History of Community Action

In 1963 President Kennedy wanted his cabinet to draw up proposals to address the problem of American poverty. Johnson took up these ideas after he succeeded Kennedy as President and expanded them into the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. One of the initiatives that came out of this act was the creation of the Community Action Program (CAP).

Community Action puts power in the hands of the people who receive the services. This provides direction so that local citizens can decide how to best utilize resources to meet the needs of their community.

History and Overview of Semcac

Winona, Fillmore and Houston residents answered the call of the Economic Opportunity Act and formed the Southeastern Minnesota Citizens Action Council in June of 1966. Dodge and Steele Counties joined in July of 1975, and Mower County was added in June of 1985. In 2004 Freeborn became a part of the Semcac service area and the total amount of counties served became seven.

There are 80 other locations which include a Family Planning Clinic in Winona, 7 Contact Centers, 11 Head Start centers and 4 partnership sites, and 57 Senior Dining sites. Additional programs are offered in Olmsted, Goodhue, Rice and Wabasha counties in cooperation with the local Community Action Agency.

Our Mission

Semcac assists people to achieve or maintain independence and self-reliance through their own and community resources.

Services Provided

Community Development

This department consists of the Energy Assistance Program, Home Energy Licensed Professionals (HELP), Housing Rehab and Development, Weatherization and the Bluff Country HRA. The wide variety of programming empowers consumers with the ability to lower heating costs and ensure that their dwellings are clean, safe and ready to live in.

Head Start

Semcac’s Head Start program is a family-focused program that promotes the growth and development of zero to three and three year-old to four year-old children. Parents and Head Start teachers work together to plan activities that are developmentally appropriate for the students. Home-Based and Center-Based sites integrate services, including education, parent involvement, health and social services.

Health Services

The clinic educates people and enables them to make the best informed decisions for their reproductive health. This includes abstinence, birth control, pregnancy options and other questions about sexual health. Screenings and exams are also provided on a sliding fee scale. Consumers are provided with a confidential and nonjudgmental environment to make choices about their future.

Outreach and Emergency Services

This area provides information, referral, financial literacy classes, Homeless Prevention and Assistance, food shelves, emergency assistance, and one three unit homeless shelter. Staff works to ensure consumers have the vital resources needed as they work toward independence and self-reliance.

Senior Services

Meals on Wheels, Senior Dining, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and Senior Caregiver Advocacy allows seniors the opportunity to live happy, healthy and productive lives as they enter into the golden years.

Transportation

Bus transportation provides clients that opportunity to be transported to work, medical and personal appointments, and senior dining. The Volunteer Driver Program provides transportation primarily to seniors for medical and personal appointments. These rides provide clients the opportunity to stay connected to their communities.

Semcac Funding

For over 45 years Semcac has been connecting people with resources to ensure that they can achieve their goals of self-reliance and independence. We are the voice for the voiceless and invest private, federal and public dollars back into the communities to strengthen our greatest resource, the people who make up our great area of the state.

Won’t you join us as we continue to empower individuals and help them reach their goals
of self-reliance and independence?

Together we can make a difference in the communities of southeast Minnesota.