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Established in 1965, DCEA, Inc. is a Community Action Agency serving 30 counties in Tennessee and 2 counties in Kentucky. The purpose of the Agency is to help families living in poverty improve their lives by providing them with assistance and services that they are not able to provide for themselves. The focus of the Agency is to help people help themselves.
Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc.
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Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority, Inc.
Educational Services
The Educational Opportunity Center
EOC is a U.S. Department of Education Federal TRiO program designed to serve 1,000 low-income, first generation college clients. EOC provides assistance in completing admissions and financial aid applications. The project also provides additional services including HiSet pre-testing, tutoring, career assessment, college loan default help, referrals for basic computer skills and other pertinent educational topics.
Counties Served: Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Jefferson, and Monroe
Clients Eligible: U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens, Low-income individuals (according to US DOE poverty guidelines), First-generation college participants (neither parent has a 4-year college degree), Veterans, Disabled citizens.
The Education Center
The Douglas-Cherokee Education Center incorporates state, federal and private educational funding in its programs designed to give students and adults more resources to become successful. Current funding for educational programs include 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Lottery for Education: Afterschool Programs, Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and the Abstinence Education Program. In-school and after-school programs give an extra boost to academically and behaviorally at-risk students through homework help, individual and small group tutoring sessions, character education programs, computer-based and hands-on enrichment activities. Services available to parents and family members include free computer classes, English language instruction, and parent involvement programs.
DCEA Afterschool Programs
DCEA Afterschool Programs are made possible through grants from the TN Department of Education. The program is funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and Lottery for Education Afterschool Programs (LEAPs).
Each site is staffed by a lead tutor/parent training specialist and at minimum three additional tutors who provide intensive afterschool tutoring, counseling and academic enrichment activities to underachieving students enrolled in target schools. The Hamblen County project primarly targets at-risk, Hispanic ESL students and their families; each site is staffed with at least one bilingual tutor, fluent in both English and Spanish. Other activities at all sites include arts and music programs, character education, and recreational activities for students as well as parent involvement and family literacy programs, job search and employment-based computer workshops for family members. Volunteers are recruited to assist with program activities at each site and include parents, local high school Beta Club members, Girl Scout service learners, college students, and teachers. All DCEA Afterschool programs and services are conducted free of charge.
Appalachian Educational Talent Search
Talent Search is a college preparation program for students in grades 7-12. It is a program for motivated students with academic potential who want to continue their education after high school.
Students in grades 7-12 who are first generation (neither parent graduated from a four-year college) or who are financially eligible under the federal guidelines and possess the desire to pursue their education beyond high school qualify for the Talent Search Program.
TS students have an action plan developed by a Talent Search Educational Advisor. The plan focuses on academic, social and motivational needs. Academic monitoring includes checking academic progress within the school year by working with teachers and guidance counselors. Students are assisted in career choices through workshops, career assessments, online career and college searches; and travel to visit colleges. Tutoring or referral to tutoring services is offered to students who show a need in their grades.
Activities and experiences are provided to increase students' self-esteem, confidence, and interpersonal skills. College preparation includes ACT/SAT workshops, assistance with college applications, assistance with financial aid applications and exploring student interests and skills. The Talent Search summer program includes living on campus, college tours, trips to historic and cultural places that will enhance a student's sense of confidence while giving them a true college life experience.
Counties Served: Campbell, Claiborne, Scott Counties in Tennessee and Middlesboro, Pineville and Harlan, Kentucky.
Appalachian Upward Bound I & II
Appalachian Upward Bound is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is sponsored by Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority. Our current grants have been operating since 1995 in Scott, Morgan, Hawkins, and Grainger counties.
Our mission is to provide fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their precollege pursuits. Upward Bound serves: high school students from low income families; high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree; and low income, first generation military veterans who are preparing to enter postsecondary education. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.
Upward Bound provides services in the following areas: tutoring and academic instruction in Mathematics, Science, English, Foreign Language, ACT Prep, financial literacy, cultural exposure, non-cognitive skills, work-study opportunities, service learning, and much more.
Our programs are divided into 2 components, the academic year, and the summer program. During the academic year, students meet with their adviser once per week in their high school. During these meetings students are presented with a host of academic enrichment curriculum and non-cognitive activities. Nine Saturday per academic year, students travel to Carson-Newman University for a day of academic enrichment. In the summer, students may choose to attend the six week summer program. Students live on campus at Carson-Newman for 5 weeks. During this time they experience a real life college scenario in which they take classes, attend workshops, live in dorms, and even get actual college credit.
We currently serve high-school students in Hawkins and Grainger Counties at Cherokee High School and Grainger High School. We also serve students in Morgan County at Wartburg Central, Coalfield, and Sunbright School. In Scott County we serve students at Scott High School. We also provide services to low-income military veterans pursuing their post-secondary education.
