alphabet, and letter–sound relationships.

Physical Health and Development: Children will develop early health habits to support physical well-being, use of their bodies, muscle control, appropriate nutrition, exercise, hygiene and safety practices.

Cognitive/General Knowledge: Children will develop mathematical thinking skills to logically solve problems and make connections to the world around them. Children will expand their curiosity and motivation to learn by asking questions, making observations and building on natural experiences.

NAEYC Accreditation: In February 2017 HRA’s program team demonstrated its’ dedication and commitment to continuous quality improvement by successfully completing the renewal process for the NAEYC Accreditation of Early Learning Programs. NAEYC commended the program for its outstanding efforts. To achieve NAEYC Accreditation, a program must: meet at least 80% of assessed criteria for each of these 10 program standards. HRA’s Early Childhood Education Program exceeded this in all areas of assessment criteria.

STANDARD HRA’S PASS

RATE

Relationships 100%

Curriculum 97%

Teaching 100%

Assessment of Child Progress 100+%

Health 100+%

Teachers 100+%

Families 100+%

Community Relationships 100+%

Physical Environment 100%

Leadership and Management 100+%

Child Assessment System: The management and teaching team observe and assess the development of our children at three check points during the program year using Teaching Strategies GOLD. This is an observational assessment that links our curriculum to our lesson planning. By analyzing data and evaluating outcomes, teachers develop learning experience plans to achieve school readiness goals.

We collected assessment data for 370 children in both our Head Start and School Readiness programs. There was a marked improvement in all domains of learning between the beginning of the year assessment and the mid-year assessment. Notable this year is the improvement children demonstrated in social/emotional development between the first and second assessment. We attribute this to the impact that our Behavioral Health Specialist has had on training our staff and families how to better manage challenging behaviors in the classroom and at home. As in previous years, physical (both fine and gross motor) development and literacy are the areas demonstrating the greatest strength. The domains of learning needing improvement are mathematics, language and cognitive development. We also break down our data into separate charts for children entering kindergarten (4 year olds) and children who are not yet entering kindergarten (3 year olds) because their developmental outcomes tend to vary. However, mathematics development is the weakest area across both age groups. The three year olds need the most improvement in the domains of language, literacy and mathematics development while the four year olds need the most improvement in the domains of mathematics, language and cognitive development

Key Findings from Child Assessment Data: HRA Head Start uses an individualized observation and planning process for each child. Staff and families assess each child’s development and identify areas for improvement across all domains of learning. The management and teaching team obtain information from parent interviews, child observations, Teaching Strategies Gold and if applicable, from the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

The data in the above chart is a Teaching Strategies Gold “snapshot” report, converted from the report’s table into a bar graph to compare the 7 areas of development. These results indicate the three areas that need the most improvement are Mathematics, Language and Cognitive Development

683 pre-school aged children are better prepared to start kindergarten after participating in HRA’s Head Start Program of Excellence.

Transition Activities: Head Start implemented a variety of kindergarten transition activities in the program and in conjunction with community providers and the local Board of Education. These activities prepare children, their parents and school staff for the children’s entry into Kindergarten. Head Start management and staff provides: Developmental narratives for

elementary school staff Kindergarten informational meeting to

give parents resources and a registration tip sheet

Registration packets to all parents of eligible kindergarten age children

Staff support for parents who need help completing registration materials

Activities using children’s books and discussion about the “Kindergarten Here I Come “video.

Kindergarten Café: Informational event in collaboration with the local Board of Education to help families prepare for Kindergarten.

Orientation visits at elementary schools for incoming children and their parents in late August.

HRA Head Start Health, Dental, Nutrition and Mental Services: HRA’s Head Start Program is committed to promoting our children’s social, emotional and medical well-being and has formed a number of collaborations to achieve this. By working with local medical and dental providers, we ensure that families are completing their annual well-child visits and dental exams. Our Family Service Workers work with the families to make sure that all enrolled children establish a medical and dental home; receive their physical and dental exams; and do necessary follow-up in a timely matter. Tunxis Community College’s Allied Dental Program visits all classrooms to deliver oral health education each spring. The University of Connecticut (UConn) Speech and Language and Audiology Department completes required hearing screenings for all enrolled children within 45 days. The Connecticut Lions Eyes Research Foundation, Lions Eye Health Program conducts vision screening for all the enrolled children with 45 days. Our nutrition consultant adheres to the CACFP guidelines for preparing nutritious and healthy menus and develops care plans for children who have food allergies and restrictions. Parents receive copies of monthly menus for breakfast, lunches and snacks and My Plate recipes. The New Britain Roots Mobile Farmer’s Market stops weekly at HRA from July – November with local fruits and vegetables for sale. Our contract with Wheeler Clinic provides us with a full-time Behavioral Specialist.

HRA Head Start Federal Review and Audit Results: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) determined that HRA of New Britain, Inc. Head Start Program is in total compliance, placing the program in a five year grant cycle. Recipients of five year grants must now complete certain requirements in each of these required areas; governance and leadership, health and safety, school readiness and the audit process within an established time frame.

Ms. Mary Lombardi, started her career in HRA’s Head Start Program in 1989 and will retire in August 2017 after 28 years. She began as a Teacher in the Head Start/School Readiness, was promoted to the Education Manager and to the Education/Disability Services Senior Manager before most recently accepting the position of Interim Early Childhood Education Director. An experienced manager, mentor, coach and trainer to both teachers and parents, Mary is also a skilled administrator. As Interim Director she successfully led the challenge of integrating the operations of all Early Childhood Education programs (Head Start, School Readiness and Toddler/Daycare) to bring educational and operational consistency across all programs. A passionate believer of the Head Start philosophy, her efforts have touched the lives of thousands of New Britain children.

Ms. Janis Harwood, retired as the Early Childhood Education School Nurse after serving 10 years at HRA. A practicing nurse for 44 years, her career focus has been pediatric nursing with over 17 years in Early Childhood Education programs.

For more visit: www.hranbct.org

Community Services Case Management

Early Childhood 0-5 including

Head Start

Elder Home Care &

Transportation

LIHEAP

Energy Assistance

Ryan White Parts A & B

Youth and Adult Employment &

Training

Financial Capability

VITA & IDA

HRA’s integrated service model addresses people’s immediate needs and empowers people to invest in long-term solutions.

Now serving 6 communities: New Britain, Bristol, Burlington,

Farmington, Plainville & Plymouth CT

• Served 26,099 individuals from 10,563 families

• Employed 250 staff

• Mobilized 446 volunteers

• Engaged 120 partners

2016 Family, Agency &

Community

• 4,055 people obtained jobs

• 7,212 people obtained skills

• 5,667 people reduced barriers

• 3,322 people increased assets

2016 Indicators of Success

Since 1964 the Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. (HRA) has been dedicated to increasing economic self-sufficiency among individuals and families. Our mission is to improve the quality of life by helping people achieve economic and social potential; responding to the causes and conditions of poverty; and building stronger individuals, families and communities.