After unprecedented snowfall exacerbated an already aging roof at WCAC's Head Start location in Oxford, the program face an uncertain future with an emergency evacuation and subsequent eviction in February. Fortunately alternate sites were promptly secured in neighboring  communities to ensure the continued support of these most vulnerable children and families. The 81 children impacted have successfully been relocated to classroom sites at WCAC's existing program at Cole Avenue in Southbridge, at the Guild of St. Agnes Daycare in Webster and in classrooms at St. Joseph's Parish Center in Auburn.

WCAC hosted a Relocation Celebration on Monday, April 13th to acknowledge our Head Start Heroes who were instrumental in making the relocation happen. Check out our photo album from the event here.

Head Start promotes school-readiness, providing not only educational programming, but supporting children's emotional development, healthy, nutrition, parent education, and social services as well. National evaluations have shown that Head Start children do better in learning, language and socio-emotional development than do similar children not given the opportunity to participate in a Head Start program. By shaping the early skills that ultimately lead to success as an adult, Head Start reduces the high costs of remediation and social dependence.  Head Start Works!

A perk to being America's snowiest city? Capturing the attention of national media. NBC Nightly News sent a crew to interview WCAC's Director of Energy Resources Mary Knittle about the impact the severe cold and record-setting snowfall was having on those already struggling with high home heating costs. All told, WCAC's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will process over 15,000 fuel assistance applications this year, having provided more than $9.9 million dollars in assistance in 2014. Despite drops in the cost for home heating oil, the maximum benefit allows for just $1,025 for the poorest families - enough to provide less than two tanks of oil, not nearly enough to last a winter as long and harsh as we've experienced this year. And higher electricity costs exacerbate the problem for many low income household who supplement oil heat with electric.

WCAC is fortunate to have strong community partners which helped provide over $200,000 in additional assistance in 2014 raised through private contributions. National Grid contributed $50,000 to WCAC in March, funds which WCAC utilizes to assist clients who have exhausted traditional assistance means. If you or someone you know is having difficulty paying for home utility costs, WCAC may be able to help. Information about eligibility guidelines and applications available online.

Advocacy is an important component of WCAC's mission. Recently WCAC's Director of Operations Kerry Brennan and Executive Director Jill Dagilis met with Congressman James McGovern in Washington D.C. as part of the National Community Action Foundation 2015 Legislative Conference.

And then on April 1st, WCAC hosted its Annual Legislative Breakfast at our Worcester office with many of our elected state senators and representatives attending to learn about WCAC's priorities within the state budget. S upport for the line items we discussed - such as increased funding for fuel assistance, grants for Head Start programs, Department of Labor & Workforce Development funding to support youth jobs, and the expansion of the state Earned Income Tax Credit - is critical to ensuring our collective success in moving individuals to economic self-sufficiency, and WCAC is grateful for our elected officials' tireless efforts on behalf of the individuals and families we serve.  Reach out to your elected officials to let them you too support these important programs! Find your state rep or senator here

After that long, long, long winter WCAC looks forward to welcoming young people back for its YouthWorks Summer Program very soon! Nearly 400 low-income/at-risk youths between the ages of 14-21 are expected to be employed at more than 50 area employers. Additionally, WCAC is pleased to be participating in the second year of the Worcester Youth Leadership Institute in partnership with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Central Mass Workforce Investment Board, the United Way of Central Mass, Worcester Education Collaborative and the city's Youth Opportunities Office which will recruit approximately 25 YouthWorks students for participation in a seven week program exposing them to leadership structures in a variety of business, government, education and non-profit sectors. If you are a local business interested in working with WCAC's Jobs & Education Center to provide employment opportunities for area youth, please contact us.