BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
ACTION is available on an appointment-only basis.
ACTION is committed to our mission and our communities. If you are seeking assistance, are interested in our programs, 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.
ACTION diligently checks telephone messages throughout each day. All messages will be relayed to the appropriate person or department and your call will be returned.
When leaving a message, please clearly state your:
- Full Name and
- Telephone Number including Area Code
It is very important to state:
- The County in which you live, and
- A brief description of the reason for your call.
ACTION has several programs. By stating a brief reason for your call, we are able to refer it to the correct person to call you back.
OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: OPPORTUNITIES IN ACTION!
WE ARE BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY HELPING INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO HELP THEMSELVES THROUGH OUR NEWEST AND INNOVATIVE HIGHER EDUCATION AND EDUCATION-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS.
We are dedicated to our innovative approach to break the poverty cycle by focusing our efforts on individuals who are motivated to improve their lives and attain not just self-sufficiency, but long-term sustainability through education and education-based training. ACTION partners with the community, service agencies, businesses and schools / colleges to participate in the success of changing lives. This is not a quick fix, but possible through education and training.
Each program has dedicated Career Coaches who partner with the participants as both a personal mentor and academic adviser to ensure they not only stay on track, but have someone who cares to give that extra push and help to build their confidence. The Career Coaches work with participants to conduct initial in-depth interviews and counseling to help identify strengths, weaknesses and life goals. We assist in developing detailed Education-Based Action Plans to reach short– and long-term goals, ultimately leading to high demand careers with upward mobility and commensurate wages.
Our Educational Programs include:
- Achieving Career Excellence (A.C.E.) - Futures
- Achieving Career Excellence (A.C.E.) - Pathway Home
- Achieving Career Excellence (A.C.E.) - Workforce Development
- #1 Dads
- High School Youth
- Opportunities to Excel!
- Opportunities Now
Each Program provides:
- Follow-up and support on at least a bi-weekly basis by a dedicated Career Coach/Mentor to discuss participants’ progress, any current life occurrences and/or barriers, and next steps
- Testing and counseling to identify personal and career choices
- As determined, short– and/or longer-term assistance with educational costs and supportive services during their educational pursuits
- Comprehensive Essential Employment and Life Skills training
- Ongoing budget, financial, rental and housing training and counseling
- As determined, tutors for educational assistance
- Career-based guidance
ACHIEVING CAREER EXCELLENCE (A.C.E.)
A.C.E. FUTURES
Our newest program works with youth who have made an unfortunate choice and are looking to earn a second chance. Working with the juvenile justice incarcerate facilities, our Achievement Coaches will mentor, coach and assist each youth to:
- earn their GED or high school diploma,
- return to high school,
- earn a nationally-recognized certificate in high demand fields, and/or
- continue forward to post-secondary education opportunities.....
with all leading to future progression and upward mobility.
A.C.E. Workforce Development
Our A.C.E. Workforce Program focuses on Special Populations including ex-offenders, veterans, seniors, and individuals recovering from substance abuse.
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 nationally-recognized Certificate in a high demand field 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, Diversion Center and 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
SERVICES PROVIDED MAY INCLUDE:
- Academic and Career Assessment /Advising
- Counseling Services
- One-on-One and Small Group Mentoring
- Dedicated Career Coaching
- Financial Planning
- Essential Employment / Life Skills Training
- The Possibility of Tuition and Educational Assistance
- GED and Certificate / Diploma Instruction
- Academic Supportive Assistance which may include:
- 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 and, even more exciting, the ability to continue with education-based training.
#1 DADS
ACTION, Inc.’s Fatherhood Program, #1 DADS, promotes responsible fatherhood, healthy marriage and economic stability through the provision of workshops, case management and job skills training.
The program assists fathers with involvement in the criminal justice system within ACTION's primary 10-county service area in North Georgia plus Newton County. The program is designed to strengthen, establish, or reestablish relationships between an adult father and his children, or a father and his spouse/partner and their children.
Participants will either be currently incarcerated, have been incarcerated, and/or have otherwise been justice-involved in the past (such as sentenced to probation).
Through a father-friendly service delivery approach, ACTION, Inc.’s #1 DADS Program addresses the needs of fathers and their parenting partners and promotes positive change in the community.
High School youth
The High School Youth Program provides an individualized approach 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 support 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 with additional development opportunities to further enhance their future success.
Our services:
- Connection to 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
The High School Youth Program may provide each participant with services as appropriate and approved:
- 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
- Supportive 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 - Audra Collins: acollins@actionincorporated.org
Clarke Central - Sharon Barnes: sbarnes@actionincorporated.org
Classic City - Audra Collins: acollins@actionincorporated.org
Barrow County - Liz Long: llong@actionincorporated.org
Elbert County - Valencia Thornton: vthornton@actionincorporated.org
Greene County - Audra Collins: acollins@actionincorporated.org
Jackson County - Audra Collins: acollins@actionincorporated.org
Jasper County - Cary Best cbest@actionincorporated.org
Madison County - Cary Best : cbest@actionincorporated.org
Morgan County - Audra Collins: acollins@actionincorporated.org
Newton County - Loineda Peters: lpeters@actionincorporated.org
Oconee County - Audra Collins: acollins@actionincorporated.org
Oglethorpe County - Cary Best : cbests@actionincorporated.org
Walton County - Mequelle Jones: mjones@actionincorporated.org
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXCEL!
Opportunities to Excel! focuses on expanding our High School Youth Program. Our Career Coach partners to transition students from High School and into College or Technical College.
Our goal is to help each student to realize their potential and achieve success by graduating from high school, continuing on to and graduating from College or Technical College, and ultimately succeed in a career offering future progression and sustainable earnings.
ACTION's dedicated EXCEL Coach first begins by receiving recommendations from students' high school Career Coaches / Advisors while students are in their junior year. Our EXCEL Coach then meets with each candidate and his/her parent or guardian to assess financial eligibility, program eligibility and commitment to achieving the goal of graduating from College or Technical College.
At the point of forming a success-based partnership, our EXCEL Coach works one-on-one with each student throughout their senior year of high school to transition them successfully into College or Technical School and, following the transition phase, continues partnering throughout the participant's post-secondary education to help ensure success.
ACTION also works with collaborative partnerships to identify students who have demonstrated success and commitment to achieving their high school diploma.
Our EXCEL Coach provides:
- One-on-One Mentoring
- Academic and Career Coaching
- Career Assessment to help identify careers most suited for their future
- Help to Identify and assist with obtaining qualified support while in the program
- Financial and other supportive assistance as identified and as available
- Life Skills, Budget and Financial Coaching
- Interactive Support
- In Person and Virtual workshops
Who Are Our Participants?
Our primary participants are recommended by High School Career Coaches and Advisors from the high schools in our ten-county primary service area, along with students from other collaborative partnerships. Each student must be income eligible and committed to successfully graduating from College or Technical College. Additionally, each student must agree to:
- Communicate with the EXCEL Coach / Mentor on an agreed-upon schedule
- Submit all grades and progress evaluations as earned
- Submit official transcripts
- Participate in tutoring as determined by the Career Coach / Mentor
- Participate in In Person and Virtual Workshops
- Abide by a financial academic plan
OPPORTUNITIES NOW!
One Opportunities in ACTION program, Opportunities Now, is committed to helping individuals make strategic long- term life changes. We have a dedicated Career Coach 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 career 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
Our Career Coach is dedicated to partnering with participants to identify their educational and professional goals, and then works step- by-step to map out a plan of action that will lead to a successful outcome. We are committed to:
- Intensive Career Management
- One-on-One Mentoring
- Academic and Career Coaching
- Career Assessment to help identify careers most suited for the participant's future
- Identifying and assisting with obtaining qualified support while in the program
- Life Skills Training and Financial Workshops which includes Financial / Budget Counseling
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
- 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
our community-based programs
community services
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 assistance 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.
- As identified / assessed as meeting requirements and as available, we are able to assist with rent, mortgage and energy bills 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.
weatherization
Our counties include 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 through Weatherization Assistance Services.
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.
FULL PLATE
The Full Plate Program is the only food rescue and redistribution program in Northeast Georgia.
For over 20 years, Full Plate has reduced the food budgets of our partner meal-service sites by over 33%. Our program translates into real monetary savings to these agencies, allowing them to focus their staff, financial resources and programs on providing the best services those in the most need.
With a staff of only two, Full Plate picks up excess prepared and perishable food from commercial kitchens, restaurants and grocery stores in Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and Walton Counties. The food is then quickly delivered to agencies dedicated to senior citizens, domestic violence victims, individuals in substance abuse recovery and homeless individuals.
Each and every week, our staff members are able to touch over 700 individuals and, because the partner agencies are able to redirect their funds away from having to purchase food, they are able to enhance the services they provide to their participants!
BE IN GOOD COMPANY AND JOIN THE MISSION!
WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT THE PAST AND CURRENT
GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM:
- Starbucks
- Longhorns
- The University of Georgia
- Outback
- Carrabbas
- Chipotle
- Golden Pantry
- Red Lobster
- Pizza Hut
- Krispy Kreme
- KFC
- Chick-Fil-A
- Cheddars
- Au Bon Pain
- Olive Garden
- The Classic Center
- Epting Events Catering & Design
- Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority
- Chi Omega Sorority
The Full Plate Program partners with human service agencies serving a diverse population, including at-risk children and youth, domestic violence survivors, those recovering from addiction, and the homeless.
Some of our partnership agencies to which we deliver include:
- Salvation Army
- Our Daily Bread
- Project Safe
- Peace Place
- Boys & Girls Clubs
- Project Adam
- Cornerstone Church
- Bigger Vision
- The Palm House
- Potter’s House
- Lanier Gardens
- Foothills Charter Schools
- Athens Area Homeless Shelter
- Area County Senior Centers
- The Sparrow’s Nest
- N. E. Georgia Veterans Homeless Shelter
- Athens YMCA
- Madison County Senior Center
- Walton County Senior Center
VIEW OUR PARTNERSHIP SUCCESS STORIES
INTEGRATION OF SERVICES
INTEGRATION OF SERVICES
This is an area that is very important to us. At one time, most of our departments operated very separately. We are now dedicated to operating as a true team and ensuring that we are focusing on an integrated, holistic approach to our services.
By working to touch multi-generations of families as well as transitioning individuals from one program to another, individuals are much better equipped to not only help themselves, but to move their lives forward beyond self-sufficiency, to true sustainability.
An example of INTEGRATING SERVICES occurred when one of our County Coordinators, when working with an individual to help prevent foreclosure, broadened the conversation to include their educational and career goals. Our Counselor connected the client with our Opportunities Now Career Coach to further pursue enrollment into a technical school diploma program.
Another example is with our High Youth Program. As our High School Youth successfully graduate, their need for mentored support does not necessarily end. For these youth, they are able to continue into our Excel Program or with support through our Opportunities Now program. An example of this is Felisa, a young woman who originally began in our High School Youth program. A couple of years after graduation, she called us and, through the continued Mentoring, Coaching, Support and other services offered such as tutoring through Opportunities Now, she has graduated from college with her B.S.N. and is successfully employed!
OUR PROGRAMS PRIMARY SERVICE AREAS
Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee,
Oglethorpe and Walton Counties
Achieving Career Excellence (A.C.E.) Workforce, #1 DADS and High School Youth programs also include Jasper and Newton counties
Achieving Career Excellence (A.C.E.) Pathway Home also includes Habersham, Hall., Hart and Newton Counties
Weatherization also includes Dekalb, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties
