2 nd Annual Legislative Breakfast

1. Community Action Southwest The Leader of Community-Based Strategies that End Poverty 2nd Annual Legislative Breakfast March 14, 2014

2. Today’s Topics • Community Assessment Report • CAS 2013 Outcomes & Impact in the Community • CAS Update • Sequestration & Restoration • Merger with Try Again Homes • Our Strategies

3. Community Action Southwest To serve as the catalyst to mobilize the resources of the entire community in order to enable families and individuals in Southwestern Pennsylvania to attain the skills, knowledge, motivations and opportunities needed to become self-sufficient

4. Our Vision for our community • All people are valued, cared for & healthy, regardless of economic status • Education prepares all children to fulfill their potential & meet their future needs • All people live in safe, affordable, decent housing • People are skilled &committed to leading change & improvement in our community • All people have the skills & opportunity to work at family sustaining jobs • CAS is the leader of community based strategies that end poverty

5. Community Assessment Update • In your packets: • CAS’ Comprehensive Community Assessment • Head Start/Early Head Start Community Assessment • PA Partnerships for Children – State of the Child County Profile for Washington & Greene • PHFA Housing Report for Washington & Greene

6. Population 2012 American Community Survey

7. Employment *In December 2012: Greene Unemployment – 6.9% Washington Unemployment – 7.3% US Dept. of Labor, February 2014

8. Education PA Dept. of Education

9. Education 2012 American Community Survey

10. Education US Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences

11. Housing American Community Survey, 2012 Data Release

12. Income/Poverty Living Wage by County Poverty in America, Living Wage Calculator

13. Income/Poverty American Community Survey, 2012 Data Release

14. Income/Poverty US Census; Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) 2012

15. In 2013 Community Action Southwest Served over 17,000 people • Early Childhood Services • Nutrition Services • Senior Services • Family Economic Success

16. Early Childhood Services • Children in quality preschool programs are less likely to repeat grades, need special education, or get into future trouble with the law (Nat’l Ctr. For Education). • The Federal Reserve Bank estimates a 12% return on investment for every $1 spent on early childhood education. US Census, American Community Survey, 2012 Data Release, December 2013 • Last year, we served 1,425 children through Early Childhood Services

17. Early Childhood Services • Last year, 84% of kids met or exceeded school readiness domains • Children + their families = 5,540 individuals served • Those families received an additional 743 additional supportive services

18. Nutrition Services • WIC saves in healthcare costs from $2.89 to $3.50 for each $1 spent on WIC during the first 18 years of a child’s life (PA Dept. of Health, WIC)

19. Nutrition Services - WIC • $2,450,890 WIC vouchers spent in 21 grocery stores • Moms + Children = 6,909 individuals served • 358 of WIC children were also enrolled in Early Childhood Services

20. Senior Services • Seniors who have an active social life, may have a slower rate of memory decline • In a recent study, memory decline among the most social was less than ½ the rate of the least social (Harvard School of Public Health)

21. Senior Services • 363 seniors received home delivered meals • 302 volunteers helped with programs • 229 seniors received care management • Seniors = 1,536 individuals served

22. Family Economic Success • Homeownership boosts the educational performance of children, improves health care outcomes, lowers crime rates and lessens welfare dependency (National Association of Realtors)

23. Family Economic Success • 58 people passed the GED exam • 101 people got jobs • 29 people enrolled in a postsecondary school

24. Family Economic Success • 425 people obtained financial education & skills • 601 taxpayers received$600,000 in income tax refunds • 34 wage earners opened IDA savings accounts; 7 purchased homes, capitalized small businesses or paid for post-secondary education • 3,658 people received a self-sufficiency service

25. CAS in your community 17 Head Start Locations

26. CAS in your community 7 Early Head Start Locations

27. CAS in your community 11 Pre-K Counts Locations

28. CAS in your community 11 WIC Clinics

29. CAS in your community 6 Senior Centers

30. CAS in your community 4 Family Economic Success Locations

31. Comprehensive Service Delivery 427 2868 2261

32. Comprehensive Service Delivery 1137 1856 358 4334 3633 330

33. Beyond the Borders 142 84 213

34. Reaching the entire community 17,643 Individuals in 6,439 Households

35. Sequestration • Restoration of 2013 cuts • Community Services Block Grant +$76,000 • Invested back into Family Economic Success Programming • Head Start/Early Head Start: +$300,000 • 30 child slots restored

36. Merger with Try Again Homes • 38-year old foster care and adoption agency with a larger service area • Specializes in helping older children successfully transition to adulthood • CAS providing needed organizational stability to allow TAH to continue to thrive and serve this facet of community service

37. Merger with Try Again Homes • Our array of services is expanding to include Try Again Homes’ services • CAS will consider other mergers and acquisitions as a means to better serve the community

38. Strategic Plan • Currently in 3rd year of 2012-2016 plan • 4 Strategies: 1. Community 2. Education 3. Leadership 4. Agency

39. Strategic Plan Successes • Community Strategy • Home Ownership Center; funded & operational • 67 homes purchased; 179 avoided foreclosures • Financial Capabilities Center; funded & operational • 425 people served in FCC • Partnership Agreements with 80+ local employers • 101 people got jobs • Partnership Agreements with all local post-secondary educational institutions • 29 people transitioned to post-secondary education

40. Strategic Plan Successes • Education Strategy • Longitudinal Study • Poverty Simulations; Bridges Trainings • Head Start & Pre-K Children are school ready • In 2013 84% met or exceeded school readiness domains

41. Strategic Plan Successes • Leadership Strategy • Low-income people have a voice and participate in policy making groups • Voter initiatives of WIC & Senior Services • Promoting our vision • Data Driven decision-making

42. Strategic Plan Successes • Agency Strategy • Providing seamless & comprehensive services • Agency case managers “quilting” our services • Defining what it means to be out of poverty; • 10 criteria; articulating the essence of a future story for our clients

43. Strategic Plan Successes • Poverty Transition • Living Wage • Free of public benefits • Utilize/adhere to spending plan • Access to adequate food supply • Access to health insurance • Safe & affordable housing • Access to safe & reliable transportation • Dependable childcare; age appropriate ed. resources • Completed desired level of education • Developed personal goals for the future

44. We thank you… What resonates with you? What questions do you have? What are you hearing from your constituents? How can we help?