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Overview
Community Services provides direct case management services, job training/placement, rental assistance, energy assistance, education counseling, financial literacy, as well as appropriate out of agency referrals, if needed. All programs are designed specifically to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities and to empower low-income families to become self-sufficient. Utilizing a holistic approach, all programs increase self-sufficiency, improve living conditions, encourages ownership of and pride in their communities and establish strong family and support systems Community services are offered in five of the nine counties covered by Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority: Bryan County, Liberty County, McIntosh County, Glynn County, and Camden County. Through case management, a client can receive financial assistance, as well as, counseling and/or referrals to local partnering agencies in the area. Services provided within the Community Services Division include: employment assistance, soft-skill job trainings, education assistance, income management, housing assistance, budgeting, congregate meals, home delivered meals, nutritional services (food vouchers), youth and family development services, advocacy, health and wellness, financial literacy, income tax preparation, and linkage into the community. Other programs provided through the Community Services Division are the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Emergency Food and Shelter Program (FEMA), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), Senior Center Program (MCC), Community Action Youth Leadership Initiative (C.A.Y.L.I.), and the Meals-On-Wheels Program (MOW). Case Management Case managers follow up with clients’ on a 30-60-90 day basis (determined by the client’s level of need) and continue with the documentation and tracking of the progress of the client based on the assessment, developed personalized client case plan, and goals to accomplish some form of self-sufficiency. Life Skills workshops are required for clients who are actively being case managed. Life skill training workshops include but are not limited to budget development and financial counseling. Housing Services This program is designed to maintain households balance, diminish the number of evictions and foreclosures, and decrease potential for homelessness through the provision of crisis intervention services, case management, monitoring and assessment. Efforts to improve the homeless prevention projects will consist of the coordination and creation of partnerships with local housing initiatives and with other service providers to increase the production of affordable housing through community development corporations, for-profit property owners, and the public housing authority. Employment Services This program serves as an opportunity to reduce barriers to employment, increase independence, strengthen family structure and increase opportunities to obtain adequate resources needed to gain and maintain employment. The process involves an evaluation of strengths/weaknesses and goal setting. The assessment of job readiness skills allows the Case Manager, along with the participant, to identify career goals, barriers, resources and incidental support services. Coastal Georgia Area CAA, Inc.’s Job Readiness and Training program, works in conjunction with the Case Management activities to assist clients in receiving job readiness and training. Clients are placed within the Community Services Centers and Early Childhood Education Centers to obtain the experience needed to gain meaningful employment. Training involves 3 to 4 hours twice a week, resume-building skills, job readiness skills and mock interviews. Income Management This program is designed to improve life skills, self-sufficiency/ independence, utilization of household income, and increase the ability to manage monthly finances. Direct services provided include money management training and budget counseling. Workshops are held on topics such as banking, loans, credit reports, financial literacy and home ownership, in partnership with a certified instructor The program consists of series of three(3) one-hour workshops which include the following topics: basic banking terms, differences between banks and check cashing services, identifying the various account types, when and how to use credit, the cost of credit, the value of credit, types of loans, opening a checking account, keeping records for a checking account, reconciling an account, budgeting, tips to decrease spending, how to prepare and use a budgeting tool, ways to save money, identifying ways to avoid scams, and ways identifying ways to protect their identity, how to order a credit report, how to start repairing credit, the cost of using a credit card, the benefits and pitfalls of renting versus owning, assessing their readiness to buy a home, and identifying different mortgage programs. Upon completion, the participant receives a certification. Community Action Youth Leadership (CAYLI) The Community Action Leadership Initiative (CAYLI) is based on the concept that our youth naturally possess skills and abilities that will enhance their effort to experience a higher quality of life. Proper development of these skills and abilities depend greatly on the type of experiences they have, as well as exposure to an environment conducive to learning and being inspired. Leadership is the key to success in every profession and at the core of the Community Action Youth Leadership Initiative program. As a participant the youth will enjoy a wide range of structured experiences where they will both learn and apply essential leadership skills such as team building, ethical decision making, time management, goal setting, public speaking, interpersonal skills, financial literacy and conflict resolutions. Workshops are provided on a monthly basis in partnership with the for-profit, non-profit, business and corporate businesses. Participants develop knowledge of self and others in order to prepare for effective leadership through the exposure to a series of activities that promote health, self-esteem building, identity, cultural awareness, positive academic skills, and organizational skills, among others. 
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