What we do. How we do it.

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2 HEAD START For children ages three to kindergarten. Child development activities, family service support, and parent involvement opportunities provided in center based or home based program. Includes nutritious snacks and lunches. There is assistance for children with disabilities. EARLY HEAD START For children birth to age three as well as pregnant women, offering help in child and family development, health, nutrition, and pre-natal education and health care. How we do it. CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP Head Start/Early Head Start is a trained child care provider s center. Includes nurturing child care and Head Start curriculum in one consistent environment. TRANSPORTATION LOANS TCC has several loan programs for low income persons needing to purchase or repair their vehicle so they can continue to go to school or have available transportation for medical appointments if disabled. Applicants may borrow up to $4,000 to purchase a vehicle or $1,000 to repair their existing vehicle. Repayment terms are flexible. Persons must be employed or have a valid job offer, have a Minnesota driver s license and meet income guidelines. WEATHERIZATION Helps increase your home s efficiency by insulating sidewalls and attics, and making repairs to the heating system. You must meet Energy Assistance Program guidelines to be eligible. MHFA REHABILITATION LOAN Loan for roofing, siding, windows and doors, electrical, and plumbing upgrades to your home. You are eligible if your adjusted household income does not exceed $10,000. MINNESOTA POWER ELECTRICAL AUDIT Examines electrical usage and shows you how to cut your costs using energy saving devices. You must be a Minnesota Power customer to be eligible. What we do. We work with community partners to end poverty. TCC leads communities in Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd Counties to provide opportunities for individuals to become self-sufficient and empowered. SMALL BUSINESS LOAN TCC has two loan programs available for low income persons interested in starting or expanding their own small business. One allows eligible people to borrow up to $25,000. The second allows for up to $3,000 specifically for a child care business. Repayment terms are flexible. FAIM FAIM is a matched savings for clients to purchase a first home, start a business, or go back to school. FAIM matches the client s savings by 3 to 1. CIRCLES OF SUPPORT An innovative program with primary goals of moving people in poverty toward greater self-sufficiency by creating a healthy network of support. This program is also dedicated to educating and engaging our communities around the high financial and social cost of living in poverty. TAX PREPARATION TCC provides free tax preparation services to individuals with annual income below $35,000 and families with annual income below $45,000. You could owe less and get back more with Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). 2 T C C A N N U A L R E P O R T

3 Mobilizing Resources to support innovative solutions For the past several years, Tri-County Community Action, Inc. has collaborated with Greater Minnesota Family Services, Inc. to provide the Head Start ABC program, delivering mental health services to Head Start children and families in Morrison County on an in-center and in-home basis. Development of this service was in response to an identified shortage of mental health services for low-income preschool-aged children and their families. During this past year, Greater Minnesota has expanded its services to 37 children to meet an unmet need in Crow Wing and Todd Counties. This nearly tripled the number of children served. TCC provides space for the provision of services and office space for mental health professionals. Greater Minnesota Family Services provides its services at no charge to TCC, direct billing services through medical reimbursement and seeking grant funds for uncovered families. CSBG funds are used to partially compensate a management staff member who works to collaborate with the community partner. The approach is innovative in that services are provided at no cost to TCC, bringing needed mental health services to families who previously had little or no access to care. 4 T C C A N N U A L R E P O R T

4 Program Activity: Number of People Served INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY OUTCOMES Individuals who were unemployed and obtained a job: 63 Individuals who were employed and maintained a job for at least 90 days: 436 Households in tax prepatation programs who obtained any Federal or State tax credit: 403 Amount of tax credits: $982,700 Individuals that increased their savings though an Individual Development Account or other savings account: 16 Amount of increased savings: $30,720 COMMUNITY OUTCOMES Number of jobs created at least in part through ARRA funds: 60 Number of jobs saved at least in part through ARRA funds: 68 Number of volunteer hours donated to the agency: 74,165 Community Partnerships: 130 Healthcare Aid (Non-Financial) 81 Youth Employment 2 Community Development 4 Budget Counseling 161 Tax Aid 631 Family Assets Indep MN 23 GED & Educational Services 3 English/2nd Language (ESL) 4 Adult Basic Education (ABE) 86 Weatherization 670 MECS Audits 220 Other Conservation Services 90 Comm. Homeownership Ed. 3 Emergency Family Services 123 Abuse & Neglect 60 Donated Articles 30 Crisis Intervention 132 Food Assistance 541 Holiday Projects 152 Communities we serve Local decision-making is the principle, which dictates the structure of the TCC Board of Directors and the advisory committee. A unique coalition of local people initiates policy and ensures responsiveness of TCC s services to the needs of the citizens of Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd Counties. One-third of the Board of Directors is county commissioners. One-third is democratically elected low-income representatives, and one-third represents community. Programs operated by TCC are planned and evaluated by community-based advisory committees to the Board. Vehicle Program 292 Info & Referral 10,039 Outreach 295 Contract Services 38 Head Start 3,362 Child Care 241 Child Care Resource Referral 6 Youth Recreation 20 Parenting 348 Fatherhood Initiative 63 Self Sufficiency 4 Family Loan Fund 43 6 T C C A N N U A L R E P O R T

5 Statement of Financial Position Statement of Activities and Changes in Net Assets ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $1,029,541 Grants and contracts receivable 813,694 Accounts receivable 19,478 Prepaid expenses 15,870 Loans receivable, net 8,000 Total current assets 1,886,583 LOANS RECEIVABLE, NET 27,381 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET 1,688,045 Total assets $3,602,009 LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Current portion of notes payable, bank $ 40,746 Accounts payable 279,558 Accrued expenses 256,614 Total current liabilities 576,918 NOTES PAYABLE, BANK 1,496,503 Total liabilities 2,073,421 NET ASSETS Unrestricted: Undesignated 916,759 Designated for property and equipment 101,967 Designated for revolving loan fund 509,862 Total net assets 1,528,588 UNRESTRICTED PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE Government grants and contracts $7,319,245 Other contracts 86,738 Client loan services 40,511 Investment income 8,207 Contributions 1,511 Total unrestricted public support and revenue 7,456,212 EXPENSES Program services 7,031,074 Management and general 360,627 Total expenses 7,391,701 CHANGE IN NET ASSETS 64,511 NET ASSETS Beginning of year 1,464,077 End of year $1,528,588 Selected Audited Financial Highlights TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $3,602,009 8 T C C A N N U A L R E P O R T

6 On the road to brigher futures. TRANSPORTATION LOAN PROGRAM Tri-County Community Action, Inc (TCC) utilized ARRA funds to enhance its Transportation Loan Program and provide opportunities for clients to repair their existing vehicles, purchase vehicles or pay for vehicle insurance to maintain their existing employment, be considered for additional hours or to be able to find employment. Through the program, 65 jobs for participants were created or saved. In addition to the number of jobs created or saved for participants, TCC was able to employ a full time Transportation and Savings Specialist to help participants reach their goals. Through the program 65 jobs for participants were created or saved. Tri-County Community Action has operated a Transportation Loan Program since 1994 and has a revolving loan fund to provide clients with loans for vehicles or vehicle repairs. The loan funds were combined with ARRA funds to provide clients with a grant of $1,000 towards car purchase or repair along with a reasonable loan payment. This allowed participants to purchase a higher priced vehicle or to be able to fix a large repair on their vehicle. Participants who enrolled into the program had incomes in the following ranges: 90 at 0%-125% and 21 at 126% to 200%. Additional demographics for participants were that: 59% were able to keep or maintain their job, 17% received increased wages or hours due to the help they received through the program, and 20% of participants were able to find new jobs. 42% of participants were able to continue their search for employment because their vehicle was once again operational. Wage levels of jobs secured ranged from $7 to 20 per hour. As an example, a two parent family was able to gain employment for both parents to provide full time employment at a combined household income of $27 per hour as a result of assistance with their transportation needs. Community improvements were seen through increased partnerships with local car dealers, mechanics and local service programs such as Lutheran Social Services, Rural Minnesota CEP, Bridges of Hope, Workforce Centers, and County Social Services in all three counties of Morrison, Todd and Crow Wing. Car dealers were able to find and offer vehicles in the price ranges of the participants, while mechanics were able to provide quality inspections and repairs at reduced costs through partnerships with TCC. Local service programs were able to work with the clients and provide referrals and sometimes funds to help clients get their driver s licenses, insurance, down payment or other services to ultimately reach their goal of employment. 1 0 T C C A N N U A L R E P O R T

7 Reaching new heights. CIRCLES OF SUPPORT Tri-County Community Action (TCC) Circles of Support Program is a new initiative developed with the use of ARRA CSBG funds. Circles of Support is a mentoring program to assist participants to achieve goals in the areas of financial, education, and social skills. Mentors (allies) form a circle with the client to provide support and empowerment to help the client achieve their goals. TCC had been exploring Circles of Support for several years as a strategy toward reducing and eliminating poverty. The factors that allowed for the creation of this initiative were the ARRA CSBG funds which enabled TCC to hire a facilitator for each of the three counties, along with expanded income eligibility to recruit clients up to 200% of poverty so that participants in Circles could also be participating in FAIM. Regularly appropriated CSBG funds were used for supervision and management of the Circles program. ARRA CSBG funds were used for salaries, fringe and mileage for three Circles facilitators to develop circles in each of the three counties of Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd counties. Additionally, funds were used for meeting space, food costs and educational materials to hold circles meetings. While the direct participants of Circles of Support are primarily adults, the entire community is impacted. Outcomes include 14 participants currently involved in the program. Projected goals for participants range from 36% working toward their GED; 57% post secondary education; 86% building network of supportive relationships; and 50% are improving parenting skills while 100% are working on increased financial management. Currently, 64% of 7 Circles participants are also enrolled in FAIM. 5 are pursuing higher education and 2 have goals of starting their own business. participants have already met at least one of their goals. Additionally, seven Circles participants are also enrolled in FAIM. Five are pursuing higher education and two have goals of starting their own business. Participants are engaged in circles with 12 mentors (allies) to support their efforts towards individual goals in the areas of financial, education and social skills. Allies come from the community and volunteer their help and experiences to support the participant. Characteristics of allies are that at least 50% have experienced poverty at least once during their lifetime either growing up or as an adult. 50% have a prior connection with TCC and want to give back to other participants. Income ranges of participants indicate that 14% are under 125% of poverty and the remaining 85% are between 126% and 200% of poverty when they enrolled. Community improvements include increased volunteerism throughout the agency as a result of the Circles initiative, crossover and increased participation in other agency programs enabling TCC to better wrap agency services around clients. Local service agencies such as Lutheran Social Services, Bridges of Hope, Workforce Centers, Habitat for Humanity, Central Lakes College, Rural Minnesota CEP and county social services agencies are involved with referrals to the program and working in partnership to wrap their services around the clients as well while they are participating in the Circles program. The need for mentoring has been addressed in previous TCC community needs assessment and assessments done by other groups. 1 2 T C C A N N U A L R E P O R T

8 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Carol Anderson Morrison County Rebecca Best Scott Deegan Northern Todd County Rosemary Franzen Jim Fruth Northern Amanda Hill Eastern Morrison County Mary Jo Hofer Todd County Wayne Holtmeier David Kircher Todd County Don Meyer Morrison County Connie Nelson Southern Todd County Jennifer Perez Phillip Trusty Crow Wing Crow County Craig Nathan Gerald Ruda Todd County Tom Wenzel Morrison County Stan Wielinski Western Morrison County Brainerd Office 2410 Oak Street Brainerd, MN (218) Little Falls Office 501 LeMieur Street Little Falls, MN (320) TCC is a private non-profit corporation and an equal opportunity organization