Even with all the snow and cold, your collaborative is rocking right along. New programming for Bridging Forward, a new Housing Leadership Team convening, Workforce Development Task Force, outreach from the Steering Committee AND the in-person meeting for January this Thursday! Find ways to be involved to benefit your organization and further our Common Agenda! Keep scrolling :-)

Quarterly In-Person Meeting This Thursday, January 18: Noon - 2pm

These meetings are a regular highlight of the collaborative and a chance to meet new partners, nettwork and focus on our Common Agenda and the work of collaboration. Anyone is welcome! Lunch is provided - please RSVP through the button below.

The 2nd Annual Medicaid Enrollment and Navigation Event will take place on Wednesday, January 24th from 4pm - 7pm at the Hastings Public Library. The event is Open House style and anyone is welcome to come get assistance in applying for and/or navigating their Medicaid plan. MCOs and representatives from DHHS and the South Heartland District Health Department will be on hand - including spanish-speaking navigators.

The 2nd cohort of Bridging Forward Participants is set to begin in mid-February and recruitment/enrollment is taking place now. As a priority focus on the CIN's Qualified Census Tract Grant, an 80% participation rate for residents of the QCT is being targeted. This is a rough triangle extending south of along the traintracks in Hastings and east of Burlington. Please help prioritze outreach in this area and contact Tami Kucera for information and referrals: qctcoordinator@unitedwayscne.org. More information to give to potential participants and a schedule of in-person information sessions can be found HERE.

Not too sure what Bridging Forward is? Check out www.bridgingforward.org and this Year in the Life of a Cohort doc.

The Coalition for Strong Nebraska - a CIN Partner - organizes and builds capacity withing Nebraska’s network of nonprofits to impact poverty policy and to create an environment in which the lives of people experiencing poverty may be improved through public policy solutions. They offer a great resource to track legislation moving through the State Legislature and are a fantastic resource to help advocate for your clients and community. Check out their Bill Tracker here and sign up for their "Fly On The Wall" Blog.

Free tax-preparation assistance will be starting in February! Keep an eye out for scheduled clinic openings in Hastings and at CCC and help spread the word throughout your networks!

The CIN Steering Committee (member list here) will be working to meet and get-to-know CIN Partners throughout the next year. The intent is to help further collaborative brain-storming in a way that supports each partner and adds to the collective work of the Network.