WCA Annual Report 2015-2016 1

2 WCA Annual Report 2015-2016

A Message from the CEO

Tay R. Waltenbaugh Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey D. Diehl Chief Financial Officer

Tammy Patterson Director, Children’s Services

Jack Brown Director, Community Services

Bill Connolly Director, Community Support Services (retired)

Stacey Sennett Director, Mental Health Services

Administration

2016 was a year of politics and elections. The year was interesting, tense and

scary. Unfortunately the divisiveness shown in areas of our county did not help to bring

us together, to make positive strides. Across the country, in Pennsylvania and

throughout Westmoreland County, many children and families still struggle.

Our goal as a Community Action Agency is to stabilize and improve the lives of

families while strengthening communities. WCA works with roughly 7,000 individuals

throughout Westmoreland County. Our county’s poverty rate is 10.3 percent, leaving

over 36,000 people, many being children, living in poverty.

One great example of making a difference in our county is the efforts by so many

to turn the City of Jeannette into a thriving community. It’s not there yet, but it will be. Pennsylvania has 350 cities

and Westmoreland County has seven of them. Our county has the City of Jeannette, which made the biggest

improvement in the poverty rate in the state. Jeannette’s poverty rate dropped five points from 18 to 12.7 percent.

This happened because so many individuals and groups have put an emphasis on changing a community. Everyone

from the Mayor and Council, Jeannette School District, Elliott Corporation and Key Bank (formerly First Niagara), to

the Jeannette Community Action Team, Westmoreland County Planning Department and WIDC have all made

impacts to change the face of a community. Much is yet to do; however, lowering the poverty rate, changing the

image while creating areas (40+ acres) for potential growth and jobs, is a recipe for success.

Westmoreland Community Action will be taking this blueprint for success to other communities.

Remember, it takes many others to create success. We are happy to lead change and change divisiveness to

collaboration, partnerships and success.

Tay R. Waltenbaugh,

Chief Executive Officer

Amy Emili, Board President Barry Gaetano, Vice President

Janice Gebicki, Secretary Nancy Golden, Treasurer

Dan Pagliari, Solicitor Commissioner Charles Anderson

Clyde Bittner Lucille Bittner

Commissioner Gina Cerilli Denise Flannigan

Scott Guldin State Rep. Ted Harhai

Wayne Hewitt John Kirkling

Commissioner Ted Kopas Joyce Long

Sarelle McSwiggen Congressman Tim Murphy

State Rep. Mike Reese Terry Roberts Scott Sistek

Frank Van Horn Senator Kim Ward

Board of Directors

WCA Annual Report 2015-2016 3

Our Mission: Westmoreland Community Action

strengthens communities and families to eliminate poverty.

WCA Financials Revenue

Fundraising/Donations $ 68,491

Sales $ 191,573

Program Fees $ 488,372

Other $ 1,064,078

In-kind $ 921,561

Federal/State/Local Grants $10,476,953

Total $13,211,028

Expenses Fundraising $ 9,229

General/Admin $ 965,014

Program Services $11,971,197

Total $12,945,440

Fundraising 1%

This annual report was funded through a grant from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. The official registration and financial information of Westmoreland Community Action may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling, toll free within PA, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

“The U.S Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

Other 8%

In-k

ind 7

%

Grants 79%

Fees

4%

Sales 1%

Fundraising & Donations

1%

92 cents of every dollar is spent on program services

General/Admin 7%

Fundraising 1%

Long-time employee, Bill Connolly, retired this past fall after 26 years of service. Bill retired as Director of Community Support Services but throughout his career he had been a casemanager in family services and employment and a Program Coordinator for transitional housing as well. As Director of Community Support Services, Bill oversaw Community Prevention Services, Next Steps Supportive Housing, Work Ready, HMIS, Ways to Work, Mothers Making More and the Bridges Initiative. Congratulations, Bill!

4 WCA Annual Report 2015-2016

You used to know our social enterprise as Shop Demo Depot. We’ve changed that name to American Architectural Salvage to better reflect the style of the building materials we carry. American Architectural Salvage specializes in the one-of-a-kind materials from deconstruction projects and donations. Find that special door or window, barn wood, or lighting for your project. We have items you aren’t going to find in any box store! But don’t worry…the mission remains the same: To reduce landfill waste and promote the resale and reuse of goods, while financially supporting Community Action initiatives that help those in need. When you donate, purchase or deconstruct with our company you’re making an impact to better our communities. Beyond the right thing to do for your community and the environment, certain financial benefits can be gained by your donations. The store also has several vendors who sell unique items that have been created from reclaimed items. Check out the new American Architectural Salvage website at www.americanarchitecturalsalvage.com.

WCA received over $1 million in grant funding during 2016 (this is above and beyond our administrative and program funding). Funders included: Pittsburgh Foundation, Allegheny Foundation, Department of Community and Economic Development, PNC Foundation, PNC Charitable Trust, First Presbyterian Church-Greensburg, First Lutheran Church-Greensburg, Greensburg Rotary, HUD Housing Counseling, Snee-Reinhardt Foundation, Smiy Family Foundation, Staunton Farm Foundation, Hillman Family Foundation, PA Attorney General’s Office and the McCune Foundation. The grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will benefit WCA’s Housing Counseling & Money Management Center, which provides training and resources to potential homebuyers. “Housing counselors provide potential homeowners with the tools they need to ensure they're ready and responsible. Their efforts give countless families a real shot at the American Dream of homeownership,” HUD Secretary Julián Castro said in a statement.

This photo was taken at a recent read aloud at our Donegal Head Start center with State Rep. Mike Reese. This child wanted to dress up as his guest. The other Head Start children showed Rep. Reese around the classroom and were excited to share their flower shop with him. Other dignitaries to visit the Head Start classrooms this

year included Representative Ted Harhai, Senator George Dunabr and Representative Eric Nelson.

WCA Annual Report 2015-2016 5

Mark Hernley (front) call support staff, and Chuck Chappell, Coordinator of Prevention Services, go over overdose death numbers for Pennsylvania at the Westmoreland Community Action substance abuse helpline during a training session held at the Greensburg office. (Photo by Evan R. Sanders, Tribune-Review)

The Westmoreland Drug Overdose Task Force (DOTF) works to reduce the number of drug overdose deaths in Westmoreland County. Following the model of North Carolina’s successful Project Lazarus, the DOTF focuses efforts on empowering community members to take meaningful action to combat this public health epidemic. WCA is a big part of the DOTF. The agency received a grant from the Allegheny Foundation to hire Tim Phillips as Director of the task force. Tim provides assistance to communities and to coalitions to support their efforts to raise awareness, to reduce stigma surrounding substance use, and provide community-based solutions. These coalitions’ needs and efforts intersect and often include business, industry, courts, law enforcement, education, faith-based support, grassroots organizations, healthcare professionals, media and the recovery community. In 2016 the DOTF made great strides in putting naloxone (Narcan) into the hands of community members in danger of overdosing on prescription opioids or heroin. To date, 17 police departments in the county carry naloxone, thanks to a grant from the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. In 2016, 883 naloxone kits were distributed at DOTF-sponsored trainings and 38 saves have been reported with the naloxone kits. Naloxone works in the blood stream to snuff out the effects of any opiate present. This medicine usually causes a nearly instantaneous and seemingly miraculous recovery in an overdose — as long as the

medicine is administered in time. The Commissioners, along with the County narcotics detective and the Coroner, serve to advise the DOTF and join WCA in expressing their appreciation for the support of many generous donors including the Allegheny

Foundation and the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. WCA values our partnership with the County and community partners throughout the region, especially University of Pittsburgh’s School of Pharmacy and Carnegie Mellon

University. To learn more about the DOTF, visit them on Facebook or online at www.getinwestmoreland.info.

Jessica McCaffrey of South Greensburg, a certified recovery specialist for Westmoreland Community Action, holds a naloxone (Narcan) kit she got from the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission. She used the kit this year to save a person who was overdosing from heroin. (Photo by Dan Speicher, Tribune-Review)

Westmoreland County’s Substance Abuse Helpline offers direction, answers and hope. The helpline is dedicated solely to drug and alcohol issues. Individuals with substance abuse questions or concerns can call toll-free 1-844-897-8927 from 3:30 pm to 11:30 pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year for treatment referrals and/or general information on resources. The Helpline is a function of the Drug Overdose Task Force, as a community-based multi-year project whose mission is to dramatically reduce the number of overdose deaths in our community. The Substance Abuse Helpline provides Telephone Recovery Support (TRS), an innovative peer-to-peer support service. TRS accepts and follows up with weekly telephone calls to people either in recovery, or looking to find recovery or help in some fashion. Callers are given support and encouragement as well as information about community resources, support meetings and alternative recovery pathways that may help them maintain/initiate their recovery. All of our helpline employees are Certified Recovery Specialists that help people stay in recovery. Sometimes just our tone within a phone call can make someone feel wanted, cared about, and included. With peer-to-peer support, people share with each other the joys, sorrows, triumphs, and setbacks of life. The Substance Abuse Helpline is and will be available for anyone interested in having someone reach out to them by phone. Our goal is to look forward to getting to know our callers and continue to support them on their chosen recovery path.

(Photo by Dan Speicher, Tribune-Review)

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Community organizing and community outreach efforts through tax credit programs continue in Jeannette. The community was the initial beneficiary of a Neighborhood Partnership Program and we’ve recently completed our third year. The Elliott Company committed $100,000 and First Niagara (now Key Bank), $50,000 a year for five years. This $750,000 in tax credits is being utilized in removing blight, and cleaning and beautifying the city through a façade program that includes awnings and painting for businesses located on Clay Ave. Activities included: designing and installing a Jeannette billboard, accompanied by a decorative stone wall and landscaping; adding directional clarification to the sign near Grapeville; planting new flowers, and re-installing the flags along Clay Avenue. Three murals have been completed on the sides of various buildings along Clay Avenue. Vinyl signs were installed in the windows of 18 vacant buildings along Clay Avenue, which lends itself to a more pleasant appearance when a building is empty. As part of blight removal, a dilapidated property was razed on the corner of South 7th Street and Clay Avenue. That space, with the help of the NPP project and various partners and sponsors, was then turned into a community garden run by the Bridges Initiative of Jeannette. Fencing was installed at two locations on Clay Avenue to hide unsightly empty lots. More improvements were made to the Altman Road playground. A dilapidated house on South 6th Street was also torn down.

WCA held several successful fundraising events this year. Our second Designer Purse Bash, was held at the Youngwood Fire Hall in April. In July, we held Christmas for Kids Poker Run which helps provide families in need with Christmas presents for their children. August brought Westmoreland Human Service’s 22nd Annual Golf Outing at Hannastown Golf Club. Our fall Bambrewzle event, featured craft beers, food, and music. We thank everyone who participated in, volunteered and supported these events.

WCA recently welcomed two new programs. New Foundations provides a safe and healthy living environment for mental health consumers. Staff provide on-site support and collaborate with referral agencies and area providers to ensure continuity of care. The Permanent Supportive Housing Program for Families provides chronically homeless families with housing while working with families on the barriers that have kept the family from housing.

CEO Tay Waltenbaugh calling ticket numbers at the 2nd Annual Designer Purse Bash. (Photo by Kim Stepinsky, Tribune-Review)

Hannastown Golf Pro, Craig Mankins and WHS Board Member, Bob Bustamante.

WCA Annual Report 2015-2016 7

Anna Joyner graduated from high school in the top 5% of her class. She was admitted into the Physician’s Assistant fast track program at Seton Hill University and started in the fall of 2007. By the fall of 2010 Anna had taken full advantage of the freedom and independence of college and decided to take a leave of absence. It was then that her life began on a downhill spiral and she was hanging out with a crowd that was far from her upbringing.

Anna began to turn her life around after the birth of her son, Isaiah. She started online courses at the local community college in the fall of 2012. Nearing the end of her academic career and approaching graduation, with the encouragement of her professor, Anna attended an informative interview with Tay Waltenbaugh, Chief Executive Officer of Westmoreland Community Action, in the fall of 2013. Initially, she went in to gain an understanding of the agency’s potential employment opportunities but walked out with information on some programs that could potentially help her. Fast forward to March of 2015, when Anna received an unexpected message from Tim Phillips, Westmoreland Community Action’s Director of the Westmoreland

County Drug Overdose Taskforce, about a job

opportunity that she may be interested in. After contacting Tay, she applied and interviewed in April of 2015 with the understanding it was a temporary, substitute position. Much to her delight, she was hired. But by May of 2015 this opportunity turned into an even better one and Anna became a permanent employee of Westmoreland Community Action’s Head Start Program. Anna and her fiancé, John, were married in July of 2015 and in August they moved into a new rent to own home, none of which would have been possible if it wasn’t for Westmoreland Community Action. As quoted by Anna, “If it wasn’t for the faith that Tay, Tim, and my supervisor, Lori Brooks, had in me there is no way I would be where I am today. Through my employment with Westmoreland Community Action, my family has health insurance, a steady income, and a forever home for my son and step-children. I feel like we have overcome and accomplished more than I could ever fathom. To think of where I, and we, have been as a family to where we are now is like night and day. I love my job and those I work with and I am blessed and fortunate that although my past is not the best, they looked past that and gave me the opportunity to excel and give back to my community. They gave me a second chance at life and for that I am forever grateful.”

During Smart Growth Partnership of Westmoreland County's Annual Awards Dinner, where Smart Growth celebrated 15 years of community development, WCA was honored to be recognized for Sustainable Community Development. Pictured from left to right are Jack Brown, WCA; John Turack, SGPWC; and Tay Waltenbaugh, WCA.

2016-Self-Sufficiency Award Winner Anna Joyner

Anna, her son, Isaiah, and her father at the 2016 Self-Sufficiency Awards in Harrisburg.

8 WCA Annual Report 2015-2016

Early Childhood Education

Head Start, Early Head Start & Pre-K Counts Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5. In addition to education services, programs provide children and their families with health, nutrition, social, and other services. Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families and encourages the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teachers. Head Start builds relationships with families that support positive parent-child relationships, family well-being, and connections to peers and community. Head Start offers: preschool classrooms, personalized home visits, parent group meetings, vision, hearing, speech, behavior, and development screenings, nutritional assessments, social service assistance for children with special needs and disabilities, and socialization and developmentally appropriate activities. Centers are located in: Derry/Latrobe, Donegal, Grandview Elementary, Clairview, Fort Allen and Maxwell schools in the Greensburg area, McKee Elementary in Jeannette, Kiski Area, Monessen, New Florence, New Kensington, Norwin, Rostraver Elementary in Belle Vernon and Ruffs Dale. Early Head Start (EHS) serves pregnant women, infants, and toddlers and is available to the family until the child turns 3 years old. EHS helps families care for their infants/toddlers through early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive services. To be eligible for enrollment in the program families must be income-eligible and be expecting a new baby or have a child under age 3. Services offered by EHS to help families meet the needs of their child include: parenting education and support, child development assessment, weekly home visits, parent groups, and socialization experiences for both parent and child. This year, we were able to add 104 slots to the EHS home-based program. WCA received funding for a Pre-K Counts classroom located in West Newton Elementary School. This program operates 180 days per year, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week and serves children who are one to two years away from kindergarten. This program is unique because it serves families with pre-school children who are up to 30% above the federal poverty guidelines. Like Head Start, Pre-K Counts

Permanent Supportive Housing The Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Programs serve chronically homeless individuals and families with disabling conditions in Westmoreland County. PSH promotes independent living in a safe, healthy environment. Housing Support Specialists provides tenants with support and goal planning. WCA has four PSH Programs; the newest one serves families.

Shared Housing The Shared Housing Program provides mental health consumers with a safe, healthy home environment in Westmoreland County. It is designed to assist mental health consumers in securing housing. Unlike our Permanent Supportive Housing, mental health consumers do not have to be chronically homeless. Shared Housing consists of 2-3 tenants living in the same home, rather than living in their own apartment. Each tenant has their own bedroom, treating the other rooms in the home as common areas. Currently, there are two Shared Housing homes, located in Mt. Pleasant.

New Foundations New Foundations is a new housing options program that provides a safe and healthy living environment for individuals who are struggling to maintain their housing. New Foundations’ staff provide on-site support and collaborate with Westmoreland County area providers and referral agencies to ensure continuity of care. The goal of the program is to assist participants in securing appropriate housing for their specific needs.

also offers children 2 nutritious meals a day and has the goal of school readiness.

Emergency Services

Emergency Food Pantry WCA operates an Emergency Food Pantry that provides food to a family or individual in a time of crisis. WCA is also a monthly food bank distribution site for the Westmoreland County Food Bank. The agency averages about 28 families a month for the Food Panty and 70 families a month for the Food Bank.

Energy Assistance WCA provides Energy Assistance to individuals/families finding it difficult to pay their energy bills. WCA completes applications and connects applicants to the appropriate utility company for energy assistance and/or the $1 Energy Fund. Eligibility for the program is based on family income. This year, 49 families received energy assistance.

Mental Health Programs

Crisis Hotline The Crisis Hotline provides 24/7 support for individuals in crisis. Call 1-800-836-6010 for immediate assistance.

Mobile Unit Sometimes a mental health crisis needs face-to-face intervention. Our Hotline can dispatch the Mobile Unit to anywhere in the county. The Mobile Unit is able to provide support, make referrals, and provide community resources to those experiencing a crisis. The Unit is always on call and responds 24/7. Call 1-800-836-6010.

Programs

544 Mobile Crisis calls

125 Suicidal/Homicidal calls

124 Calls with police

involvement

WCA Annual Report 2015-2016 9

Programs Housing Programs

Neighborhood Revitalization Neighborhood Revitalization targets and acquires distressed housing units or vacant lots throughout the county. These units are renovated or razed to make way for the reconstruction of single-family, energy-efficient, affordable homes to be sold to graduates of the Housing Counseling & Money Management Center. WCA’s most recent high-impact projects include the Monessen Redevelopment area and the City of Jeannette South Sixth Street Project. This year, we sold our 53rd WCA house.

Housing Counseling & Money Management Center The Housing Counseling & Money Management Center provides free housing counseling services to all county residents with housing needs or problems potentially resolvable through homebuyer classes and/or pre-purchase counseling. The Homebuyer Class provides homebuyers with the knowledge, skills and guidance necessary to achieve and sustain homeownership. The program also coordinates the sale of single-family homes developed by the agency. Participants seeking to purchase WCA homes must meet income guidelines and complete the Homebuyer class. This year, 41 Housing Counseling & Money Management clients purchased housing. Social Enterprise

American Architectural Salvage American Architectural Salvage(AAS) is a Mt. Pleasant retail store created to resell donated and reclaimed items. The social enterprise converts items into charitable dollars to help support WCA’s programs. AAS has a wide variety of offerings ranging from doors, windows, furniture, plumbing, and lumber. Any item sold in the store can also be donated for a tax deduction during store hours – Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm. Please visit AmericanArchitecturalSalvage.com for more information.

Community Services

Community Prevention Services Community Prevention Services promotes education and awareness as the key to drug abuse prevention. Services are provided in the community through a variety of venues, i.e. community fairs, mall events, public forums. Prevention Specialists educate county residents on a variety of topics including the dangers of alcohol and drugs, Naloxone usage, making healthy decisions, problem

gambling and sexually transmitted diseases. The program also provides relapse overdose prevention and education to county inmates. This year, Prevention provided 1,056 services to over 27,000 county residents.

Substance Abuse Helpline WCA’s Substance Abuse Helpline offers direction, answers and hope. The Helpline is dedicated solely to drug and alcohol issues. Individuals with substance abuse questions or concerns can call toll-free 1-844-897-8927 from 3:30 pm to 11:30 pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year for treatment referrals and/or general information on resources. The Helpline is a function of the Drug Overdose Task Force.

Mothers Making More (M3) The Mothers Making More (M3) program was launched in 2010 by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to help single mothers gain education and training to achieve living wage jobs. The program was created in response to the 2008 Status of Women Report which found that 41% of female headed households in Westmoreland County and over 60% of female headed households in Fayette County were living at or below the poverty line. The program operates in partnership with WCA, the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, Westmoreland County Community College, Seton Hill University, Excela Health, The YWCA Westmoreland, the YMCA of Greensburg, the Valley Points Family YMCA and the Blackburn Center. To be eligible one must be a single mother with children under age 18 that works part-time, is a resident of Westmoreland or Fayette Counties, has an income of no more than $25,000

annually and is enrolled in a degree or certificate/diploma educational program related to a specific career path.

Jeannette JAYS The JAYS after school program, for students at the Jeannette Middle School, is an educational program where the learning experience is approached through hands on, fun and varied activities and topics. The program offers a variety of activities to make students more aware of the world around them and of career opportunities ahead of them. During the 2015-16 school year, 66 students enrolled in JAYS. Of these students, 100% achieved promotion to the next grade level and 53% improved their school attendance.

Financial Services

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance In partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, WCA sponsors a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site that provides free income tax return preparation for taxpayers with limited/moderate incomes, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Staffed entirely by volunteers, this is the only VITA program in Westmoreland County. In 2016, 938 individuals took advantage of the VITA program.

Employment Services

Work Ready The Work Ready Program assists adults with finding employment by helping to eliminate barriers such as childcare, housing and transportation. Their goal is to help clients transition to the EARN program and to secure and retain employment. Adults eligible for the program must be referred from the County Assistance Office.

10 WCA Annual Report 2015-2016

Early Childhood Services Report 2015-2016 Head Start Early Head Start

Funded Enrollment (# of children) 500 federal

90 state 43

Total served 689 children 77 children

Percent of children that met eligibility 94% 98%

Percent enrollment maintained 100% 100%

Percent of children current on physicals 91% 87%

Percent of children current on immunizations 94% 90%

Percent of children receiving dental screenings 89% n/a

Percent of children that receive Special Needs Services 26% 12.5%

Did you know?

WCA’s 2016-17 Head Start Program has: 14 sites 18 classrooms 1 Pre-K classroom 20 home based children 147 Early Head Start

home based slots

This past year, Head Start and Early Head Start together have logged in nearly 18,000 hours of volunteer time from over 1,100 volunteers.

Parent Involvement Westmoreland Community Action (WCA) Head Start and Early Head Start parents are encouraged to participate in and possess leadership positions in shared governance by participating in Policy Council and parent committees. Our parent chairperson is also able to participate on our WCA governing board. Parents in our program are encouraged to volunteer in our classrooms, participate in their child’s learning through individualized parent/child activities developed by the teacher for the family, and through personalized home visits. Opportunities are available for parents to work on nutrition education, education and career development, parenting, and financial stability at parent awareness sessions and trainings within our program and from workshops scheduled outside our community partners.

Annual Review Our program has made great strides, along with the newly released Head Start Program Performance Standards we are in a new Head Start/Early Head Start grant cycle. We are working hard to update our Program Plans to align with the new Performance Standards and improve the overall quality of the program. Based on our review in October of 2013, WCA Head Start received a deficiency and several areas of non-compliance were noted in the Overview of Findings on the Enterprise system. As a result, the program took direct action by implementing new policies and procedures. The Department of Public Welfare determined that the violations were corrected. All of the areas of noncompliance were amended and an Overview of Findings Report from the Office of Head Start dated August 8, 2014 confirms, Westmoreland Community Action is now in compliance with all of the non-compliances identified in the 2013 monitoring visits.

Head Start and Kindergarten Readiness WCA Head Start programs take pride in preparing their enrolled children for school and have established Kindergarten Readiness Goals for each program year. Head Start prepares children for Kindergarten in many ways. This includes providing developmentally appropriate activities based on the Pennsylvania Learning Standards, The Head Start Child Outcomes Framework, and The Creative Curriculum™ Objectives for Development & Learning. Another key factor is giving the parents and guardians many opportunities to become involved in the program.

School Readiness Goals

Social Emotional Children will demonstrate an increased ability to form

positive relationships with adults. Children will demonstrate an increased ability to solve

social problems in an appropriate manner.

Physical Development and Health Families will complete physical and dental requirements

and follow up on specific referrals from screening results. Children will continually increase their ability to use their

hands, fingers, and wrists to manipulate objects.

Cognition and General Learning Children will demonstrate an increased ability to use

number concepts and operations. Children will explore and understand spatial relationships

and shapes.

Approaches to Learning Children will begin to develop and demonstrate problem

solving skills. Children will begin to develop and demonstrate their use

of words to identify feelings.

Language and Literacy Children will demonstrate developmentally appropriate

communication skills and awareness of phonological skills.

WCA Annual Report 2015-2016 11

Early Childhood Financials 2015-2016

Budget Category Expenses

Personnel $ 1,938,402

Fringe Benefits $ 897,085

Travel $ 63,690

Equipment $ 55,975

Contractual Services $ 0

Other Operating Exp. $ 937,371

Program Services $ 216,472

Sub-recipient Services $ 1,467,446

Supplies $ 35,177

In-kind $ 1,175,746

Total $ 6,787,364

Head Start — Federal Head Start — State

Budget Category Expenses

Personnel $ 352,805

Fringe Benefits $ 161,993

Travel $ 6,751

Equipment $ 19,840

Contractual Services $ 0

Other Operating Exp. $ 183,696

Program Services $ 27,3067

Sub-recipient Services $ 0

Supplies $ 1,364

In-kind $ 0

Total $ 753,757

Early Head Start

Budget Category Expenses

Personnel $ 192,748

Fringe Benefits $ 87,070

Travel $ 20,002

Equipment $ 10,273

Contractual Services $ 3 ,402

Other Operating Exp. $ 44,936

Program Services $ 491

Sub-recipient Services $ 0

Supplies $ 2,038

In-kind $ 110,002

Total $ 470,962

Head Start — Federal

Budget Category Revenue

Federal Grant $ 5,351,044

CCFP $ 227,280

Local Grants $ 26,000

Other Revenue $ 6,460

In-kind Revenue $ 1,175,746

Transfer In $ 834

Total $ 6,787,364

Revenue

Budget Category Revenue

Federal Grant $ 360,693

Federal/State Food $ 162

Local Grants $ 0

Other Revenue $ 105

In-kind Revenue $ 110,002

Transfer In $ 0

Total $ 470,962

Budget Category Revenue

State Grant $ 710,774

State Food $ 42,983

Local Grants $ 0

Other Revenue $ 0

In-kind Revenue $ 0

Transfer In $ 0

Total $ 753,757

Head Start — State Early Head Start

Expenses

Head Start children in the Mon Valley 3 classroom enjoyed a visit with Choosy, the mascot for Choosy Kids, LLC, a company devoted to promoting healthy habits in young children and their families. CHOOSY stands for Choose Healthy Options Often and Start Young.

Head Start & Early Head Start Leadership Team

Tammy Patterson Director of Children’s Services

Patti Prior Head Start Operations Manager

Lori Brooks Early Head Start Operations Manager

Cheryl Werner Area Manager

Kelli Shafron Area Manager

Tammy Dietrich Area Manager

Jen Carey Area Manager

12 WCA Annual Report 2015-2016

226 South Maple Ave. Greensburg, PA 15601

Phone: 724-834-1260 Email: info@WestmorelandCA.org www.WestmorelandCA.org

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2016 Year in Review