2017-2018
Annual Report EOP Values... ...people living with dignity ...families and communities as the foundation for individual stability and growth ...diversity and the unique contributions of each individual ...active community participation and involvement by government, community leaders, donors, human service providers and others in enabling people to enjoy economic stability and growth ...a living wage for all individuals and families to promote financial stability ...excellence in services that create positive change in individuals and families ...effective and efficient use of all human, material and financial resources ...integrity in allocating our resources and providing services ...collaborative partnerships in the community ...competent, caring staff to deliver quality services that honor people’s rights to confidentiality ...recognition of staff and volunteers as our most valuable resource in carrying out the mission of EOP ...human resource development and support as a primary means for ensuring personal and professional growth
www.cseop.org
Message from the CEO
Welcome to 2019!!! Fifty-four years ago, in the city of Elmira, New York, a small agency with the potential to achieve greatness first opened its doors. The goal back then was simple - to strengthen the fabric of the community by meeting the needs of the people. Fifty-four years ago, that agency, by the name of the Economic Opportunity Program, began offering services such as a daycare program for working mothers, neighborhood youth corps - both in-school and out-of-school, neighborhood legal services, helping to launch local family resource centers, an alcoholism rehabilitation program, and more. Today, we, at the Economic Opportunity Program, Inc. (EOP), are on a mission to co-create a place and space… where all people of our community live with dignity and have the opportunity and ability to live economically productive and satisfying lives. At our core, we are a Community Action Agency that is driven by our vision directing action to change the world, starting in Elmira and the surrounding area. As we look in the core of Elmira, NY, the poverty rate is 47% impacting nearly 9,000 households. In children under the age of 18, living in poverty is far spread reaching 70% or even as much as 80% in that target area. Research shows that as there is an increase in the number of factors and childhood experiences that have a negative impact on children’s social, emotional, and physical development, the likelihood and risk of developing significant health issues later in life is increased. While numerous barriers to accessing services and maintaining employment exist, we, as a larger community, must join together to address these social determinants head on. In these challenging times, EOP’s board, staff and partners are positioned to serve the community with commitment, compassion and contribution. Our staff of 158 committed citizens and 398 volunteers work today to #RevitalizeCommunity and change our corner of the world getting ready for tomorrow’s #NextLevel. Annually, with your support, EOP serves in Childcare, Youth Care, and Community Family Development more than 5000 community members in Chemung and Schuyler Counties. “The relevant question is not simply what shall we do tomorrow, but rather what shall we do today in order to get ready for tomorrow.”—Peter Drucker We believe that we have the power to unite to overcome the challenges that we face as a community. We work today to empower families and children with the tools, experiences, and connections needed to grow, survive, and thrive tomorrow. With the advances of the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative (ESPRI)-Neighborhood Hubs, the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) to create new valuebased outcomes and grow our services, the rollout of the $16.2 million Birth-to-Five School Readiness Program to develop our children and future leaders, and the construction of the Libertad-Elmira $20 million housing project to expand our neighborhood, we work to keep moving forward as one. In 2019, we are excited to invest our time, energy, and resources preparing for a revitalized community. It is time to act today to work together to strengthen and position for a new tomorrow.