Network Connection
October 2020
Greetings Missouri Community Action Network,  
I hope this edition of Network Connection finds you healthy and safe as we continue to navigate a pandemic that remains a daily presence in our communities. As I write this, over 7 million people have contracted COVID-19, and sadly over 200,000 have died from the virus. Both numbers are truly staggering to consider. No one could have imagined back in January what lay ahead for this year.

2020 dealt us a public health crisis and has proven to be difficult for many other reasons. This year has become synonymous with drastic change, chaos, instability, and uncertainty. 

In my last letter, I wrote about making peace with all of this uncertainty, which is easier said than done on some days. At Missouri CAN, we have experienced our share of additional uncertainty with some big and some small changes that I want to share with you.

We are entering a new season in many ways at Missouri CAN. As autumn begins, we are embarking on new opportunities. In July, the Board of Directors approved the purchase of a new building for the Missouri CAN office. We are excited to move to this new location soon and cannot wait to host in-person trainings for the Network as soon as we are able. You will receive a formal announcement once we relocate. 
 
Also, in July, Missouri CAN was informed by the State of Missouri that it would not contract with our association directly, but rather would open up CSBG Training and Technical Assistance for bid in FFY21. At the time, the state was still interested in contracting with Missouri CAN for the MIS IT services, which would include LIHEAP and CSBG MIS support. Throughout August and September, Missouri CAN developed multiple proposals for those services through a negotiation process with the State. Ultimately, the State of Missouri informed Missouri CAN on September 11 that it would not accept our final bid.  

What does this mean for the Network and you as a member of Missouri CAN?
Although Missouri CAN is not providing technical support or training for the MIS or technical assistance for CSBG or LIHEAP reporting, we are still here and supporting the Network in new, innovative and exciting ways! We will release FFY2021 training calendar within the coming weeks.   

Training and technical assistance, advocacy, and membership services are three areas we are fortunate enough to be able to rededicate our energy to fully. We are excited to focus on Network trainings based on your responses to the recent Training and Technical Assistance survey. We are currently holding virtual focus groups with members and non-members to increase membership and improve the member experience. Our advocacy efforts have not and will not stop. 

Missouri CAN is still here for you. We are here for individual members and member agencies! We are devoted to strengthening the Community Action Network and advocating for low-income Missourians. And that's what we're going to keep doing.  
Dawna Fogarty
Executive Director, Missouri CAN
Network Capacity - Helping you help others
Introduction to CSBG Now Available in Missouri CAN University

The Introduction to the Community Services Block Grant webinar recording is now available via Moodle. This one-hour-and-twenty-minute presentation guides participants through the history, structure, and vision of Community Action utilizing our Promise as a foundation for knowledge. 
 
  • Sign in to your Moodle account or register for a new account. 
  • Click on COURSES and then scroll down to “Introduction to Community Action" and open the tab titled “Introduction to Community Services Block Grant.” 
  • Click on this new course, select the blue “Enroll Me” tab at the bottom of the screen, and view the video as many times as you would like! 
ON DEMAND WEBINAR: Voter Registration and Community Action

Voting is one of the best ways to make your voice heard. Promoting voter registration can help empower underrepresented members of your community. This recorded webinar from CAPLAW and Coalition on Human Needs reviews the voter registration rules and regulations for CSBG recipients and offers best practices for registration that comply with those rules.    
WEBINAR: The Right to Vote - A Short History and Issues for 2020

The right to vote is essential to American Democracy. Throughout our history, access to the polls for communities of color and low-income community members has been threatened and jeopardized. Join the National Community Action Partnership on Thursday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m. for a short history of attacks on voting rights in America and current concerns for the 2020 cycle.
Training for Your Board of Directors

Organizational Standard 4.1 states the Board should review the organization’s mission statement within the last 5 years and ensures it addresses poverty and the programs and services of the agency align with it. While the minimum requirement is the review, the Board has a fundamental duty to set the mission and direction of the organization. In the National Community Action Partnership webinar The Board’s Role in Setting the Mission & Direction of the CAA, you’ll learn about meeting this standard, as well as leveraging Strategic Planning (Category 6) and promising practices to move beyond compliance. Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 8 at 2:00 PM and register today.
 
Resource: COVID-19 Fact Sheet Series

Self Made Help has released fact sheets as part of the brand new SelfMade Health Network (SMHN) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fact Sheet Series. Topics featured include cancer survivorship, public health preparedness, tobacco cessation, and men's health, with more topics added regularly. Download the fact sheets to arm yourself with information for your community.
 
Advocacy - A voice for low-income Missourians
The Most Important Thing You Need to Know for the November Election: Notarize Your Ballot

This year has brought a whirlwind of changes and challenges for the November 3 General Election—specifically HOW you can cast your vote. You can vote in person, absentee, and now mail-in. There’s a lot of confusion about absentee vs. mail-in ballots. We’ve outlined the difference and noted the important things to consider when voting during the upcoming election. 
Missouri CAN Official Statement on Amendment 3

Voting for Amendment 3 would strip away the Clean Missouri fair measures that Missourians overwhelming passed in 2018. The measure is a flawed, deceptive, and discriminatory. The Missouri CAN Board of Directors encourage a “no” vote on the November ballot. Read the official statement to understand the ramifications of this measure. 
Census Deadline Extended to October 31

Consider this a treat with all the tricks to undermine the Census count. A federal has ordered the Census count to continue through October 31. COVID-19 has greatly impacted census efforts, which would impact local communities for the next decade if all people are not counted. Let’s keep up the urgency to get out the count and continue to lift the message that it is not too late to be counted, either via self-response (online or by phone) or answering a few questions from an enumerator.  
Election Campaign Toolkit from National CAP

COVID-19 means the upcoming election will be unlike any other. The National Community Action Partnership put together a step-by-step toolkit to help make voter outreach a little easier for you. All of the materials in the #CommunityActionVotes Campaign Toolkit are ready-to-use, but can be customized according to your preference and needs. The toolkit includes social media and email graphics, captions, email text, and an editorial calendar. 
October is Energy Awareness Month

National Community Action Partnership and NASCSP have each assembled a toolkit for Energy Awareness Month. Download both toolkits to equip your CAA for advocacy and awareness around energy affordability and the Weatherization program.
Missouri CAN Capacity - Helping us help you
Upcoming Meetings
We continue to hold our trainings and meetings virtually. Stay up to date on the schedule of our virtual meeting dates through our calendar of events.
Missouri Community Action Network Operations
and COVID-19 Resources
As the statewide association for Community Action, we're dedicated to keeping you informed of developments relevant to serving low-income Missourians. We continue to update this resource regularly with advocacy updates, information on CAA operations across the state, guidance from federal partners, and more.
Community Action Agency Stories - Sharing Your Successes and Innovative Programs
You Are the Light

Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation and Partners Realizing Opportunity had a successful virtual 5k! 28 runners from Missouri participated in JFCAC's "Be the Light" Virtual 5k and raised funds for COVID-19 relief. Thank you to everyone who shoed up and showed up to support Community Action across the country.
Share Your Successes With Us!

How has your agency innovated with programs due to COVID-19? We're assembling stories from all 19 Missouri CAAs to share with legislators, partner organizations, and the general public. We want to show the world how Community Action is helping people and changing lives during this pandemic.
Let's stay connected! E-mail Us | Missouri CAN |(573) 634-2969