Community Services
The Community Services Unit has the responsibility for operating 11 County Outreach Offices in nine counties. The offices are an established part of the local community
where local resources can be identified and easily mobilized. Programs and/or services that are made available through the County Offices are:
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Community Services Offers Family Intake / Assessment / Referral: This process is a joint effort of staff and client to determine the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and needs. Referrals are then made to the appropriate agency service or an existing community service to address the client’s situation. All agency programs are available through this assessment and application process. Energy Assistance: Programs such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Energy Aid, Dollar More, Emergency Shelter Grant Program, Emergency Food and Shelter Program assist families in paying for utility costs such as electricity, propane, natural gas, wood and fuel oil. To print a LIHEAP application, click here. After you have printed and completed the application, please return it to your local WCMCAA Outreach Center (listed at the right). Homeless Program: Individuals and/or households that meet the federal definition of homelessness are able to apply for assistance to pay for utility deposits, rent deposits, first month’s rent and other expenses related to establishing a home for a family. Family Support: Specialists work one-on-one with families in setting goals, counseling, technical assistance and referral to any services needed to achieve their goals towards self sufficiency. Emergency Funds: Most county offices have available to them emergency funds from WCMCAA private donations and other outside agencies to help families with emergencies that are not available through any other program or agency, such as: medical costs, transportation costs, clothing, shoes, glasses repairs, etc. Community Services Block Grant Makes Things Happen!
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is unique in its design. It serves as a funding stream to fuel the vehicle that improves condition in communities and delivers direct services to people struggling to achieve self-sufficiency. The vehicle is Missouri’s 19 Community Action Agencies (CAAs), each governed by a local board of directors, including community leaders and low-income individuals. Using CSBG funding as their core, agencies then leverage other public and private resources to weave a network of support for families and communities. In Missouri, the Federal Community Services Block Grant is administered by the Family Support Division in the Department of Social Services. People are poor for a variety of reasons that vary from community to community and family to family. That’s why CSBG funding is flexibly designed to enable communities to create the types of programs that work best among their neighbors. Through CAA Outreach Centers in every county, clients are linked with services that address many of these issues that lead to self-sufficiency: employment, education, housing, emergencies, nutrition and income management.
Community Empowerment Collaboration (CEC) This is a state wide project that all 19 community action agencies are charged with to align local efforts to support the Missourians to End Poverty coalition and to develop a local recovery sustainability plan. Local groups have been formed or WCMCAA has joined with existing groups in all nine counties in the service area to accomplish these goals. Community Improvement This project was developed to work with five separate communities. In collaboration with WCMCAA, Drury University, Hammons School of Architectures’, city mayors, business owners and residents will work towards revitalizing these communities and developing long term plans for future success. In 2009 - 2010 Appleton City, Urich, Hermitage, Montrose and Windsor were selected. The Vision Plans for Appleton City, Montrose and Hermitage have been completed. Work is now beginning with Urich and Windsor with a new group of Drury Architecture students. Although, the ARRA funding ends September 30, 2010, this project has shown such potential that WCMCAA has secured funding to continue the project for until 2013. Communities are now being selected for the 2010 - 2011 program year. Community Employment / Education Network The goal of this project is to work in collaboration with the new Community Association of Regional Enterprises (CARE) group to market their new Community Development Center in Clinton, Missouri. This facility, which was formerly Wetzel Clinic, has been renovated and will sponsor college classes in the upper level provided by State Fair Community College (2 year degree) and Central Methodist University (4 year degree) and in the lower level has been furnished to house 22 incubator businesses. Currently, there are 11 incubator businesses located in the Business Development Center. Nutrition Back Packs The goal of this project is to begin a Back Pack Program so that each child attending public elementary schools and WCMCAA Head Start Centers will receive food to take home on the weekends. School districts and Head Start centers typically serve breakfast and lunch to each child and in some cases this may be the only meals they receive that day. This will provide additional food so that we can be sure they have something to eat on the weekend. WCMCAA has established partnerships with organizations in each of the nine counties served to implement and sustain this project. Anyone wishing to contribute should contact WCMCAA to learn more about the project in their area. RRR Project - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle This project could reduce our waste and have a significant impact on landfills and the environment. Our goal is to educate our children on recycling, and finding ways to reduce waste and reuse what is available to us. There are also opportunities of “green jobs” that already exist; this endeavor would bring awareness to these jobs. This program was provided to 30 groups, schools or organizations. Step Up to Leadership This program is designed to help low-income individuals build self-confidence along with the skills and knowledge to serve on boards and committees in their community. The goal is for them to realize their potential and that they too can have a voice for change in their communities. Classes have been held in Belton, Clinton and Nevada with some graduates applying for and receiving mini-grants to implement community projects. Plans for continuing this project in the 2010 - 2011 program year are underway. Look for classes scheduled on the WCMCAA Calendar of Events. Connecting Seniors This project was submitted to develop a plan that will help seniors with issues that every rural community seems to be facing. The top five concerns: transportation for medical or errands, affordable housing/home repair/maintenance, senior supportive services, in-home assistance and social and civic inclusion. WCMCAA is partnering with Care Connection for Aging and Area Agency on Aging and Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging to implement this project. Renewable Energy This is a statewide initiative. Feasible business plans have been produced for the 19 Community Action Agencies throughout Missouri to create renewable energy job opportunities in each area of the state. Family Development Several additional Community Action projects are being implemented to help in the development of individuals and families in our communities: Life Skills Classes, Back to School Fairs, Energy Conservation Education and Financial Management. For more information on any of the projects listed above, please contact WCMCAA Community Services Unit at 660-476-2185. This project/program is funded in whole/or part with federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds received from the U.S. Department of Health Human Service (HHS) provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division. The funds received from the Family Support Division are all federally funded.
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WCMCAA Outreach Centers These offices can put you in contact with other WCMCAA and Community Services.
BATES COUNTY
BENTON COUNTY
CASS COUNTY
CEDAR COUNTY
HICKORY COUNTY
MORGAN COUNTY
ST. CLAIR COUNTY
VERNON COUNTY
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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): 
