Improvements to services offered to families enrolled in the Head Start and Housing Choice Voucher programs through Central Missouri Community Action will start in February 2018.
CMCA recently released its new strategic plan, which outlines the nonprofit's goal to focus on service integration, evaluation/measurement, funding and overall excellence.
However, families not enrolled in the Head Start and HCV programs will not have access to crisis intervention programs, employment and training programs currently offered to all families.
Outside of those seeking enrollment in the Head Start and HCV programs, CMCA will no longer accept walk-ins at its offices across the state.
Head Start is a federal program for preschool children ages 3-5 from low-income families. Early Head Start is also available for children younger than 3.
The HCV program, also known as Section 8, pays a subsidy toward the rent of low-income people so they can live in the house, condo, duplex, apartment or mobile home of their choice.
CMCA Chief Program Officer Angela Hirsch said the agency will work with other community programs to help families who need access to services similar to the crisis intervention, employment and training programs.
Last year in Cole County, the agency served 988 families and 2,703 individuals. Roughly 200-300 families were enrolled in the Head Start and HCV programs, Hirsch said.
"What this means is that we're going to be serving fewer families, but we will be able to serve those enrolled better and focus on moving them out of poverty and helping them to live a more resilient life," CMCA Executive Director Darin Preis said.
Under the current model, Preis explained, families enrolled in Head Start receive assistance from an early childhood professional who also plays the role of a social worker. Under the new model, the teaching aspect will be separate from the social worker role, which eventually will be filled by a family development specialist.
In order to do this, CMCA is shifting funds from its existing community service block grant to help pay for additional employees.
"Our mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve self-reliance," Preis said in a news release. "The ultimate goal is to serve families comprehensively and to show measurable progress toward self-sufficiency. The benefits of this approach will spread to the entire community, effecting school and work readiness, economic opportunity and the quality of life we expect in central Missouri."
The agency will continue to facilitate applications for utility assistance, provide weatherization services, work with seniors in the Foster Grandparent Program and provide insurance marketplace information through certified application counselors.
CMCA serves Cole, Boone, Callaway, Osage, Audrain, Moniteau, Cooper and Howard counties.