AG 2013 01 22 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency Committees and partners with the community colleges in the two service counties. Participants in our program participate in academic and certification programs offered there. Education and vocational training help the participants improve skills and competencies. SRCAA provides financial assistance for many participants interested in short term programs, associate degrees, some Bachelor degrees. Books, tuition assistance, transportation and application fees assist the participants in getting closer to the goal of self- sufficiency. 4. Addressing External Barriers- Barriers such as no or little public transportation, insufficient jobs, lack of education, lack of job training skills, underemployment, lack of resources, lack of health care coverage, and limited affordable housing availability are external factors that impact participants. Multi -level strategies are implemented, for instance- the Board and the Executive Director work with national, state and local government and corporate partners to address macro -level needs of low income person. The Program Director partners with community and state administrators and managers to address needs that can be solved at the community and individual level. The Staff effectively partner (at the micro or individual level) with staff and community persons to solve challenges of individuals and families served by the agency. ROMA Goal 1, 2, 3 and 6 DHHS Excels- Goal 4 Low income People Become More Self- Sufficient; The Provide services to individuals and families identified as being at conditions in which low income people live are improved; Low- risk of compromised health and safety. income people own a stake in their community; Low - income people, especially vulnerable populations, achieve their potential by strengthening family and other support systems 3. Describe activities that your agency has undertaken or plans to advocate for and empower low - income individuals and families to achieve a greater sense of authority over their own lives and future. SRCAA is currently training all staff working directly with families and individuals in an empowerment and strengths -based model called the "Family Development Credential ". This initiative began sweeping the country in the 1980s in an effort to teach workers to effectively serve, advocate and empower families and teach those same skills to families. The model teaches workers to partner with families and help them set proper goals and activities for themselves so they can become self- sufficient. Advocacy is taught in the curriculum and staff learn skills and core competencies that when used with families improves the families' ability to not only identify, but reach those goals. Other strategies involve, inviting families to participate in volunteer activities and to represent the agency at community forums, and other agency events, to tell their story and to be proud to share their accomplishments when asked. At the Face to Face with Poverty event sponsored in 2012 by the NCCAA, staff participated and took community representatives to share "their voice" on topics effecting them such as education, health care, housing and transportation. SRCAA will continue to provide various educational workshops and training mechanisms to empower low- income families and individuals. The overall goal of SRCAA is to assist low - income individuals to gain a sense of ownership and a stake in their community while strengthen their families. The agency will continue to be an active member of state and national associations that advocate on behalf of low- income families to eradicate poverty. Fiscal Year 2013 -14 Community Services Block Grant Application Page 8 of 42 Attachment number 1 F -6 Page 72