| | Changes at the Association |  | |
ROMA Training Program Becomes an Independent Organization
After 15 years as the leader in the National Peer to Peer ROMA Training and Certification Project (NPtP), CAAP is transitioning the national program to the newly formed Association of National Certified ROMA Trainers (ANCRT).
Dr. Barbara Mooney, CAAP's training director, has championed and grown NPtP into the outcome based results training for the nations 1,200 Community Action Agencies. Along with Fred Richmond of The Center for Applied Management Practices (CAMP), Dr. Mooney, has developed a sophisticated training program that is built on solid principals and practices.
"The incredible network of trainers that has come out of the program [NPtP], has resulted in 1,000's of certified ROMA trainers across America," said Dr. Mooney. "That translates to tens of thousands of CAA staff receiving required and valuable training to improve the effectiveness of their agency."
ANCRT will now be the organizer and implementer of ROMA for Pennsylvania and the nation. CAMP will act as the fiscal agent. Project Director Dr. Barbara Mooney and the ROMA Master Trainers will continue to provide leadership to the project through ANCRT.
Strength-based Family Worker Program Moves to Temple U
On September 1, the Strength-based Family Worker (SFW) Training and Credentialing Program - formerly known as Family Development Credential - will completely transfer to Temple University Harrisburg.
For the past five years, CAAP and Temple University have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship in the SFW program, each having a responsibility for assuring high quality and standardized implementation of the program. The program has grown and both organizations feel that this transfer will serve to further strengthen the program.
CAAP staff Myka Piatt and Amy Wolfberg will be moving with the SFW program and become Temple University employees.
CAAP VISTA Program
Special Projects Coordinator Deborah Fontaine has been a central feature in CAAP's AmeriCorps VISTA program for many years. Starting out as a VISTA member volunteer for CAAP, Deborah became a Lead VISTA and then a member of the CAAP staff running the daily functions of the VISTA program.
Due to budget cut backs, Deborah's last day at CAAP is August 30. Joe Ostrander will assume all responsibilities for the AmeriCorps VISTA program.
"Deborah has been invaluable in the coordination of the VISTA program," said Joe Ostrander. "Her knowledge, passion and commitment to AmeriCorps is unmatched. she will be missed."
CAAP has served as an umbrella grantor for the AmeriCorps VISTA program for its member agencies since 2006. In that time CAAP has place more than 76 VISTAs within its member agencies. The combined employment value of the VISTA members is $2,660,000 to the agencies and their community projects.
|
| | A Major Need | | |
The National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) is in major need of donations for its operations and for CAP-PAC.
For longer than one can remember, NCAF has been the front line protector of  Community Action, CSBG, Weatherization and LIHEAP. The legislative struggles overcome in the past are because of the tireless efforts of NCAF.
Please donate today and ensure the continued efforts of NCAF.
|
| | Career Opportunity | | |
The Community Action Program of Lancaster County is seeking a  Controller for oversight of all finance, accounting and reporting activities.
Details can be found on the CAAP employment site.
|
| |
Cato Report Promotes Welfare Myth
| | |
The conservative Cato Institute released it's 2013 edition of The Work vs. Welfare Trade-off report.
The report claims to prove that federal public assistance benefits are so generous that they "greatly exceed the poverty level...and...because welfare benefits are tax-free, their dollar value was greater than the amount of take-home income a worker would receive from an entry-level job."
 Those who work with the impoverished and low-income families, know the reality - being poor isn't great. It's a hard, stressed filled existence. Low-income individuals who receive cash assistance (TANF), energy assistance (LIHEAP, WAP), food assistance (SNAP, WIC) or housing assistance (Section 8) are not, as the Cato report claims, "earning more in welfare benefits than they could in a job."
The report claims that the typical Pennsylvania family enrolled in TANF - a mom and two kids - receives benefits worth $29,817 annually, which the authors claim is a disincentive to work. It argues that food assistance, utility support and cash assistance should all be reduced. Worse the report, perpetuates the stereotype that of poor people living high on the hog at the expense of the working class taxpayer.
A blog post by The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's Sharon Ward, states "the study is poppycock." Ward provides facts for three main points:
- The share of the poor who receive welfare benefits is tiny and those benefits are temporary.
- Cato assumes that every family gets all major public benefits, which is not the case.
- The premium value of Medicaid health coverage is counted as cash in the Cato study, even though recipients don't get those dollars.
If your agency receives calls from media or public officials as a result of the Cato report, please contact Joe Ostrander at CAAP. The association can supply talking points.
|
|
|
SSA Nominations Now Open
| | |
Applications are now being accepted for the CAAP 17th annual Self-Sufficiency Awards.
The annual awards program celebrates the achievements of CAAP member agencies and individuals that have moved from poverty to self-sufficiency. Download the nomination material and get started.
The awards ceremony will be held on April 9, 2014 during the CAAP annual conference, Beyond 50: Celebrating our past by looking to our future. Deadline for submission is October 31, 2013.
|
|
|
CAAP Regional Meetings Coming
| | |
CAAP will hold it's fall regional meeting on the following dates and locations. All meetings will be from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Regions 1 & 2: Tuesday, September 17 in Bethlehem
Regions 3 & 4: Tuesday, September 10 in York
Regions 5 & 6: Wednesday, October 2 in Greensburg
Meetings are open to all staff of CAAP member agencies in good standing. Representatives from DCED will attend all regional meetings and a special financial staff breakout will be held.
RSVP to Joe Ostrander.
|
| | Happy "end" of Summer | | |
As the Labor Day holiday weekend approaches, here are some interesting facts to think about during the unofficial end to summer. Enjoy the hotdogs.
The first observance of Labor Day was likely on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade. That celebration inspired similar events across the country, and by 1894 more than half the states were observing a "workingmen's holiday" on one day or another. Later that year, with Congress passing legislation and President Grover Cleveland signing the bill on June 29, the first Monday in September was designated "Labor Day." This national holiday is a creation of the labor movement in the late 19th century - and pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers.
Largest Occupations May 2012 Number of employees
Retail salespeople 4,340,000
Cashiers 3,314,010
Combined food preparation and serving workers 2,943,810
Office clerks, general 2,808,100
Registered nurses 2,633,980
Waiters and waitresses 2,332,020
Customer service representatives 2,299,750
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 2,143,940
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping 2,097,380
cleaners
Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal 2,085,680
medical, and executive
847,516
The number of paid employees (for pay period including March 12) who worked for a gasoline station in the U.S. in 2011. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in February 1887. Oregon (9,634 paid gasoline station employees), along with New Jersey (15,734 paid gasoline station employees), are the only states without self-service gasoline stations.
15.9 million
The number of wage and salary workers age 16 and over represented by a union in 2012.
$48,202and $37,118
The 2011 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.
70%
Projected percentage growth from 2010 to 2020 in the number of personal care aides (607,000).
84.7%
Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2011.
25,448
The number of shoe stores for back-to-school shopping in 2011. Other choices of retail establishments abound: there were 28,128 family clothing stores, 7,093 children and infants clothing stores, 8,144 office supply and stationery stores, 8,407 bookstores and 8,625 department stores.
5.7 million
Number of commuters who left for work between midnight and 4:59 a.m. in 2011.
76.4%
Percentage of workers 16 and over who drove alone to work in 2011. Another 9.7 percent carpooled and 2.8 percent walked from home.
25.5 minutes
The average time it took workers in the U.S. to commute to work in 2011. Maryland and New York had the most time-consuming commutes, averaging 32.2 and 31.5 minutes, respectively.
|
|
discuss potential new senior activity center
