Welcome
Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) is a not-for-profit agency working toward alleviating the causes and conditions of poverty in the Ozarks. OACAC serves Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster Counties.
OACAC offers seven programs: Family Planning, Foster Grandparents, Head Start, Housing, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), Neighborhood Centers and Weatherization.
As part of a nationwide network of Community Action Agencies, OACAC continues to fight poverty with new and innovative programs and expanded services for children through Head Start and Early Head Start.
From developing programs for families to initiating community projects, OACAC is committed to making the Ozarks a better place to live and work for all residents.
More Current News & Events - Click Here!
June 13, 2013 - Please join us as we offer Patty Van Weelden, OACAC Housing Assistance Director best wishes on her retirement, Monday, June 24 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the OACAC Confernce Room at 215 S. Barnes Avenue. For more information contact 864-4441. THank you for almost 35 years of service!
June 10, 2013 - Patty Van Weelden, OACAC Housing Director, was honored June 5 for her housing collaborative service by the Community Partnership of the Ozarks with a room named in her honor at the newly opened Springfield Affordable Housing Center located at 300 E. Central. The Van Weelden Partner Room was dedicated to Patty Van Weelden for her tireless efforts to ensure safe, decent and affordable housing for elderly to youth and homeless to homeowner. Her passion and dedication drove the establishment of the Springfield Affordable Housing Center.
About 10 people will work out of the building and provide a centralized location where residents can access multiple agencies and organizations that offer safe, decent and affordable housing. Services will be provided by One Door, Springfield Community Land Trust, Housing Authority, Veterans Affairs and Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. OACAC will continue to provide Housing Assistance through the HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in the ten-county OACAC service area, outside the limits of Springfield. THE HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program helps eligible households pay part of their rent on an ongoing basis in a privately-owned house, apartment, or mobile home which is safe, decent sanitary and rent reasonable.
June 6, 2013 -
Michelle Garand (CPO), left; Patty Van Weelden (OACAC), right
Like what you see? Click here for information!
As a Community Action Agency, OACAC wants to call attention to increasing poverty problems and financial difficulties families in the OACAC ten-county area are facing. OACAC works to better focus local, state, private, and federal resources to assist low-income individuals and families to acquire useful skills and knowledge, gain access to new opportunities and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Read a few success stories here!
May 1, 2013 - Today marks the beginning of National Community Action Month!
April 29, 2013 - Status report from Carl regarding OACAC and Sequester Cuts - The Head Start reorganization is explained in the post dated April 26, 2013 below. This is an explanation where we are with the other six OACAC Programs under the Heading of Sequester News:
The OACAC Family Planning Program has six month funding through September 30, 2013 with a Missouri Family Health Council (MFHC) self-imposed 10% cut to grantees (because MHFC only got 45% of their annual funding and they have projected that as a 10% annual cut)) even though the information I have seen so far does not state that cut anywhere. The second Notice of Grant Award for October-March should fix that problem.
The OACAC Foster Grandparent Program got full funding for the first three months (April-June) then with the second Notice of Grant Award is expected to get around a 4% cut for the last nine months (July-March).
The OACAC Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program was funded at 75% starting in October, so whenever Missouri gets the actual figures from the Feds, we should wind up with about 95% of our 2012 allocation.
The OACAC LIHEAP Program was fully funded with the release of $4.6 to grantees in March. We will have a summer ECIP program starting June 1. The big news for Missouri’s LIHEAP Program is that the start of the 2013-2014 Program (for both Energy Assistance and Energy Crisis Intervention) has been delayed to December 1, 2013. We do not know funding levels at this time.
The OACAC Weatherization Program is supposed to receive a share of at least $1,000,000 made available through the LIHEAP Program. Federal funding remains uncertain for the rest of this year and for the next program year.
The OACAC Housing Assistance Program information for this year remains unchanged at a 6% cut for vouchers and an estimated 18% cut for administration.
Carl
April 26, 2013 - OACAC Head Start and Early Head Start Announce Reorganization to Address Funding Challenges - Read More
April 19, 2013 - Thank you to the following individuals who supported OACAC's Head Start Smiles Dental Project through Cause Momentum at the $100 level: Carl Rosenkranz, Stephanie Montgomery, and Kimberly. The following individuals supported the project at the $25 level: Rob & Sally Baird, Peggy Golden, and Ron & Alice Wingo. This program is sponsored by Community Foundation of the Ozarks. To view current community projects please visit www.causemomentum.org. Thank you for your support!
April 10, 2013 - The OACAC 2012 Annual Report is now available! For copies please call or email Alice Wingo at 417-864-3448 or awingo@oacac-caa.org. To download a copy click here.
April 9, 2013 - Today is the first annual Mayor's Day of Recognition for National Service. OACAC is pleased to thank and recognize the Foster Grandparent Program for the contribution made by over 70 volunteers who give 25-30 per week mentoring and tutoring children. Your passion and dedication is appreciated!
Mayor Robert Stephens and Grandma Barbara Lacy
View presentation of proclamation here
April 3, 2013 - OACAC Christian County Neighborhood Center is accepting applications for a consumer advocate for their Advisory Board. For information call 417-581-7631.
March 21, 2013 - Effective March 29, 2013, LIHEAP for Winter Energy Assistance (EA) (October 1 - March 29) will come to a close for public access. Agencies are to stop distributing, either through mail or hand-out, LIHEAP applications for EA purposes at the close of business on March 29, 2013. The last day to accept LIHEAP applications for EA purposes will be April 12, 2013. Agencies may accept LIHEAP applications for EA purposes with a returned postmark of April 12, 2013 or earlier.
We will continue to offer the Winter Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) until May 31, 2013 or until the funding runs out.
March 19, 2013 - News From Patty Van Weelden, OACAC Housing Assistance Program Director regarding sequester cuts and OACAC Housing Assistance Program:
OACAC administers the HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program in Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene (not including city of Springfield), Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, and Webster Counties on behalf of the Dallas County Public Housing Agency. The HUD funding formula for this program is based on a Calendar Year (CY) and not on the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY). The federal Sequester cuts were effective March 1, 2013. The cuts will be effective retroactive to January 1, 2013. As of today, OACAC has not received formal notification of our program budget authority for CY 2013. The following table represents my best estimates based on what I know today. Read More
March 13, 2013 - OACAC is proud to recognize Julie Popanz for her successful efforts to provide needed quality housing to the community of Cassville and her participation with the OACAC Housing Assistance Program.
In our work to assist tenants in their search for solid and affordable housing, we appreciate the efforts of owners who maintain the quality of their properties. But, sometimes, an owner accomplishes much more, making a substantial and positive effect on housing in a community. Certainly this is true of property owner, Julie Popanz of Cassville, MO.
In 2010 Popanz and her family-owned company, WD Holdings of Cassville, purchased the former Hillcrest Apartments, a 20-unit building which had reached a state of necessary rehabilitation. Personally involved in the transformation, Popanz has become a wall and ceiling texture expert, applying an attractive finish to every square inch of surface. With every door replaced, new flooring, appliances, and paint throughout, a very modern apartment now stands ready to attract full occupancy.
"We are pleased with the results of our efforts to open up new opportunities for families of all income levels," said Popanz. OACAC Housing Assistance client Rhonda Rhoads expressed her gratitude for being able to find this very nice apartment.
March 11, 2013 - Did you know that OACAC Greene County Center teaches classes at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners with a goal to help inmates be successful once they re-enter into society? For the last year we have been teaching a series of three classes that span three months. "Thinking Outside the Box" focuses on the skills to obtain employment, "Reality Check" focuses on budgeting and green cleaning, and "Making Life Happen" focuses on interpersonal relationships, time management, and stress management. This program is run through the re-entry services at the prison and all of the participants will be released. Our hope is that they can apply the skills we teach to have an easier transition back into society.
March 8, 2013 - Today’s Budget News: Nothing will get done officially about the Senate response to the House passed version of the Continuing Resolution (CR) which keeps the percentage at 5% for domestic spending, but one can only hope that there is a lot of behind the scenes activity on the Senate version. Because of the TWO WEEK House and Senate recess starting March 25,2013, the Congressional goal on the CR is to get it done by March 21 or 22.
OACAC Sequester News as of today:
LIHEAP and Weatherization look like no cuts. There has been no official word from the funding sources, but we did get more LIHEAP winter money and Weatherization has no 2013 appropriation to cut. In addition, The waiting list for the Weatherization Program was at 900 on January 22 which at present funding translates to about a six year wait for assistance.
Housing Assistance looks like an 8% cut and we are still reviewing what that means in terms of the number of households who will no longer have assistance this year. As of January 22, 2013, the waiting list for the program in the ten county area (excluding the city of Springfield) was 2,463 which means about a three year wait for assistance.
CSBG (Neighborhood Centers): We have no program instruction yet, but it looks like about a 5% cut in 2013 money. HHS could be waiting for the results of the CR before issuing anything to the states.
Foster Grandparent Program looks like about a 4% cut which could mean a loss of 1-2 Foster Grandparents and some staffing reductions. The funding source is waiting for the results of the CR.
Family Planning: We had our monitoring review today. Our year starts March 31 and it looks like there will be a cut in the regular funding plus a cut as a result of the Sequester. HHS is probably waiting for the results of the CR before issuing a Notice of Grant Award to the state grantee.
Head Start: The HHS Instruction/guidance was issued last Friday and we still do not have any Questions and Answers email that was promised as a result of the second conference call that day. We have a Monday afternoon conference call with our KC Regional Office Program Specialist to go over the Instruction and talk about the effect of the cut on the OACAC Head Start Program. We know that the cut will not occur until September 2013 for the new program year as we are still operating on 2012 money.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Carl Rosenkranz - crosenkranz@oacac-caa.org
February 19, 2013 -
OACAC/Dallas County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Draft 2013 Annual PHA Plan - Dallas County PHA serves ten counties excluding the city of Springfield. Read Draft Here!
February 8, 2013 - Thank you to CFO, Coover Foundation and Commerce Bank! OACAC Neighborhood/Community Centers were awarded $12,000 for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' Coover Regional Grant to to fund 7 REALL kits for Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Lawrence, Polk, and Webster Counties. REALL engages young adults with a goal to reduce high school drop out rates and increase self-sufficiency and success in adulthood. Read More!
Left to right: Jill Reynolds, Darla Boice, Melannie Frater,
Jennifer Olson and Lindsey Dumas-Bell
February 5, 2013 - OACAC Awards $17,048 to projects that assist low-income families Read More!
Serving Meals at Loaves and Fishes - 17 OACAC board members, staff and volunteers participated in preparing, serving and cleaning up at the Loaves & Fishes free dinner at Our Lady of the Cove Catholic Church in Kimberling City on February 5. Silver Dollar City prepared chicken noodle soup and red roasted pepper soup. The meal was rounded out with crackers, salad, cookies and oranges. 55 meals were served. Thank you all for your kindness and community service!
Pictured above from left to right: Cy Bortner, Al Morton, Misti Clark, Mike Shanta,
Diana Peters, Kris Swanson, and Roseanne McEvoy.
January 31, 2013 -Springfield Head Start program could get boost from state - The program in the Queen City would get roughly $320,000 in Gov. Jay Nixon's proposed budget. See the story at KSPR http://www.kspr.com/news/kspr-springfield-mo-head-start-program-could-get-boost-from-the-state-20130131,0,3916446.story
January 14, 2012 - Thanks to the Nixa Community Foundation for their donation of $1500 for the OACAC Christian County Neighborhood Center Back To School Fair to be held in July 2013.
December 21, 2012 - Thanks to the Gannett Foundation, Springfield News-Leader, for donating $2,600 for the purchase of two Love and Logic parenting curriculums and 150 parent handbooks. The Love and Logic project strives to help improve parenting skills, increase communication between parents and children, decrease stress, and decrease child abuse. Love and Logic classes will be available to parents and guardians with children under the age of 18 living in Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties. While the focus will be to offer Love and Logic to low-income families, anyone interested in participating will be welcome. Families who meet income eligibility will not be charged a fee, and families whose income exceeds guidelines will pay $25 for the class series. Monies generated by fees will be used to sustain the project long-term.
December 14, 2012 - Thanks to David O'Reilly, Chairman of the Board at O'Reilly Auto Parts, for his $10,500 lead gift donation to 2013 Head Start Smiles Campaign and his continued support of OACAC Head Start! Head Start does not receive funding for these dental services so they rely on donation commitments from the public to fund student dental care. To give $5 - $10 click here! All Head Start Students, ages 3 and up, are seen by a dentist twice during the school year for oral exams, full x-rays, fluoride treatment, and cleanings and their cavities and any infection are treated with fillings and crowns. It is the goal of Head Start to have the children's oral health fully restored during the school year. They also keep costs minimized by enrolling students in private dental insurance or Missouri HealthNet, by receiving services from dental providers that reduce their fees for students of low-income families. See the press release here!
December 4, 2012 - Thanks to the Price Cutter Charity Championship Golf Tournament for donating $15,003.00 to OACAC today at the Celebration of Sharing Luncheon. A big thank you to our financial sponsor, Springfield Grocer Company, for investing in the sponsorship of hole 3 and helping us to leverage additional funds to help families in need. Together we are helping low-income families to become more self-sufficient!
December 3, 2012 - Head Start asks for public's voice to help restore lost funding. http://www.kspr.com/news/kspr-head-start-asks-families-to-pet-20121203,0,1500482.premiumvideo
November 30, 2012 - Head Start student, James McCoy was surprised by the homecoming of his father, James McCoy at the OACAC Head Start Family Night at the Discovery Center in Springfield Thursday night. Father, James McCoy has completed 11years of service in the Navy in Japan and Kuwait. Father and son will live together in SW Missouri. HS Family Night at the Discovery Center was funded through a grant partnership with the Discovery Center for the Head Start Science Starts Project. Greene and Christian County Head Start Centers' children are able to go to the Discovery Center once a month for a field trip and have two family nights a year to help boost the Head Start Science and Math Curriculum.
27, 2012 - Today marks the first-ever #GivingTuesday. It's an ideal day to donate to OACAC! Questions? Email awingo@oacac-caa.org. November 21, 2012 - Thank you to CFO! Tuesday, Nov. 20th, OACAC Head Start was awarded $13,750 for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' Early Childhood grant program to purchase Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning Fourth Edition (DIAL-4) kits and DIAL-4 Record Forms for 20 Head Start classrooms in the Springfield metropolitan area. This grant will provide services to 600 preschoolers per year for the next ten years! Pictured with the award are CFO Board Member Stephanie Stenger Montgomery along with Donna DeVries and Alice Wingo of OACAC. Read the press release here! November 14, 2012 - Grab your family and friends and join us at the Ruby Tuesday at 2725 N. Glenstone in Springfield on November 29, 2012 . Please present this flyer to your server and they will give back 20% of your purchase to OACAC. Good from 11 am to 11 pm so all purchases qualify! Please help us reach our goal of $400 in donations to help low-income families in need! November 7, 2012 - Partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or renovate a home. Then buy it for a low cost with a zero-interest loan. Click here for more information! November 6, 2012 - Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, do hereby proclaim October 30, 2012, to be November 5, 2012 - Thanks to Gwendolyn Fawcett for knitting 120 pairs of mittens for the children at our West Chestnut Head Start location. The kids were thrilled and the mittens will keep them toasty warm this winter! November 2, 2012 - Here are some quotes from today’s REALL simulation at Bolivar High School: • “I’m going to go to college not have children ‘til later in life.” From a volunteer: For more information click here. October 29, 2012- Thanks to the Girl Scouts of Barry County for donating 40 "Birthday Party in a Bag" from their annual slumber party that was held on Friday, the 26th. This year's theme was Dr. Seuss. The bags will be distributed in conjunction with Life Skills classes to families in Barry County. October 28, 2012 - Looking to reduce energy bills? Start with an audit. Read more! October 19, 2012 — OACAC Head Start was awarded $3,878 from the Chaney Family Foundation to purchase DIAL-4 Kits for six locations in Barry County, Missouri. This grant will provided services to 156 preschoolers in Barry County. Read More! October 16, 2012 - Thanks to Whitney Rapp, a teacher at Nixa High School who is involved with Helping Hands, a community group. Through Helping Hands, about 40 Nixa High School students helped put together goody bags for their project called Dare to Care. The OACAC Christian County Neigborhood Center received the bags and handed them out to low-income families today. Community collaboration works! October 15. 2012 - Congratulations to Christie Wickert, the 2012 Ozark Mountain Monopoly Champion! Thanks to everyone for helping make this annual fundraiser a success. October 11, 2012 - New grant MoHealth WINs allows OTC Students to Earn a Very Affordable Education in Two Healthcare Fields: Building Maintenance and Hearing Instrument Science. Anyone who is unemployed, underemployed, a veteran, low-skilled, or Trade-act are eligible to participate in these programs. See the flier here. Check out the MoHealthWINs link at www.otc.edu/mohealthwins October 10, 2012 - On October 15 - 18, 2012, staff from the Department of Social Services, Family Support Division and Division of Finance and Administrative Services will be onsite to conduct a review of OACAC's administration of the Fiscal Year 2012 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program contract, the CSBG American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contract and the Fiscal Year 2012 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contract. October 4, 2012 - The NEW 2012 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) State Fact Sheets provide highlights of the CSBG Network. Data within each State fact sheet includes: How many families were served (including the percentage breakdown or how many were below the poverty guideline and in severe poverty) How many children, people with disabilities, seniors, and people who lacked health insurance were served and more. The OACAC Neighborhood Centers provide services with funding received from CSBG. Click here to see how Community Action Agencies are meeting the needs of low-income familes in Missouri. October 2, 2012 - Did you wonder if everyone had fun at the OACAC Scavenger Hunt? We think so! Thank you for helping us assist low-income families in Greene County. September 27, 2012 - Congratulations to Nancy Masner for 30 years of service with OACAC. We appreciate your dedication to serving others! September 20, 2012 - Are you 60 or older and need a dentist? Read More! September 18, 2012 - Grab your family and friends and join us at the Ruby Tuesday at 2725 N. Glenstone in Springfield on September 27, 2012 . Please present this flyer to your server and they will give back 20% of your purchase to OACAC. Valid from 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on September 27. Reservations are helpful, but are not required. Please help us with this delicious fundraiser for OACAC! September 11, 2012 - A letter from the OACAC Housing Assistance Program (Click Here) was faxed and mailed today to Senator Claire McCaskill, Senator Roy Blunt, Representative Billy Long, Representative Jo Ann Emerson, and Representative Vicky Hartzler. These five federal legislators serve the OACAC ten county region. The letter speaks for itself. August 31 - Graduating class of the Missouri Academy for Leadership and Community Action. Our own Lindsey Dumas-Bell is on the far right. Congratulations and job well done Lindsey! August 30, 2012 August 27, 2012 - Grab your family and friends and join us at the Ruby Tuesday at 2725 N. Glenstone in Springfield on August 30, 2012 . Please present this flyer to your server and they will give back 20% of your purchase to OACAC. Valid from 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on August 30. Reservations are helpful, but are not required. Please help us with this delicious fundraiser for OACAC! August 13, 2012 - Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped OACAC marshal hole 3 at the Price Cutter Charity Championship Golf Tournament August 9 - 12. Thanks to Todd, Tom, Jim, Ben, Tiffany, Chuck, Ron, Dale, Cy, Melannie, Patty, Kimberly, Bud, Alice, Chris, Jerry, Robin, Dave, Carl, Ryan, Leonard, and Aaron. You all did great! August 9, 2012 - What a great first day at the Price Cutter Charity Championship Golf Tournament. Thanks to Springfield Grocer Company for being our sponsor on hole #3. These photos look quiet, but the action had just ended for the day. Come out and join the fun! July 31, 2012 - Head Start has immediate openings in Springfield For more information on Head Start or the application process, click here or call: 864-3430 or toll-free 1-866-282-3430. July 24, 2012 - Please take a look at the items OACAC has submitted for the Price Cutter Charity Championship Auction on August 7, 2012. If you have questions about an item or would like complimentary tickets to the auction, please contact Alice at awingo@oacac-caa.org or 864-3448. See the items here! July 18, 2012 - Congratulations to the OACAC Foster Grandparent Program on their 40th Anniversary! Read More! July 17, 2012 - Thanks to the Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation for giving Head Start $4,290 for DIAL-4 Assessment Kits to screen kids for developmental delays. July 14, 2012 - Thanks to Empire Bank, Quan at ALICE 95.5, Dave, Tim, Tiffany, Carl and Ron for supporting OACAC! OACAC placed the PCCC Mustang at Empire Bank while ALICE 95.5 rocked some great music and encouaraged folks to stop by and purchase a ticket to win the car. Thanks to all for their hard work! July 13, 2012 - Look at the beautiful handcrafted item that will be sold at the PCCC Auction on August 7. If you would like tickets to the auction, please contact awingo@oacac-caa.org. July 11, 2012 - Surplus weatherization items for sale, July 20. Read More! July 6, 2012 - Come see the PCCC 2012 Mustang at Empire Bank on July 14! All ticket sales that day go to OACAC! Read More
WEATHERIZATION DAY in Missouri, and urge all citizens to honor and recognize the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program's employees for their hard work and dedication. Read the proclamation here!
• “You need to think about your future”
• “Dropping out affects you very much. You have less pay.”
• “When you drop out of school you have a bad job.”
• “I can’t do this alone. I need my friends.”
• “I can’t afford to take care of children at all.”
• “I liked seeing what it was really like and getting hands on stress of it.”
• “Students noticed it was easier to pay bills and live a comfortable life if they went to school.”
September 21, 2012 - Thanks to Nita Jane Ayres, Jim Holt and the Table Rock Lake Community Foundation for giving OACAC Head Start a grant for $2,300 to support preschool developmental screenings in the Table Rock area. 
23 individuals attended the REALL Simulation Volunteer Training held at the OACAC Central Office. To learn more at the REALL Simulation Click Here!
A few images from the PCCC tournament - August 9-12, 2012
OACAC Head Start has immediate openings in Springfield for its full-day Head Start program. Head Start is a high quality preschool/childcare program for young children. For your child, Head Start provides medical and dental care, meals, and a great learning experience! Transportation assistance is available for families to attend Head Start Activities. Head Start invites children with disabilities to participate in all aspects of the program. To be eligible to apply, parents must be working or attending school, meet the income guidelines and have children who are 3 or 4 before August 1, 2012 are eligible to apply. 4-year olds receive priority along with Foster children and children receiving SSI. 
Ellen Hammock with OHAF and Kimberly Shinn-Brown with OACAC
June 6, 2012 - Funding cuts to OACAC Early Head Start Come As A Surprise
View story from KY3
Read OACAC Press Release
May 22, 2014 - Carl Rosenkranz explains the federal budget process at the OACAC Area Board Meeting. View here!
May is Community Action Month! Read the proclamation from Governor Nixon here
May 14, 2012 - Grant to assist seniors awarded to OACAC Greene County Center
Read More!
May 9, 2012 - Marshfield High School students face REALL problems. Read More!
April 26, 2012 -Congratulations to OACAC Taney County Neighborhood Center! They were awarded a grant from the Tri-Lakes United Way. Read More!
April 12, 2012
ACTION ALERT! Missouri's Race to the Bottom
With the attacks on child care, Missouri is set to hit the bottom when it come to supporting working families.
Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee endorsed a plan to cut child care programs by almost $30 million.
The cuts were made in the following ways:
* $16 million cut from child care assistance (reducing eligibility to 103% of the Federal Poverty Level and eliminating child care assistance for 6,190 chiildren.)
* $13 million cut from grants to create new spaces for infants and toddlers, and from contracts to provide training and coaching that increase the quality of care.
Call 1-800-253-1960 to be connected with the following Senators:
* Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer
* Senate Pro-Tem Rob Mayer
* Senator Dan Brown
* Senator Rob Shaaf
Tell these Senators:
* Do not cut child care assistance funding.
* This program helps keep parents at work whild providing a safe place for their children to prepare for school.
* Missouri is already 49th in the country when it comes to providing child care assistance. Don't put Missouri at the bottom of the list.
Call 1-800-253-1960 RIGHT NOW
Some facts on Missouri's childcare assistance program:
* It provides assistance for working families to afford child care.
* A $30 million cut would force many families out of the workforce.
* Thousands of families rely on this help in order to advance in the workplace and work their way out of poverty.
Thank you for taking the time to help make a difference in the lives of Missouri's children.
The Partnership for Children Team
March 30, 2012 - Thanks to volunteers from Expedia for donating supplies, reading and coloring with the kids and helping with chores at Grant Head Start. We appreciate your hard work!
/> March 27, 2012 - Carl Rosenkranz presented Employee Service Awards at the OACAC Area Board Meeting. Carl presented 25-Year Employee Service Awards to Tommie Trammell and Gail Rusch. View Speeches by Tommie and Gail below: src="/oacac/sites/default/files/pictures/carl-and-marilyn-cook.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="262" /> Carl presented a 15-year Employee Service Award to Marilyn Cook March 15, 2012 - Branson Alderman have approved a $9,000 grant for the OACAC Taney County Neighborhood Center to be used for Branson residents. Read More! March 6, 2012 - NOTICE: Applications for the Winter Energy Assistance Program will be accepted through March 30, 2012 until 5:00 p.m. After that date, funding will no longer be available for the Energy Assistance Program. The Winter Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) will be available until May 31, 2012 for applicants who have received a shut-off notice of their untilities or a COD customer for propane. February 16, 2012 - What our Board Members do in their free time! Cy Bortner (AKA PlungeBob Squarepants) won the Golden Plunger for best costume at the 7th Annual Polar Plunge in Table Rock Lake to benefit Special Olympics Missouri on Feb. 11, 2012. Congrats Cy on a job well done! February 14, 2012 - OACAC/Dallas County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Draft 2012 Annual PHA Plan - Dallas County PHA serves ten counties excluding the city of Springfield. Read Draft Here! February 14, 2012 - OACAC Top Chili Dog Cook-off Revived! Thanks to all OACAC employees who entered their chili in the OACAC Top Chili Dog Cook-off 15. Thanks also to our judges: Scott Miller, General Manager for City Utilities, Ashley Reynolds, Reporter and Videographer for KY3 News and Dave O'Dell, Chief Regulatory Officer for Greene County. Top Dog honors goes to Alice Wingo. Nancy Masner was named runner-up and will fulfill the duties of Top Chili Dog should Alice be unable to fulfill them! February 7, 2012 - Education Opens Eyes to Opportunities - James Dever, age 22 looks like any other college student at first glance. But when you get to know his story...Read entire article! January 31, 2012 - Dr. Shakespere worked on Yasmin's two front teeth restoring her beautiful smile! Yasmin's family could not pay for the visit so Head Start helped out through our dental program. January 23, 2012 - Notice of Public Hearing on behalf of the Dallas County Public Housing Agency (PHA) Read More! January 13, 2012 - Thanks to the Nixa Community Foundation for their donation of $1000 for the OACAC Christian County Neighborhood Center Back To School Fair to be held in July 2012. Check out archive news stories here!
Carl Rosenkranz and Tommie Trammell
Carl Rosenkranz and Gail Rusch
Carl presented a 10-year Employee Service Award to Debi Reece.
March 27, 2012 - NEW! OACAC 2011 Annual Report Available - View Here
For additional copies email awingo@oacac-caa.org.
March 9, 2012 - NOTICE: OACAC receives $76,500 from Missouri Housing Development Commission to assist victims of the Branson tornado. Read More!
