Area IV History 1973-2018
1973 The Older Americans Act of 1965 mandated State Agencies on Aging and these in turn fostered Area and County Councils on Aging. The first official meeting for Area IV was held on December 17, 1973 with representatives from seven counties (Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe and White). Warren County was later included.
1974 Articles of Incorporation were filed with the State Commission and the Agency (then called the Council on Aging) opened its doors at 533 Main Street in Lafayette. The area population of persons 60 and over was 35,689. Fay Ebrite was selected as the Executive Director of Area IV.
1975 Constitution and bylaws were formed. Area IV moved to 1001 South Street in Lafayette. Senior Centers and Transportation were officially funded.
1976 Prior to Area IV being designated as a Community Action Program Agency (CAP), the staff weatherized homes of the elderly and low-income persons of all ages in our four CAP counties (Carroll, Clinton, Tippecanoe and White).
1977 The first fuel assistance contract with the State was awarded to Area IV to provide energy assistance to elderly persons living in the eight county area.
1978 Senior Centers opened in Covington, Monticello, Delphi and Williamsport. Kitchens opened in Delphi and Monticello to be used as meal sites. In 1979 the Flora Senior Center opened.
1982/1983 The first “In Praise of Age Day” was held at the Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette. Activities included entertainment and a fashion show.
1984 Area IV Agency was reorganized and designated a Community Action Program Agency (CAP) to serve eligible persons of all ages living in four counties; Carroll, Clinton, Tippecanoe and White. The Energy Assistance Program expanded to include assistance not only to the elderly but to persons of all ages who were low income. Area IV was responsible for the USDA federal food commodities program that allowed the distribution of many kinds of food to eligible persons of all ages living in the four CAP counties.
1985 The Federal Urban Mass Transportation Agency funded a public, volunteer transportation program for persons of all ages living in five rural communities: Brookston (White Co.), Clarks Hill (Tippecanoe Co.), Hillsboro (Fountain Co.), Rossville (Clinton Co.) and Waveland (Montgomery Co.). This program later expanded to include Boswell (Benton Co.) in 1996.
1987 Area IV was selected as one of four pilot sites in the state for the CHOICE In Home Services program. In the first 6 months, 194 persons were authorized for services. The first Senior Games was held by Area IV with 275 participants ranging from 55-92 years of age. The Lafayette office of Area IV was established to serve as an Information and Referral point for caregivers.
1989 Area IV moved to its current location at 660 N. 36th Street in Lafayette. The Agency received the Marquis de Lafayette Award for its work with the CHOICE program.
1990 The CHOICE program was expanded to all eight counties. Area IV assumed management of the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) service contracts for aging programs; direct payment to public utilities and private sector vendors for assistance to households served under the Energy Assistance Program (EAP) and payment to all vendors participating in the CHOICE home care program. Area IV was awarded another Marquis de Lafayette award for the work and success of the Senior Games.
1991 Project Head Start opened its doors in September, serving Carroll, Clinton and White Counties with an original enrollment of 104 children… In cooperation with the Indiana Health Center, Area IV staff established a food pantry for migrant families who spend summers working in the greater Lafayette area.
1992 Area IV’s In-Home Services Program brought together money to provide in home services funded by local, state, and federal sources; SSBG, Title III of the Older Americans Act, Older Hoosier, Medicaid Waiver and CHOICE. Through the PSI Demand Side Management Program, Area IV provides in-home installation of special light bulbs, water heater tune-ups and air-sealing work for each eligible customer who heat exclusively by electric heat. The rental assistance HUD Section 8 housing certificate and voucher program was initiated in the four CAP counties (Carroll, Clinton, Tippecanoe and White). Area IV Agency became both the Fiscal and Voucher agent for Step Ahead in Carroll and Clinton Counties.
1993 The Agency began to operate the Money Management volunteer program for Tippecanoe County and soon expanded it to include, Carroll and Clinton, and White Counties. Qualified households are helped with financial budgeting and payment of bills.
1995 The Caregiver’s Resource Center was expanded to include Information and Referral services on a variety of topics in addition to caregiving. The name changed to the Resource Center.
1996 “HOPE” Transportation Program serving elderly and handicapped persons living in Benton County was started, using volunteers and a paid driver to provide transport to medical appointments. After many years of dedication to the successful growth and development of Area IV, long time Executive Director, Fay Ebrite, retired and Sharon Wood was selected as Executive Director.
1997 The Senior Games hired a consultant coordinator for the sole purpose of implementing the “biggest and best” Senior Games to date. There were over 620 people in attendance. “Transitions” a new, comprehensive case management program was established to assist families with problems they are experiencing and to ultimately help them reach self-sufficiency. As a sub-recipient Agency for the City of Delphi, Area IV initiated an owner occupied rehabilitation program for eligible households living within city limits with Indiana Housing Finance Authority Funds.
1998 Area IV entered a partnership with Hippensteel Funeral Home to begin offering a few one-day bus trips for seniors. The Individual Development Account (IDA) program was created and eligible households saved money towards the purchase of a new home, schooling, establishing a business or for employment training. Through an FSSA grant, Area IV provided services to families through a Family Self-Sufficiency program. Qualified Section 8 families are helped to eliminate their need for public assistance within a five-year period by providing intensive case management services and through ownership of an escrow (savings) account. The State Department of Commerce awarded Area IV tax credits through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). Individuals can make financial donations to the Agency and receive a fifty-cent tax credit for each $1 contributed. A not-for-profit subsidiary corporation was established to identify and address housing needs of low to moderate income households. Area IV received a second 501(c) (3) designation as well as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), and was named Area IV Development Corporation.
1999 “Wacky Wednesdays at the Movies” was started offering seniors the opportunity to attend a recently run movie for a very low fee made affordable by local sponsors. Area IV created and installed a network that would “link” all of the Area IV offices in the 8 counties. Area IV Development Corporation was the co-developer in several Low Income Housing Tax Credit Projects including the completion of a 36-unit rental housing development for seniors in the City of Frankfort named Frankfort Place. The Development Corporation also received funding for a 60- unit rental housing development to be built in the City of Monticello.
2002 Area IV was selected as one of the few Area Agencies throughout the State to host Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Secretary John Hamilton and Marilyn Schultz, Director of the Division of Disability, Aging and Rehabilitative Services.
2004 A joint effort for Area IV Development and the City of Lafayette was to create Norfolk Crossing, a 12 lot subdivision off Washington Street, between Smith and Weaver near downtown. A two story, three bedroom, two bath model was erected as the kick-off unit for the moderate and low-income area. Down payment assistance and first time homebuyer programs were available through Area IV. The Grandparents as Parents (G.A.P.) Support Group of Clinton County was formed to provide support and help grandparents who have taken on the role of main caregiver to their grandchildren.
2006 Due to decisions by both the federal and state governments, Area IV lost $409,000 (10%) in our Aging programs. This had a serious effect on some clients which we worked hard to resolve. At the same time, we began two projects initiated by the Indiana Division of Aging. We moved as many persons from the Medicaid Waiver and the CHOICE waiting lists as possible and on to services. Our Aging department was moving forward to a new service structure called Aging and Disabled Resource Center (ADRC). On our Community Action side of the Agency, all of those programs moved from the Family and Social Services Administration to the newly created Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).
2009 Stimulus funding by the federal government was initiated to kick-start many new programs and to bring additional funding and create jobs for others. Adding new lift vans to our transportation programs, offering breakfast at congregate meal sites, working in rapid re-housing for people who are in danger of eviction or who already reside in shelters, providing food vouchers for local groceries to our Transitions and Head Start families, beginning a micro-enterprise loan system—these are all steps that Area IV took utilizing stimulus funds aimed at resurging the economy.
2010 Area IV received $3 million dollars to further reach out in the communities we serve. Although some funding cuts were experienced as well, we were able to keep all of our staff which allowed us to continue the level of service that we have traditionally provided. Record numbers of homes were weatherized, bringing a permanent solution to high utility bills for many. Through the special food voucher program began with stimulus funds, jobs were created and retained at our partner Mid-Land Meals, and at local grocers where the vouchers were spent. Through a partnership with the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, a new fall prevention class for older adults was created called Matter of Balance.
2011 Private Pay Care Coordination was a program implemented as a personal service that works with individuals to develop a plan to assist them at difficult times during their life, but also leaves them in control.
2012 Area IV’s long time Executive Director, Sharon Wood, resigned in November with health issues. Wood had been at the helm of Area IV for 16 years. She had increased funding for the Agency exponentially over her tenure, and had the foresight to create and implement a number of programs. Sadly, in early 2013, she lost her battle with leukemia but will be forever memorialized at Area IV by the great strides and accomplishments made while she guided Area IV.
2013 In March, Elva James became the Executive Director of the Agency and instantly made an impact through change and innovation. Staff created and implemented a Fund Development Plan, a program to
provide unrestricted funds to utilize for various Agency needs. Area IV applied for and received an ADRC sustainability grant for $15,000. Additionally, the newly established Care Transitions program was funded following a grant award from the Lafayette Catholic Diocese for $100,000. Area IV served over 3,500 meals to children in Frankfort and Monticello over the summer of 2013, with a new program aimed at curbing hunger in the months that schools are not in session.
2014 Area IV was selected by the Indiana Department on Aging to be one of four pilots for the Community Living Program. Area IV received a 7 million dollar tax credit and a Federal Home Loan Bank award to partner in the development of Canal Commons, a 44 unit affordable housing project, with scattered site for all ages in Delphi.
2015 The Park Place Learning Center, an educational center to serve children 18 months to 5 years of age, was opened in Monticello. The Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program two year grant began. A grant was acquired to start and expand our volunteer program to rural counties. Canal Commons, 44 unit affordable housing project in Delphi, was completed and began accepting applications.
2016 Canal Commons, new affordable housing project, reached 100% occupancy; the Park Place Learning Center enrolled 26 children; and the Early Education Matching Grant was received and began in the fall. Area IV was selected as one of two agencies approved to administer Moving Forward 2.0 Innovative Housing Project. Moving Forward 2.0 aims to assist families with breaking the cycle of generational poverty by addressing underlying issues such as housing, education, employment, child care, transportation and healthcare.
2017 In 2017, Area IV Agency was selected to temporarily administer the Energy Assistance Program in Boone County. Area IV was also approved to administer the Ramp-Up Indiana Program in the counties of Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren and White. Area IV Development relinquished its share in the ownership of the Canterbury Apartments in Monticello; and Madison Cottages in Fowler. Woodlawn Preschool opened at the vacant Woodlawn Elementary School in Monticello. Woodlawn receives On My Way Pre-K funding through the Department of Education.
2018 Area IV implemented two new programs: Ramp-Up Indiana Program and the Lead Community Action Program. These programs are funded through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). Area IV partnered with a local volunteer to fund Relative as Parents Program (RAPP). Area IV submitted an RFP and was approved to formally administer the Energy Assistance Program in the counties of Boone, Hamilton (contracted out to Good Samaritan Network) and Hendricks. Area IV restructured its Senior Resource Guide to provide resources to all age groups within our service counties. The guide is now the Community Resource Guide and will be produced biennially. Area IV broke ground on the H38 East Apartments in Lafayette. These apartments are part of the Moving Forward 2.0 Innovative Housing Project, which aims to break the cycle of poverty in families by addressing underlying issues such as access to affordable housing, education, transportation, employment, and child care. Area IV provided CSBG small grants for community gardens projects, the new community center in Delphi and the Center in Frankfort to expand nutritional and other community needs; and provided funding to expand child care services at the YMCA. Area IV moved forward on rebranding the Agency with an updated logo designed for all marketing materials, facilities, etc.