Author Archives: TCANOLA

All Total Community Action, Incorporated (TCA) programs and services (Rental Assistance, Food Pantry, Energy Assistance, and Head Start Centers) will be closed on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, 2020, in response to Hurricane Sally and to support the health and safety of our clients and staff.  

It is anticipated that all TCA services will resume on Thursday, September 17, 2020, however, updates will be provided as necessary. TCA clients, parents, and staff are encouraged to should monitor the website, www.tca-nola.org; Facebook Total Community Action; Twitter TCANOLA, and local news outlets for updates.

Total Community Action, Incorporated (TCA)Head Start Program announces Fall 2020 service options for families, aligned with Louisiana Department of Education Early Childhood Education Strong Start 2020.

TCA will offer families five options of services for the Fall Session, beginning week of September 14, 2020. Our goal is to provide choices that meet the needs of our children and families, while being responsive to the public health conditions.

• Home Based Virtual Early Head Start
• Center Based Respite Early Head Start
• Center Based Hybrid Head Start
• Center Based Virtual Head Start
• Center Based Respite Head Start

TCA enrolled families are asked to make a commitment to a program options via online or mail survey by August 28, 2020. To see a detailed decriptions of your options please see below. 

Click Here to Complete Survey 

You can also complete your survey by phone by contacting TCA Parent Liaison @ 504-459-4800. Llamae para espanol 504-459-4800.

TCA  2020 Head Start & Early Head Start
Journey to Excellence: Access to Success
COVID-19 Pandemic –Service Options
 September 14, 2020 – November 13, 2020

Phase II Safer At Home: The majority of children will attend centers on hybrid service model with remote learning on two-three days a week Some small (groups of 8-10), in-person/center respite services may be provided as needed.  

TCA is offering four options for the 2020-21 program year. Our goal is to provide choices for our families, while being responsive to the public health conditions. The Home Based and Virtual options are designed to account for the potential changing COVID-19 contagion level in our community- allowing for more days of in-person services when there are minimal and controlled levels of COVID 19 and moving to more Home based learning if the outbreaks of virus are present.

Early Head Start Options

TCA Early Head Start will provide two service models in Phases I, II, and III.   

• Home Based Virtual Early Head Start

The first model is Homebased Virtual.  In this model, the majority of the children are receiving educational services virtually. Homebased Virtual entails children and their families receiving high-quality home-based virtual early learning educational supports, with infants/toddlers and their families working along with their teacher to achieve essential developmental milestones in physical development, social & emotional development, language & literacy, and cognition and mathematics. Teachers promote the parent’s role as the child’s first teacher through experiences focused on the parent-child relationship and, as appropriate, the family’s traditions, culture, values, and belief. Teachers will work weekly with parents and their children. Together, the teachers and parents collaborate, think, and plan about the child.

• Early Head Start Center Based Respite

EHS Center Based Respite model will be available for families for whom center based services are necessary to support the parent’s education or employment. TCA will utilize the ERSEA criteria to validate eligibility for respite. These infants and toddlers will attend the center daily.  Children attending the center will receive 6 hours of full day instructions, in an environment the invites children to observe, and explore at their own pace.

Head Start Options

TCA will provide three service models in Phase II. In center based virtual and center based hybrid Student Wi-Fi capable tablets will be issued to families in need in accordance with TCA technology and media guidelines. Parents will be provided support through training, conferencing, and weekly check ins from the child’s learning team.  Regardless of the method of instruction materials and learning Apps will be provided to non-English speaking families in the home language and English.

• Center Based Virtual Head Start

In this model preschoolers will receive developmentally appropriate services will be delivered daily whether using digital or non-digital platforms following the Creative Curriculum for Preschool scope and sequence plan. Teaching teams will create daily lessons and activities for children ages 3 to 5 to encourage and support the developmentally appropriate time of 1 ½ to 2 hours of computer- generated learning. The center based virtual learning schedule is not intended to advise parents to create a regimented daily schedule that mirrors the regular center schedule, but rather, a consistent flow of the day that fits into the family routine to include spending time with their child each day talking about how they are feeling, reading books, and playing games.

• Center Based Hybrid Head Start

In this model preschoolers will receive direct center based classroom instruction (2) or (3) days a week and center based virtual instruction (3) or (2) days a week.  The hybrid schedule incorporates 5 to 6 hours of center based learning and a center based virtual learning time frame of 1 ½ to 2 hours.  Lessons and activities include teacher- directed, partner and child independent play opportunities.  The Creative Curriculum Monthly Investigation “Study” will be used following a nine-week scope and sequence learning and activity outline. Classroom ratios of 10: 2 and small groups 5:1 will be required to ensure compliance with health and safety protocols.

• Center Based Respite Head Start

Center Based Respite model will be available for families for whom center based services are necessary to support the parent’s education or employment. TCA will utilize the ERSEA criteria to validate eligibility for respite. Limited whole group classroom and outdoor interactions will be offered.  Teachers will incorporate developmentally designed activities and plans for children ages 3 to 5 years to include 6 to 8 hours of daily teacher directed, parallel and independent child play opportunities addressing all learning domains for Kindergarten readiness. Classroom ratios of 10: 2 and small groups 5:1 will be required to ensure compliance with health and safety protocols.

TCA Community & Energy Services will continue to operate on modified schedules for essential services only, in response to COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Declaration.

TCA Food Pantry located at 4518 Thalia Street, will close on Monday, March 30, 2020, for relishing and restocking. We will reopen Tuesday, March 31 to offer supplemental food assistance to families daily between the hours of 8:00 a.m.-5:00p.m, effective March 31 – April 3, 2020.  During the emergency declaration, all families are eligible and encouraged to participate in the supplemental food distribution once weekly.

TCA Opportunity Center has suspended universal services until further notice.  The office will be available for Housing Assistance participation services, by appointment only.  Active clients should contact their case managers for appointments.

TCA Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) services at all locations (1410 S Jefferson Davis Parkway, St David Center, Pearlie Elloie Center) is being suspended effective close of business Friday March 27, 2020 until April 14, 2020. For further information, you can call the VITA LINE: (504) 875-2660.

TCA’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Sewerage and Water Board Assistance Programs are suspended until further notice.  In accordance with the Emergency Declaration and supporting regulatory declarations utilities (ENTERGY & SWB) cannot disconnect services during the emergency declaration.

For additional information  contact TCA automated line at (504) 882-7181.

CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT LINKS

Out of an abundance of caution regarding our community’s exposure to COVID-
19, TCA has made the decision to close the TCA operated Head Start Centers, for
the period March 16 through April 9, 2020. Parents of children attending TCA child
care partner sites, should contact their sites directly for the centers operational plans
during this period of pandemic response.

TCA parents are encouraged to visit their centers tomorrow, Monday, March 16
between 10:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. to pick up 30-day School Readiness Packets,
medications and other children’s belongings.

ALL TCA Head Start staff are expected to report to their centers tomorrow,
Monday, March 16, 2020 for 8:00a.m. for detail information relative to the center
closure.

We want to ensure our parents and staff, that health and safety of our children are our
first priority, and that we will be continuously monitoring this ever-evolving pandemic
situation and will provide bi-weekly updates via our website and Child Plus contact.

NORD YOUTH SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

ALL 5 requirements must be met to register for Summer Camp

1. Proof of Income – must have 2020 year on documentation
This requirement can be satisfied by submitting the following:
• SSI Award Letter with monthly amount
• Food Stamp or Social Security Award Letter with amount
• Photocopy of 4 consecutive pay stubs for ALL adult members of the household.
• If unemployed, must provide a letter from Louisiana Workforce Commission regarding unemployment status or a notarized letter stating current income.
• If self-employed, must provide a notarized document stating current gross monthly income.

• If there are 2 parents/guardians, provide proof of income for both parents/guardians.

2. Proof of Residency in Orleans Parish – must have 2020 year on documentation
This requirement can be satisfied by submitting one (1) of the following:
• Photocopy of a utility bill, phone bill, current insurance statement, or pay stub documentation with the parent/guardian current Orleans Parish address. The address on the document provided must have the same address provided on the registrant’s application.

3. Identification Verification
This requirement must be satisfied by submitting the following:
• Photocopy of a valid State-issued Identification Card or Driver’s License for parents and/or guardians.
• If there are 2 parents/guardians, provide such documentation for both parents/guardians.

4. Report Card
This requirement can be satisfied by submitting the following:
• Photocopy of child’s report card from current school year(2019-2020)
• If the child is not of age to attend school or is homeschooled, an up to date copy of the child’s Immunization record must be provided.

5. Child’s Birth Certificate

*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION MUST BE ON HAND AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO ENROLL CHILD(REN) INTO SUMMER CAMP.
IF REGISTERING MORE THAN ONE CHILD FROM THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTS FOR EACH CHILD BEING REGISTERED MUST BE PROVIDED. WE WILL NOT MAKE COPIES ON SITE; ALL COPIES MUST BE BROUGHT IN.

Total Community Action, Inc. will host Super Low Income Home Energy Assistance Day for residents of Orleans Parish in need of utility assistance and other TCA services on December 16, 2019 at Our Lady of Lourdes School Gym, 2437 Jena street from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. TCA will be providing all LIHEAP and community services on a first-­come,  first served  basis.  No  appointments  required.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to help low-­‐income households pay their heating and cooling bills as well as increase their energy self-­‐ sufficiency.  The program targets people with the lowest income and the highest energy cost based on income and family size.   Payment is made directly to the utility provider on behalf of the recipient.

Carolyn Green Ford Head Start, located at 2020 Jackson Ave., is currently accepting applications for 3 and 4 year olds. For more information please contact Jonika Julian at 504-459-4808 or 504-462-1829.