OACAA Briefing: The latest news from OACAA and Ohio's CAAs



May 2020
ASSOCIATION UPDATES & RESOURCES
Partnership releases national commercial
The Community Action Partnership has released two commercial segments ready for agencies to customize!

The 15- and 30-second commercials are available to download or can be customized by their vendor for $100.

Community Action: In This Together

Thank you to all of our members who responded to our request for photos and videos specific to the network's virus response. This video was possible thanks to YOUR HELP! Please continue to share your stories and watch our blog for more.

Shoes available for TANF eligible families!

Through our partnership with the Governor's Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives and Operation Warm, 5,000 pairs of shoes are now available to distribute to TANF eligible children across Ohio.

Community Action has been called upon to distribute these shoes to eligible families. Agencies interested should contact Josh Summer for details and to coordinate delivery of the shoes.
flatscreen-computer-room.jpg
Save the Date for #ASC2020
OACAA is going virtual for the Annual Summer Conference!

Save the date for July 20-24, 2020 and watch our website for more information. Details will be announced as they become available. >>> EVENTS
Latest Blog: You Respond, We Respond
The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies’ mission is to support our members and keep Community Action in Ohio strong. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued that mission and developed new ways to support our 47 Community Action members across the state.

As a training and technical assistance provider to agencies delivering essential services in all of Ohio’s 88 counties, we have worked hard to maintain open lines of communication. By doing so, we have learned from each other and developed best practices during this crisis—all while continuing to serve the most vulnerable Ohioans.

>>> READ MORE
NETWORK NEWS & SUCCESSES
Blog: Keeping the economy moving during the pandemic
West Ohio Community Action Partnership , and Ohio’s 46 other CAAs, have worked tirelessly to not only provide emergency services but to keep the economy going. The housing department, for example, has transitioned to online financial management courses to keep the local housing marketing moving.

When the Stay At Home orders were put in place in March, several first-time buyers were in the middle of their financial management coursework. Fearing their progress would stall, WOCAP quickly made adjustments to utilize web technology to move coursework and case management online. >>> READ MORE
Kim Devitt honored with Everyday Ohio Heroes award
For Kim Devitt, the early childhood programs director with Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency , working on preventing child abuse through education and support of young families is what her work is all about.

Devitt earned an Everyday Ohio Heroes award, a part of the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund, for her work in preventing child abuse. The OCTF is statewide program, providing public funding for child abuse and neglect prevention.

 >>> READ MORE
Program creates Delivery Angels for MYCAP seniors
For many senior citizens, the most vulnerable to COVID-19, it's particularly challenging to get out in the fray to shop. Sometimes, seniors fall prey to scams like “friendly shoppers” who are likely to over-shop and under-deliver the food.

And tthere have been reports of overuse of EBT cards by people offering to shop for them since many or most don’t have credit cards to pre-pay for phone orders.

>>> Read More
Columbus City Council begins allocating $157M in federal COVID-19 relief
(Source: WOSU Public Media)

COLUMBUS -
The dollars will go to IMPACT Community Action , a non-profit housing assistance organization. IMPACT CEO Bo Chilton says a storm is brewing when it comes to housing needs, and he compares the coming surge of evictions to a wave.

“The question is, will it be a wave that can be managed through our relief efforts and coordinated response along with the cleanup that will be needed in the aftermath? Or will it be a tsunami that makes the recovery all the more challenging?" Chilton said.

 >>> READ MORE
CAC assessment survey focus groups go virtual
(Source: Record Herald)

Virtual focus groups will soon be held as a follow-up to a community needs and health assessment survey that began in March, and all county citizens are encouraged to take part.

“The focus groups are intended to get qualitative data to support our community needs assessment,” explained Christina Blair, the planner for CAC, by email. “During the meeting, we’ll dive into the information and gain insights we’re not able to get from simple surveys.”

>>> READ MORE
STAY CONNECTED
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Connect with us to get instant access to news, events, and more!