Public Benefits
Quick Links
Childcare and Preschool
Head Start is primarily a federally-funded program that provides education, health and social services to families with children aged 3, 4 and 5. Head Start programs help children develop academic and social skills that prepare them for school and life.
Early Head Start serves pregnant women and families with children from birth to age 3. It operates like preschool Head Start, following a set of federal Performance Standards that assure every child receives high quality services that help them grow physically, academically and socially and families obtain needed services to help them become self sufficient
Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (Pre-K Counts) provides quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten to eligible 3 and 4 year old children in Pennsylvania.
This subsidized child care program helps low-income families pay their child care fees. The state and federal governments fund this program, which is managed by the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) office located in your county.
From PA COMPASS, find a childcare provider near your home or workplace.
Employment and Training
PA CareerLink helps job seekers create a resume, access job training, and learn about employment opportunities. They can also help you access the EARN Program (Employment, Advancement, and Retention Network).
Food, Clothing, and Transportation
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC helps pregnant women, mothers and caregivers of infants and young children learn about good nutrition to keep themselves and their families healthy. It provides nutrition services, breastfeeding support, health care and social service referrals and healthy foods to eligible participants.
Find a food pantry near you through this tool from Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania.
Farmers Market Nutrition Program
These checks help WIC participants and income-eligible seniors purchase fresh food at local farmers markets.
Financial Resources
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
TANF, or Cash Assistance, provides money to help pregnant women, dependent children and their parents or other relatives who live with and provide care for them.
The Child Tax Credit provides money to support American families — helping them make ends meet, more easily afford the costs of raising children, or save for their children’s future.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break that can be used to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund.
Health Insurance
Medical Assistance (MA), also known as Medicaid, pays for health care services for eligible individuals.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
The Children's Health Insurance Program — or CHIP — is Pennsylvania's program to provide health coverage to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance.
Housing and Shelter
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. In Pike County, this program is managed by the Wayne County Housing Authority.
Through this program, eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older can receive a rebate for their property tax or rent. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.
Foreclosure Prevention/Assistance
PA residents are eligible for no cost housing counseling from the PA Housing Finance Agency related to mortgage delinquency and preventing foreclosure.
Home Modifications and Rehabilitation
PHFA offers several loans to help homeowners with modifications for people with disabilities and housing rehabilitation.
The CARES Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program (PMAP)
The purpose of PMAP is to aid in foreclosure prevention by providing emergency assistance in the form of a grant on behalf of Pennsylvania homeowners who are delinquent in their monthly mortgage payments due to job loss or reduced
work hours and wages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Older Adults
Pike County Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
The Area Agency on Aging provides a range services such as home delivered meals, social/recreation opportunities at both senior centers and congregate dinning. In some cases they provide home personal care and home health aides and they can also contract a provider for adult day care services. In addition, AAA's are mandated to provide adult protective services to older persons who for whatever reasons may be exploited, abused or neglected.
Provides resources and assistance to individuals who assume the primary responsibility for the provision of care to encourage a healthy, ongoing relationship with their care receiver.
Mental Health
Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services
Carbon, Monroe, and Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services operates a mental health and developmental services program with offices in each county. They provide casework, supports coordination, and service coordination for various individuals and families. They have Targeted Case Managers and Administrative Case Managers in their Mental Health Department, Supports Coordinators in their Developmental Services program, and Service Coordinators in their Early Intervention program.
Substance Use
Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug & Alcohol Commission
Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug & Alcohol Commission provides education, prevention, intervention, case management, recovery support and treatment services through contracted providers and their own functional treatment, case management, and prevention units.