Thank you for being engaged with what's happening in Community Action!

Tell Me What's Happening Newsletter
          
Wow! What a year it has been...a pandemic, natural disasters, social unrest. Our lives seem to have been turned upside down; and people are fearful, tired, angry, and highly opinionated. Every single decision seems hard and life is exhausting. We make a decision and head down a path, knowing that things could change at any given moment.
 
But I know some things that are constant. I know your dedication to serving others. I know you have been creative and flexible in your determination to continue to provide services to our populations. I know you are professional problem-solvers who have re-designed service models and agency work models as needs have changed. Yours is a special kind of brilliance that fills voids and creates opportunities out of deficits. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for using your gifts for the greater good. What you are doing is exactly what our communities, our state and our nation need at this moment.
 
But now, for just a moment, I want to invite you to take care of yourself. Take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and relax in this moment. (Repeat 2-3 times) Make and take a few moments throughout the day to give your brain a moment or two of quiet by doing this simple breathing exercise. While this seems oh too simple, there is neuroscience behind it. Stay tuned for
 some training opportunities around stress management. Tiffany will be in touch.
 
By the way, I'd like to introduce and re-introduce myself to the Iowa network. After 25 years working at MICA, the last half of that as the HR Director, I retired January 8, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. (Truly, I'll never forget that date and time). Then I went back to work on a part-time basis for a bit. Went back to retirement. And well, now I'm here filling in as Interim Director until a new ICAA Executive Director is hired.
 
The ICAA staff and I wish you a fun, restful, and peaceful holiday season and hope that you enjoy the special moments you experience those days and the days ahead.

All the best,

Myra Thompson
Community Impact Happenings

Through the Region VII RPIC, ICAA and DCAA selected two Community Initiatives to highlight from Iowa - Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc.'s Self-Sufficiency Advocates for Individual Life Skills (SAIL) and MICA's Spread the Words Read by Third! Stay tuned as ICAA will work with our Region VII partners (NE, KS and MO) to share initiative successes, funding supports, unique partnerships, and lessons learned in the next few months.


ICAA Conference Happenings

The ICAA Conference Planning Committee is gearing up for the 2021 conference. Training sessions will be based on feedback received from Community Action Agencies on the top training needs and emerging areas of interest in the network. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime checkout the webinars and leadership opportunities being offered below.

ICAA Program Happenings


Eviction Prevention Program
In June, the Community Action network partnered with Iowa Finance Authority to administer an Eviction Prevention Program in response to the economic impact of COVID-19. To date, the network has awarded over $28 million to more than 12,600 families across Iowa. The program will conclude at the end of December.

 
ICAA's AmeriCorps Team
ICAA's AmeriCorps Team has been working hard assisting the network with processing Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program applications. Community Action is making a difference for thousands of households through this program. Thank you Community Action!


Disaster Services
On August 10th, 2020, a Derecho hit central Iowa, stretching from Cass to Clinton counties. Hurricane level winds caused severe damages across the state, drastically impacting homes and businesses. 27 counties were declared as disaster areas by the Governor (touching 9 separate agencies); Federal declarations followed shortly after for 12 of those counties.
State Individual Assistance has supported approximately $100,000 in assistance. FEMA Individual Assistance has provided over $10 million. Approximately 5,000 households have been assisted throughout the network by Disaster Case Management.


Embrace Iowa 2020-2021
Last year, Embrace Iowa raised nearly $269,000 and assisted close to 700 families across the state with essential needs. This year, we aim to raise $275,000 to help even more Iowans! We have once again partnered with The Des Moines Register to promote this program; they will feature stories about families previously assisted throughout the month of December. The first story ran on 11/29/20-check it out hereTo learn more about Embrace Iowa, visit ICAA's Website.


If you know of a family who would be willing to share their experience with Embrace Iowa, please let Mary know (mready@iowacaa.org).

Thank you for your help publicizing and administering Embrace Iowa this year!




Please contact Mary Ready (mready@iowacaa.org | 515-288-0372) for more information on any of these programs.
Leadership & Training Happenings 

This section is for those that are looking to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge base while connecting with peers and partners from across the state and national network. Please forward to anyone you think would be interested. 


Join ICAA and colleagues from around the state for a series of three 1-hour webinars on Coping Through COVID, offering NEW strategies and tools you can share with your team, customers, and start using immediately. ICAA received funding through the CARES Act to use for Training and Technical Assistance so there is no fee for CAA staff to attend.

Webinars will be held from 11AM-12PM on the dates below. Separate registration is required for each date. Learn an array of resources and techniques to reduce stress and take care of yourself as you carry out the mission of Community Action.

Register today for the following series by clicking EACH date below:

 January 8th Meditation, Grounding Skills, and Mindful Movements

January 15th Meditation, Tips for Working from Home, A Thank You Note to COVID, Emotional Freedom Tapping, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Professional Quality of Life Survey, and Mindful Movements

January 22nd Meditation, Tips for Running Better Virtual Meetings, and Mindful Movements


The Introduction to ROMA Training, which is normally an eight hour in-person training, is now available through an online format (offered over three 2 ½ hour sessions). If your agency is interested in hosting this training please contact Tiffany Keimig (tkeimig@iowacaa.org). If an agency has staff interested in becoming a Nationally Certified ROMA Trainer or Implementer let Tiffany know. The Region VII RPIC (Regional Performance and Innovation Consortium) will develop a cohort of candidates to go through the process together if the
re is enough interest.






Promotional information for ICAA's 2021 High 
Impact Leadership Series is now available on ICAA's website,  https://bit.ly/icaaLeadershipOppsCongratulations to ICAA's Inaugural High Impact Leadership Cohort!!! The Class of 2020 just wrapped up its year of engaging in new learning around leadership dynamics as we carry out the mission of Community Action. 

Top Row: Dave Frett (CAEI), Sarah Ennis (SparkPoint Consultant), Monique Ortiz (Mid-Sioux Opportunity), Tiffany Keimig (ICAA); 2nd Row: Josie Stahlin (MICA), Allison Wilson (MICA), Cassie Reuter (Mid-Sioux Opportunity), Melissa Nelson (NICAO); 3rd Row: Carrie Sodders (MICA), Chrishelle Stravers (NEICAC), Chris Ackman (HACAP), Dan Rauser (HACAP), Heather Harney (HACAP), Mindy Clayton (MICA); 4th Row: Bobbi Riedemann (Mid-Sioux Opportunity), Lindy Schreier (Mid-Sioux Opportunity), Lori Wink (NICAO), Karli Schmelzer (NEICAC); Not pictured: Chad Hessel (CAEI), Kayla McKinney (UDMO)

Applications for the High Impact Leadership Training Series and recommendation forms are due December 23rd to tkeimig@iowacaa.org.


ICAA's Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) Study Group met for the first time on November 30th - if you are interested in learning more about becoming a CCAP please take a look at this recorded overview of the process (passcode: t=k4m$cH) and contact Tiffany Keimig (tkeimig@iowacaa.org) with any questions.


For more information on leadership and training and technical assistance
please contact Tiffany Keimig 515-244-0320 / tkeimig@iowacaa.org 
Holiday Happenings

COVID Recovery Iowa has two staff who are creating a new tradition of virtual Santa sessions! People can go on the COVID Recovery Iowa Facebook page and reserve a time for the visit with Santa - check it out and pass it on if you know anyone who might be interested. The COVID Recovery Iowa Facebook page:  
https://www.facebook.com/covidrecoveryIowa/services/


Upcoming Happenings


December 24 - ICAA Offices Closed

December 25 - ICAA Offices Closed

January 1 - ICAA Offices Closed

January 7 - ICAA Board Meeting

January 8 - Coping Through COVID: Meditation, Grounding Skills, and Mindful Movements Webinar 

January 15 - Coping Through COVID: Meditation, Tips for Working from Home, A Thank You Note to COVID, Emotional Freedom Tapping, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Professional Quality of Life Survey, and Mindful Movements

January 22 - Coping Through COVID: Meditation, Tips for Running Better Virtual Meetings, and Mindful Movements

February 4 - ICAA Board Meeting

February 3-5 - Community Action Partnership's Management & Leadership Training Conference

March 4 - ICAA Board Meeting

March 8-12 - NASCSP Winter Training Conference

April 1 - ICAA Board Meeting

May 6 - ICAA Board Meeting

May 31 - ICAA Offices Closed

June 3 - ICAA Board Meeting

July 1 - ICAA Board Meeting

July 14-15 - ICAA Training Conference

August 5 - ICAA Board Meeting

September 2 - ICAA Board Meeting

September 1-3 - Community Action Partnership's Annual Convention


For more events visit ICAA's Event Page 
Iowa Community Action Association | 515.244.0307| Email | Website

ICAA's mission is to advocate for policies and services that benefit 
those striving for economic security.
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