ANNUAL REPORT - Northeast Kingdom Community Action

NORTH EAST KINGDOM COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY

ANNUAL REPORT

2016

NEKCA MISSION"Believing in each individual's potential for positive growth and

change, NEKCA is committed to empowering those who seek

assistance to improve the quality of their lives. We provide direct

program activities, referrals, advocacy and education in a

non-judgmental manner to the people of the communities in

the Northeast Kingdom."

MANAGEMENT & STAFF

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

01

NEKCA Newport - Administration

70 Main Street

PO Box 346

Newport, VT 05855

Phone: 802.334.7316

Fax: 802.334.5249

Toll-free: 800.639.4065

Web: http://www.nekcavt.org

https:/ / www.facebook.com/ NEKCAVT

2016 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair

Vice Chair

Treasurer

Secretary

Ellen Stanley ................................................

Nancy Fried ...................................................

Maryellen Griffin ........................................

Linda Gochie ................................................

Jennifer Farmer

Diana Eaton

Elizabeth Smith

Marcel Thibodeau (alternate)

Joe Patrissi .....................................................

Amy Burbo ....................................................

John Killion ...................................................

Lynda Davidson ..........................................

Linda Michniewicz.....................................

.

Kathy Metras ................................................

.

.

Stephanie Bowen ......................................

..

..

..

....

Amy Robinson .............................................

..

Jan Rossier .....................................................

Executive Director

Administrator, Human Resources

Director of Finance

Assistant Director of Finance

Director, Head Start & Early Head

Start Programs

Director, Parent Child Center

Director, Youth Services

Director, Outreach

Director, Community & Justice

Programs

Director, Community-Based

Corrections Programs

Director, Diversion Program

Director, Micro Business

Development Program

Director, Lincoln Center

01 Mission

Board of Directors

Management & Staff

Letter from the

Executive Director

Financial Profile

Outreach

Parent/Child Center

North

NEKCA Lincoln Center

Head Start/Early Head

Start Programs

Youth Services

Micro Business

Development Program &

Aspire

Community-Based

Corrections Programs

Community & Justice

Programs

Leadership Team

02

03

04

05

06

08

10

11

13

14

15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Jim Courchesne

Dan Prue

Megan Cross

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

02

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

With Executive Director

Joe Patrissi &

Board President Ellen Stanley

"Aspire to inspire before you expire." - Anonymous

Dear NEKCA Colleagues:

2016 was a good year for moving forward. Our annual report lists many outcomes

and accomplishments throughout our departments by our staff and partners on the

following pages.

Some highlights include helping to create aspirations and open doors for parents to

higher education; creating opportunities for individuals to achieve prosperity, and,

to expand our collective impact initiative with new partners in the Kingdom.

These include:

The education pilot and ASPIRE! Initiative are featured in this report. We are

thankful for all the partnerships that we enjoy throughout the NEK. It will take all of

us to create the prosperity that we need to thrive in the NEK.

We are looking forward to 2017 to continue these efforts and more!

Joe Patrissi, Executive Director

Ellen Stanley, President of the Board

Partnering with Community College and the Reach Up program to create a pilot to

provide no cost credited college courses for parents at the Lincoln Street Parent Child

Center. These courses helped create the aspirations for the students to pursue higher

education in the Reach Up post-secondary education program. Ten parents completed

the two course requirement.

A USDA grant funded the ASPIRE! Initiative for women entrepreneurs to get support to

create their own micro businesses. Forty-three women participated. Ten went on to

obtain the initial round of $2,000 technical assistance awards.

North Country Hospital and several other partners committed to a multi-year collective

impact initiative similar to the one anchored by Northeastern Regional Vermont Hospital

to increase health outcomes in the NEK by building capacity in housing, employment,

education, mental health and health supports.

FINANCIALSRevenues & Expenses

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

03

"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." — Christian D. Larson

OUTREACHCrisis Fuel Assistance

Emergency Housing

Food Shelf

Community Need

By the Numbers:

The Newport Outreach Services Team strives to provide a warm and

welcoming environment. We understand the many challenges people

in our communities are faced with and we will deliver services in a

non-judgmental way. We also will do our best to meet the immediate

needs of families with regard to basic and necessary services such as:

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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Crisis Fuel Assistance

Food Shelf

Housing supports

Electrical Disconnect

Health Care application assistance

Budgeting help

Forms Assistance

Low Income Advocacy

Service provider referrals

For more information on Outreach Services

contact NEKCA:

Newport at (802) 334-7316

Island Pond (802) 723-5276

Canaan (802) 266-7134 Fax (802) 266-7269.

“Inspiration follows aspiration.” – Rabindranath Tagore

Outreach staff and Director at the Annual Hungerfest food drive

Community Need By

the Numbers

Outreach in Newport served

approximately:

90 people a day, 422 people a

week, and 21,216 people a year

seeking food assistance

(2016 Calendar Year)

Number of low-income

individuals receiving the

following services:

Emergency Fuel/Utility

235 sought assistance

186 were assisted

500 transports were approved

278 Thanksgiving turkey baskets

were distributed

Shaws and Price Chopper

donated 95,196 lbs of food

Hungerfest and

Hungerbowl 2016 raised $26,450

and

received over 10,000 pounds of

food from community donors!

A huge thank you to Ronney

Lyster and Abel Toll and their

staff at Northpoint, Barry

Rosenthal of BR Creative, and

Vaughn Cloney (Right Wheels)

and Jason Royer of Lyndonville!

Emergency Housing

150 sought assistance

34 were assisted

PARENT/CHILD

CENTER NORTH

Community Need

By the Numbers:

As a member of the Vermont Parent/Child Center Network, the mission

of the Orleans/Essex North Parent/Child Center is to provide support and

education to families and assure that our community is one in which all

young children get off to the right start with the opportunity to grow up

healthy, happy and productive.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

05

For more information contact:

PCC North

70 Main Street

Newport, VT 05855

Phone: (802) 334-7316

"Dreams become reality when intentions turn into actions."

By the Numbers:

Thrift Store:

123 people assisted

in the thrift store

41 people gained competitive

employment

Toy Drive:

The Annual toy drive is a

collaboration between many

area agencies, businesses and

individuals.

The participants at our worksite

are responsible for gathering,

organizing and packing toys for

families who sign up through

our agency. Participants enjoy

this opportunity to give back to

their community.

The 2016 toy drive provided gifts

to 428 children and 184 families

throughout Orleans/Northern

Essex Counties

Parent and Family Education:

62 parenting classes were

provided on the topics of

Healthy Communication Skills

Behavior Issues

Teen Topics

Childhood Safety

Local Parenting Resources

Nurturing a Strong Emotional

Foundation & and many more!

54 parents completed Parent

Education classes and services

Family Education Programsprovide parents with information on

child safety, self-esteem, child

development, child abuse and

communication. These, and other

topics identified by parents, are

covered one-on-one with parents or

in parenting groups. Parenting

groups are open to the public.

Community Thrift Storeprovides the community with

affordable shopping alternatives

for children and adult clothing,

household goods and furniture

and provides job training and

work experience to members of

the community seeking

employment skills. The store is

staffed by participants in various

state and local programs,

including Reach Up, the Vermont

Associates and youth

employment program. In addition

to training and experience in

customer service and retail,

participants have access to

educational opportunities and

career coaching.

Childcare Support Services offers child care referrals to families

and processes and determines

eligibility for child care financial

assistance, including for working

parents. The child care referral service

is available at no cost to any parent

who is seeking child care and includes

consumer education to assist with

becoming wise consumers of child

care.

Another Chance

is an innovative program that offers

a friendly and supportive

atmosphere in which pregnant and

parenting teens can acquire their

High School diploma or GED. The

program is open to male and

female teen parents or parents to

be. Our goal is to help parents learn

in all areas of life.

Job Coaching

is a program designed to provide

participants with a realistic picture of

how well their work skills and habits

match workplace expectations.

Participants assess whether they

have the necessary education and

academic skills to compete in their

chosen field. When further education

is needed or desired, staff will help

participants create a realistic

timeline for meeting their goals.

LINCOLN

CENTER NEKCA South

NEKCA’s Lincoln Center located in St. Johnsbury, is an integrated service delivery model designed with a

family-centered focus to best meet the needs of the families served. To better coordinate and manage

services the center is comprised of three teams:

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

06


Parent Child Center South (PCCS)

115 Lincoln Street

St. Johnsbury, VT 05819

Phone: (802) 748-6040

Toll-free: 888.748.6040

"Vision looks outward and becomes aspiration." - Stephen Samuel Wise

Team One: Outreach

This team has a focus on crisis-based services for example: fuel, food and housing. Additionally they manage a

warming shelter and provide case-management around housing issues. The warming shelter served 43

individuals. The guests who stayed for any length of time were permanently housed. Many of the individuals

were short term users, access the shelter for a night or two and were transitioned to other potential housing

solutions. Three received shelter plus care vouchers and follow-up case management with our local mental

health organization. This was an exciting addition to our service delivery model and we are looking forward to

next year.

Another new grant this year was the Jobs for Independence program. JFI provides support as well as referrals

to appropriate services outside the agency. The program made 36 referrals, 19 enrolled.

Our foodshelf and VT Fresh programs have been expanded this year. We have worked with Price Chopper to

receive their rescued food and VT Fresh to continue to increase our produce distribution.

We also offer frequent cooking and tasting demonstrations so families and individuals are able to try different

vegetables.

Team Two: Early Childhood

This team provides a high quality, 5 STAR preschool program

with a day child care component. The preschool program offers

parent teacher conferences, parent education and family activity

opportunities. Children receive breakfast, lunch and snack five

days a week. This team also provides a community playgroup

twice a week offering families with children 0-5 a place to gather

and engage socially. There is an Early Head Start home visitor

who provides in home support to families with children up to 3

years of age.

This has been an exciting year. We have been working hard to

bring the natural playground model into the classroom creating

a more child friendly and relaxing classroom. Staff have worked

really hard to create not only more interesting spaces for both

playgroup and pre-school classrooms but have increased

attendance by offering consistent special activities such as a

music program, regular messy playdays and family paint nights.

These additional activities were well received by families.

Prep for College celebration

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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Team Three: Work and Training

This team provides job training skill enhancement, on-site job training

opportunities, an educational classroom to complete high school

diploma or GED and transportation. There are daily activities and

workshops on a variety of topics.

We had seven parents graduate and obtain their High School Diploma.

We partnered with Economic Services and Community College of

Vermont and were able to provide an opportunity for 15 individuals to

prepare for a degree or certificate program.

The PREP for College program is designed to help students move

toward the life they want. This course provides personalized support to

get started, two tuition free three credit courses, textbooks for each class

and individual academic support to make sure the student succeeds.

The Working in a Professional Environment class is a three-credit course

focusing on career planning, workplace etiquette and communication,

and supplemented with basic computer, math and English skills

development. While completing her final project Tiffany Allen said, “I

gotta tell you Alexis, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing my

project come together! I am feeling so successful!"

The Dimensions of Freedom course helps students learn about

themselves as learners, practice doing research with the online library,

and work on their critical reading and writing skills to help them be

successful in all their future college courses.

These classes are a stepping stone for the postsecondary education

(PSE) program sponsored by the State of Vermont. The PSE program

assists parents in low-income families obtain two or four year

postsecondary undergraduate degrees in fields directly related to

employment, provides financial assistance, case management and

support services including: childcare, transportation and school supplies

All three teams work together on special projects such as Thanksgiving

baskets and the Vermont Fresh Project pictured on the right.

"You aspire to do great things? Start with little ones." - St. Augustine

Jobs For Independence (JFI):

36 Referrals

19 Enrolled

Warming Shelter:

Served 43 individuals

Food Shelf:

4,821 Households and

11,845 Individuals

were served

Lincoln Street Job Fair!

HEAD START &

EARLY HEAD START

PROGRAMS

Head Start is a national preschool

program that provides educational

and social opportunities to nurture

the healthy development of

Total Funded

Enrollment:

168 Children (ages 3-5)

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

08

"Strive for progress, not for perfection."

By the Numbers: Fiscal Year 2016

Family Engagement &

Family Services

91% of enrolled families

participated in the family goal

setting process

67% of enrolled fathers

participated on Home Visits

and Parent Teacher

Conferences

84% of enrolled families

completed the end of year

survey. The program as a whole

received a rating of 4.8 on a

scale of 1-5,5 being excellent.

32 enrolled families

experienced homelessness. Of

these, 10 families acquired

housing during the program

year.

Developmental Screenings

& Disability Services

90% of enrolled Head Start

children received

During the 2015-2016 Program Year:

children and their families. Head Start prepares children to

be successful in kindergarten and to reach their full

potential in school and later in life. During the 2015-2016

program year NEKCA Head Start/Early Head Start provided

preschool/childcare services and home based services to

324 children and their families. Families are offered a

variety of opportunities to be engaged in their child's

educational experience.

14 enrolled children were

referred and found eligible to

receive special education

services

A total of 21% of enrolled

children received special

education services

Early Head Start

(FY 2015)

Total Funded

Enrollment:

99 Children (birth - age 3)

14 pregnant women

across Caledonia, Essex

and Orleans counties

Including:

Albany

Barton

Derby

Gilman

Hardwick

Island Pond

Lyndonville

Newport

North Troy

St. Johnsbury

and in registered family

childcare homes!

and

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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"Success isn't just about what you accomplish in life. It's about what you inspire others to do."

Roberta Daniels has been

involved with the NEKCA Head

Start and Early Head Start

programs off and on for the past

21 years as a parent, and even

longer when you consider that

Roberta was also a Head Start

student in Island Pond!!

Roberta has served as a parent

representative to the Policy

Council for three years, and she is

currently serving as a community

representative. She was

re-elected to the position of

Treasurer for a third term.

Roberta says " I believe in this

program and in advocating for my

children. Our children are the

future of this world and deserve to

have the best education. I feel

that as a parent, it is our

responsibility to make sure that

our children get as much

knowledge in as many aspects of

life as possible." Well said

Roberta and thank you for your

leadership!.

HEAD START PARENT LEADER!


Head Start

802-525-3362 ext. 203

School Readiness

Below are the percentages

of 4 year olds entering

kindergarten that were

meeting or exceeding the

TS GOLD Developmental

assessment widely held

expectations and school

readiness goals.

Social/emotional 85%

Fine Motor 95%

Language 92%

Math 77%

Gross Motor 87%

Literacy 95%

Cognitive 96%

Domains:

Child Health Services

98% of enrolled children

had an ongoing source of

continuous health care

99% of enrolled children

had health insurance

"Our Home Visitor goes

beyond her duties to

help our family in any

way we need."

- Early Head Start

Parent

Head Start and Early Head Start Programs (Cont.)

"The program has

improved my child's

social skills,speech and

level of maturity."

- Head Start Parent

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Community Action

Youth Services

Community Action Youth Services (CAYS) is a division of North East

Kingdom Community Action, and covers all of Orleans and Northern

Essex Counties.

The overarching goal of Community Action Youth Services is to help

young people achieve a constructive and rewarding adulthood.

CAYS provides employment, housing, crisis intervention, outreach

and youth development services for young people in Orleans and

Northern Essex Counties.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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"Young people need models, not critics." - John Wooden

Transitional Living Program

The Transitional Living Program

helps youth ages 16-22 that are

homeless or at risk of becoming

homeless make the difficult

transition into adulthood. The

program provides long term housing

supports, connects youth to services,

provides life skills development, and

responds to crisis.

Crisis/Runaway Program

This program provides

intervention for 12-18 year olds in

crisis and their families which may

include short-term alternative

living arrangements and individual

and family counseling. Also assists

in providing life skills instruction to

youth who are homeless or

without help of their legal

guardian. Help youth find safe

living placements, assess life skills,

strengths and needs, provides

emotional support, guidance,

advocacy and referral sources, and

coordinates with other agencies’

services.

Youth Development Program

provides activities and services to

assist youth in DCF/state custody

from the Newport district as they

transition to adulthood and acquire

the skills to be self-sufficient adults

in a community setting.

This program works to achieve this

goal by assessing and assisting

youth in identifying their goals;

developing a strengths-based plan

of care to help them meet their

goals; and identifying life-long

connections and support.

Services emphasize accessing

housing, jobs, education, and the

development of strong ties with

natural support networks, including

families, community organizations,

and other significant adults.

Staff and youth goofing off at the

26th annual Vermont Youth

Conference

By the Numbers: Calendar Year 2016

Youth Thrive!

We were fortunate this year to have

two CAYS staff members become

certified Youth Thrive trainers!

Youth Thrive is a research-grounded

model that combines the most

current science about adolescent

brain development, trauma, resilience,

and the importance of social

connections into one framework for

promoting young people’s well-being

and healthy development.


NEKCA Youth Services

70 Main Street

Newport, VT 05855

Phone: (802) 334-7316

Life Skills Classes

Case managers collaborate to teach

comprehensive life skills classes on

topics including, but not limited to: :

Budgeting and money management

How to look for & maintain an apartment

How to access and use community

resources

Career, education and vocational planning

Health education and risk prevention

Cooking, nutrition and meal planning

Personal Responsibility Education Program

(Sex Education)

62 - Youth were served

1,765 - Direct housing nights

were provided

16 - Youth graduated from

high school

6 - Youth are attending college

27 - Youth have competitive

employment

MICRO BUSINESS

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

MBPD

The NEKCA Micro Business / Workforce Development Program provides one to

one technical assistance to low to moderate income Vermonters who intend to

start or expand a small business. Technical assistance includes feasibility

assessment, business plan and marketing plan development, financial literacy

and management, budgeting and credit repair, as well as assistance with

marketing materials.

MBDP offers a variety of learning opportunities throughout the year. This includes

seminars, workshops, and classes. Seminars are usually one-day events, which are

hosted by a guest speaker (an expert in his or her field) who resides in our

community. Within our program we administer the Assets for Change Program

as a way for participants to increase their assets, such as purchase a home,

purchase business equipment or supplies, and/ or move forward in one’s

education. We also administer annual tax preparation through VITA.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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"Whatever you believe about yourself on the inside will manifest on the outside."

"Over the last 6 or 7 years, I have

received essential business

counseling through NEKCA’ s Micro

Business Development Program.

The MBDP staff has helped me

identify realistic goals, and given

me support and step-by-step

guidance toward achieving those

goals. Initial start-up funds came

through NEKCA’s IDA savings

program. MBDP then informed me

of other funding sources, which

eventually led to a grant to publish

my book, Spiritual Bedrock:

Reclaiming Your Inner Connection

to Truth. Throughout the

development of my business,

Woodhaven Consulting (individual

classes in computer

basics and assistive/productivity

software), MBDP has provided

excellent mentoring and much-

needed encouragement. With

MBDP’s assistance, I have gained

the skills to create my

businesscards and websites, and to

By the Numbers: Fiscal Year 2016

Total number of

Participants Served: 124

Number of Business Plans

Completed: 10

Number of Businesses

Started: 13

Number of Business

Expansions: 14

Number of Business

Enhancements: 14

Number of Jobs

Created (FTE): 13

Amount of Capital

Leveraged: $161,258

Number of Businesses that

leveraged capital: 13

"I just wanted to take a moment

to thank you for all your help with

successfully completing the IDA

program. With your support, I

was able to save a large amount

of money to put towards earning

a Master’s degree. In December

2016, I obtained my degree and

was able to accept a promotion

at my current place of

employment. I am extremely

grateful for the opportunity to

develop professionally and

attribute the IDA program as a

great asset to helping me

accomplish my goals."

-Teresa Hersom

market my services. I now feel

confident in determining

appropriate fees, and in my

abilities."

- Sylvia Hutchinson

Testimonials


MBPD

(802) 487-9240 (Newport)

(802) 748-6048 (St. Johnsbury)

or visit us at:

http://nekcavt.org/programs-

and-services/grow-your-own-

business/

MBPD:

ASPIRE! is a program funded by a $92,000 Rural Business

Development grant from the US Department of Agriculture with

additional funding from NEKCA and local contributions, designed to

engage and empower women business owners of Vermont's

Northeast Kingdom: Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties.

Female entrepreneurs had the opportunity to compete for a

$2,000.00 technical assistance award, which they can use for

services such as web design, consultants, and / or trainings. The ten

winners have an opportunity to develop a “Circle of Support”. The

“Circle of Support” consists of volunteers within our community who

are experts in their fields, have first hand business experience to

share, and are peer support for these women. In the Fall, another

round for $5,000.00 in technical support will be awarded to four of

these ten women.

The ASPIRE! kickoff event in November included some of the most

inspiring women in Vermont as presenters: Tiffany Bluemle, Director

of Change The Story VT, who presented the keynote on Change the

Story's new status report: "Women's Business Ownership and the

Vermont Economy", Meg Smith, Director of the Vermont Women's

Fund and Jane Campbell, Executive Director of Vermont Businesses

for Social Responsibility.

Joe Patrissi, Executive Director of NEKCA, who initiated and won the

grant called ASPIRE! from the USDA made this record of the grant’s

kickoff luncheon at the Eastside Restaurant‘s Dancing Sails banquet

room on November 30th. From left to right: Meg Smith, Director of

the Vermont Women’s Fund; Amy Robinson, Director of NEKCA’s

Micro Business Development Project; Diana Henry, Project Director

for ASPIRE!, and Jane Campbell, Executive Director of Vermont

Businesses for Social Responsibility, listening to Tiffany Bluemle

presenting Change the Story‘s 2016 Status Report: Women’s

Business Ownership and the Vermont Economy.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

12

"The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling."

By the Numbers

Continued:

Calendar Year 2016

Total Federal Returns Filed:

240

Number of Volunteer Hours:

237

Amount of funds leveraged back

into our community:

$264,887

Number of Renter Rebates Filed in

addition to e -filing:

95

Amount of RR funds leveraged

back into our community:

$31,193

Number of Homesteads filed in

addition to e-filing:

48

Amount of HS funds leveraged

back into our community:

$17,000

ASPIRE!

Micro Business Program Development (Cont.)

Number of Business Owners

Accessing Funds:

12

Dollar Amount Leveraged:

$24,168

Number of Participants seeking

Education:

1

Dollar Amount Leveraged:

$3,000

Volunteer Income Tax

Assistance Program (VITA):

Individual Development

Accounts (IDA)

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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"Always do what you are afraid to do." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

By the Numbers Calendar Year 2016

clients

in permanent housing for a

total of

bed nights and

clients

in transitional housing.

Staff and clients provided

hours of

community service

60

52

4,211

2,157

In 2016 Community

Corrections served:

COMMUNITY BASED

CORRECTIONS

PROGRAMS

Transitional ProgramsInto the Community

The NEKCA Community Based

Corrections Program works closely with

the Agency of Human Services,

Department of Corrections. The program’s

main purpose is to support a successful

transition from incarceration to the

community by increasing successful

tenancy for these individuals in permanent housing throughout the

Kingdom. The Community Corrections Program provides housing

search assistance; life skills assessments; training, budgeting,nutrition

education; tenancy skills class and may include some financial

assistance. Once placed in permanent housing, individuals will receive

ongoing support to help them maintain their housing for a period of six

months to a year. This program served 52 referrals and housed 13

clients during 2016.

Offenders who cannot sustain their own housing directly out of

incarceration may elect to live in the transitional houses for a period up

to a nine months. There are two houses and one apartment for men;

and one house and one apartment for women throughout the

Kingdom. The women’s house is for women in recovery. These

transitional houses served over 40 offenders. The participants receive

on-site services, as well as a daily schedule to maintain. The process

used in the house is one of mutual respect and dignity while holding

residents accountable for their actions/behaviors while supporting

them to make good, safe choices that help them maintain their goals

of sobriety, self-sufficiency and reduce or end involvement in the

criminal justice system.

During the year 2016, staff and house residents provided over 971 hours

of community service including moving elderly or disabled individuals,

working on storm clean up, growing vegetables to donate to the food

shelves, stocking the food shelves, doing repairs & modifications at

NEKCA locations throughout the Kingdom, were a presence at

HungerFest events, painting, baking for community events, making

hats, scarves and mittens for needy children and furniture repair.

While Department of Corrections and NEK Counseling & Consultation

are our partners in the houses, we also work very closely with the

Community Justice Centers, Community Connections, Recovery

Centers, local mental health and substance abuse providers and many

other NEKCA programs.


71 Seymour Lane

Newport, VT 05855

Phone: 802.334.8224

Fax: 802.334.4073

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

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"Action always beats intention."

By the Numbers Calendar Year 2016

Court Diversion received

referrals

Program participants completed

hours of community

service

in donations and

in restitution was

collected

YSASP received

Referrals

DLS received

Referrals, of which

obtained their licenses

&

Collected in

fines owed to the

State of VT

410

52

$400$2,028

80

COMMUNITY & JUSTICE

PROGRAMS

Prevention Through

Intervention

NEKCA's Community and Justice Programs provide

both prevention programs and services to those

who are already engaged in the criminal justice

system.


Community & Justice Programs

71 Seymour Lane

Newport, VT 05855

Phone: 802.334.8224

Fax: 802.334.4073

is an alternative to a court

conviction for juvenile and adult

offenders to resolve their case(s) out

of the traditional court process. One

year after successfully completing

Court Diversion 94.2% of people do

not re-offend. Five years after

successfully completing Court

Diversion only 14.3% of program

participants re-offend.

Court Diversion

is a program that addresses the civil

violations of 15-20 year olds that are

caught consuming, possessing or

trying to purchase alcohol and/or

possession of marijuana. This is a

civil program and is tied to their

driving record.

The Youth Substance Abuse

Safety Program (YSASP)

is a contract with the local

Department for Children &

Families office (DCF) that

addresses needs of youth on

probation in a restorative fashion.

Youth can be referred by their DCF

probation officer.

Balanced & Restorative

Justice (BARJnet)

is a program where staff conduct

Pre-Trial an PreCharge Risk

Assessment and Needs

Screenings; assesses the

probability of future criminal

behavior; assesses need for further

mental health and/or substance

use assessment. Refers offender

on release to appropriate support

services; serves as a spokesperson

to the public and other local

community agencies when

appropriate; responds to inquiries

for information and assistance

from the community-at-large, law

enforcement, and other

requesting parties and entities.

Pre-Trial Program

The Civil DLS Diversion Program is

designed to help people regain

their driver’s license while they pay

off their fines and fees. Not

everyone is eligible for this

program. People whose current

suspension is a result of a DUI or

certain other serious offenses are

not eligible for this program.

Driving With License

Suspended (DLS) Program

73

29

$23,225

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

15

LEADERSHIP

TEAM Directors and Administration

"“When you become a leader success is all about growing others.” - Jack Welch

Joe Patrissi has been the Executive Director of NEKCA since 2010 . Prior to his

current post , he worked in Vermont state government for over 35 years in a

variety of roles including Commissioner of Corrections and Deputy

Commissioner of Economic Services .

He is also a graduate of Lyndon State College .

Executive Director

Linda Michniewicz is the Program Director for

the NEKCA Head Start and Early Head Start

program. She graduated from Southern New

Hampshire University with a Masters Degree in

Education. Linda is the Chairperson for the

Orleans Northern Essex BBF Council and

steering committee member, Vermont Head

Start Assoc. Member and Head Start

Association representative to the VT Early

Childhood Alliance, and is on the NEKLS Board

of Directors. Linda has worked in Community

Action since 1978.

Stephanie Bowen has been with NEKCA for 22

years. She is Director of Community & Justice

Programs and Community Based Corrections

Programs and holds degrees in Human Services

and in Criminal Justice from CCV, a Bachelors

degree in Psychology from Johnson State College

and a Masters degree in Psychology from

Springfield College of Human Services.

Jan Rossier has worked for NEKCA for 22 years

and is Director of NEKCA’s Lincoln Center

Programs. She has a Bachelor of Science in

Psychology from Lyndon State College and a

Master of Science in Organization, Management

and Leadership from Springfield College. A single

mom of 3 sons for most of their lives. Jan is now

the proud grandmother of 4 granddaughters.

Amy Burbo joined NEKCA as the Human

Resource Administrator in August 2011. With

over 18 years of administrative experience, Amy

is dedicated to working collaboratively to build

a culture of community that will further

recognize, support and inspire staff.

Kathy Metras is a Program Director for the

Parent Child Center, Youth Services, and

Outreach Department and has worked for

NEKCA for over 15 years. She currently sits

on the Voices for Vermont Children Board

and on the conference planning

committee for the New England

Community Action Agencies.

Amy Robinson has worked for NEKCA

for 14 years and is currently the Director

for the Micro Business Development

Program (MBDP).

Lynda Davidson has devoted her entire

career in community action agencies.

Since 1980 her services have been in the

fiscal operations and Lynda now serves as

Assistant Director of Finance.

John Killion is a Certified Public Accountant.

John has been associated with NEKCA for 37

years in the capacity as the agency auditor and

consultant and is presently the Director of

Finance

ANNUAL REPORT - Northeast Kingdom Community Action

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