Thank you for being engaged with what's happening in Community Action! |
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Tell Me What's Happening Newsletter
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Welcome to summer Community Actioners! |
Baseball, Fireworks, and Swimming Pools are upon us, and so are the threats of disasters and recovery from a pandemic and battling heat and drought. So much to think about and experience! At Iowa Community Action Association - we are gearing up to reset our annual plan for 2022. As a new Executive Director, this is my first time doing this activity with this organization. Taking a page from the Community Action playbook, I would love to engage our stakeholders -(you) the members of our association to get a sense of what you think we should be doing on your behalf this upcoming year. I will be hosting a weekly zoom call on Fridays to get feedback on what you think the Association does well and what you'd like us to focus on in the arenas of advocacy, training & technical assistance, program management, and operations. We are here FOR you, so we want to hear FROM you! Join me on the following dates to tell me what's on your mind!
Topic: Summer Friday Stakeholder Listening Session
Time: Jul 2, 2021 12:30 PM
Every week on Fri, until Jul 30, 2021, 5 occurrences
Jul 2, 2021 12:30 PM
Jul 9, 2021 12:30 PM
Jul 16, 2021 12:30 PM
Jul 23, 2021 12:30 PM
Jul 30, 2021 12:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 965 3949 2705
Yours in a disaster-free, fun-filled summer,
Katherine
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Community Action Happenings |
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Please Welcome ICAA's Newest Member!
ICAA would like to welcome Nancy Connell as
Iowa Community Action Association's new Program Support Specialist
Q: What are you most excited about in your new role with ICAA?
A: I look forward to supporting Mary in whatever way I can and learning from her. I hope to provide the CAAs with additional support. And just excited to be helping as Mary’s right hand as I assist with all things IRUAP.
Q: What's the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A: When my son was 8 years old he passed on some great advice that he had learned in school. One day after work I was super stressed racing to pick him up from after-school care then home to fix a fast dinner so we could get his soccer gear on and head out. But right as we were leaving, I received a notification that soccer was canceled because the fields were wet. Being irritated that they had just sent that message out 15 minutes before soccer and clearly frustrated I suppose my son noticed - he said, "Mom, it is outside of your circle of influence - all you can do now is see what opportunities you do have & where you can make the biggest impact” - talk about a smart kid who sees the big picture even when Mom doesn’t. Because cuddled up on the sofa watching a movie with him that night definitely meant more than his rained-out soccer practice. This advice gave me perspective for sure!
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
A: The ability to know it all - (vs now I just think I do) but I truly believe knowledge is power & love learning so if I had more room in my brain for everything, that limitless capacity to learn - that would be amazing!
Q: What has been your favorite vacation?
A: My mom and her sisters bought a house at the Lake of the Ozarks because it’s the halfway point between my parents in Carbondale, IL and DSM, IA which gave them somewhere to spend family time. So, I spent summers there on the lake Jet Skiing & on our boat when we weren’t grilling out, and since tech wasn’t allowed we played lots of monopoly and card games on rainy days. Just good memories there.
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Celebrating Community Action is Happening
The ICAA team had fun hosting four Facebook Live events to celebrate Community Action Month in May. A special THANK YOU to the Community Action staff that responded to our question, "Why do you love working for Community Action?". Here are a couple of the submissions...
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We were also able to surprise four fabulous Community Action staff with ICAA swag bags - Congratulations to...
Lisa Nafziger - Community Action of Southeast Iowa
Lydia Brumfield - MATURA Action Corporation
Mindy Williamson - West Central Community Action
Dennis E. Lawson - West Central Community Action
Thank you to all Community Action staff and board members for your tireless dedication to helping families, changing lives!
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2021 Legislative Recap
FaDSS
Included in the final version of the Health and Human Services budget is a $1 million increase for the FaDSS program! This is the first increase since 2015. We know you have worked hard to inform policymakers about the good work you do and the value in investing in this program. We were so pleased to see this increase included in the final budget.
Food Bank Tax Exemption
Omnibus Tax and Policy Bill was considered in the final days of the session and included a state sales tax exemption for food banks and food pantries. The Legislative Services Agency estimates this will save $190,000 in-state sales tax statewide.
Child Care
The Cliff Effect HF 302 extends the exit of the state’s Child Care Assistance Program to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and includes a cost-sharing sliding fee scale for families as they come closer to reaching 250% of FPL in their earnings. Child Dependent Tax Credit Included in SF 619 (Omnibus Tax and Policy Bill), was an increase to the state.
Child Dependent Tax Credit
The Child Dependent Tax Credit was expanded to allow families who earn up to $90,000 per year to benefit, doubling the prior eligibility of $45,000.
Provider Rate Increase
Although the legislature did not take action, the Iowa Department of Human Services has indicated they will raise reimbursement rates for providers who accept Child Care Assistance to 50% of the 2020 market rate survey. The rates are currently set at 75% of the 2014 market-rate services. Fiscal estimates indicate this will cost a little over $13 million in additional child care reimbursement statewide.
Our thanks go out to Kate Walton and Matt Eide for their efforts in the legislature on our behalf - but also to the Community Action Network - whether you participated in the IFDA Digital Day on the Hill, wrote to your legislator, or shared social media about a program that is important to you - your support and advocacy on behalf of folks with low-income makes a difference!
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Leadership & Training Happenings |
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Congratulations to Iowa's Newest Certified Community Action Professionals (CCAPs) ~ ICAA is so proud of these exceptional individuals!
Keri Burian, HACAP
Karli Schmelzer, NEICAC
Carrie Sodders, MICA
Chrishelle Stravers, NEICAC
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New Iowa Community Action Training Videos
ICAA has created short training videos on LIHEAP and Weatherization you can access on this webpage for Community Action Agencies to use for training staff and board members about programs offered by their agency. These are less than 5 minutes and provide a snapshot about the purpose, benefits, and eligibility requirements of each program. We hope to offer additional videos in the future. Send your ideas to Tiffany (tkeimig@iowacaa.org).
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Compassion Resiliency
Iowa Total Care is sponsoring two sessions for the Iowa Community Action network being presented by Kay Glidden and Beth Reynolds Lewis from Compassion Resiliency in July:
The July training sessions will be held via Zoom from 10-11:30AM. Register by clicking the webinar titles above.
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Real-Time Leadership
Change is ever-more a constant reality in our work. Leaders can make change more effective by revolutionizing their agency’s change planning, implementation, and management. In this deep-dive session we will:
- Recognize different people’s needs before, during, and after change, and use this awareness in planning and communication
- Identify your own default-approach to change
This session includes three components:
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Deep-Dive Session - Highly engaging and interactive 1.5 hour session on Zoom August 16th
- Application Task - Application assignment to be completed in 3 weeks
- Follow Up Session - 1 hour zoom cohort discussion to pull through learning
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Mental Health Training is Happening
MindSpring (formerly NAMI Greater Des Moines) is an independent local organization providing mental health education, support, and advocacy. MindSpring is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, families, and the community on mental illness. Check out the following offerings coming up in July.
Understanding PTSD | Thurs 7/1 | 12-1:00PM
Trauma impacts everyone differently, depending on the nature of the trauma, presence or lack of social supports, participation in treatment, and coping mechanisms. An accessible guide to understanding what causes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, its symptoms, co-occurring disorders, and treatment options. Learn practical tips for managing symptoms and helping others. Register Here.
COVID Trauma | Tues 7/6 | 12-1:00PM
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected many people’s mental health. How do we heal from its impact? This seminar explores what trauma is and how COVID trauma impacted us. Discover practical steps to start the healing process in this one-hour session. Register Here.
Talking to Children about Mental Health | Wed 7/14 | 12-1:00PM
Children are curious about their environment and the people around them. How do we answer their questions related to mental health? Learn how to help children understand what mental illness is and is not, and how to answer their questions in this one-hour session. Register Here.
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National Partner Introductions Are Happening |
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The executive directors from three of our national affiliates would like to introduce their organizations to the Iowa Community Action network. Check out the videos linked below and share with your colleagues, board members, and partners.
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Thank you to the California Community Action Partnership Association for sharing the following excellent videos (4-7 mins. each) you can use to increase staff and board member awareness of CSBG National Goals, the Community Action Network, and ROMA. Click on the images below. |
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Community Action COVID-19 Response is Happening |
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The Community Action Partnership has partnered with Erazerbelt to create a drawing of the Network's response to COVID -19. It is a powerful visual summation of the work CAAs have done to respond to the needs of customers and communities during the pandemic. You can use this drawing to tell the Community Action story in a creative and visual way. |
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ICAA Book Club is Happening |
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ICAA is launching its inaugural Book Club! We'll be reading Broke in America, Seeing, Understanding, and Ending U.S. Poverty this first go-round. This fall (September 1 - October 6) we will create discussion topics and questions, post a suggested reading schedule, and help guide the flow of conversation. Book Club participants will be encouraged to:
- post at least one comment on each book topic in an online forum;
- reply to fellow book club members’ posts to build a sense of community; and
- ask follow-up questions or pose new questions for consideration.
We anticipate meeting via Zoom three times - once at the beginning for a meet & greet and once at the end to host an end-of-book discussion, and once in between to meet and talk with the authors of the book: Joanne Samuel Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox. In between, we will use an online platform for participants to post comments, questions, and reflections. If you are interested in joining the book club, please click on the link below and we'll coordinate getting you the book and access to the online platform. We are in conversations with the book's authors - so look for updates on a live Q&A in September and special book pricing!
Click here to sign up and be included in this fun Community Action activity!
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July 1 - ICAA Board Meeting
July 1 - Understanding PTSD Webinar
July 6 - COVID Trauma Webinar
July 14 - Talking to Children about Mental Health Webinar
August 5 - ICAA Board Meeting
August 16 - Real-Time Leadership Training
August 19 - ROMA Subgroup Meeting
August 30-September 3 - Community Action Partnership's Annual Convention
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Iowa Community Action Association
515.244.0307
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ICAA's mission is to advocate for policies and services that benefit
those striving for economic security.
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