 FEWER AMERICANS FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS LAST WEEK | |
From Bloomberg, April 7, 2016
Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, illustrating a healthy labor market that's allowing workers to feel more secure in their job.
Jobless claims dropped by 9,000 to 267,000 in the week ended April 2, a report from the Labor Department showed on Thursday. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 270,000. Weekly applications have been below 300,000 for longer than a year as steady demand encourages employers to retain those who are qualified and experienced. Dismissals near the lowest level since 1973 have been accompanied by a steady drumbeat of hiring, propping up consumer spending and the economy.
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| VETERAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATES DECREASING |
From Dayton Daily News, April 6, 2016
Recent statistics show that the annual unemployment rate for the most recent generation of veterans was the lowest ever recorded in 2015, based on figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which began tracking the rate in 2008.
At 5.8 percent, the annual jobless rate last year for veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time since September 2001 was only half of a percentage point higher than the average annual rate for the U.S. as a whole - 5.3 percent.
The veterans' rate was down from 7.2 percent in 2014 and fell almost twice as fast as the overall rate. The unemployment rate for veterans of all generations last year was 4.6 percent - lower than the national rate.
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TOTAL INEQUALITY
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From The Atlantic, April 1, 2016
The world has its thesis on wealth inequality. But it lacks a comprehensive way to talk about something larger-the myriad forces that exacerbate inequality that go beyond "capital." Let's call it Total Inequality.
Total Inequality is not merely income inequality (although it matters) nor merely wealth inequality (although that matters, too). Total Inequality would refer to the sum of the financial, psychological, and cultural disadvantages that come with poverty. Researchers cannot easily count up these disadvantages, and journalists cannot easily graph them. But they might be the most important stories about why poverty persists across time and generations. It's expensive to be poor - in ways that are often quantitatively invisible. Research on the psychology of poverty suggests that not having enough money changes the way people think about time. It's hard to prepare for the next decade when you're worried about making it to next Monday. The tens of millions of Americans without bank accounts can spend as much as 10 percent of their income on pawn shops, check cashing services, and payday loans that charge punishing fees.
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: @BROOKINGS "CONCENTRATED POVERTY BY RACE AND ETHNICITY"
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| CARING COMPROMISE PROGRAM EARNS PROMISING PRACTICE AWARD |
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| | Left to Right, Arnie Anderson (executive director of Minnesota Community Action Partnership), Tikki Brown (Director of Economic Opportunity), and Jason Carlson (CEO of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. |
Eight community initiatives with proven results in moving families toward self-sufficiency received Best Practices Awards last week. Minnesota Community Action Partnership, Minnesota Department of Human Services Office of Economic Opportunity, and the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development have partnered for the past 11 years to evaluate and to recognize initiatives that aim to end poverty across Minnesota.
The awards go to local Community Action programs that have achieved outstanding and measurable impacts in helping low-income households achieve greater economic self-sufficiency and building partnerships across social service, government and business sectors to better meet the needs of local communities. Tri-Valley's Caring Companion Program earned the "Promising Practice" Award. The Caring Companion Program consists of companions who are 50 years or older. They help other seniors by visiting with them, taking them to appointments, helping with errands and groceries, playing cards or games, having coffee with them and being a friend to them. Caring Companions can make a difference in the quality of life for a lonely senior.
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POVERTY SIMULATION TO SHED LIGHT ON LOCAL CHALLENGES
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Local community organizations are helping service providers and the public better understand underprivileged workers through a poverty simulation at Blue Ridge Community College on April 13th in Weyers Cave.
Community members and volunteers will gain a unique view of life in poverty through a three-hour simulation at the event, hosted by the United Way of the Greater Augusta, The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, and the Community Action Partnership of Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro.
The goal of the simulation is to create an immersive experience that helps participants increase their knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of poverty and to sensitize participants to the realities faced by low-income people. In the simulation, participants assume the roles of up to 26 different families facing poverty. Some are newly unemployed, some are recently deserted by the "breadwinner," and others are recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, formerly AFDC), either with or without additional earned income. Still others are senior citizens receiving Social Security or grandparents raising their grandchildren. "Creating awareness about poverty is more than simply talking about it", said Cynthia Pritchard, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Augusta. "We have to put people in position to really understand the challenges that come with having to make very difficult choices."
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PINWHEELS PROMOTE CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS
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Children from Early Head Start planted blue pinwheels in the lawn of the Central Nebraska Community Action facility Tuesday to commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Ginger Maughan, a family consultant at Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership and member of the Columbus Child Abuse Prevention Council, said this is the 10th year the agency has displayed pinwheels to promote child abuse awareness.
The number of child abuse cases that reach the county attorney's office has grown since 2010, when six cases were reported. In 2015, that number was 31. The pinwheels at Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership will be on display throughout the month of April.
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| PRESSURE IS ON FOR LIHEAP FUNDING |
Advocates of low-income Vermonters are decrying the lack of funding for heating assistance in the proposed 2017 state budget. For a number of years now, the state budget has included money for Vermont Fuel Assistance, the state version of the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. The state funds allow Vermont Fuel Assistance to offer aid to households making less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which for a family of four is $48,500. Without state funding, federal guidelines would restrict aid to households making 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which for a family of four is $36,375.
This federal threshold does not reflect the reality of what it costs to survive, says Steve Geller, president of Vermont Community Action Partnership, which includes organizations such as Capstone Community Action in Washington County and BROC-Community Action in Southwestern Vermont.
"The federal poverty line is a joke and no longer reflects the money people need to survive," said Geller, who also serves as the executive director of Southeastern Vermont Community Action. "Nobody has wanted to raise the federal poverty level because they would end up with a lot more people living in poverty under their watch."
For this reason, Geller and others are concerned the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 state budget does not include LIHEAP money.
"So many of the people we serve are in the category that won't get served because they are over 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is still living in poverty, by the way," Geller said.
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| RESIDENTS FACING WATER SHUT OFF MAY HAVE HELPING HAND |
 As the city cracks down on unpaid sewer bills, one organization is working to help residents keep their water on.
Sewer bill woes are flooding the Community Action Partnership of St. Joseph (Missouri) offices, officials said. The agency receives 30 to 40 calls daily from people seeking assistance with getting their water turned on after it's been shut off due to a delinquent sewer bill.
"I get lot of phone calls about the sewer situation," said Trenisha Thomas, CAP program assistant. "It increased a lot in the last month. I think they're doing a lot of disconnecting and demanding their payment in full and a lot of people are getting shut off."
Whitney Lanning, CAP executive director, said besides needing assistance, callers complain about everything from receiving multiple bills, not receiving notices of termination, to having to pay the bill in full to reconnect services.
"There are some real barriers for people to be able to get turned back on, those being that in order for you to make a payment plan you have to go down to the city office in person and make a payment plan, so obviously, if you're working, if you are disabled, if you don't have transportation that can be really difficult," Lanning said.
Lanning said it's not only the elderly and disabled who are affected but parents too. Even some children have to go to school for showers because the water at home is turned off.
"We had a man call with four children at home with him saying he needed assistance to get his water turned back on. That he was unable to make his child's bottles because he didn't have the water to do so," she said.
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JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE 2016 ANNUAL CONVENTION
AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 2 IN AUSTIN, TX!
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The Convention brochure is now available to download!
Click here to register onlineClick here for the 2016 Convention Registration Form Avoid the rush!
Reservations are now open to book your rooms at the JW Marriott Austin for the
2016 Community Action Partnership Annual Convention.
Rooms may be booked at the rate of $199.00 S/D.
Watch this page for additional information in coming weeks.
Click here to book your hotel rooms online. ________________________________________ SPONSORSHIP, EXHIBIT, and ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES Support the Community Action Network by becoming a sponsor, buying exhibit space, and purchasing advertising in the Convention Program Book. Click here for complete information. _________________________________________
- Effective Administration and Governance (such as finance, human resources, technology usage, planning, board governance, leadership, etc.)
- Promising Anti-Poverty Practices (such as program models; approaches to tackling the causes and conditions of poverty; working with special populations such as veterans, children, seniors, etc.)
- Strategies to Increase Visibility (such as branding, marketing, communications, fundraising, etc.)
- Research, Policy, and Action (such as big data, setting a policy agenda, education and advocacy, etc.)
- Performance at the Front Line (skill building for intake and case managers such as coaching, human behavior, cultural competency, crisis intervention, customer service, etc.)
PLUS - specially designated sessions for SSVF programs as well as for Tribal CSBG grantees.
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JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP NOW FOR 2016!
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Why Join Community Action Partnership?
Agencies like yours continue to shape the vision and the future of
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| | Click above to apply online |
Community Action. A strong network puts you in touch with many colleagues across the country and gives your agency a strong and unified voice and a vital communications link to federal agencies and other organizations, both public and private, that share or support the mission and the Promise of Community Action.
Community Action Partnership looks forward to working with you in 2016. We hope that you will invest in your future during this upcoming, critical year for our network.
If your agency has already submitted membership dues for 2016 - "Thank You!" We appreciate your involvement and support. We look forward to launching some outstanding opportunities for membership involvement in the coming year! Your energy and involvement have helped to keep Community Action Partnership responsive to your needs and built the strongest community action network ever. Membership gives you more than ever before ... access to training, publications, educational resources, and management tools which help you run a CAA more productively. Community Action Partnership welcomes like-minded organizations, friends, and affiliates as members - organizations and companies that are like-minded and support the work of Community Action. If you would like to consider membership, you can check "affiliate" in the membership categories. Please contact Sranda Watkins, Membership Coordinator at swatkins@communityactionpartnership.com or by phone at (202) 449-9773 with any additional questions.
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THE PARTNERSHIP IS HIRING!
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Director of Community Economic Development
Under the immediate supervision of the Chief Executive Officer, Community Economic Development (CED) Project Director is responsible for coordinating and promoting the Community Action Financial Institute (CAFI), the Community Action Partnership's CDFI. The individual will also be responsible for CED promotion and identification of CED best practices throughout Community Action Network related organizations. Will work in partnership with the CEO to seek CAFI funding including but not limited to private investments and government grants. Click here for information.
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FINANCIAL CAPABILITY MONTH |
April is Financial Capability Month!
Community Action Agencies around the country offer critical services to increase the financial capability of their community. Share your story this month about the importance of financial capability services, as well as successes in your community. One of our partners, the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) is offering a number of opportunities to engage: - Share the story of how your agency engages in financial capability through their Story Bank.
- Engage online in the #FinCapWorks conversation using their social media toolkit.
- Submit a blog post about what you know about financial capability from your work in Community Action (and tell us if you do so we can highlight you as well!)
Join the Partnership for two webinars related to Financial Capability this month:
Start saving for your future with myRA
April 14, 2016 2pm ET
Do you want to start saving, but don't have access to a retirement savings plan? Now there's an easy way to start saving for the future: the U.S. Department of the Treasury's myRAź is a new retirement savings option that's simple, safe, and affordable. myRA was designed especially for people who don't have access to employer-sponsored retirement savings plans or who haven't found an easy way to get started. It costs nothing to open an account, there are no fees, and myRA carries no risk of losing money. Join the U.S. Treasury and Community Action Partnership for an informative session on myRA and the simple steps you can take to start your savings journey.
Register
Tools and Strategies for Helping Clients Build Financial Capability
April 20, 2016 2pm ET
Financial well-being affects, and is affected by, every other aspect of life. Recent research suggests that improving a person's financial stability not only addresses material needs but also frees mental energy for parenting, job performance, and other important pursuits.
During this webinar, two community action agencies will share how they have helped clients build financial capability and improve their financial well-being. Webinar participants will also learn about Building Financial Capability: A Planning Guide for Integrated Services (the Guide), an interactive roadmap from the Office of Community Services with tools that walk organizations step-by-step through the process of developing a plan to incorporate financial capability services into existing programs. The presenters will discuss how organizations can use the tools in the Guide to gain a deeper understanding of clients' financial lives, determine which financial capability services would be most effective, and assess the resources (both in-house and external) available for delivering financial capability services. |
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This week, the National Alliance to End Homelessness released its newest publication, The State of Homelessness in America 2016. This in-depth report utilizes the most current data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to paint a vivid picture of homelessness, at-risk populations, and homelessness assistance across the United States.
For more information on this report and innovative strategies that are currently used to address homelessness, be sure to join the Partnership for our upcoming national webinar series presented in collaboration with the National Alliance to End Homelessness:
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WEBINARS FROM THE LEARNING COMMUNITIES RESOURCE CENTER
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The National Webinar Series
Sponsored by the Learning Communities Resource Center, The National Webinar Series focuses on themes related to the specific anti-poverty approaches and is a way to showcase innovative strategies to the broader CSBG network. Please join us. All presentations are free.
Decreasing Family Homelessness National Series Session 1
April 13, 2016 2pm ET
(National Alliance to End Homelessness)
Community Action Partnership is pleased to partner with the National Alliance to End Homelessness (the Alliance) to offer the Decreasing Family Homelessness National Webinar Series/Learning Community Group. This webinar series is designed to improve the effectiveness of Community Action Programs (CAP) agencies working on the frontline of addressing family homelessness.
Also, in an effort to tailor the content of the series of webinars please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey.
Two Generation Resource Webinar
April 19, 2016 2pm ET
(ICF International)
Research demonstrates that children born into poor families are more likely to experience poverty as adults and, in turn, raise their own children in poverty. Programs have started serving parents and children through two-generation approaches designed to meet both the child development and parental economic security needs of a family to effectively mitigate challenges and support positive outcomes for all its members. Presenters from ICF International will provide an overview of the theory behind two-generation anti-poverty, highlight resources on two-generation programs, and provide tips on translating the research into effective practice.
Trauma Informed Approaches: A Guide to the Resources
May 11, 2016 2pm ET
(ICF International)
There is a growing understanding in both the Child Welfare and TANF fields about the short- and long-term effects of maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on child and adult functioning. Recent findings relating to brain research and toxic stress suggest that prolonged and unmitigated exposure to trauma in childhood can alter brain function well into adulthood--affecting school, work, and health outcomes. Presenters from ICF International will provide research around trauma-informed case management and offer participants promising strategies around trauma-informed care utilizing the research available.
Bundling Services Resource Webinar June 7, 2016 2pm ET (ICF International)
Presenters from ICF International will outline evidence-informed tools and resources for implementing integrated services in Community Action agencies. Bundle service approaches align services to fit a family's diverse needs, but collaboration and partnerships across agency lines can be a challenge. Presenters will provide an overview of the challenges around creating bundled service approach and provide participants with resources to address those challenges and foster integrated solutions to build family self-sufficiency.
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COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR SERIES -- SAVE THE DATES!
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CAPLAW OFFERS CAA LEADERS LEGAL BOOT CAMP
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SAVE THE DATES
CAA Leaders Legal Boot Camp
CAPLAW
The CAA Leaders' Legal Guide, a new resource developed by CAPLAW in collaboration with Community Action Partnership, is geared for both new and seasoned CAA leaders. The five-part webinar series provides an overview of the many legal requirements that these leaders will encounter on a regular basis.
Registration is now open!
Tuesday, April 12: Dollars & Sense: Federal Grant Financial Management Rules
Thursday, April 14: In a Nutshell: Tax-Exempt Law for Nonprofit CAAs
Tuesday, April 19: Public CAA Essentials
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SAFELINK UPDATE
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Quick refresher...SafeLink provides your eligible clients the opportunity to apply for a free cell phone and free monthly minutes through the Federal Lifeline program. These cell phones may prove helpful in the event of an emergency and they also assist in clients seeking and retaining employment. SafeLink is currently available in 40 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Individuals can apply via paper application or online.
In addition to this valuable service, through SafeLink's collaboration with the Community Action Partnership, Community Action Agencies will be compensated for successful enrollments into the program. Agencies will be compensated for successful enrollments based on the scale below. As with last year the commission checks will come from the Partnership and for 2016 commission payments will move back to a quarterly payment structure.
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QUARTERLY COMMISSION RESTRUCTURE
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Range
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1-90
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91+
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Rate per Approved Enrollment
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$10.00
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$20.00
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Webinar
On March 29, 2016, SafeLink participated in the Partnership's Membership Benefits Spotlight week by hosting a webinar. If you missed this webinar or would like to see it again, the recording and slides are available at https://youtu.be/ZW5n6gsz80k or on the Partnership's website here.
If you have questions about SafeLink including the commission structure, contact us at info@safelinkagencies.com or 1-855-296-4764.
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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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Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved.
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