October 7, 2009
The Community Action Partnership is in the
2009 Combined Federal Campaign.
Our CFC number for designating donations is 80371.
We are pleased to announce that the Office of Community Services (OCS) in the Administration for Children and Families, Dept of Health and Human Services has awarded two training and technical assistance grants to the Partnership.
The first grant, "The National Community Economic Development Exemplary Practices Initiative," includes a partnership with the California Community Economic Development Association and the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) which will identify, disseminate, and implement successful community economic development best practices. This is a three year project, funded at $500,000 per year.
Our second grant, "National Training for Financial Management and Administrative Governnance," builds upon OCS's current T&TA investment in the Partnership. This is a one year effort, funded at $250,000. The Partnership will collaborate with OCS and other national and state organizations to lead the development of a coordinated strategy of T&TA addressing the specific needs of the Community Action Network. The Partnership will create an action plan for coordinating training and technical assistance and by offer training for CAA board members and staff. The objectives include:• Help CAAs Achieve Organizational Stability
• Support Capacity Development to Ensure Quality Program Management
• Identify Exemplary Practices
• Organize a Retreat for leaders of national CAA organizations to develop an action plan for a strategic approach for long-term T&TAFuture issues of the eNews and other special alerts will let you know how your Community Action Agency and State Association can participate in these truly exciting activities.
ON CENSUS POVERTY DATA
Congratulations to Denise Harlow, CEO of the New York State Community Action Association and her great colleagues at the Empire Justice Center for getting their excellent op-ed in the Albany Times Union. Denise worked with our equally-great colleagues Maricela Donahue and Deb Weinstein from the Coalition on Human Needs as part of a CHN media campaign on the significance on the recent Census Bureau numbers on poverty.
Fight poverty, for kids' sakeBy KRISTIN BROWN LILLEY AND DENISE HARLOW
First published: Monday, October 5, 2009
New Census Bureau data paint a deeply disturbing picture of poverty in this country and in New York. Nationally, the number of people living in poverty grew by 2.6 million in 2008 to 13.2 percent. In New York, the poverty rate held steady at 14.2 percent, maintaining our standing as the Northeastern state with the most poverty, topping even the national rate.
As troubling as this data from 2008 is, the reality today is almost certainly worse. The impact of the recession has been far greater in 2009 than in previous years. Unemployment in New York rose from 5.7 percent in August 2008 to 9 percent in August 2009. This rate understates the real extent of unemployment by not counting discouraged workers and laid-off part-time workers ineligible for unemployment insurance.
The true tragedy is that higher unemployment hits children disproportionately hard. In New York, more than 810,000 children live in households below the poverty line and history tells us that we can expect child poverty to rise significantly over the next year as unemployment increases.
Regional data released last week show the impact of the recession has already hit children hard in communities across the state. Poverty affected nearly 40 percent of Bronx children and more than 30 percent of Brooklyn children. The child poverty rate in New York City suburbs grew to disturbing levels. In Yonkers and Mt. Vernon, one-quarter of the children lived in poverty in 2008.
The trend is also reflected in upstate cities such as Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester, which continued to have child poverty rates between 31 to 41 percent. Rural upstate rural communities saw intense child poverty, too, with counties such as Chautauqua, Chemung and St. Lawrence having child poverty rates exceeding 22 percent.
These new poverty numbers simply cannot go without comment because as a society, we must not allow poverty to deepen unchecked. The consequences of poverty on children can be long lasting, leading to poor nutrition, poor health and poor prospects for success in school and for the future. In the short term, poverty and unemployment mean greater hardships for families and lower tax revenues for communities and the state.
To avoid choking off the recovery now and to build for the future, we see two imperative policy goals.
First, given New York's projected midyear and 2010-11 budget gaps, we must work with the state to advocate for continued federal help for the unemployed and aid to states to prevent more layoffs and more hardships.
Second, we must protect programs that successfully target those in need and provide necessary supports to ensure that struggling New Yorkers are able to weather this economic storm. These vital programs are seeing dramatic increases in numbers of New Yorkers seeking assistance and need to be ready to help families navigate these difficult times.
In the current state budget we saw firsthand how well-targeted aid can reduce poverty and its painful consequences, even during a recession.
New York's small increase in the basic welfare grant that is being phased in over the next few years puts a bit more money in the household budgets of New York's most needy citizens. The new Career Pathways program provided job training and support for individuals in hard-hit communities.
Increased eligibility for food stamps and HEAP assistance provided thousands more families with resources that help them stretch unemployment checks. And a small but significant increase in funding for civil legal services will provide help for struggling families that face barriers to all of these critical programs and supports.
While the federal stimulus package offered significant budget relief this year, the new Census data underscore the need to maintain a commitment to protecting those who are most vulnerable.
We look to the governor and Legislature to ensure that the needs of New York's children remain a focal point in the coming year. We cannot afford any further cuts in programs and services that are vital to struggling families.
Kristin Brown Lilley is director of legislative advocacy at the Empire Justice Center. Denise Harlow is CEO of the New York State Community Action Association. They are co-chairs of the New York Children's Action Network's Economic Security Committee.
With appreciation to our great colleagues at the Coalition on Human Needs and Green For All, the Partnership signed on to this letter to the U.S. Senate, advocating for energy cost relief for low and moderate income families.
September 25, 2009
Dear Senator,
As organizations deeply concerned about the well-being of low- and moderate-income families and children, we are writing to urge the Senate to pass a climate bill that does not drive these families into poverty or make those already living in poverty worse off as a result of higher energy prices.
The Senate should fully protect low-income families (e.g., those in the bottom fifth of the income distribution) from the increased energy costs associated with controlling greenhouse gas emissions, as the House of Representatives did in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454). Additionally, it is important that the Senate extend targeted relief to moderate-income families, who are also struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford significant increases in their household energy costs.
Low- and moderate-income households are disproportionately affected by increases in energy prices. As energy prices rise, these families will face higher prices for food, heat, and transportation. While wealthier households will be able to cut back a little on discretionary spending and invest in new, energy-efficient cars and appliances, low- and moderate-income families spend a much larger fraction of their family budgets on necessities. For these families, having to spend several hundred dollars more each year to heat their homes, feed their children, and travel to and from work could cause real hardship.
Recognizing this, the House set aside 15% of the value of the greenhouse gas allowances created by the bill to provide consumer relief to our nation’s most vulnerable families. The House bill uses these funds to provide a “climate refund” to every household with income less than 150% of the federal poverty level, or about $35,000 for a family of four. The refund would be provided monthly and administered by state social service agencies, either through direct deposit or through the EBT cards states use to distribute food stamps and other benefits. The House bill also includes an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit for poor childless workers, who are less likely to receive assistance through the EBT mechanism. These two provisions, combined with direct consumer relief funneled through utility companies, are enough to fully offset the increased expenses that low-income as a group would face. It is very important that the Senate legislation provides no less for people with low incomes.
The House bill does not provide targeted relief for moderate-income households (outside of utility relief). While these families would receive some relief through their utility companies, they would still face significant increased costs for food, transport and other necessities. The Senate should allocate more resources to consumer relief to ensure that moderate-income families are more fully protected.
In passing its bill, the House of Representatives established the principle that effective climate change legislation should not make low-income families worse off. We believe the Senate should uphold this principle, as well as provide additional support for moderate-income families.
The danger from unrestricted greenhouse gases is too grave for inaction. We ask you to actively support critical consumer relief for our most vulnerable families within the urgently needed climate change legislation. Thank you for considering our views.
Sincerely,
American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Americans for Democratic Action, Inc.
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs
Bread for the World
Catholics United
Center for Law and Social Policy
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Citizens for Tax Justice
Coalition on Human Needs
Common Cause
Community Action Partnership
Enterprise Community Partners
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
Families USA
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Green DMV
Green For All
Half in Ten
Institute for Local Self Reliance
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
National Association for State Community Services Programs
National Center for Law and Economic Justice
National Council of Jewish Women
National Hispanic Environmental Council
National Latino Coalition Climate Change
National WIC Association
National Women’s Law Center
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A), Washington Office
RESULTS
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team
Sojourners
The Episcopal Church
The Every Child Matters Education Fund
The National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
The United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Methodist Church – general Board of Church and Society
USAction
Voices for America’s Children
Wider Opportunities for Women
YWCA USA
Thanks to our colleagues at the National Network for Youth, the Partnership endorsed an amendment to the America's Healthy Future Act.
September 25, 2009
The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator, Michigan
Room 133 Hart SOB
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20010
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
US Representative, 2nd District, Wisconsin
Room 2446 Rayburn HOB
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20015
Dear Senator Stabenow and Representative Baldwin:
On behalf of the National Network for Youth and nine other national organizations devoted to the causes of the most vulnerable of populations in our society, we thank you and want you to know that we deeply appreciate your leadership in introducing and obtaining passage of the amendment for Medicaid and CHIP Outreach to Vulnerable Populations in the Chairman’s Mark of the America’s Healthy Futures Act. Because these are groups and people who are often too inexperienced, too weak, and too uninformed to seek and find quality health care, who are often not covered under existing rules, who are often regarded as social outcasts, and who are not as likely to speak up for themselves in the halls of Congress, your vanguard leadership is truly exceptional.
As a result of your amendment, these groups’ information concerning their access to health care will be enhanced and their improved health will brighten their futures and reduce the burdens they would otherwise place on the health care system. We appreciate that the vision of health care reform legislation – that all Americans will have health care coverage and that we will have a healthier country as a result – can be better realized with the inclusion of your provision.
Now, with your achievement, combined with that of Representative Baldwin, who successfully championed a near-alike amendment in the House counterpart legislation, we can be even more optimistic about prospects for this provision. We will continue to monitor the progress of the legislation. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we might help to ensure inclusion and passage. Our lead liaison on this matter, Terry Modglin of the National Network for Youth, can always be reached at tmodglin@nn4youth.org or his cell 202-270-3083.
Sincerely,
National Network for Youth
First Focus
Community Action Partnership
National Human Services Assembly including National Collaboration for Youth
Voices for America’s Children
United Neighborhood Centers
Alliance for Children and Families
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Center for Adolescent Health and the Law
National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Families USA
America’s Healthy Future Act
Senate Finance CommitteeTo Accept Stabenow Amendment #C4:
On page 49, at the end of Part III – Improvements to Medicaid
Insert —The Chairman’s Mark would require the Secretary of HHS to issue guidance to states regarding standards and best practices to help improve enrollment of vulnerable populations in Medicaid and CHIP. Vulnerable populations include children, unaccompanied homeless youth, children and youth with special health care needs, pregnant women, racial and ethnic minorities, rural populations, victims of abuse or trauma, individuals with mental health or substance-related disorders, and individuals with HIV/AIDS.
—Examples of methods that the Secretary should address in the guidance include: outstationing of eligibility workers, express lane eligibility, residency requirements, documentation of income and assets, presumptive eligibility, continuous eligibility, and automatic renewal. The Secretary should work with appropriate stakeholders, including the states and children’s groups, to ensure that the guidance is developed and implemented effectively.
Yvette Sanchez Fuentes has been named as the new Director of the Office of Head Start, in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Ms. Sanchez Fuentes, currently Executive Director of the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association, has extensive experience at the local, regional, and national levels, providing services to young children from low-income families. Prior to joining the Association, she worked for the Education Development Center where she was the Early Childhood Specialist for the International Systems Division and she provided technical assistance to projects in Honduras, El Salvador, and Egypt. She has served as a National Head Start Fellow where she provided consultation in literacy, parent education, child care collaborations, and program improvement to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and other early childhood education programs nationwide. Early in her career Ms. Sanchez Fuentes managed services for family child care and staff development at the now Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo, Inc., in California.
Join now for 2010 and get the discounted membership rates!
Thank you for your great support and involvement in 2009. The year has been an exciting one and the outreach to other national organizations, foundations, and the Obama Administration has been stronger, effective, and positive! We need to you standing with us this coming year as we
undertake even greater partnerships and initiatives! Your agency membership is a critical force behind the Partnership's strength. Take a moment to renew your membership for the coming year.The Convention special discounted rate is still available for the 2010 Community Action Partnership membership. Please get a "head start" on your benefits and services for 2010 - including discounted registration for the 2010 Management and Leadership Training Conference in New Orleans. We have not increased our membership dues for 2010 - and you will save on the rates if you respond by October 31st. Thank you!! If you have any questions about membership, please contact Sranda Watkins at (202) 449-9773 or SWatkins@communityactionpartnership.com
Click here to download the Early Membership form with the discounted rates!
2010
Community Action Partnership
Management & Leadership Training Conference
Begin the New Year with in-depth learning and sharing of ideas with your colleagues. Our 2010 Management and Leadership Conference will take place at the New Orleans Marriott and will include sessions on Head Start, Green Jobs, Job Creation, Board Training, and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Please visit our website regularly for more information as it becomes available. Click here to download the Conference Registration Form.
Annual Convention Media Coverage
Media coverage of the Community Service Project and the Opening General Session appeared in the following media outlets. A special thanks to Ross Chan of CBS and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau for helping us promote our event!
KYW-AM 1060 (CBS radio affiliate)
KYW-TV CH 3 (CBS television affiliate)
WHYY-FM 90.9 (NPR affiliate)
The Partnership is looking for a full-time T&TA director who will have major responsibilities in helping us strengthen Community Action in a wide variety of ways. If you or someone you know is interested, we are looking to fill this position as soon as possible (no phone calls please.)
Director of Training & Technical Assistance
Community Action Partnership, a national non-profit association, seeks candidate with minimum 5 years experience in Community Action or related field to head up national T&TA efforts. Must have strong writing, analytic, organizational, computer & communications skills, experience with federal & state funding and training programs & models, travel required, must work well under pressure, Bachelor’s required, Master’s degree preferred, send resume, writing sample, 3 references, salary requirements to Don Mathis, Community Action Partnership, 1140 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1210, Washington, DC 20036. No phone calls.
Community Action Partnership is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Promise Fall issue deadline – October 9For the Fall issue, we are especially looking for details and photos from your back to school events (backpack giveaways, clothing drives, etc.) How did your CAA help parents send their kids back to school in this challenging economy?
Please also send us your news releases and articles on new staff appointments, awards that employees have received, and best practices. You’re helping people and changing lives and making your community a better place to live, why not share this information with your colleagues across the country?
Email your information and photos (in JPG format at 300 dpi) to Lisa Holland, lholland@communityactionpartnership.com by Friday, October 9.