NCCAA offers new legal subscription service member benefit

The North Carolina Community Action Association (NCCAA) has launched a new benefit to its lineup of member services. Former Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency Executive Director Rocky Cabagnot, currently of Hill and Chandler, P.A, has developed a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Organizational Standards Compliance package. Community action agencies will receive a 50% professional discount on the CSBG organizational standards services. READ MORE

NC Homeowner Assistance Fund to offer homeowner grants of up to $40,000

North Carolina homeowners facing mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements, and foreclosures due to the impact of COVID-19 may be eligible for funding to assist with bringing arrears current. Qualifying homeowners who have experienced a financial hardship on or after January 21, 2020, due to the pandemic are eligible. The NC Homeowner Assistance fund is allocating up to $40,000 per household. LEARN MORE

28 resources for Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans, providing a designated time to recognize African Americans’ central role in U.S. history. In honor of Black History Month, CLICK HERE for a compiled list of 28 resources for you to read, watch, listen to and share. One for each day of the month. 

Free N95 masks now available to the public

Free N95 masks are now available through the Biden administration's effort to distribute 400 million masks via pharmacies and community health centers. The mask giveaway is similar to President Biden’s decision to provide four free COVID-19 tests per U.S. household for those who want them. They are part of the federal government’s stepped-up response to a nationwide surge in Covid-19 cases triggered by the highly transmissible Omicron variant. To see where North Carolina residents can pick up masks, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for a list of vaccine program participants.

NC DHHS launches low-income household water assistance program

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the Low-income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) to include all low-income households needing assistance in paying their water bill. The program was created to establish a new water assistance program for households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in January, households with a current water/wastewater bill can apply for LIHWAP assistance if they meet the eligibility requirements, whether or not their water service has been disconnected. READ MORE

US Surgeon General launches community toolkit for addressing health misinformation

False or misleading information about diseases, illnesses, treatments and cures, vaccines, diets, and cosmetic procedures can cause people to make decisions that have dangerous consequences for their health. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy has developed a community toolkit for addressing false or misleading health information. READ MORE

National Community Action Network advises vigilance with emails

NCAP advises being vigilant with emails in light of the recent spam/phishing emails that have been sent to a broad cross-section of the Community Action Network from a source who is claiming to be NCAP CEO, Denise Harlow. The email in question is asking recipients to provide their signature for a document by clicking a link. If you receive this email, please do not click the link and delete it immediately. A good reminder to be vigilant with sent email links.

N.C. General Assembly moves 2022 primary election date to June 7

Because of ongoing state court litigation surrounding redistricting, the NC Senate and NC House of Representatives have approved legislation to move the primary election to June 7. The later date would give the General Assembly time to redraw congressional and legislative maps if the Supreme Court rules that the House, Senate, and congressional maps that are scheduled to be used for elections between 2022 and 2030 are unconstitutional. LEARN MORE

Free certification course on the fundamentals of media relations

Earn an industry-recognized public relations credential to learn more about improving your agency or organization’s media relations and coverage. In two hours, at your own pace, this training offered by the Muck Rack academy can help you acquire more transferable media skills in your workplace. READ MORE

Share your story to make a difference for Medicaid expansion in NC

Are you unable to get health insurance? You are not alone. The NC Justice Center is are looking to partner with people across the state who want to share their stories to advocate for Medicaid expansion. The NC Justice Center’s Health Advocacy Project has been working to expand healthcare for North Carolinians who need it most, and we are closer than ever before. We need your help. Personal stories are one of the most powerful tools we have in this fight, and yours can make a real difference. There are many ways to share your story, and we will work with you to find the best fit. We are excited to be partnering with the NCCAA to create a community of advocates focused on sharing stories issues that contribute to creating healthy communities. Please contact Rebecca Cerese if you are interested in sharing your story or call her at (919)824-0811. LEARN MORE

Experiment in Self-Reliance offers financial empowerment series for youth, ages 10-14

ESR, Inc. is offering The Road 2 Empowerment series to teach children to create financial goals, track expenses, and create habits allowing them to become financially stable. All sessions are virtual. The series is free, but pre-registration is required. LEARN MORE

Summer internships available at NC Sierra Club and Democracy NC

The NC Sierra Club and Democracy NC are providing paid summer internships and fellowships to qualified applicants in North Carolina. Each program is designed to provide emerging young leaders with hands-on experience and the opportunity to develop practical leadership skills.

NC Child launches two-part virtual Voices for Kids learning series



NC Child is launching a two-part virtual workshop: Advocacy 101 and Successful meetings with Elected Leaders for youth. The workshops are free and available in both English and Spanish. Pre-registration is required. LEARN MORE

A new kind of epidemic is brewing in the U.S. as mental health needs soar



Anxious. Overwhelmed. Stressed out. These words have framed the experiences of many Americans over the last two years as pandemic living grinds into the third year. Across the country, a new type of healthcare crisis is unfolding: a mental health and wellness firestorm and the nation’s therapist providers are finding themselves on the front lines of a different kind of epidemic. READ MORE

New Medicaid system can help NC's pandemic recovery

North Carolina has a new model for administering Medicaid—Medicaid Managed Care—which could help the state recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Managed Care system has the potential to deliver better health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries in part because it addresses social determinants of health and focuses on whole-person care instead of addressing individual health concerns on an as-needed basis. READ MORE

New financial you in 2022



Remember the excitement you felt on December 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. as the New Year was approaching? Then that excitement increased even more once you began counting down from 10 to 1. Who said that feeling has to stop? You have 11 more months ahead of you in 2022. READ MORE for tips to keep the celebration going.

How to start a small business—a veteran's SMB guide with tools and financial resources

As a veteran, many of the skills you learned in the military can be especially helpful in running a business. The wide range of hard and soft skills you acquired through service can be transferred with great success to the private sector. According to the United States Small Business Association (SBA), 2 1/2 million businesses are run by veterans. Nearly one in 10 U.S. businesses are veteran-owned. READ MORE

February

08| Road 2 Empowerment, session two, Webinar

15-16| Region IV Head Start Association's 2022 Annual Training Conference & Expo, Atlanta, GA

16| Emerging Economic Challenges = Big Opportunites for 2022, Webinar

17| SRCAC Job Fair, Salisbury, NC

22| Road 2 Empowerment, session three, Webinar

March

08| Road 2 Empowerment, session four, Webinar

16| Parent Engagement, Webinar

21| Case Management Certification, Virtual

22-23|NLIHC Housing Policy Forum: Achieving Housing Justice, Virtual

28| Head Start Family Management Engagement Certification, Virtual



April

11-15| SC Community Action Partnership Annual Spring Training Conference, Virtual