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NATIONAL HEAD START ASSOCIATION (NHSA) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DESIGNATED RENEWAL REFORM (DRS)
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On behalf of the Head Start community, the National Head Start Association (NHSA) thanks you for your commitment to high quality services for vulnerable children and their families across the  country. Over the past five years, the Designation Renewal System (DRS) has been one effort to ensure quality, but a recent analysis by NHSA highlights how unintended consequences of the design of DRS have compromised the intention of DRS and require reforms. In September 2015, NHSA hosted a Designation Renewal System Symposium that included conversations with grantees, former federal officials, former Congressional staff, researchers, and others about how to strengthen DRS for the future. We were pleased to have representatives from the Office of Head Start join us to hear firsthand about the challenges and issues with the current design of the system, and we thank you sincerely for allowing them to participate. The Analysis of the Designated Renewal System highlights the outcomes of the first three cycles of DRS and how they lead us to three conclusions:
- The Designation Renewal System does not yet fully meet the Congressional intent of targeting competition at poor quality grantees.
- Basic reforms are needed to make the Designation Renewal System consistent, reasonable, and predictable.
- Conceptual reforms are needed to support programs in working toward high quality, not compliance.
Click here to read the rest of this letter. |
 NEW THREADS REPORT: INSIGHTS FROM THE CHARITABLE SECTOR
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Our world is changing rapidly and the charitable community is not immune to economic globalization, technological change, and other epic developments sweeping across the horizon. Change of this magnitude offers unparalleled promise for the charitable sector and the people we serve - if we take deliberate, proactive steps to build the future we desire.
In the spring of 2015, Independent Sector partnered with more than 80 organizations to launch Threads, an intensive series of community conversations held across the country. Threads brought together a diverse cross-section of leaders from organizations of every size and mission. In total, the conversations generated thousands of comments, reflecting an incredible range of experiences and perspectives.
After a deep analysis of these comments, we are proud to release a culminating report about Threads: Insights from the Charitable Community.
This report puts a finger on the pulse of our sector. It reveals what's working and what's not. It captures the frank thinking of leaders from nonprofits and foundations. And, most importantly, it gives us insight into what our shared path forward might look like.
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myRA LAUNCHED BY TREASURY DEPARTMENT
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myRAź Official Launch
Outreach Toolkit
Saving for retirement can be a real challenge. Millions of Americans are not saving for retirement. Not knowing where to begin and uncertainties around the best way to invest safely are just two of the most common reasons people aren't saving. And among workers who do not participate in a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan, 42% say it's because their employer does not offer one.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury is proud to announce the official launch of myRA, a new simple, safe, no-fee retirement savings account for those looking for a way to get started, especially those without access to a retirement savings plan at work. myRA removes some of the most common barriers to saving and makes it easier for people to start building toward a more secure future.
Click here to download the toolkit.
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YOUTHBUILD PROGRAMS GIVES TROUBLED YOUTHS A SECOND CHANCE
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YouthBuild Gets Kids Back on Track with a Second Chance at Life - NBC News
After a life of hard knocks, some kids just need a chance to turn things around. And that's what YouthBuild is doing for young people across the country. Click the link below to see the NBC coverage.
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ENGAGEMENT TOOLS FROM FORIMPACT.ORG
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Most organizations and sales teams don't have ENGAGEMENT tools.
They have brochures, binders, powerpoints,or pitch decks. What are you using to DRIVE engagement on a visit?
Is is simple? Visual? Does it SUPPORT the conversation or constrict the conversation? Go to ForImpact.org's STOP ZOMBIES NOW! for an entertaining and useful look at Engagement Tools.
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MINNESOTA VALLEY ACTION COUNCIL AMONG WINNERS OF THE
2015 BUSH PRIZE FOR COMMUNITY INNOVATION
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Minnesota Valley Action Council wins a 2015 Bush Prize for Community Innovation
$500,000 grant will advance their charitable mission
The Big Idea
The Minnesota Valley Action Council, one of the nation's 1,100 Community Action Agencies, is a regional leader in the fight against poverty. It develops a portfolio of self-sustaining social enterprises that meet the new and changing needs of its clients while creating reliable revenue streams in a time of decreased government funding.
In recent years, Minnesota Valley Action Council embraced the food hub concept in an effort to generate revenue for the organization and create a positive community impact. A food hub essentially works with institutions and consumers to create demand for local food, then coordinates production with small farmers to ensure the supply is generated to meet that demand. In 2014, the food hub sold 20,000 pounds of healthy, locally grown produce to residents, public schools and nearby Gustavus Adolphus College. Minnesota Valley Action Council expects this figure to jump to 400,000 pounds by 2017, resulting in a sizable impact on the bottom line for area farmers.
Minnesota Valley Action Council staff understand that fighting poverty is a complicated task that requires a multifaceted response. Its food hub and other revenue-generating initiatives provide the flexibility Minnesota Valley Action Council needs to advance its efforts.
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OPEN ENROLLMENT - HELP GET AMERICA COVERED
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Open Enrollment for Health Care Coverage began November 1 and goes through January 31, 2016. Community Action can help Get America Covered! Join the education and awareness campaigns on social media, partner with a local health center, and ensure your clients have the resources they need to Get Covered.
Learn from Health and Human Services Secretary Burwell on the re-enrollment statistics and how much consumers can save - view the press release of the full report here. 
The Partnership is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other Champions for Coverage around the country to stay updated on opportunities for outreach and education. We encourage you to keep checking our ACA page at http://bit.ly/ACAOutreach for updated announcements, webinars hosted by HHS and CMS, and outreach and social media toolkits. |
EITC AND CTC EXTENSION RESOURCES
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The Partnership has been engaged in efforts by national anti-poverty partners and state leaders to increase awareness around the importance of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Key provisions of these credits are set to expire in 2017. There are also proposals to include increased provisions for childless workers. Community Action understands the importance of these credits in the success of the community members we serve. View and share the chartbook from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) for background information on the credits and the national numbers. CBPP also offers state factsheets which highlight those impacted by the credits in each state, and what the losses would mean if they were not extended.
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STATEMENTS ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEAL
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A federal budget deal was reached last week that would raise the debt ceiling and thereby eliminate more harmful cuts to the programs that our clients rely on. While the deal does not fully restore funding, anti-poverty advocates are supportive of the negotiation as a positive first step. Read more from a few of our national partners below: |
UPCOMING REFRAMING WEBINAR ON NOVEMBER 10
UNVEILING A NEW NARRATIVE ON HUMAN SERVICES
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Building Wellbeing: Unveiling a New Narrative on Human Services Tuesday, November 10 from 1:30 to 2:45 pm EST
Building public understanding of human services, and the will to support it, is arguably one of the most important advocacy tasks for the field in a time characterized by deep funding cuts. Understanding the urgent need for a new narrative about the contributions human services make to a thriving society, the National Human Services Assembly has engaged the FrameWorks Institute to develop an evidence-based strategy for reframing the work of the sector.
The final results of a series of framing studies are in, and you will be among the first to hear the recommendations. Julie Sweetland, FrameWorks VP for Strategy & Innovation, will walk through these key recommendations, model their potential applications, and open the virtual floor for discussion.
REGISTER HERE
In the meantime, go to Building a New Narrative on Human Services, a collection of framing research, recommendations, and sample communications designed to help leading voices explain the importance of human services. When communicating with the public or policymakers, you are encouraged to borrow the toolkit language verbatim, if desired, or to adapt the examples to the immediate needs of a local communications context. Click on the link below to download this toolkit.
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DECEMBER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FROM WIPFLI
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NEW FINANCIAL WELL-BEING BOOK LAUNCHES 12/8:
SIGN UP FOR THE FREE LIVE WEBCAST!
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Join Us December 8 for the Free Live Webcast of the Launch of What It's Worth
New book to focus on opportunities to build financial health and well-being
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 | 10 am-5 pm EST
Join the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, CFED and the Citi Foundation on Tuesday, December 8, for the live webcast of the Financial Well-Being Summit to mark the release of the new book, What It's Worth: Strengthening the Financial Future of Families, Communities and the Nation.
Hear from policymakers, employers and others who will highlight innovations that are breaking down barriers that keep too many families from financial success. Topics to be covered include:
- Education, Jobs, Housing & Health
- Economy, Politics & the Financial System
- Race, Gender, Age & Place
- Insights into Financial Decision-Making
Click here to RSVP! |
REGISTER BEFORE NOVEMBER 13 FOR THE 2016 MANAGEMENT AND
LEADERSHIP TRAINING CONFERENCE AND SAVE!
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Discounted Rates when you register BEFORE NOVEMBER 13 for the
2016 Management and Leadership Training Conference
in New Orleans
Leading with Resilience - The Community Action Way
Click here to reserve hotel rooms online at Westin Canal Place or call the Westin at 1-888-627-8180
Click here for the
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ISA is an insurance provider providing property, liability, and risk management services. Click here to learn about the Irwin Siegel Agency alliance with the Partnership or visit their website. |
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