 RESEARCH: CHILDREN IN POVERTY MORE LIKELY TO HAVE
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS |
By Lucia Bushak, Medical Daily
A new study out of AAP now finds that the percentage of kids with chronic health conditions is growing, and it's even more widespread among children living in poverty. The study found that asthma and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in particular, had especially high rates among children in poverty. And kids with asthma and/or ADHD were about twice as likely to have another chronic condition, like developmental delays, autism, depression, behavioral issues, or even epilepsy.
|
A BLUEPRINT FOR CUTTING POVERTY AND
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA |
Half of all Americans will face at least one year of poverty or teeter on the brink of poverty during their working years, and four in five Americans will experience at least one year of significant economic hardship. Thus, the draconian cuts that Speaker Ryan and his colleagues are proposing would not only compromise the life chances of today's children-they would affect the vast majority of Americans at some point during their lives.
Perhaps that is why policies that raise wages, support families, and expand opportunity-such as raising the minimum wage, enacting paid family leave, and investing in child care and early education-are so wildly popular with Americans across the political spectrum. If past is prologue, the public should be skeptical about House leaders' commitment to cutting poverty and inequality. The true test of their sincerity will be not only what their proposals include, but also what they omit.
|
TWEET OF THE WEEK: @BrookingsEcon "DISADVANTAGES FROM POVERTY"
| |
|
 |
| COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES TO MERGE IN OCTOBER |
The pending merger between Heartland Community Action Agency and Western Community Action is expected to strengthen the region's anti-poverty efforts and get services to where they are needed the most.
Plans have been underway for months to combine the two agencies, said John Fitzgerald, executive director of Western Community Action. "Our whole goal, our whole mission, is to help people move from poverty," he said. The target date for completing the merger is October 1st. The new entity will be known as United Community Action Partnership Inc.
This isn't the first time a community action agency has combined with another one, but it's believed to be the first instance in the U.S. of a merger between two viable entities that does not involve a takeover, Fitzgerald said. Joining forces was seen as a way of creating a more stable base so that services can continue to help the region's low-income residents move toward economic self-sufficiency, he said.
|
| CLINIC HELPS THOSE WITH CRIMINAL RECORD FIND JOBS |
The Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP) teamed up with local law students to hold a clinic Saturday to help those with felony or misdemeanor convictions in Ohio get employed.
Officials did this by helping those interested sign and send a petition to a judge to look over. It served as a second chance for those who have been overshadowed by their past, and as a way to move forward.
"This second chance with the CQE means that it will remove the liability from potential employers so they can look at the person for the person, and not just for their criminal record," said CQE Coordinator Ray Hartsough.
|
BRIDGETON DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE HOUSES STARTING AT $77K
FOR FAMILIES IN NEED |
Ten families are going to have the chance to own a house in the city with Gateway Community Action Partnership's new Mill Creek Crossings Development. The starting price for the homes will be $77,500.
"To actually get a home you're going to have to jump over some hurdles but people are going to find out it's well worth it," Mayor Albert Kelly said. Applicants must meet U.S. Housing and Urban Development guidelines, receive approval from the N.J. Housing Affordability Service, attend a home buyers class, have a permanent income of at least $30,000, have at least one dependent, qualify for a mortgage, have a credit score of at least 580 and be a United States citizen. The development will give people a chance to be homeowners where it previously seemed unlikely. "When people own homes they are more invested, studies have shown they're more invested, in the community in terms of the welfare and the overall benefit of the community when they own a piece of the American dream," Kelly said. The development costs approximately $1.5 million and is expected to be completed by September. Funding for the project is coming from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program through the N.J. Department of Community Affairs.
|
CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE RAISES NEARLY $25K
|
 Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois (CAPCIL) celebrated their 11th annual Cheeseburger in Paradise fundraiser April 16.
The festivities were held with over 40 table sponsorships and a guest list that exceeded 325 people. Cheeseburger in Paradise generated $24,830 for the agency.
"CAPCIL is doing great things in this community, and through this event we will be able to help more people reach self-sufficiency," Executive Director Alison Rumler-Gomez said. "It is the mission of CAPCIL, in partnership with communities in our service area, to empower persons with low income and the aged by creating and implementing poverty-fighting initiatives for those in crisis and those that endeavor a life of lasting independence."
CAPCIL provides Senior Nutrition (Meals on Wheels), Senior Transportation, operates Logan Mason Public Transportation, LIHEAP and Weatherization, Head Start and Early Head Start, Foster Grandparents, and the Hand Up Project with includes Jobs for Life, Financial Literacy classes, and GED and college scholarships.
|
WEARING IT WELL WITH THE HELP OF A NONPROFIT
|
Opened in 2007, the Dress for Success Albany chapter has a brand new, custom made boutique that is housed within the Albany Community Action Partnership, its fiscal sponsor. Program coordinator Jennifer Stoner says that they did their first "suiting" in January 2008 and have done approximately 1,600 since then. With 140 affiliates across 20 countries, Dress for Success is a nonprofit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence through support, training and by providing professional attire.
"Dress for Success is the kind of program that all women can relate to no matter if you're a single mom and just trying to get out in the world or you've been in the workforce for a number of years and now you need something new or you are changing careers" said Neenah Bland, executive director of ACAP. Bland said while they do see trends in women from particular career paths seeking help, there really is no typical client.
|
COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH 2016: IN ACTION |
May 2016 Marks Annual Community Action Month!
Scenes from Week 1 of Community Action Month - #BeCommunityAction!
|
| |
Top row:
1. Staff from
; 2. Staff from
New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA)
|
|
| | Photo from the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency |
|
| | Community Action Month Proclamation from New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan |
|
| | Minnesota Community Action Partnership Board Members pose during meeting |
Be sure to include #BeCommunityAction on all Community Action Month 2016 tweets and posts!
|
| COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH 2016: TOOLKIT IS LIVE! |
The 2016 edition of the Community Action Month Toolkit is available for download!
The toolkit provides Community Action Agencies, State Associations/RPICs, State CSBG Offices, and the Community Action National Partners with resources to help the Network coordinate efforts and highlight Community Action work across the US.
Download the Toolkit here
We encourage the use of the hashtag #BeCommunityAction on all posts, tweets, etc. so we can easily capture the breadth of the information being shared.
|
COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH 2016: WE NEED YOUR HELP
|
Many Agencies were involved with last year's CAM efforts and now we're looking to have even more participation for 2016! Take to Twitter and Facebook to post about your CAA's outstanding program participants. Write a blog or upload photos to Pinterest and Instagram of your staff and volunteers in action, helping people and changing lives. Issue an op-ed on why it's important to help your community's most vulnerable citizens with food, housing, job training, and childcare assistance. Explain in a news release how services like Head Start, food banks and the Earned Income Tax Credit have helped your program participants strengthen their families and increase their economic security.
We ask that you share photos from your 2015 Community Action Month efforts. We're hoping to feature them in our weekly eNewsletter and through social media. Please send your photo submissions to Joi Ridley, Director of Communications, at jridley@communityactionpartnership.com
|
PARTNERSHIP HQ HAS MOVED
| |
|
WE'LL SEE YOU IN AUSTIN! 2016 ANNUAL CONVENTION
AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 2
|
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 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
- Promising Anti-Poverty Practices
- Strategies to Increase Visibility
- Research, Policy, and Action
- Performance at the Front Line
|
| COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR SERIES |
These sessions of the Community Economic Development Webinar Series are hosted in partnership with the
California Community Economic Development Association ( CCEDA). Learn more about CCEDA
Each session is $20, plus a $1.99 service fee.
Community Reinvestment Act: Can the Law Help Me Get Money for My CED Project?
May 25, 2016, 2pm ET (1pm CT/12pm MT/11am PT)
Level: Introductory
Presented by Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) banking regulators, learn what the regulations are, how they are measured, and how you can use this information to assist you and your organization. This session will summarize the key aspects of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 that essential forced financial institutions to meet the credit needs (lend, invest and serve) of all communities to which they take deposits (especially low income communities). The Act instructs the appropriate federal financial supervisory agencies to encourage regulated financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are chartered, consistent with safe and sound operation. To enforce the statute, federal regulatory agencies examine banking institutions for CRA compliance, and take this information into consideration when approving applications for new bank branches or for mergers or acquisitions.
 What is the Office of Community Services' CED Program: Use $800,000 to Create Jobs June 29, 2016 2pm ET (1pm CT/12pm MT/11am PT)
Level: All
The purpose of the Community Economic Development discretionary grant program is to promote and support projects that address economic self-sufficiency for low-income persons and distressed communities by awarding funds to community development corporations (CDCs) to create employment and business development opportunities. Each year approximately 40-45 grants are awarded with a maximum grant award level of $800,000. Grants are awarded to cover project costs for business start-up or expansion and the development of new products and services. The grants serve as catalysts for attracting additional private and public dollars; for every CED dollar awarded, $3-5 is leveraged. Types of projects funded include business incubators, shopping centers, manufacturing businesses and agriculture initiatives. Funded projects are to create new employment or business opportunities for low-income individuals.Learn how your project could benefit from this source of financing from the federal Office of Community Services. In this session you will be presented with several CED projects funded with OCS-CED grants. You will hear what works (and what has not worked) and how the funds could be used in many innovative ways. Get insight into the funding RFP process.
Assessing the Use of Debt (Loans) in Community Development: Upsides and Downsides
July 27, 2016 2pm ET (1pm CT/12pm MT/11am PT)
Level: Intermediate
This is an intermediate session for those organizations that are considering using debt in a proposed CED project or are thinking of taking out a note (debt) on existing properties. Many projects can afford to fill project financing gaps with debt, but should you? This session will focus on the considerations you should make before taking on debt. You will learn basic underwriting from experienced lenders who have financed many community development and related commercial projects. What types of projects and tenants can best withstand debt? Where are the best sources for obtaining debt? How much debt could I afford or will be limited to? These are some of the questions that will be answered during this session.
|
| WEBINARS FROM THE LEARNING COMMUNITIES RESOURCE CENTER | |
The National Webinar Series - sponsored by the Learning Communities Resource Center - focuses on themes related to the specific anti-poverty approaches and is a way to showcase innovative strategies to the broader CSBG network. All presentations are free.
Trauma Informed Approaches: A Guide to the Resources
May 11, 2016 2pm ET (1pm CT/12pm MT/11am PT)
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 (1pm CT/12pm MT/11am PT)
Presenters from ICF International will outline evidence-informed tools and resources for implementing integrated services in Community Action agencies. Bundled 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 a bundled service approach and provide participants with resources to address those challenges and foster integrated solutions to build family self-sufficiency.
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2016 All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
