PROGRAMS

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

It has been shown that familial poverty is the most compelling predictor of failure in school which, in turn, promotes the cycle of poverty. Thus, an emphasis has been placed on pre-school as a means to better prepare children and increase parental involvement.  

CAAs operate most of the Head Start/Early Head Start programs, which target those in poverty, and many of the state-funded pre-school services (which target much broader "at-risk" factors).

 

Major focus should be placed on collapsing support resources that alleviate day-to-day struggles and enable individuals to focus on family/child development issues. Given the state’s limited resources, every effort should be made to use CAA expertise in designing a new configuration of school readiness which focuses on meeting the needs of children most at-risk.

HEALTH CARE

No other part of the budget is closer to crisis than Medicaid. Creative partners must be engaged to assure that local solutions can be found.

CAAs have a history of developing health care options. They assist low-income families, including seniors, in searching for care, paying for care (particularly with Head Start children), providing low-cost services through the Medicaid Waiver Program and Emergency Pharmaceutical Services. In addition, CAAs operate the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program which assists beneficiaries and their families who need help understanding eligibility requirements, enrollment, coverage and medical bills.

Since the vast majority of CAA clientele are covered by Medicaid, the CAAs are in a unique position of knowing the population. At the same time, their experience in community interactions and development will assist in the process of finding solutions to the lack of care in poor areas.

Based on limited resources, and MSHDA’s estimates that 670,000 households are "housing needy", it is vital that funding be targeted to those in most need and that alternative resources, such as Weatherization, be primary.

CAAs have a history of working with individuals and communities in need of affordable housing options. Many qualify as Community Development Housing Organizations (CDHO). To effectively address housing issues, it is necessary to rely on more than simple building or remodeling techniques - ongoing support in areas of economic literacy, maintenance, and the like, must be built into all housing activities.

 

Further demonstrations of the CAA portfolio come with the 3,968 Homes that were weatherized in 2001, as well as the long history of operating Home Weatherization Programs. In addition, CAAs have served as subcontractors for energy conservation programs offered by DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and other smaller utility companies.

It is not only the physical process of the work, but also the education given to families that is important. CAA flexibility, experience and ability to leverage funds make them the most logical choice for developing an overall housing plan which should include strategies for developing affordable supportive housing.

Community Action, by definition, is community development. CAAs serve as community organizers, catalysts for action, and problem solvers, by working with groups and local units of government to address unmet needs. They promote and develop economic development ventures which enhance their communities’ economic base and provide for future growth.

CAAs assist communities in implementing strategies for improvements in rural water / wastewater conditions. These strategies may include constructing and/or managing senior/low-income housing complexes, and assisting in the identification of resources to improve housing stock, develop downtown areas, create parks, and other community investments. Mobilization of volunteers for the completion of community projects is also provided by CAAs.

New work regulations will require significant family support measures. Welfare Reform provides the state with the most vital opportunity to use CAAs in developing reform initiatives to address the state’s unique needs. In addition to CSBG, CAAs receive an appropriation of TANF funding through FIA. Both sources offer tremendous flexibility to address issues of poverty and to seek solutions to meet local needs.

CAAs operate as private/public non-profits agencies. They also have great flexibility and are readily able to respond to changing community needs. With 37 years of experience, they have become experts at maximizing resources that can meet the unique needs of individuals, families and communities, designing and operating experimental programs which alleviate poverty, and have a history of collaborating with service organizations, churches, local government, communities at large, and other human services to ensure local needs are met.

CAA expertise will be invaluable as over 8,000 people leave state positions this year. With the resulting gaps in leadership and service, CAAs stand ready to fill in.

Transportation

Getting people to work is a priority! Rural areas have the greatest need as public transportation is relatively non-existent. However, all areas of the state face the challenge of transportation for those working non-traditional hours.

New thinking is needed about transportation strategies that can provide economic and reliable transportation, such as car loans for those who cannot get credit, assistance in paying car repair bills, donated car programs, and/or paying low-income people, including seniors, to drive others to work. CAA experience as community organizers can assist in developing/ implementing such programs.

People age 60+ account for 16% of the state’s population and approximately one in four households provide care giving assistance to someone over the age of 50. Since 1965, CAAs have played a significant role in developing and operating services to meet the demands of a growing aging population. Services include the construction and management of:

~ Supportive Senior Housing Complexes

~ Operation of Congregate and Home Delivered Meal Programs

~ Adult Day Services

~ Tax Counseling Services

~ Homemaking and Respite Care

~ Medical Transportation

~ RSVP (retired & senior volunteers)

~ Foster Grandparent Program

and many more programs that are essential for sustaining the optimal health, independence, and general well-being of the aging population. CAAs can offer invaluable expertise in designing, implementing, and operating innovative services which will continue to meet the increasing and ever-changing needs of this population.

CAAs also have the ability to serve as centralized Senior Support Centers from which to advocate for seniors, coordinate, monitor and evaluate services, as well as foster positive public understanding of the contributions, needs and problems of the elderly.

CAAs can quickly respond to emergencies, whether they result from personal crises or natural disasters. For example, CAAs have been called upon to assist in local community disasters, such as the flood of 1986 that affected numerous Michigan family farms. The governor appointed CAAs to serve as the financial pass-through to assist those in need. CAAs also work with Red Cross in planning for potential community disasters to provide food and housing in emergency situations.

Another example of the CAAs’ ability to generate resources to meet emergency needs is Walk For Warmth, an annual statewide campaign designed in 1990 by the Community Action network to promote awareness of people experiencing heat-related emergencies, and raise funds on their behalf.

In 2001/02 alone, CAAs generated $759,395 statewide. The Public Service Commission, through its Energy Assistance Fund, matched that amount on a 2:1 basis, thereby providing $1,518,790 (and a grand total of $2,278,185) to assist low-income families and seniors with energy-related needs.

 

CAAs are able to assist individuals with specific emergency needs such as food, housing, clothes, transportation, or other essentials as the result of house fires, loss of employment, family death, or other life crisis.

Changes in the labor market and increased family responsibilities make quality and affordable childcare a crucial issue. In Michigan, 60-70% of children in subsidized care are placed with parents or aides without systematic education and training…too often young children are taking care of younger children.

Based on their experience in economic development, as well as employment and training, CAAs could develop and implement micro business programs for the creation of small childcare businesses operated by low-income individuals.

 

The barriers to starting a business are magnified for the low-income; hence, CAAs would guide them through the licensing process, as well as allow access to a "resource library" in which they could borrow equipment needed for business start-up and repay once they are established.