Ogden-Weber Community Action Partnership, Inc

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Ogden-Weber Community Action Partnership, Inc

• OWCAP for short!

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• 3159 Grant Avenue
• Ogden, Utah

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OWCAP inspires those in poverty to become
self-sufficient through innovative services and
collaborative efforts.

• Our mission to assist those in need has not
  changed since 1965!

Self-sufficiency in common terms equates to a
family having the personal resources to provide
stability to adequately sustain life. This can
be accomplished by providing various resources
directly or through referrals to local service
agencies.
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Who or What is OWCAP

• OWCAP is still somewhat of a mystery to many
  residents in Weber County despite being in the
  community for 45 years. Most people recognize
  the name Head Start but do not realize that
  OWCAP is the agency that holds the grant for the
  program.
• Its the same for the Community Service Block
  Grant (CSBG). Residents in the inner city know
  there is food available at OWCAP but do not
  realize the other areas that CSBG can assist them
  with such as education, employment, and financial
  assistance.
• OWCAP also partners with other agencies in the
  county to direct clients to if the need is
  something CSBG cannot cover.

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Marshall White Center (MWC)
Community Service Block Grant (CSBG)
Graham Court Senior Villa Apartments
Head Start (HS)
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Accomplishments during the period of 1965 through
2010 include, but are not limited to

• The Neighborhood Youth Corps Program was designed
  to help and encourage the disadvantaged youth to
  engage in vocational training.
• The Upward Mobility Program was initiated to help
  students follow through with their studies and to
  pursue a college education. This is now the
  Upward Bound Program offered by Weber State
  College and was taken over by the college in
  1966.
• With funding received by the Office of Economic
  Opportunity, the Vocational Improvement Program
  provided vocational education and training to
  poor and disadvantaged residents. In 1969 it was
  transferred to Weber State College under the name
  of Skills Center North. It now operates in North
  Ogden as the Applied Technology Center (formerly
  called the Area Vocational Center).

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• Mobilized resources with county health
  departments to establish a Well Baby Clinic. The
  clinic now operates under the County Health
  Department under the direction of the Weber
  Morgan County Health Department.

• A County-wide Information and Referral Service
  was initiated, which is now a service provided by
  Weber County.
• Established a Meals on Wheels Program for senior
  citizens. This program was given to Weber County
  in 1967 and is operated under the Weber County
  Nutrition Program as "Senior Diners Club.
• Initiated and coordinated Project Aid, a program
  designed to help community residents pass Civil
  Service Tests. The IRS now has direct
  administrative charge of this program.
• Actively participated in the establishment of the
  Ogden Housing Authority, enabling Ogden City to
  qualify for Federal Housing Assistance.

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• Started the Mental Health Program, which is
  presently operated by Weber County.
• The Family Planning Program was initiated and is
  presently being operated by the County Health
  Department.
• A tutoring program was coordinated with
  volunteers from Weber State College. This program
  was conducted in neighborhood centers for youths
  to upgrade their educational status and school
  grades.
• The Senior Citizens Outreach Program was started,
  which led to the creation of the Target Area
  Senior Citizens, Inc., a non-profit organization
  which helped senior citizens through referrals to
  other agencies for supportive action and
  services. This led to the development of the
  Weber County on Aging Division.

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• The Energy Crisis Intervention Program was
  sponsored. The purpose of this program was to
  assist low income families with their utilities.
  Currently, the program is called the Heat Program
  and is implemented by the Department of Family
  Services.
• Administered the Weatherization Program and it is
  still an ongoing program serviced by Davis
  County. The program provides services to Weber,
  Morgan, and Davis County.
• Sponsored the Summer Food Program which provided
  youths with a nutritional meal each day from USDA
  at no charge.
• Received funding to begin the Federal Emergency
  Management Agency (FEMA), Emergency Food Program.
  The purpose of this program is to supplement
  basic staple food items to individuals and
  families.
• Sponsored the construction of the Senior Villa
  Apartments for low-income senior citizens and
  disabled individuals.

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• Continued to provide opportunities for adult
  learning through its ESL and GED Classes.
• The Head Start Program expanded to serve 703
  children.
• Partnered with Weber State University for a
  Community Writing Lab held within the Agency.
• Through partnerships with Weber State University
  and Utah State University, received multiple
  grants to provide healthy families programming.
  Head Start families participated in step-family
  classes, marriage enrichment classes, and healthy
  relationship building classes for single parents.
• Another program to aid the community is the
  Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).

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• The Neighborhood Career Center was initiated to
  assist the community in improving their
  job-readiness skills -helping them to become more
  employable helping with on-line searches for
  employment opportunities within the local
  community helping build interviewing skills and
  providing, on request, mock interviews.
• Sponsored the construction of the Graham Court
  Disability Housing for low-income disabled
  individuals.
• Assumed management of the Marshall White Center.
• Whew! Thats a lot of action in the community!!!

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Some volunteers bring skills with them, others
learn skills to help them on their journey in
life.
A majority of our volunteers are really interns!
Some come to brush up old skills and/or learn new
skills. Some have never held a job. Some have not
completed their education. Some are in the
process of an education. Some struggle with
obvious and not so obvious disabilities. Some
just need a place that gives them a purpose.
You have the opportunity to be one of their life
teachers through your example and experience.
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Volunteer Partnerships Weber State University
Community Involvement Center This center works
with OWCAP and WSU professors to place WSU
students at OWCAP to do volunteer work or
internships.
Volunteer Improvement Program This is a group of
WSU students that do special projects
specifically for the Head Start
program. Example Paid for a field trip to the
WSU planetarium.
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Placements that Students in the Class Might
Consider

• Teachers Assistant (Morning/Afternoon)
• Work in the classroom settings along side three
  teaching staff and 17 children no classes on
  Wednesdays assist in planning Parent Meetings,
  etc must have Food Handler Permit.
• Healthy Marriage Assistant (Evenings)
• Assist Healthy Marriage Coordinator with
  childrens classes and/or child care while
  parents attend adult classes. Assignments and
  Activities to be determined.
• Family Advocate Assistant
• Assist Family Advocate in assisting families to
  help themselves to break the cycle of poverty.
  Advocate on behalf of the children to facilitate
  medical, dental, physical, nutritional needs are
  met. Assist in planning Parent Meetings, etc.

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Requirements to Volunteer

• Call 801-399-9281 ext. 307 and ask the
  Receptionist for an appointment for a Volunteer
  Orientation. These are held on Wednesdays and
  take approximately 1.5 hours.
• If volunteering in a classroom, bring a copy of
  your Food Handler Permit.
• Fill out Application and other necessary
  paperwork.
• Smile for the camera!
• Prepare to start the following week which allows
  time for a Background Criminal Investigation to
  be processed, be assigned a supervisor, and an
  identification badge printed.

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Who Can Volunteer at OWCAP

• Anyone over the age of 14 who has not commited
  any of the following
• Animal Abuse or Neglect
• Assault
• Bestiality
• Child Abuse or Neglect
• Contributing to the Deliquency of a Minor
• Domestic Violence
• Elder Abuse or Neglect
• Lewdness
• Pornographic/Harmful materials or performances
• Prostitution
• Voyeurism

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In addition, the following criminal activity may
exclude someone from volunteering at OWCAP.

• Drug related charges, felonies, misdemeanors, and
  or convictions
• Theft
• Possession of Stolen Property
• Vandalism

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Volunteer Responsibilities

• Arrive on time, perform assigned tasks, and
  report absence to Supervisor and Volunteer
  Coordinator.
• Adhere to program policies and regulations
  (breaks, in-kind, timesheets, etc)
• Dress appropriately Not Casual! Not Business!
  Something in-between!!!
• Make constructive suggestions for improvement.
• Accept and advocate for program goals and aims,
  particularly for children.

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Recording Service Hours

• WSU and OWCAP are partnering on a pilot program
  where students will use a VicTouch Screen to sign
  in and out each day they volunteer. These will
  be located in the Volunteer Center and at the
  Annex.
• Students will fill out an In-Kind Sheet daily.
• In-Kind sheets must be completed, signed by both
  the volunteer and supervisor, then turned in to
  the In-Kind Staff Assistant in the Volunteer
  Center every Friday.

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Additional Information about Ogden-Weber
Community Action Partnership, Inc. can be found
on our website at www.owcap.org
If you would like to get in touch with me
personally, I can be reached at 801-399-9281 ext.
342 or at bmercier_at_owcap.org
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A Personal Thought!

• All of you are doing something right now that
  some people are afraid of doing for one reason
  or another
• going to college!
• When you become a part of the fabric of OWCAP
  you are showing others that there is something
  wonderful to reach for
• and you become a visual advocate of what a person
  can do when there is a desire to climb higher.
  
• I hope some of you will choose to climb your
  mountains atOWCAP. After all, you never know
  who is watching and whoselife you might touch.

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