In This Issue...
Announcements | COVID-19 Resources |Training | Capella/Strayer University Partnership
|
|
MCA welcomes Association's new Director of Training and Member Services
Michelle Stevens joins us from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, where she served as a TA Consultant on a variety of projects over the past five years, including providing training and technical assistance to the Great Start Collaboratives and Parent Coalitions across the state of Michigan.
Most recently, Michelle led the monitoring and support of the eight county based and three regional Home Visiting Local Leadership Groups.
Michelle brings experience with training and resource development and has worked collaboratively to support individuals and organizations to strengthen and grow their capacity by recognizing the unique strengths and challenges of every organization and community. She has also worked to support parent leadership in the Michigan Home Visiting system to create equitable and meaningful opportunities for the inclusion of parent voice in the development of program and services.
Michelle lives in Laingsburg Michigan with her husband and two teenage daughters. She holds a BA in Community Services and is working to complete a MA in Eco Justice Education. Michelle is excited to support and further the MCA mission and vision by collaborating with the MCA team and member agencies.
|
MCA issues RFP for Strategic Planning Facilitator
Michigan Community Action (MCA) is seeking proposals from consultants/firms for the development of a comprehensive Strategic Plan. MCA anticipates that the planning process will take three to six months, to provide adequate time for community action agency (CAA) participation and review by key stakeholders and policy makers. The outcome of the process will be a written strategic plan document that presents the planning process, the research, the analysis, opportunities, and strategies that will guide MCA for the next three to five years.
|
|
December 15, 2021 - Legislative Committee Meeting
9:30 AM ET
December 15, 2021 - Training Committee Meeting
1:00 PM ET
December 23-31, 2021 - MCA Office Closed in Observance of Christmas and New Year's Day
For a full list of events,
|
The Michigan Community Action Update is a round-up of important information for members of Michigan Community Action.
We may send more
frequent updates when
important information breaks
that impacts the
Community Action network.
We welcome your input and feedback.
Please send your comments and ideas here.
|
Employees can put an extra $100 into their health care flexible spending accounts (health FSAs) next year, the IRS announced. The annual contribution limit rises to $2,850, up from $2,750. Encourage your employees to take advantage of this useful benefit!
|
|
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
As a reminder, MCA is happy to utilize our donor platform to collect donations on behalf of agencies and disburse these funds to you. You can provide donors this website address where donors can donate online and designate contributions to your agency.
Or you can email Nicole Caroen and she can send you a link that will send donors directly to your agency page on our platform so participants don't have to choose your agency from a dropdown menu.
|
|
|
COVID Booster approved for all adults
The CDC endorsed broad adult eligibility for the Pfizer or Moderna boosters once six months have elapsed since your last vaccine. As cases rise, MDHHS is also encouraging masking when in indoors regardless of vaccine status.
|
|
SAVE THE DATES:
NCAP New Director Training
New State Association Executive Director Orientation
January 13, 2022 – 4:00 ET / 3:00 CT / 2:00 MT / 1:00 PT
A conversational meeting to orient new state association executive directors to the Community Action Network and learn with their peers about their role.
o NCAP
New State Association Staff Orientation
January 20, 2022 – 4:00 ET / 3:00 CT / 2:00 MT / 1:00 PT
A conversational meeting to orient new staff of the state associations and orient them to the Community Action Network to the and learn with their peers about their role.
|
|
D&I Leadership Lab offered by the Professionals Forum: Racism: A Transformational Dialogue
Please join The Professionals Forum as they have a frank, open and honest and transformational discussion about Racism!
|
|
Social Care and Cross-Sector Data Exchange Virtual Workshop Series |
|
The United States spends more on health care than the rest of the developed world, but our outcomes are mediocre at best. We live shorter, unhealthier lives than we could be living. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can be smarter, healthier, more efficient, and more equal. Health care and social care sectors, including health providers, community-based organizations, community development organizations, and local government entities and agencies all have a major role to play toward achieving those goals.
One essential approach being advanced in Michigan and around the United States is to better integrate health care with the social services sector, so that when people encounter one realm, they’ll get more of their needs met in another realm as well.
Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) represents a core technological infrastructure for exchanging standardized health information throughout the state. We believe that a healthier Michigan requires better coordination between the organizations invested in peoples' care. MiHIN is therefore charged with setting the standards in the State of Michigan for data collection and exchange to support cross-sector care and population health.
Please consider joining us for one of these workshops and participating in this critical dialog!
Register for these free webinars on Social Determinants of Health:
10:00 AM EST - 12:00 PM EST
-
January 11 - For Community Based Organizations
-
January 18 - For Health Providers and Teams
-
January 25 - For Government Agencies and Entities, and Community Development Organizations
|
|
Michigan Community Action, Capella University
& Strayer University Partnership
|
|
 |
Back to school savings with education built for real life
Ready to go back to school to gain the skills and knowledge you need to reach your career goals with access to education that works with your busy life? Capella University and Strayer University understand this. That’s why their Associates, Bachelor’s, Certificate and Graduate programs in human services, behavioral health, business, IT, and leadership & administration leverage what you already know and are grounded in real-world application.
Through our partnership with Capella, you and your immediate family have access to high-quality, online education and tuition savings that make it possible to earn a degree or certificate at a significantly lower cost and at your own pace. Capella offers you:
· Exclusive scholarships, grants and other savings for both universities, including a 10% tuition discount.
· Three learning formats—FlexPath, GuidedPath, and On-Campus that are flexible, affordable, and supportive.
· A student-centered approach, including support teams to help you be successful and persistent.
· Accredited and nationally recognized universities that meet the highest standards for quality.
Ready to learn more and get started?
Check out this PDF for information on programs offered.
|
|
|
|
Save on your degree at Strayer University
Michigan Community Action and Strayer University have partnered to offer eligible employees of their member agencies access to flexible, affordable associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. If you’re thinking of earning a degree, we invite you to take advantage of special offers designed to help you meet your educational goals.
Special offers and scholarships available now
• $5,000 scholarship for new or returning Strayer students to apply toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree
• 10% tuition discount for the duration of your program*
* Tuition discount upon receipt of documentation of employment and eligibility.
Why Strayer?
At Strayer, you’ll get a modern, online degree that gives you the confidence to change your future. Our programs are built for working adults and our student services coaches offer support at every step. We believe in educational access, academic quality, student success and customer service.
|
|
|
|
MCA Officers/Board Members 2021-2023 |
|
Lisa Evans
President
Community Action of Allegan County
Morghan Boydston
Urban Officer
Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development
Lisa Bolen
Lower Peninsula Rural Officer
Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency
|
|
Michelle Williamson
Vice President
Community Action
Michelle LaJoie
Upper Peninsula Officer
Community Action Alger- Marquette
Toby Berry
At-Large Officer
Community Action Agency
Dennis McShane
Directors Council Chair
Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action Agency
|
|
Kerri Duff
Secretary Treasurer
Gogebic Ontonagon CAA
Judge Gregory Pittman
CAA Governing Board Officer
Muskegon-Oceana Community Action Partnership
Mary Ann Neopolitan
CAA Governing Board Officer
Monroe County Opportunity Program
|
|
|
MCA is continuing to observe CDC guidelines encouraging remote work practices and following local public health guidelines. The office remains physically closed to anyone outside of immediate staff. We are accessible by phone and email during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30AM-5PM ET.
Be well and stay safe everyone. .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
