Community Services

The Community Services Department acts as a catalyst for community coordination to bring about changes in our communities thereby improving the lives of the families we serve.  Many of the clients that we serve are initially introduced to other agency services through the Community Services Department.  These services include:

Community Services Family Development (FD) Projects

  • Intake, Assessment, Referral & Follow-Up
  • Family Support
  • Life Improvement Family Training Workshops (LIFT)
  • Back to School Fairs
  • Free Tax Preparation and Electronic Filing
  • Emergency Assistance Programs
    • Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP)
    • Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)
    • Dollar Help / Dollar More

Community Coordination/Resource Development (CCRD) Projects

  • Step Up To Leadership
  • Health Empowerment Literacy Project (HELP)
  • Poverty Simulations

Family Development (FD) Projects

The Community Services Department provides a wide range of comprehensive services to help struggling families overcome barriers and reach higher levels of self-sufficiency.  One of the ways that we accomplish this is through Family Development Projects such as:

  • Intake, Assessment, Referral & Follow-Up
    Families are guided through the process of finding essential resources by identifying their needs.

  • Family Support
    Individuals seeking one-on-one assistance meet with a trained case manager, once per week, to develop plans to eliminate barriers caused by poverty and achieve educational and employment goals.

  • Life Improvement Family Training Workshops (LIFT)
    Participants are taught valuable life skills such as:  Budgeting, Home Energy Conservation, Personal Health & Wellness, Computer Literacy, CPR/First Aid, Employment Training, and much more.  Completing workshops earns a participant a stipend of $10 to $20.   Depending upon the length of the workshop, lunch may be provided.

  • Back to School Fairs
    Back to School Fairs support families by providing free health screenings, informational booths, fun/educational activities, back packs and school supplies to struggling households with school-aged children.

  • Free Tax Preparation and Electronic Filing
    Low to moderate income households who file federal/state income taxes or elderly, disabled or disabled veterans who qualify for Missouri Property Tax or Certification of Rent credits can receive free assistance.  In some counties, financial advisors assist tax filers in developing Tax Refund Investment Plans (TRIP).

  • Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP)
    Individuals or families who are homeless or facing eviction may qualify for assistance through HPRP.  Those who are eligible may qualify for Rent Arrearage payments, Short-Term or Medium-Term Rental Assistance, Rental Deposits and Utility Deposits.  SCMCAA is able to provide these services in 5 of our 7 counties.  Those counties are:  Carter, Dent, Reynolds, Shannon and Wayne.

  • Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)
    SCMCAA can provide housing, utility and supplemental food assistance through EFSP.  Our agency offers these services in 6 of our 7 counties:  Carter, Dent, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon and Wayne.  We can assist households with:  One-month Rent Arrearage payment, First Month's Rent, Utility Arrearage payment, or a Food/Diaper Voucher.

  • Dollar Help / Dollar More 
    In certain counties, eligible households may qualify for emergency heating assistance.  Such programs are made possible by Laclede Gas, Ameren UE and United Way 211 of St. Louis.

Community Coordination/Resource Development (CCRD) Projects

In addition to providing on-going Family Development Projects, the Community Services Department works with local community partners to address the needs of our communities and provide leadership, resources and support  through a specific effort known as Community Coordination/Resource Development Projects.  Such CCRD projects include:

  • Step Up To Leadership
    An inspiring, innovative project designed to equip low-to-moderate income participants with leadership skills, empowering them to serve as leaders in their community.

  • Health Empowerment Literacy Project (HELP)
    A project that is designed to increase health literacy by providing information in a small, informal "party format" - by using a Healthcare Planner as a tool.  Participants gain the necessary knowledge to help them take ownership of their health and become more actively involved in their own healthcare decisions.

  • Poverty Simulations
    Interactive, educational activity that is designed to raise awareness regarding the conditions and causes of poverty.

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