Community Action expands services in Clinton area
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CLINTON — Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois (CAPCIL) wants residents to know they have a new office in Clinton, located in Cedar Square. Two representatives of the agency spoke to county board members on Thursday.
Katie Alexander and Breann Titus of CAPCIL thanked the board for its $3,500 funding contribution, in light of shaky state and federal funding, and explained some of what their agency does for the Clinton area.
“We wanted to share with you a little about what we use the money for,” Alexander told board members.
Alexander said CAPCIL has shifted its focus over the past three years, “in a really good direction.”
She said the agency was an extension of the welfare office. “People came back year after year after year,” she said. “And, we weren’t fully effective in helping them.”
CAPCIL launched a series of classes to help people with job training, financial literacy and other skills. The goal is to help them become self-sufficient.
“Many members of the DeWitt County community have come in and mentored them in these classes,” Alexander said. “We’ve had some great success stories.”
Because of the classes, one of the agency’s clients was able to get a job at a nursing home in Lincoln.
“She’s getting her GED, and she actually won ‘Employee of the Month’ not too long ago.”
Alexander said, however, there still was a need in which the agency needed to become more effective.
“When you’re in poverty, you don’t have sufficient means to overcome your road blocks,” Alexander said. Lack of transportation, daycare and other needs prevents people from making progress.
The Strengthening Working Families Initiative was developed by CAPCIL to help working families cover costs for things such as daycare and transportation.
“This is one of the ways we’re using your money,” she told the board. “Your contribution has been huge.”
Alexander also said it was important to have local mentors for people they serve.
“When you’re in poverty, you tend to associate with other people who are in poverty,” she said.
The mentoring program gets them together with people who can offer help for getting out of poverty.
“They appreciate that so much, and I can tell you from experience you’ll appreciate it as well.”
CAPCIL is based in Lincoln. The agency also administers the Head Start program, services for nutrition and energy assistance, among others.
