EMAA operates with a tri-partite Board of Directors in compliance with the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) requirements This structure ensures balanced representation from three sectors: public officials, representatives of the low-income community, and members from the private sector The tri-partite model promotes accountability, community engagement, and diverse leadership in guiding the agency’s mission and programs
Sarah Thurman - Secretary
Keri McCrorey, CCAP - Executive Director
Steven Brewen - Community Services Prg. Manager
William Tucker - Housing Director
Dave Scheck, Weatherization Program Manager
Courtney Laramore, CCAP, Head Start Prg. Director
Tammy Belfield-Nash - Women’s Wellness Director
Ursula Warren - Farmington Senior Center Director
Nicolle Hahn, CCAP - Development Director
Allison Beard - Data Analyst
Greg Shinn - Agency CPA/Chief Finance Officer
Ashley Bischoff - Human Resources Coord.
Debbie Myers - Executive Secretary
*Prg = Program ~ Sargent Shriver
It is not what you get out of life that counts. It’s what you give & what is given from the heart “
Our 2025 Impact Our 2025 Impact
Numbers With Purpose: While the data for 2025 reflects thousands of touchpoints—from families kept warm through LIHEAP to children prepared for success in Head Start these figures represent more than just administrative outcomes. Every statistic in this report signifies a household that found stability during a crisis and a neighbor who was empowered to move toward self-sufficiency.
We recognize that our true impact often extends far beyond what can be captured in a spreadsheet. When we stabilize a home through weatherization or lead a family through tornado recovery case management, we create a ripple effect of resilience that strengthens local workforces and keeps children in school. These are the "invisible successes" the long-term stability and community growth that begin with a single service but last for generations.
CommunityServices
Community services staff completed 15,680 Intakes, Assessments, & Referrals for clients Served 7,865 meals through our Summer Foods programs, and served 8,046 families through the LIHEAP energy assistance program Additionally the Uplift Shelter successfully housed 67 individuals
HeadStart-Ages3to5
Head Start had 524 children enrolled in 2025 The staff working with the families provided 2,119 referrals for those families to various programs and services They also provided 139,816 nutritious meals
Housing/Section 8
Our housing vouchers provided safe and affordable housing to 1,995 families and 5,863 individuals. These include Section 8, VASH - for veterans, Stability Vouchers and Family Self-Sufficiency.
Weatherization
Our Weatherization team ensured that 50 homes were Weatherized for energy efficiency this last year This is a critical need and our wait list continues to grow
Women'sWellness
Our team served 867 clients, through 1,494 clinic visits This also included the opportunity to serve patients virtually this year. This program serves both men and women, focusing on reproductive health including: cervical screenings, STD’s, birth control, and more.
Southeast Economic Development Fund, Inc.
SEED$ held 32 workshops for small businesses, which amounted to 873 hours of training. SEED$ continues to work with small businesses to secure loans and help create jobs in our communities.
New Foundations focuses on building new affordable housing for our communities This year they completed 4 new builds with their team
Farmington Senior Center
The Farmington Senior Center served a total of 54,236 meals in 2025 to seniors in Farmington, MO. Of those meals 16, 496 were in house and combined with activities and programs to engage seniors.
EMAA has a strong focus on workforce development programs and had over 30 customers participate in our Regional Culinary Arts and EMAA Construction programs in 2025 Learning in the classroom an on the job through shadowing with our local partners
Workforce Innovation in Action: The Ground Up Success Story
While working with a client in Ironton on their current needs, they noticed a flyer for The Ground Up our brand-new workforce development program through EMAA, funded by the Delta Regional Authority. Although I didn't hear back immediately after they took the flyer, I was thrilled to see the outcome just a week later. On Monday, while the food truck was serving breakfast at the Uplift Shelter, the client was already on board. She had applied, been accepted, and went on to become an exceptional student in our inaugural class."
Growing Together Through Head Start:
nce we have been with the Head Start program, it has been onderful and as a family has helped us (in) becoming more ccessful in our lives. They have done so much for us and ur kids. We have been at our own home now for over a year nd have bettered our self/family since being with the Head art program It’s a very great p e taught us (and) our kids so much since joining it. The kid' has taught them so much, etc I'm very thankful for this p to any one that can put their kid's in Head Start. They hel school times etc and and that’s what means the most to d we got to put our kiddos in Head Start.
EMAA: A Blueprint for Community Stability
Our commitment to safe and affordable housing is more than a mission it is a measurable investment in our neighbors’ futures In 2025, we completed the successful remodeling of 88 units at the Cherry Hill Senior Apartment complexes, ensuring our seniors have a modern, high-quality environment to call home. This momentum continued with the completion of the Mineral Area Apartments, providing 42 income-based units in 1, 2, and 3-bedroom layouts, including 10 units specifically dedicated to individuals transitioning out of homelessness. Both of these complexes are located in St.
Looking ahead to the first half of 2026, we are excited to b of Montenot Meadows in Perryville, MO. This landmark de new units and serve as a comprehensive community hub Start program and our Community Services Outreach off essential resources with quality housing, EMAA is ensuring that our residents have the foundation and the support they need to thrive.
Our first agency therapy dog, Cooper, is in training and bringing comfort and connection to clients and staff.
$25,000 Substance Use Disorder grant through our Grea partnership supporting staffing and referrals in St. Francois and Washington counties.
Approximately $130,000 in Opioid Response funding from the City of Farmington and St. Francois County to operate the Uplift Center emergency overnight shelter (November–March).
BJC Parkland donated a mini-bus that will be converted into a new mobile outreach unit, expanding services to rural and underserved communities Following tornado disasters in Cape, Iron, Perry, and Washington counties, EMMA now serves as the Long-Term Recovery Case Management agency in Cape, Perry, and Washington counties helping families rebuild homes and stability. We were also able to secure an $87,000 grant to support intensive case managment for those impacted.
EMAA had an FY2025 agency budget
$29,310,000. With the largest budget Head Start, Housing, and Community Services Departments. The agency budget is compiled by the agency CPA and reviewed by the agency board for approval
Six Decades of Service:
As we close our 2025 Annual Report, we pause to celebrate a landmark year: 60 years of East Missouri Action Agency. On August 21 we gathered with community partners, local commissioners, and stat decades of empowering individuals and marked by a ribbon cutting and moving McCrorey, CCAP & EMAA’s Executive D Bania - Missouri Community Action Net Director, who highlighted the profound multi-generational impact Community across our region. While this anniversary honors our histor our fu deepl partn who h us sin we lo many of tur into a comm we se
