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Monthly News & Updates
June 2023
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Good morning,
A reflection for today: "Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much." Helen Keller
Please continue to keep us informed of what's happening with you in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The information here comes from you, with links to our website for more complete information and resources. Send your events and updates to Kristyn: [email protected]. Thank you!
Warmly,
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Coming up with the Collaborative! |
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We're so looking forward to this next year together beginning July 2023! Thank you for your membership and your commitment to collaboration. Let’s serve together again and deepen our collective impact. Renew your membership today!
PS: Members who renew or join by June 30 will receive 10% off their 2023-2024 dues. Thank you!
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Thank You to our Sponsors and Funders! |
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Bucks-Mont Collaborative Sponsors |
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Bucks-Mont Collaborative Funders |
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Upcoming Community Events |
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Bucks WED Awarded $1.3M to Help Job Seekers Obtain Degrees
“Bucks County job seekers close to graduating with a postsecondary degree or certificate will be able to gain their credentials, immediately enter the job market, and earn a living wage in a High Priority or In-Demand Occupation….WED will partner with Bucks County Community College (BCCC) and Delaware Valley University (DelVal) to implement the newly funded rapid credential attainment program to serve individuals who started credentialing with a postsecondary institution of higher education within the last two years but had to stop before completing. Individuals can re-enroll and receive the tuition assistance needed to continue their education under the provision that they complete their course of study by June 30, 2024.”
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New Life Photo ID Clinic Training Guide & Tools
On May 6, 2023, Nueva Vida Norristown New Life Mennonite Church, the Norristown Hospitality Center, and the Esperanza Health Center held a New Life Photo ID Clinic training. A copy of the training and resources is available if their guide and tools could be a resource to you in supporting your clients. Please contact Sharon Williams with any questions you might have, 610-945-6398 or [email protected].
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Bonuses Can Help Nonprofits Stretch Budgets and Retain Fundraisers
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
“We designed an incentive system that prioritizes team success over individual success,” Finn wrote in a memo on the incentive compensation plan. Managers and nonmanagers are measured against a mix of quantitative metrics (such as cash raised for the annual fund, alumni participation, and the number of in-person or virtual donor visits that meet their intended purpose and deepen the relationship with the donor) and qualitative goals (including integrity, collaboration, and self care). Gift officers develop targets for each metric and goal, which their managers and Finn will approve. “We don’t dictate goals,” Finn wrote in his memo. “Team members and managers need to own them.” Read more…
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The Truth About Mental Health and Gun Violence
NAMI
“Every time we experience a tragedy involving guns, people with mental illness are drawn into the conversation. The truth is that the vast majority of violence is not perpetrated by people with mental illness.” Read more from NAMI.
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Montgomery County Planning Commission
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The Common Agenda to End Gun Violence
CeaseFirePA
CeaseFirePA helps educate the public, decision-makers and allies about gun violence and what they can do to address it. Find printable factsheets and other materials on key issues at their website, including The Common Agenda to End Gun Violence, with the PA House of Representatives passing two gun violence prevention bills with bipartisan support on May 24, 2023. Learn more!
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Medicaid Work Requirements Would Do Little or Nothing to Increase Employment, but Would Harm People’s Health
Urban Institute, Michael Karpman
“Work requirements already exist in some safety net programs other than Medicaid, with recipients required to work, actively look for employment, or participate in job training or community engagement activities. These requirements have had limited or no effect on helping people with low incomes secure employment.” Read more
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The Chronicle of Philanthropy
“After years of rising rents, a group of fed-up Kansas City, Mo., renters came together in 2019 to form KC Tenants, armed with an annual budget of $30,000 and demands for a bill of rights to protect renters from rising prices, unjust evictions, and landlord abuse.” Read more about tenant unions and philanthropic support for this movement and moment. |
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Why you might notice more religious groups at Pride celebrations this year
NPR
“It's a national initiative of the progressive Interfaith Alliance, involving Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others. It's called Faith for Pride, and it's meant, in part, to counter the message of anti-LGBTQ rights legislation in statehouses around the U.S.” Read more. Thank you to Interfaith Philadelphia for sharing!
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Community Assessment Survey
RSVP Volunteers
RSVP Volunteers is developing a new three-year strategic plan for RSVP, and they need your help! To ensure that their strategic plan aligns with the needs and priorities of our community, they have designed this Community Assessment Survey.
Please participate by June 16 to share your needs and ideas!
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Learn more about Community Legal Services of Philadelphia’s campaign to create an eviction record sealing program in Pennsylvania. CLS is asking organizations to sign on. They hope that organizations that serve low to moderate income populations, advocate for housing stability, or believe in fair and just systems will join them. The Bucks-Mont Collaborative has signed on to endorse this campaign!
As background, eviction records impose enormous barriers to people trying to rent safe, stable housing in the locations of their choosing. And yet those records are often erroneous or outdated, and they are extremely difficult for tenants to correct on their own. And in the internet age, the records haunt people for many years into the future, as landlords deny housing to tenants with any sort of eviction record, even if the tenant was never actually evicted.
People who are denied housing because of their records are often forced into unsafe, uninhabitable housing conditions, or end up experiencing homelessness when they cannot find another place to live. That is why CLS believes so strongly in sealing those records at the court level. If you are interested in more information, please review these resources.
industry and how hard it is for people to know what's being reported about them or correct
erroneous reports.
• One of the studies the CFPB cited analyzed over 3.6 million eviction records from 12 states,
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Thank you to the Montco 30% Project for sharing these two housing and shelter initiatives that need your voice and support, with opportunity to attend hearing board and township meetings:
1. In Pottstown, the Zoning Hearing Board recently rejected a variance that would have allowed a temporary warming center operated by Beacon of Hope Church to continue during the winter months. This is a major problem because a permanent shelter could take one or two years to build. An appeal hearing is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. June 15. Your attendance and voice are needed.
2. In Upper Gwynedd Township, meetings have become contentious over a proposal to build 60 apartments near the Pennbrook train station. The development proposed by the Walters Group, Pennbrook Parkway, would include four apartments at the lowest end of the income scale, nine at market rate, and the rest (about 47) between 50 to 60 percent of the area’s average median income (AMI). The Upper Gwynedd Township Planning Commission is holding a 7:30 pm hearing on Wednesday, June 14, about Pennbrook Parkway. You do not need to be a resident of the township to speak.
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Sign-On Opportunity: If your organization would like to sign on to this support letter drafted by Here for Us MontCo for the Upper Gwynedd housing development project, Pennbrook Parkway, please email BJ at [email protected] to be added. Thank you!
The Bucks-Mont Collaborative has signed on to this letter!
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Learn more about this new affordable, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy service for youth, adults, and families. SAGA is offering services both in-person in Hatboro, and virtually throughout Pennsylvania! |
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Learn more about the Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic in Doylestown, which offers free medical, dental and social services to low-income, uninsured families in Bucks County. They do this work using full and part-time staff along with more than 300 volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, counselors, translators and clerical helpers who donate their time! Click here for the patient eligibility application forms in English and Spanish.
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Check out these in-person programs from the
Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services!
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COVID-19 and Flu Information and Updates |
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Food, Housing, and Financial Resources |
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Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
PA Department of Agriculture
Eligible participants will receive five $10 vouchers and a list of participating farmers and farmers’ markets where vouchers can be used to purchase PA-grown fruits and vegetables. Vouchers are good until Nov. 30.
To be eligible, seniors must be 60 by Dec. 31 and have a household income less than $26,973 for one person or $36,482 for two people. Seniors living in personal care or nursing homes are not eligible. Vouchers will be available beginning in June for pick up only until they are gone. Call your County Aging office to find out when and where it will distribute the vouchers. Learn more here. Thank you to Senator Pennycuick for sharing this information!
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Hiring! Financial Manager, Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County
The Financial Manager documents financial transactions by entering account information and recommends financial actions by analyzing accounts at Mission Kids. The ideal candidate is responsible for preparing asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information.
ABOUT MISSION KIDS
Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization providing multidisciplinary care to alleged victims of sexual and physical abuse. Mission Kids joins a nationwide network of child-focused care facilities designed in accordance with standards established by the National Children’s Alliance and the U.S. Department of Justice. Our Mission is to achieve healing and justice for victims of child abuse by providing collaborative services, advocacy, leadership and education.
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The College Students Basic Needs Program (CSBNP) is hiring its first Executive Director!
Learn more about this opportunity and lead the way in our community!
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Thank you for joining us and for supporting your fellow members.
See you next month!
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Bucks-Mont Collaborative
We produce results-oriented impact on health and human services issues in our community through education, collaboration, and advocacy.
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