Social Services

Social services and self-help projects are widely available in the Region through a variety of State and Federal agencies and local not-for-profit organizations.

Job Training Services

Job training and retraining services for the economically disadvantaged, disabled and the unemployed are available through funding from the Job Training Partnership Act and State of Missouri funding. Such projects are operated locally under the auspices of the Service Delivery Area (SDA) 10 Private Industry Council (PlC), which administers job training programs in a twelve county area of South Central Missouri. Special training programs for older workers aged 55+ are also available through Missouri Green Thumb, Inc. and the Missouri Experienced Worker program, each of which originates with funding from the Department of Labor.

Head Start

The Head Start program has gained wide acceptance and popularity over the years, and is available in increasing numbers in the Region. The program, which provides services in the component areas of education, social services, parent involvement, nutrition, health and mental health, is operated in Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark; Texas and Wright counties through the sponsorship of Ozark Action, Inc., a Community Action Agency based in West Plains. In Shannon County, the program is sponsored by South Central Missouri Community Action Agency.

Emergency Programs and Public Assistance

Programs of an emergency or crisis nature are generally offered through State agencies, such as the Division of Family Services (the State's public welfare agency) or through local agencies set up for a single purpose (such as emergency food distribution). The State's income maintenance and food stamp programs are administered by DFS as well, as is the State's Medicaid insurance program.

Housing

Housing programs intended to ensure the availability of decent, safe and sanitary housing to low and moderate income households are widely available, in differing forms. Housing Authorities operate under the auspices of municipal government in Alton, Ava, Cabool, Houston, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Norwood and West Plains. These Housing Authorities operate group housing projects, most of which are funded through a combination of Farmers Home Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local financing. Rental assistance in coupon, voucher and certificate form is available in municipal boundaries from HUD Section 8 program funding, in those cases where the Housing Authority offers that program. The Section 8 program is available in the rural areas and in those municipalities without a Housing Authority through the Howell County Public Housing Authority, a consortium of the seven county commissions formed for the purpose of offering housing and rental assistance services throughout the seven-county area. Private firms, both for-profit and not-for-profit, are also commonplace in the Region, offering group low-in-come and elderly housing.

Services For Elderly

Most of the services outlined above are available to the elderly as a result of their meeting general program guidelines. In addition, others contain components specifically intended for elderly participation (e.g. job training, housing). However, many services are available to persons based solely on their attainment of a certain age.

Transportation

Two transportation services for elderly participants are operated in the Region. The Southeast Missouri Transportation System (SMTS) offers services in Howell, Oregon, Shannon and Texas counties. The Older Adult Transportation System (OATS) provides transportation in Douglas, Ozark and Wright counties. Each operates through funding from the United States Department of Transportation, the State of Missouri, and local fees.

Senior Centers

Senior Centers, funded primarily through the Older Americans Act, but also often supplemented by local revenues, operate in nearly every sizeable community in the Region. Older Americans Act funds for this purpose are administered by the Southwest Missouri Office of Aging, located in Springfield. These centers serve as both nutrition sites and recreation centers for the elderly population. Those centers which serve as nutrition sites frequently transport meals to homebound seniors, utilizing volunteers.

Home Health Care

Home Health Care agencies have proliferated in the Region over the last ten years, reflecting a trend toward more independent living by the elderly. These agencies are generally private firms, either for-profit or not-for-profit, but are sometimes operated by public entities, such as hospitals. Funding for the provision of these services, which may range from personal care to administration of medication, most often comes from Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance, but may also be generated by fees.

Division of Aging

The Missouri Division of Aging coordinates the provision of services funded through the State of Missouri for the aged. As part of this responsibility, it oversees the operation of institutions for the aged; administers Older Americans Act funds at the State level; assures the provision of protective services for seniors, as well as the prevention of adult abuse and funds services to prevent or delay institutionalization.

There are a myriad of other services available to the low-income and to the elderly of the area, more than could reasonably be enumerated here. However, the major areas of service are identified here.

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