 |
|
|
L I N C O L N
ACTION
P R O G R A M
Helping Families — Changing Lives
.
Contact Information
|
 |
![[ Yahoo! Maps ]](http://us.yimg.com/i/yahootogo/buttons/yahoo_maps.gif){kind=small}
Agency Description
History and Background
The Lincoln Action Program is a private, non-profit human
services agency dedicated to identifying and implementing creative means
of enhancing the self-sufficiency and quality of life of families with
low-incomes in Lancaster and Saunders counties. In its 35 years of operation,
the agency has distinguished itself as a regional and national leader
in carrying out services focused on meeting basic needs, bolstering family
development, and providing education and employment readiness. In 1999,
the Lincoln Action Program aided more than 9,000 individuals.
The Lincoln Action Program relocated to its new building at 210 "O" Street in early 2000. The facilities are designed specifically for the agency's needs and provide a more efficient, people-friendly environment from which the agency's staff can serve the community.
Mission Statement
To improve the quality of life and the economic self-sufficiency of people
with low incomes, and of other eligible people, in Lancaster and Saunders Counties, by
providing services, support and opportunities.
Philosophy
The Lincoln Action Program's philosophy and function centers on three
primary areas that work together to help us achieve our mission.
 |
Basic &
Emergency Needs form the base of the triangle because basic
needs must be met and crises must be addressed prior to, or along with, any other work
toward self-sufficiency. |
Affiliations
Family Resource Center Coalition of Nebraska
National Association of Community Action Agencies
United Way
Special Recognition:
Nebraska SPRING
Through Nebraska SPRING, Lincoln Action Program (LAP) can access the Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC). The PIRC includes the Family Resource Line and access to the Early Childhood Training Center Media Center. The Media Center's numerous and varied materials are available on a free-loan basis. Additional information on these resources is available at Programs and Services. In addition to the above, LAP receives Nebraska SPRING support for a Parent and Community Demonstration project and a Parents As Teachers program.
Parent and Community Demonstration Project.
Lincoln Action Program operates one of four parent/community demonstration projects funded
by Nebraska SPRING through the Department of Education Parent Information and Resource Center
program. These funds provide partial support to the Family
Literacy Project
The Family Literacy Project’s goal is to enhance parent involvement with their children to help them achieve literacy. The project focuses on helping low-income families with low literacy and/or limited English. Activities include a Book Drive for Literacy, multicultural resource library, elementary school tutoring, literacy resource directory, assistance with GED, Adult Basic Education and ESL, Family Enrichment Computer Center, activity book bags, Back-to-School Fair, Family Fun Nights and ESL summer camp.
Project partners include Multicultural Office of the Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln City Libraries, Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Department’s WIC and Healthy Homes programs and Lincoln Literacy Council. Program partners are working to expand support to low-income families to enhance their English and reading abilities. For more information, contact Tedda Watts at (402) 471-4848, twatts@Lincoln-Action.org.
Parents As Teachers
Lincoln Action Program operates one of Nebraska’s Parents As Teachers (PAT)
programs. The Nebraska SPRING project funds a state office that provides support to all Nebraska
PAT programs through the Department of Education Parent Information and Resource Center
program.
PAT is an internationally recognized early childhood parent education and family support program. It is a voluntary program for parents with children from birth though age 5. PAT promotes parent involvement in learning from the very beginning of a child’s life and fosters optimal development of the young child. This free program covers child development; suggests activities that encourage language development, intellectual growth, and social and motor skills, and strengthens the parent-child relationship.
A number of independent studies show that children who participate in PAT are significantly advanced over their peers and that these early gains continue after the children enter elementary school.
For more information on the Lincoln Action Program Parents As Teachers program, contact Rutha Weatherl, Head Start Director at (402) 471-4515.
On-Site Partners
As a result of its recent move, Lincoln Action Program is not co-located with other human services programs. But its new facilities allow many other human service agencies the opportunity to offer their services at LAP's location. Some of these services are WIC, Mobile Health Van, ESL and GED classes.
Programs & Services
Basic & Emergency Needs
Emergency Services: Low-income families and individuals
with immediate crisis needs such as rental deposit, past-due rent or utilities,
work-related clothing or tools, prescriptions or other needs may apply for help Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Possible assistance and/or referral to other
community resources.
Emergency Food Basket Program: Emergency food baskets
are available through LAP's United Way Emergency Food Program. Case management
services available to prevent future food shortages. Household budgeting
workshops available. Fresh foods such as vegetables, meats and milk are
available daily. Culturally appropriate foods for refugee families are
available.
Supportive Housing Program: Homeless resettlement service includes case
management, referrals, rent subsidies and direct financial assistance for homeless
families with children. Program requires participant commitment to achieve
self-sufficiency.
Eviction Prevention/Coalition of Landlords Tenants: Information provided
regarding tenant/landlord rights and obligations.
Home Weatherization: Program provides insulation to side-walls and
attics, caulks cracks and inspects furnaces for income-qualified home or mobile home
owners or renters. Landlord permission required.
Clothing & Household Bank: Provides clothing, tools and household
goods. The bank is available to case managed families who are taking steps toward
self-sufficiency. Families in crisis will also be served.
REACH: Provides energy efficiency education and household budgeting
workshops, as well as payment of past-due utility bills for income-qualified households.
HUD-Certified Mortgage Counseling: Provides referrals for first-time
home-buyers and for second mortgages for home repairs, as well as help with delinquent
mortgage payments.
Rural Lancaster County Outreach: Provides information, referral advocacy
and case management for persons who are in crisis and live in rural Lancaster County.
Links families with LAP services, including some direct financial help to resolve crises.
Liaison between Lancaster County Commissioners and rural officials to enhance
communication on rural issues.
Saunders County Outreach: Provides case management, home weatherization,
literacy support, emergency food and clothing, help with past-due rent and utilities,
eviction prevention, family preservation, and Head Start services to income-qualified
households in Saunders County. Call (402) 443-3811 for more information.
Family Development and
Support
Head Start: Provides part-day, school-year developmentally
appropriate education and family support services to 3 and 4 year olds from low-income
families. Locations in Lincoln, Wahoo and Ashland.
Full-Day, Full-Year & Early Head Start: Provides full-day, full-year
developmentally appropriate education and family support to expectant mothers and
children, 0 - 4 years old, from low-income families. Children with special needs
(disabilities) are also served.
Family Preservation/Case Coordination: The Family Preservation/Case
Coordination Team is comprised of over 35 human service agencies. Any agency may access
the team by contacting LAP. The team was formed to work cooperatively to ensure at risk
families or individuals receive needed services to resolve crises.
The Gathering Place – Family Support Center: Provides hot evening
meals to those in need. Other services include GED, English as a second language, and
Adult Basic Education tutoring, computer skills training, one-on-one nursing,
children’s evening meal, support for teen parents, and family support center services
for Lincoln's south-central neighborhood.
Education & Job Skills
Development
Computer Learning Lab: Offers hands-on, self-paced
computer skills tutorials and classes. Subjects taught include typing, word processing and
general computer use, as well as more advanced topics. Excel, Word and Internet classes
also offered.
Education Outreach: Provides one-on-one tutoring, academic support,
mentoring, vocational exploration, recreation and more to youth, grades 6-12, who are at
risk of dropping out of school.
Youth Violence Alternatives Project: Provides intensive, yearlong
intervention and prevention services to male youth, ages 13-18, who have had contact with
the juvenile justice system or are at risk of gang involvement.
Partners In Learning: Provides one-on-one literacy tutoring at Lincoln
elementary schools for children who have fallen behind grade level.
Literacy Support: Provides an array of literacy services for refugees and
other adults needing help learning to read in the English language.
GED Tutorials: Provides hands-on, computer-based GED tutorials at LAP's
Gathering Place and 210 "O" Street locations.
Job Readiness: Provides intensive skill building workshops and activities
to help Employment First households become job- ready.
Microenterprise Development: Provides business development training
and support, and access to small, short-term loans to low- to-moderate
income households so they can start their own small businesses.
Computer Microenterprise Development: Provides intensive, hands-on
computer skills and business development training, access to a computer and printer (for
qualified participants), and access to peer-lending to establish an in-home,
computer-based business.
YouthBuild: Provides hands-on, intensive training in the construction
trades for low-income youth, ages 17-24. GED tutoring and other support offered leading to
self-sufficiency for youth who have dropped out of school.
Volunteer/Internship/Work Study: Provides work skills by contributing to
the community. Volunteer activities include, but are not limited to: tutoring and/or
mentoring youth, inventory management, helping with seasonal programs, clerical duties,
and working in the Computer Learning Lab.
AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps is a national community service
program. Lincoln Action Program has three AmeriCorps teams involving a
total of 60 members: Community Action Nebraska (CAN/LEO), Educational
Continuum Team, and Nebraska Reads! Each team aims to bring enhanced services
and support benefiting the community.
Project Success: Intensive cleaning service, small business development,
GED, ESL and other training, with start-up assistance for refugee and low-income families
so they can start their own cleaning service business.
Culture-Centered Child Care Project: Intensive child development and business development
training for refugee families so they can establish their own licensed, culturally
and linguistically appropriate child cares.
Operation Job Support: Development of a human services based web portal complementing
on-line employment services of the Workforce Investment Board. The web portal will
link the public to human services to address unmet needs, and will feature on-line
applications and assessment, translation and more.
Refugee IDAs: Development of Individual Development Accounts for refugees to help
them save money to develop businesses and pursue individual education and other goals.
Seasonal Assistance
Garden Seed Distribution: Provides free garden seeds,
information and instruction to low-income families.
Garden & Give Projects: Provides free vegetables donated by local
gardeners during the growing season. Call for times of weekly distribution.
Community Gardens: Provides garden pIots, seeds, expert instruction and
some tools for those interested in gardening and who do not have the space.
Summer Camp Scholarships: Are offered to children, ages 6-16, so they can
attend local summer camps, free of charge.
Back-to-School Fair: Provides back packs, clothing, school supplies, free
immunizations, linkage to other community resources and other support to children so they
can prepare for school.
Holiday Gift Giving Program: Provides donated gifts to children, ages
0-18.
Other Services
Reduced Cost Bus Fares & Passports
Reduced Cost Swim Passes
FREE Window Fans
Event Tickets
Affiliate Partners
As a member of the Family Preservation/Treatment Team, Lincoln Action program works with over 35 human service agencies to ensure at risk families or individuals receive needed services to resolve crises.
 |
 |