DENIS MOORE
BOARD CHAIRMAN
Greetings from the EMAA Board of Directors!
Welcome to the Annual Report of the East Missouri Action Agency On behalf of the dedicated men and women of the EMAA Board of Directors, the Head Start Policy Council, and the EMAA Staff, you are invited to review how your agency operates, the programs that are available and the services that are available. We are excited to share this information about all of the excellent opportunities that EMAA provides in our region. Our goal is to have a positive impact upon the communities in which we live.
The East Missouri Action Agency is one of nineteen Community Action Agencies serving the State of Missouri Our primary focus is to address the poverty that is so prevalent among those who reside in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Madison, Perry, St Francois, Ste Genevieve, and Washington counties in Southeast Missouri Assistance is provided for those most in need, with the principle focus of providing the necessary support and skills that allow individuals and families to become self-sufficient
The shadow of poverty is one of the most difficult challenges facing individuals and families throughout Southeast Missouri. These challenges have been, and continue to be exacerbated by worldwide inflationary pressures. EMAA provides the assistance and the resources necessary to help those citizens in need to find employment with a living wage. EMAA helps to provide housing for those who have none EMAA helps families learn how to save money so they can make the down payment for a home of their own EMAA helps the sick, the elderly, and families with very young children stay comfortable and healthy during the extreme weather that occurs in the winter and the summer
Affordable housing is a top need as well as quality jobs Through strategic planning, EMAA New Foundations was Established in 2022. The purpose of the program is to provide jobs and teach skills to those who are low-income so they can the marketable skills learnt and move on to jobs that provide a living wage. The staff consists of a crew of 10 who go in and restore homes or build new homes.
Through Head Start, EMAA provides a strong educational foundation for young children to be successful when they enter primary school EMAA provides resources for economic development in its service area in the form of small business loans to those who otherwise could not qualify due to their distressed situation And, in response to the ongoing healthcare crisis in our country, EMAA provides women's wellness programs to assist in maintaining good health as well as, providing preventive services, and assistance if there is a health issue that requires immediate attention
EMAA cannot provide all of these services and supports singlehandedly. EMAA is a proud partner with SEED$, Missouri CAN, United Way 2-1-1, and BJC to name a few.
Please take a few moments to review this booklet to learn more about the East Missouri Action Agency and how it actively participate in your community. Chances are, you know someone we have helped, or can recommend us to someone that we can help If you would like to know more about the East Missouri Action Agency and its programs and services, please call EMAA at 573-431-5191 We are always happy to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Denis Moore, Board Chair
East Missouri Action Agency
Message from the Executive Director
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with profound gratitude and pride for the remarkable progress we have achieved. Despite facing challenges, our dedicated team, volunteers and partners have worked tirelessly to support and uplift the communities we serve. It is with great pleasure that I share with you some of the highlights and the impact we have made in Bollinger, Cape, Iron, Madison, Perry, St Francois, Ste Genevieve and Washington County communities. This annual report is just a glimpse of the great work that is done here at East Missouri Action Agency.
Our mission to cultivate communities of opportunity and support people in reaching their highest potential remains at the forefront of everything we do. This year, we expanded many of our programs to address the needs of our community. Through these efforts, we have directly impacted families and helped them achieve a brighter future. Partnerships with local businesses, government agencies and other non-profits have enabled us to leverage resources These partnerships have been instrumental in the work we do. We could not do this work without our partners.
EMAA has maintained a strong fiscal position, ensuring that the majority of our funds are directed toward program services. Our strong fiscal position, transparency and accountability lead us to become a well-respected non-profit in Southeast Missouri.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to our vision of creating communities where everyone’s potential to thrive is unlimited by community conditions. We will continue to innovate, adapt and expand our services to meet the changing needs of our communities. In closing, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our board members, staff, volunteers, donors, partners and community members Your dedication and generosity have been a driving force behind our success. Together, we are helping people and changing lives, one life at a time.
Thank you for being a part of this great organization.
Sincerely,
Keri McCrorey, CCAP Executive Director
OUR MISSION, VISION, VALUESEXT
Helping
People, Changing
Lives
in the Southeast Missouri Counties of:
Bollinger, Cape, Iron, Madison, Perry, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington
Mission: Mission: East Missouri Action Agency cultivates communities East Missouri Action Agency cultivates communities of opportunity and supports people in reaching their highest of opportunity and supports people in reaching their highest potential. potential.
Vision: Communities where everyone’s potential to thrive is unlimited by community conditions.
Values - How We Show Up
Compassionate: We care and go above & beyond for our customers and each other.
Nonjudgemental: We treat all people with dignity and respect.
Resourceful: We work together and with our communities to create solutions.
Dedicated: We don‘t give up on people, communities, or each other.
Our Team
Keri McCrorey
Executive Director
Bill Tucker
Housing Director
Nicolle Hahn
Development Director
Courtne
Head Start Director
Tammy Belfield-Nash
Women’s Wellness Director
Dereon Hill
Ashley Bischoff
HR Coordinator
Community Services Director
“There are no problems that we cannot solve together and very few that we can solve by ourselves”
-Lyndon B. Johnson
P r i v a t e S e c t o r
D e b b i e L i n c o l n
S i m m o n s
E l z e n a
T a m i W h i t e
D e n i s M o o r e
S t e v e K e l l o g g
O f f i c i a l
P u b l i c
L e o A r n z e n
L a u r a C a s s a t
B e n Y o u n g
J i m T h o m p s o n
I n c o m e R e p
L o w
M i r a n d a S c h r a d e r
V a c a n t
L o r e t t a G r a h a m
C o u n t y
B o l l i n g e r
C a p e
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M a d i s o n A m b e r M c C u t c h e o n
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J a n e y R a d f o r d
Personnel Committee
W a s h i n g t o n M i c h e l l e R o l a n d
Finance Committee
E M A A B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s F Y 2 0 2 4
AGENCY BUDGET 2024
EMAA had an FY2024 agency budget of $32,504,167. The agency budget is compiled by the agency CPA and reviewed by the agency board for approval each year.
$7,498,945
Housing
$16,367,720
Agency budgets are comprised of several local, state, and federal grants.
Weatherization budget is included in Housing.
HeadStart
$6,620,914
$472,937
591
Children Enrolled
16,702 In House Meals 58,000+ Meals Total
663 unduplicated clients
1105 client visits
5,155 Individuals Served 2,062 Families Housed
8046 Families
109 Hours of Training to Small Businesses
76 Individuals Housed
42 Homes Weatherized
3,445 Intake & Referrals
3 New Builds
34,847 Volunteer Hours
619 Missouri Property Tax Credit Returns
5,380 Summer Food Meals Served
20 Jobs Obtained/10 in Vocational Training w/Skill-Up & Family Self Sufficiency
COMMUNITY SUCCESSES
FSCB STEM Donations: First State Community Bank d to many of our Head Start Centers centered around S Playground Upgrades: We applied for and received an additional $136, Start to upgrade the playgrounds at our Head Start Centers.
Substance Use Disorder Grant: We received $12,000 to partner with Health Center and provide substance use training and pay for staff Head Start and Community Services
UHONS: Community Services received $178,000 to help people in our with rent assistance, transportation, and more from United Way
Emergency Solutions Grant Increase: EMAA was selected as an agency additional funds for this grant because of our good standing and succe implementation.
Partners & Shared Space: At the Farmington Outreach office they are now co-located with staff from the Department of Social Services and Legal Services of Southern Missouri!
Tohearmoreabout thejourneyto recoveryinBollinger Countyandthework EMAAwasapartof andtherolewe playedcheckoutour video!
Bollinger County - Long Term Recovery: EMAA was asked to step up to the plate and help the Bollinger County Long Term committee provide assistance to those who had been impacted by the 2023 tornado and flood This was due to the trust the Bollinger county community has in EMAA
FUNDRAISING & DONATIONS
$10,000 - grant from Regions Bank
$12,000+ - raised from the Southeast Misso Behavioral Health Golf Tournament
$22,000 - raised in 3 days for the Uplift She
$8,654 - Unrestricted Funds donated to th $ 5,897 - Community Services Fundraising
Community Services
TheCommunityServicesprogramdepartmentisattheheartofwhatwedoatEastMissouri ActionAgencyandthefundingfortheprogramsiswhatmakesEMAAaCommunityAction Agency Ateamof28staffin2024providedservicesthroughmanydifferentprogramsto helpthoseinourcommunitymovetoupwardeconomicmobility.Staffinour8countyservice areaservedclientsatnineoutreachoffices,onemobileunit,andtheUpliftHomelessShelter Staffworkone-on-onewithclientstoassesstheirneedsandprovideservicesthroughthe CommunityServicesDepartment'svariousprograms TheCommunityService Representativesparticipateincommunityactivities,gettoknowtheirclients,provide referrals,andhelpbuildpartnershipstoservebothourclientsandthecommunity.In2024, outreachstaffcompleted3,445IntakeandReferralswhichresultedinvariousassistanceto clientsthroughoutourservicearea
Inadditiontoservingclients,ourteamalsoservesourcommunitiesbyparticipatingin communityevents,servingoncommunityboards,workingtocontinueandformnew partnerships,educatingourcommunitiesonpoverty,respondingtoemergenciesinour communities,andmore
Community Services Programs
Small Business Loans & Education
Head Start is a child development program designed for three to five-year-old children from low-income families with the hope of breaking the cycle of poverty The Head Start approach involves including the parent as the child’s primary educator and getting the entire family and community involved
We are proud of our Head Start program with the services we provide to families and children It is because of our extremely dedicated staff that we are able to continue to provide exceptional services to the families, children, and our community
Sixty five percent of our teachers have a Associates degree or Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field We have 55 Assistant Teachers, of which twenty five have at least a Child Development Associate, or an Associates Degree or greater
We have eleven (11) Family Advocates, of which eight (8) have a Family Service Credential and/or higher education.
Head Start Funding: 1/1/24 to 12/31/24 Head
$136,927
$113,500
Total: $6,132,745
By receiving federal funds we are required to contribute a non-Federal match of 20% of our total Continuation grant amount in non-Federal share dollars For the 2024 grant year we were required to obtain $1,470,579. Our total for the 2024 grant year, which we acquired through volunteer hours, donated items, and rental fair market value is projected to be $1,450,000 13
EMAA Head Start is funded to serve 506 children In the 2023-2024 program year, we served 591 children. Following are some examples of how we serviced these children. This is a summary and does not reflect all services provided to our children and families:
Health: 565 children received medical exams and 435 children received dental exams
Nutrition: 149,921 nutritious meals were served to our children through breakfast, lunch, and snack.
Parent Involvement/Social Services: 4,499 referrals were given to our families throughout 2024
Education: Data from the spring 2024 aggregation indicates that children improved in all outcomes. The highest gain (52%) was in Comprehending Language. All Pre-K children reached their goals to transition to Kindergarten.
Disabilities: Of the 506 funded children, 76 had a diagnosed disability with an IEP
Mental Health: We contracted with a mental health consultant who provided services to our children and families as needed. The mental health consultants also check in monthly (on-site) with each of our Head Start locations. Fifty five (55) individual observations were completed for children
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults who are enrolled for care at participating childcare centers, daycare homes, and adult daycare centers In 2024, we received $403,723.18 from the CACFP program
Policy Council:
The Head Start Policy Council is the governing board for the Head Start program, along with the EMAA Board of Directors The Council is made up of one parent representative from each center and one community representative from each county Parent Representatives are elected each year by the parents at each Head Start Site. The Community Representatives are nominated by the local Head Start Sites in their county.
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R a c h e l F a l c o
A m a n d a R a w l s
K a t h y L e s s l e y
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V a c a n t
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S a r a h T h u r m a n E M A A H e a d S t a r t P o l i c y C o u n c i l F Y 2 0 2 4
MELISSAYATES MELISSAYATES
SKILLUP is one of the many life-changing services offered by EMAA, and for Melissa Yates, it was a key part of her journey to a brighter future.
As a dedicated single mother of two children, ages 8 and 10, Melissa was working as an assistant teacher at EMAA Head Start while pursuing her dream of becoming a public school teacher. Determined to reach her goal, she enrolled at Central Methodist University, but during her final year, she faced financial challenges her PELL and WIOA aid had run out, and she needed help covering tuition and testing fees to complete her Bachelor's Degree in Education. Reliable transportation was also essential to fulfill her student teaching requirements, but her car needed urgent repairs.
Through SKILLUP and the S.E.L.F program, Melissa received the financial assistance, coaching, and support she needed. With these resources, she not only graduated but was also promoted to a classroom teacher position at Head Start.
Her hard work and perseverance continued to pay off, leading to another promotion as a lead teacher, each step bringing greater financial security and confidence in her future.
Now, Melissa is reaching even higher—she has been accepted into the Master’s Degree program at Central Methodist University, continuing her path of growth and success.
“Furthering my education has made it possible to advance in my position at my job. It will also help me in the future to achieve more financial security,” Melissa shares. She is incredibly grateful for the support she received and encourages others to take advantage of the opportunities available through EMAA.
“I would definitely recommend EMAA to others.”
Melissa’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of the right support system. With determination and the right resources, anyone can take steps toward a better, more secure future!
5,155 Individuals Served
2,062 Families
Housing continues to serve as a significant struggle for many individuals and families in the EMAA service area. The Housing Department continues to implement new programs and projects to help address these growing challenges. EMAA served as the administering agent for Section 8 Rental Assistance in the counties of: Cape Girardeau, St. Francois, Bollinger, Madison, Iron, Perry, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Pemiscot, Dunklin, and Mississippi. Over the past year, the Housing Department served 2062 families (5,155 individuals) across this geographic area. In an effort to broaden service provision, EMAA has since implemented a new Project Based Voucher Assistance Program. With the conceptualization and implementation of the program complete, EMAA estimates that we will be able to serve an additional 100 families over the next year.
Presently, the tenant-based rental assistance programs allocated through the Housing Department are:
Housing Choice Vouchers
Mainstream Vouchers
Shelter Plus Care Vouchers
Family Self Sufficiency
Fostering Youth to Independence Portability
Tenant Protection Vouchers
Emergency Housing Vouchers
Stability Vouchers
Veteran’s Affairs Supportive Housing Homeownership
The project-based assistance programs currently operated are: Section 202 Section 811 USDA- Rural Development Project-Based Housing Choice Vouchers (New Program)
The Housing Department also performs our own in-house property management on 5 apartment complexes:
Friendship House Apartments- Farmington, MO
Oaks Terrace Senior Living Apartments- Fredericktown, MO
Cheryl Estates I & II- Potosi, MO
Brett Wood Senior Apartments- Potosi, MO
Park Hills Apartments- Park Hills, MO
Finally, the Housing Department/EMAA are also heavily involved in the development of affordable housing. Most recently, EMAA has been awarded funding to develop two new construction projects:
Mineral Area Apartments- Farmington, MO- Ground is broken and construction is ongoing
Montenot Meadows- Perryville, MO - Closed in December 2024 and then construction can begin as soon as weather permits.
These two units will create an additional 82 units of affordable housing EMAA has also partnered on the rehabilitation of the Cherry Hill Senior Apartments- Bonne Terre, MO This project will help to protect/preserve an additional 88 units of affordable housing
Weatherization
Weatherization (WX) assistance is a free service for home owners and rente are income-eligible and live in the eight counties served by EMAA The goal of WX is to reduce the energy burden on low-income residents by installing cost-effective energy efficiency measures, while ensuring and enhancing their health and safety For every $1 invested, Weatherization returns $272 in benefits (national average) These include $165 in energy related benefits and $1.07 in other benefits such as reducing pollution, unemployment and adverse health concerns.
With a waiting list of over 176 homes, In 2024 we completed 42 homes from the waiting list for weatherization services
How Does it Work?: EMAA
Weatherization staff conduct a blower door test on the home, based on the results of the test the staff or contractors may seal cracks in windows, doors and walls; insulate heat ducts, attics, floors and sidewalls; test and repair heating systems and water heaters
Funding Sources: US Department of Energy, Department of Natural Resources/ Division of Energy, LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program(LIHEAP), Ameren Utilities, Liberty Gas, Spire Gas
October2023
November2023
December2023
January2024
February2024
March2024
April2024
May2024
June2024
July2024
August2024
September2024
Weatherization Benefits:
Reduce energy use
Alleviate substandard living conditions & reducing homelessness
Help to provide a safer, healthier living environment. Extend the lifetime of affordable housing. Saves energy year after year
Provide permanent weatherization energy solutions for low-income families
Average energy savings = $437 per household
Women’s Wellness
In 2024, the Women's Wellness Clinic (WWC) provided care to 663 unduplicated clients through 1105 clinic visits. In 2024, we focused our efforts on the growth of the Women’s Wellness program. This included hiring a new program manager so the Nurse Practitioner could have more time for appointments. Additionally, we added two remote clinic sites in Potosi and Fredericktown to expand our services and reduce transportation barriers for potential patients We also increased our footprint by engaging with schools, shelters, and local employers to promote Women’s Wellness services
Looking ahead, we will continue to explore creative avenues to increase awareness and accessibility of our services and connect our patients to other agency programs and services that support their needs
In 2024 our funding came from two significant grants:
Family Planning or Title X grant: This is the sole federal grant that allows us to provide high quality and client centered reproductive health care. The Title X family planning program is a critical part of America’s public health safety net, serving as a point-of-entry into care for nearly 195 million over the program’s more than 50-year history.
The Right Time Initiative: Provides free contraception counseling and contraception methods. The grant aims to empower individuals to take control of their own health by improving information about, and removing barriers to, contraceptive services, recognizing that decisions always rest with the client. The Right Time is built upon a commitment to addressing persistent health disparities, with a goal of reducing Missouri’s unintended pregnancy rate by 10 percent.
Key Points for FY24: 2 clinic sites and 2 remote clinic sites
663 unduplicated clients
1105 office visits
377 below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
130 101% to 150%
73 151% to 200%
31 201% to 250%
52 over 250%
310 uninsured, 212 public insurance,
143 private insurance
161 Cervical Cancer Screenings
250 Clinical Breast Exams
6 Referred for further screening
383 STI screenings
64 HIV testing
Services Provided at All Sites:
Well-woman exams
Contraception counseling (we offer all FDA approved contraception methods)
Breast and cervical cancer screening
Sexually transmitted infection testing, treatment and counseling
Pregnancy testing and counseling
Basic fertility screening
Vaginal infection testing and treatment
Referral services
2024 was a busy year at Farmington OAKS Senior Center! With as many as 70 activities in a month, hundreds of seniors enjoyed time together, improving their physical and emotional health through classes, shared experiences, and great conversation
We served more than 58,000 meals this year including those who eat with us in our dining room, and those who are homebound, to whom we deliver Almost 17,000 meals were served to our congregate clients, who were able to come to the Center and socialize and enjoy the company of their peers
We took the opportunity to celebrate everything! Our cooks went the extra mile to provide special treats and festive food for every possible occasion, including New Years, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Easter, Mardi Gras, Memorial Day, Country Days, Juneteenth, Luau Day, Labor Day, Halloween, National Candy Corn Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and various other fun days!
We found new ways to help Seniors take care of themselves, including a monthly foot care clinic, Alzheimer’s support group and quarterly nutrition education. We offered activities to keep our Seniors engaged and sharp, including 6 exercise classes a week.
Home Delivered Meals Served: 41,446
Senior Center Activities
6Senior ExerciseClasses aweek
WeeklyMonday
NightDances withlivemusic
Mandala PaintingClasses
BookSignings bylocalauthors
DominoesClub
PaperCrafting Classes
WoodCarving Club
QuiltGuild
WackyBingo
RedHats
Bunco
QuillingClass
MonthlyPastry Days
Veteran'sDay Ceremony
ThanksgivingFeast
ChristmasDinner&Dessert
Bar
FinalWishesEstate PlanningClasses
AdvancedPaintingClasses
PaperQuillingClasses
FluShotClinic
Alzheimer’sSupportGroup
MonthlyFootCareClinic
WeeklyBloodPressure Clinic
WeeklyBloodSugarClinic
Valentine'sDayCelebration
ChronicDiseaseSelf
ManagementClasses
HalloweenParty
MardiGrasParty
EasterParty
NationalCandyCornDay
Buffet
New Foundations Construction, LLC, EMAA's construction entity, operates in St Francois, Washington, and Madison counties Its goal is to give new life to neglected and derelict houses and help beautify their neighborhoods
New Foundations aims to increase the quantity and quality of employment opportunities,
Currently has completed 8 new builds and another one is almost completed.
Employed 6 people, full time with benefits.
Has a program manager/contractor that is fully licensed, bonded, and insured with over 20 + years of experience.
Contractor for Weatherization and their H i P ti G t. .
My name is Amber Scales, and my husband, Derrick, and I both work for EMAA. I serve as a Community Services Representative and Building Manager for the Farmington Outreach Office, while Derrick works with the New Foundations Construction Crew.
My journey with EMAA began three years ago as a Head Start cook before becoming an assistant teacher. Seeking full-time employment, I turned to SKILLUP, which helped me earn my CDA. Derrick also found employment through SKILLUP, securing a position with EMAA and obtaining his HVAC certification at Unitec.
Our children attended Head Start, where we experienced firsthan staff. Over the past six to seven years, the agency has provided us with invaluable resources, helping us transition from a single income to both of us securing full-time employment. Our ultimate goal was to buy a home for our family, and at the end of 2024, we were approved for a home loan. In just two weeks, we will move into a newly built, affordable home constructed by Derrick’s team in Park Hills.
Coming from families that struggled with poverty, we have always believed in pushing forward and caring for our loved ones. Thanks to EMAA, that belief has turned into reality. We are beyond grateful for the support we have received from Head Start, New Foundations, CS, and LIHEAP, and we are excited to continue paying it forward—helping other families achieve their goals just as we have.”
LOOKING FORWARD
As East Missouri Action Agency (EMAA) proudly enters its 60th year as a Community Action Agency in August 2025, the organization continues its mission of empowering individuals and strengthening communities across the region. This milestone year will see several new projects and progress in multiple key areas:
EMAA is increasing access to early childhood education by adding new Early Head Start slots for children ages 0-2 in Washington, St. Francois, and Cape Girardeau counties ensuring more families receive vital early development support.
Housing initiatives are also moving forward. Renovations on Cherry Hill Senior Apartments are nearing completion, providing upgraded, comfortable living for seniors. In Perryville, EMAA is breaking ground on Montenot Meadows, a 40-unit duplex-style development that will offer a path to homeownership. This new community will also house EMAA’s Head Start Center and Outreach offices, creating a hub of services for local families.
In St. Francois County, construction continues on the Mineral Area Apartments, a 42-unit complex that will include one-, two-, and threebedroom units. Ten of these units will be reserved for individuals and families who are experiencing or have previously experienced homelessness.
As EMAA celebrates six decades of service, these projects reflect its unwavering rting families, and building stro
Helping People, Changing Lives
Since 1965