ABOUT ACTION, INC.

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Out of concern for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and the communities we serve,  ACTION is available on an appointment-only basis until  further notice.

We are committed to  our mission and serving our communities.  If you are seeking services or trying to reach a staff member, please call either your county's Community Action Office or our Administrative Office .  

Please either click here  or  on  the Contacts tab above for all County and Weatherization Department  contact numbers.   Please be assured we are diligently checking telephone messages throughout each day.  All messages will be relayed to the appropriate person or department and your call will be returned.  

If you leave a message, please clearly state your:

• Full Name
• Telephone Number including Area Code

If you are seeking services, please also state:

• The County in which you live
• A brief description of the reason for your call. 
• 
  

As we have several programs which provide different services, it is very important for you to provide a brief reason so your call may be forwarded to the correct person to call you back.  

ACTION has two very similar programs committed to education-based training.

Our Achieving Career Excellence Program, A.C.E., through the Department of Labor. focuses on individuals who are currently incarcerated.

Our A.C.E. Program, through Workforce Development, focuses on Special Populations including ex-offenders, veterans, seniors, SNAP recipients and individuals recovering from substance abuse. 

In each program, participants must be focused on and committed to improving their futures.  Each must have achieved a high school diploma or GED, or complete  their GED through our partnership organizations as offered through local Technical Colleges.  Further, they must achieve a Certificate in a high demand fields offered through our partnership organizations.

To provide the very best opportunities for success to our participants, ACTION has partnered and collaborates with:

• Probate Court
• Athens Clarke County Correctional Institution
• Athens Clarke County Diversion Center
• Athens Clarke County Jail
• Jackson County Correctional  Institution
• Newton County Sheriff's Office / Newton County Jail & Detention Center
• The Potter’s House
• Georgia Piedmont Technical College
• Lanier Technical College
• Athens Technical College
• Workforce Innovators of America

If you are committed to literally changing your life, then you may qualify for one of our two A.C.E. Programs!

SERVICES PROVIDED

• Academic and Career Assessment /Advising
• Counseling Services
• One-on-One and Small Group Mentoring
• Dedicated Career Coaching
• Financial Planning
• Essential Employment / Life Skills Training
• Tuition and Educational Assistance
• GED and Certificate / Diploma Instruction
• Academic Supportive Assistance which may include:
  • Transportation
  • Childcare
  • Testing fees
  • Tutoring services
  • Tuition, textbooks, and supplies
• Shared Counsel between ACE partners
• Continued Support for 12 months after completion

HIGH DEMAND CAREER TRACKS

Participants will have an opportunity to achieve their GED. Even more exciting, the ability to continue with education-based training  opportunities currently offered in these High Demand Career Tracks are: 

• Commercial Truck Driving / CDL
• Forklift Operation / OSHA 10 / CPR
• Manufacturing Technology 
• Industrial Systems Technology 
• Welding / Joining Technology
• HVAC 
• Ammonia Refrigeration
• Automotive Technology
• Engineering Technology
• Mechatronics
• Other Approved Training Courses

THE HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A HIGH DROP-OUT RISK DUE TO CERTAIN BARRIERS IN THEIR LIVES. OUR STAFF WORKS SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH EACH PARTICIPANT TO ENSURE THAT EACH HAS THE APPROPRIATE NECESSARY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, WHILE ALSO PROMOTING CAREER AND/OR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL PATH TO COLLEGE, TECHNICAL SCHOOL, OR TO SUCCESSFULLY ENTER THE MILITARY OR WORKFORCE. 

EACH OF THE YOUTH ENROLLED IS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER THAT MEETS WITH HIM/HER ON AT LEAST A MONTHLY BASIS TO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND OTHER SERVICES WITHIN THE PROGRAM’S FOURTEEN ELEMENTS. AS FUNDING ALLOWS, EACH PARTICIPANT IS ALSO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER ENHANCE THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS. 

 OUR  SERVICES: 

• TUTORING, STUDY SKILLS AND INSTRUCTION
• ALTERNATIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL OR DROPOUT RECOVERY SERVICES, AS APPROPRIATE
• PAID AND UNPAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES: SUMMER, PRE-APPRENTICESHIP, INTERNSHIPS/JOB SHADOWING, AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
• OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING
• EDUCATION OFFERED CONCURRENTLY WITH WORKFORCE PREPARATION
• LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
• SUPPORTHE HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM SERVES INDIVIDUALS IN ATHENS-CLARKE, BARROW, ELBERT, GREENE, JACKSON, JASPER, MADISON, MORGAN, NEWTON, OCONEE, OGLETHORPE AND WALTON COUNTIES.

THE FOURTEEN ELEMENTS

MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING THROUGH THE REGIONAL COMMISSION /  WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT, THE HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDES EACH PARTICIPANT WITH 14 ELEMENTS OFTIVE SERVICES, SUCH AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AS APPROPRIATE AND APPROVED

• ADULT MENTORING
• PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES LEADING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
• FOLLOW-UP FOR A MINIMUM OF 10 MONTHS
• COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
• FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION
• ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS TRAINING
• SERVICES THAT PROVIDE LABOR MARKET AND EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION.

STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY IN ORDER TO BE ACCEPTED AND ENROLL IN THE HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM, EACH PARTICIPANT MUST BE:

• ENROLLED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ON TRACK TOWARDS GRADUATION
• MEET ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA WHICH INCLUDES INCOME GUIDELINES
• MUST BE COMMITTED TO COMPLETING AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND PARTICIPATING IN MONTHLY ACTIVITIES
• MUST BE COMMITTED TO ENTERING POST- SECONDARY EDUCATION, WHICH INCLUDES ENROLLING IN TECHNICAL SCHOOL OR A COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY UPON GRADUATION 
• OR UPON GRADUATION, MUST BE COMMITTED TO ENTERING THE MILITARY OR WORKFORCE.

HOW TO CONTACT OUR HIGH SCHOOL CASE MANAGERS - 

Athens-Clarke County

     Cedar Shoals        -      Shamikia Bolton:       sbolton@actionincorporated.org 

     Clarke Central      -     

Barrow County         -      Liz Long:                         llong@actionincorporated.org

Elbert County            -      Valencia Thornton:   vthornton@actionincorporated.org

Greene County          -      Targie Folds:                tfolds@actionincorporated.org

Jackson County        -      Marilyn  Clarke:         mclark@actionincorporated.org

Jasper County           -      Nanette Manning      nmanning@actionincorporated.org

Madison County       -      VaQuasha Dean:         vdean@actionincorporated.org

Morgan County         -      Chiquita Parks:           cparks@actionincorporated.org

Newton County         -      Loineda Peters:          lpeters@actionincorporated.org

Oconee County          -     Justin McCalla:            jmccalla@actionincorporated.org

Oglethorpe County  -    Justin McCalla:            jmccalla@actionincorporated.org

Walton County            -     Mequelle Jones:       mjones@actionincorporated.org

 One Opportunities in ACTION program, Opportunities Now, is committed to helping individuals make strategic long- term life changes. We have dedicated an entire department, focused activities and \ objectives, and are working with schools / colleges, businesses and other agencies to participate in the success of changing lives. This is not a quick fix and is accomplished by providing intensive case management, essential employment and life skills training, mentoring and hands-on involvement by a committed Career Coach and staff.
Who becomes a part of Opportunities Now?Someone who is committed to entering and completing an educational track including: 

• High School 
• GED
• Technical School 
• Certificate Program
• Technical School 
• Diploma Program
• Community  College
• College/University

The staff of our Opportunities Now program are dedicated to partnering with participants to identify their educational and professional goals, and then work step- by-step to map out a plan of action that will lead to a successful outcome. We are committed to:

• Intensive Case Management
• One-on-One Mentoring
• Academic and Career Coaching
• Career Assessment to help identify careers most suited for their future
• Identifying and assisting with obtaining qualified support while in the program 
• Life Skills Training and Financial Workshops which includes Financial Counseling and Credit Repair

What is Required?Individuals interested or referred to this program must be income eligible. The first step involves completion of the application process and, if selected, to continue the screening process by participating in an interview to determine overall commitment and need for optimal success. Participants must sign a contract agreeing to:

• Attend Life Skills courses
• Communicate bi-weekly with the Career Coach / Mentor
• Submit all grades and progress evaluations as earned
• Submit official transcripts
• Participate in tutoring as determined by the Career Coach / Mentor
• Community Service / Volunteer Opportunities as arranged by Career Coach/ Mentor 
• Abide by a financial academic plan

Our Program Principals

• Goal Setting & Strategic Thinking 
• Accountability
• Responsibility 
• Financial Literacy
• Professional Development 
• Asset Building
• Development of Life Skills

ACTION provides services that lend a helping hand. Each county has a dedicated staff member who is available to help those who have experienced an unforeseen hardship in their lives or are in need of employment support. We assess both the need and the solution to getting them past the current situation, which may seem too insurmountable to focus on long-range goals. Our services may include help with rent, energy and mortgage expenses, or essential employment supplies. 

We work with individuals to help them through an immediate ‘crisis’ situation that has caused them to become behind in their bills. In order to encourage financial sustainability, along with independence and responsibility, we have measures in place requiring individuals to: 

• Have experienced a financial crisis / hardship through no fault of their own that has caused them to become behind on their financial obligations. Examples include:
  • Being laid off from work
  • Experienced an unforeseen medical expense
  • Their husband / wife / significant other left the home resulting in a loss of income.
• We are able to assist with rent, mortgage and energy bills with the duration of the assistance individually assessed according to need.
• The hardship has to have occurred within 90 days of the individual coming to ACTION to seek help and may be individually assessed depending on cause and availability of funds.
• Individuals may only receive assistance one time in a 24-month period.
• The individual is required to complete a full application and provide documentation about themselves and members of the household, their hardship and monthly financial obligations. 
• We also provide REFERRALS to every individual who seeks assistance as other partnership agencies may also be able to provide assistance and guidance.

Serving Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Dekalb, Elbert, Greene, Gwinnett, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rockdale and Walton Counties

ACTION’s main goal is to assist both individuals and families in their efforts to maintain safe, energy efficient housing.   The services ACTION’s Housing Department provides include Weatherization Assistance,   Emergency Home Repair and Housing Preservation. 

Our staff completes an on-site energy and safety audit of each home to determine the scope of work and most cost effective measures to give the highest return.

By achieving greater energy efficiency in the home, owners are able to realize real monetary savings in their energy bills, resulting in cost savings in their already-limited budgets.

WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM DETAILS

The Purpose of the Weatherization Program is to increase the energy efficiency and safety of the home.  Energy Conservation services may include:

• Wall Insulation
• Attic Insulation
• Foundation Insulation
• Air Leakage Reduction
• Caulking
• Weather stripping of leaky doors
• Window Repair
• Other minor repairs
• Smoke Detectors
• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
• Furnace & Hot Water Heater Repair or Replacement

HOW TO APPLY

• Call the ACTION office in your county of residence to schedule an appointment to complete a Weatherization Program application.
• The contact number for each county is located in this website under Contact Us
• If you are income eligible and your home has not been weatherized since 1994, our staff will call to schedule an inspection of your home.
• Once the inspection has been finalized, if your home is determined to be eligible based on your weatherization needs, a Weatherization contractor will schedule the work to be performed. 
• Upon completion, a post-inspector will schedule an inspection of your home to evaluate the weatherization measures installed and to make sure you are satisfied with the work performed.