Webinar by CHN and Talking Points on CSBG and WAP

March 17, 2017

Coalition on Human Needs Webinar
CSBG and WAP Talking Points

Coalition on Human Needs Webinar: Trump's Plan to Cut Human Needs Programs
How CSBG Empowers Low-Income Families to Achieve Self-Sufficiency
Weatherization Helps Families Overcome the Energy Burden
Sample Social Media Posts on #CommunityAction

Coalition on Human Needs Webinar

Coalition on Human Needs Webinar: Trump's Plan to Cut Human Needs Programs

When: March 21, 2017, at 3:00ET/2:00 CT/1:00 MT/12:00 PT
Length: 1 hour

As you know, President Trump has announced plans to cut domestic programs to pay for Pentagon increases. Learn about the expected impact on housing, services for children, seniors and people with disabilities, nutrition, public health, and more.

This is the first step in a long budget process. You'll hear from experts about what's next.

Presenters will include:

Sharon Parrott, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Ellen Teller, FRAC

Deborah Weinstein, CHN

Charles Kieffer,

How CSBG Empowers Low-Income Families to Achieve Economic Self-Sufficiency

Talking Points: How CSBG Empowers Low-Income Families to Achieve Economic Self-Sufficiency

The talking points below demonstrate the positive impact of CSBG and come from the National Association for Community Services Programs (NASCSP)'s 2016 Annual Report, which also includes data on specific states.

When using this data to speak with the media and elected officials, be sure to also use facts and figures that demonstrate the specific successes of your local agency, and also emphasize individuals stories of families who have lifted themselves out of poverty with the help of Community Action. Locally-focused facts and stories are more likely to draw the attention of local media and elected leaders because they demonstrate the value of Community Action in their own community. The national data below can be helpful to supplement your agency's data and demonstrate that Community Action makes a big impact not only at the local level but also nationally.

CSBG Talking Points and Outcomes:

CSBG is a vital lifeline to over 15 million Americans. It provides transportation assistance and economic development to rural communities and job training and youth programs for urban communities. Across America, CSBG supports neighbors helping neighbors. Our nation needs MORE resources invested in local communities to benefit local needs, not budget decisions that leave working Americans farther behind.
For every $1 of CSBG, CAAs were able to leverage $7.70 from state, local, and private sources, including the value of volunteer hours at federal minimum wage, expanding and maintaining highly successful program outcomes.
Care for Children: 273,361 people with low-incomes enrolled school-aged children in before and after school programs; 224,356 people with low-incomes obtained child care for pre-school children or dependents; and 224,356 infants and children participated in pre-school activities, assisting in developing school readiness skills.
Infants and Children: 507, 394 infants and children obtained age-appropriate immunizations, medical, and dental care.
Health Care: 513,321 people with low-incomes obtained health care services for themselves or a family member.
Senior Citizens: 1,853,810 senior citizens received services and maintained an independent living situation as a result of services.
Individuals with Disabilities: 1,125,875 * individuals with disabilities received services and maintained an independent living situation as a result of services.

Further talking points can be found on NASCSP's CSBG 2016 Annual Report.

Weatherization Helps Families Overcome the Energy Burden

Talking Points: How Weatherization Helps Vulnerable Communities and Saves Money

The Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities improve the safety and energy efficiency of their homes. For four decades, WAP has provided weatherization services to more than 7 million low-income households. A peer-reviewed evaluation by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that the program is cost-effective by even the most conservative estimates. WAP has been a leader in building science with developing new technologies and its own network of highly trained professionals.

According to an Oak Ridge evaluation on WAP and health outcomes found here, WAP creates healthy communities.

Residents of weatherized homes report fewer asthma and allergy symptoms.
Residents of weatherized homes report fewer hospitalizations.
Children in weatherized homes report fewer missed days of school.
Families in weatherized homes reported an increased ability to get more sleep, making them rested and ready to be productive workers and members of their communities.
These benefits of weatherization mean that adults are healthy and prepared for work and children are ready to learn in school.

According to the Oak Ridge evaluation, WAP creates jobs.

At least 8,500 jobs are supported by WAP, which impacts thousands more in related industries.
WAP also results in over $300 million in energy savings in a typical year.

More WAP talking points:

In 2015, WAP provided energy efficiency upgrades to 34,220 homes.
WAP operates in all 50 states, DC, 5 territories, and 3 Native American tribes.
Every DOE WAP dollar yields $4.10 in energy, health and safety benefits.
WAP has served over 7.4 million families since its inception in 1976
For every $1 invested in the program, WAP returns $2.78 in non-energy benefits.
For every $1 invested by DOE, the Program leverages $3.44 in other federal, state, utility, and private resources.
Families who receive weatherization on average save $283 per year.
Because weatherization helps families save money on energy, they have more available for nutritious foods, educational materials, and work supports.

Sample Social Media Posts on #CommunityAction

Sample Social Media Posts on #CommunityAction

Social media is a great way to get the word out about the positive impact your agency has on your local community as well as to share the successes of the Community Action Network nationally. Below are some sample social media posts that share facts and figures about Community Action, but we encourage you to adapt them with your own local data and stories.

As always, be sure to tag them with #CommunityAction and #CSBG

Sample Facebook/LinkedIn posts:

Nationally, the Community Services Block Grant (#CSBG) through #CommunityAction Agencies has helped over half a million children obtain medical and dental care.
#CommunityAction Agencies (CAA) use the Community Services Block Grant (#CSBG) to fund vital programs for low-income families in their communities.
Find your nearest #CommunityAction Agency and learn how they are transforming your community for the better bit.ly/CAAFinder
#CSBG.

Sample Tweets

Fact: #CommunityAction serves over 15 million people nationally because of #CSBG.
Thanks to #CSBG, #CommunityAction provides half a million children w/medical & dental care.
Thanks to #CSBG, #CommunityAction helped half a million #lowincome people get #healthcare.
Thanks to #CSBG, #CommunityAction helped nearly 2 million seniors live independently.
#CommunityAction serves 99% of US communities. Find your local agency, learn its impact bit.ly/CAAFinder
Thanks to #CSBG (ENTER YOUR CAA's NAME HERE) did _____________

Sample Memes

for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest.

You can download the memes by following the links below to the images, right clicking on the pictures and then selecting the "Save Image As" option.

Download the Community Action Works! meme here.

Download the Community Action Serves the Entire Community meme here.

Download the Community Action Promise meme here.

Statement from Community Action Partnership CEO Denise Harlow

Statement from Denise Harlow, CEO, Community Action Partnership (3/16/17)

Upon release of the news of the proposed budget cuts, Community Action Partnership CEO Denise Harlow said:

" The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is vital to the nation's network of 1,000+ local Community Action Agencies (CAAs). Local CAAs serve more than 99 percent of America's counties, providing services and other supports to struggling families, and working to revitalize communities. CAAs are locally-based organizations that each respond to their community's unique set of needs. Last year, Community Action Agencies leveraged an addition $7.70 for each $1.00 of CSBG, including $2.34 in private resources to touch the lives of more than 15.6 million individuals in 6.6 million families. This impact is felt in communities across America, from the most rural community to suburban neighborhoods to urban centers. As the Promise of Community Action states, 'we care about the entire community.'"

Harlow continued, "Cuts to Weatherization and LiHEAP will increase the energy burden on families, forcing many senior citizens and people with disabilities to make difficult choices between basic needs.The Community Services Block Grant and the local agencies it funds are an investment in our nation's families and future. The proposed cuts would leave local communities across the country unprepared to assist families. We believe that Congress understands the needs of families in their local communities and appreciates the important role Community Action Agencies play at the local level."

View this statement on Community Action Partnership's website here.

Background Information on the President's Proposed FY 2018 Budget

Background Information on the President's Proposed FY 2018 Budget

The full budget proposal is available online here.

Areas of particular concern for Community Action Agencies include the section on Health and Human Services, which proposes eliminating CSBG and LiHEAP, and the section on the Department of Energy, which proposes eliminating WAP.

According to the Washington Post article "What Trump Cut in His Budget," the proposed budget would cut 18 percent of HHS's funding and 6 percent of DOE's funding. These significant cuts have a real impact on the lives of some of America's most vulnerable communities served by the Community Service Block Grant and Community Action Agencies.

According to the Washington Post article "If You're a Poor Person in America, Trump's Budget Is Not for You," the cuts will fall hardest on rural and small town communities where 1 in 3 Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. The cuts would also eliminate programs that provide cities with funds to address affordable housing and community blight. Job training programs, food assistance programs, and other vital programs that empower low-income families in both rural and urban areas to achieve economic self-sufficiency are also threatened.

Community Action Partnership
1020 19th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036