ICAA Spring 2021 Newsletter is Here!

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

Tell Me What's Happening Newsletter

Greetings, Iowa Community Action!

I am so grateful to join such an amazing group of passionate, hard-working, big-hearted humans! I am new to the Community Action space, so please be patient with me as I learn the ropes, the lingo (all those acronyms), and the culture of how you do service delivery...and I'm already learning that you all do it a little bit differently, which is absolutely what I love about the Community Action model. To be community need driven is what drew me back to the non-profit space and has lived in my servant leader's heart since childhood!

A little bit about me...I'm a Gemini/Cancer, love walks in the woods and a pink glass of wine. Yes, all those things are true, but this isn't Tinder or a Rupert Holmes song. I live in Des Moines with my spouse Scott, son Ben (13), and daughter Hazel (8). We have two cats, Thunder and Oliver, and live in a house that is 107 years old. I won't bore you with my work history, but you can check me out on LinkedIn here. Favorite Snack: Chicago Mix popcorn. Weird, quirky thing: I love sports movies but do not enjoy organized sports.

I am in the early days of getting to know staff, processes, and programs (and boy are there a lot of them!). One of my first activities is having a virtual meet and greet with each of the Executive Directors. My goal is to get to each Community Action Agency within my first year on the job. I am a visual and experiential learner, so I love to see programming in action, and I can't wait to see how you are changing lives in your communities.

As you know, May is Community Action Awareness Month, and I'm hoping that you'll help me out. Will you please send me an email with why you love working at your Community Action Agency? It will be a great introduction for me about you and those you serve, AND we're going to do a drawing each week from the submissions and send out some prizes to celebrate all of the amazing work you do to alleviate poverty.

Feel free to reach out to me any time! My cell phone is 515-708-4441. I'm happy to field questions, or just have a chat. I love meeting new people and can't want to put names with faces over the next few months.

Thanks for inviting me to the Community Action table - I'm so glad to be here!

~ Katherine Riley Harrington

Community Action Happenings

New Executive Director Welcome!

ICAA would like to welcome Danna Buls as

MATURA Action Corporation's new Executive Director

Q: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

A: If someone comes to you with a problem/complaining, be sure they’ve also come with a solution.

Q: What has been a positive "surprise" in your new role as ED?

A: Not sure it was a surprise, but the outpouring of support and encouragement from the network.

Q: What are your pets' names?

A: I have two pets- Deke our 5 year old Morkie Poo and Dalila our rescue long haired cat who we think is 4 years old.

Q: What has been your favorite vacation?

A: While in high school, my oldest brother was at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. My parents took us out there to visit him. We got to see a bunch of memorials in DC, Arlington National Cemetery and visit the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Community Action Month

May is Community Action Month (CAM)! The Community Action Partnership has recently released their 2021 CAM Toolkit. Check it out here! Also, consider following Iowa Community Action Association on Facebook and Twitter to see daily Community Action updates throughout the month. Local Agencies are always welcome to share posts and/or tweets.

ICAA Program Happenings

Eviction Prevention Program

From June-December 2020, the Community Action network partnered with Iowa Finance Authority to administer an Eviction Prevention Program in response to the economic impact of COVID-19. At the program’s conclusion, Community Action had approved over $31M in assistance for more than 14,000 families. Thank you to all who assisted with this program!

Embrace Iowa 2020-2021

During the 2019 campaign, Embrace Iowa raised nearly $269,000 and assisted close to 700 families across the state with essential needs. In 2020, we aimed to raise $275,000 but instead raised over $407,000! This record-breaking generosity meant that 1,000 families were able to be assisted through this program.

To learn more about Embrace Iowa or read the stories published by The Des Moines Register, visit ICAA’s Website.

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

Amerigroup Partnership

Amerigroup Iowa, Inc. is a Managed Care Organization (MCO), providing Medicaid services for Iowans. Amerigroup administers an Integrated Case Management program where Amerigroup members can receive one-on-one assistance from a case manager who will not only help with medical care arrangements, but also work to address a client’s whole-health needs. Since 2019, Amerigroup has committed funding for members enrolled in their Case Management program to provide financial resources necessary to attain or maintain safe and stable housing. Amerigroup is now developing new partnerships with local nonprofits to administer these available funds, allowing members to become connected with other resources in their communities and develop longer-term supports beyond one-time funding assistance. Community Action was a natural partner due to our statewide reach, work with low-income Iowans, and connections to many other internal and external resources.

Amerigroup identified 18 counties across 11 Community Action Agencies with a high number of Amerigroup members. Across these counties, $266,000 has been committed by Amerigroup to assist its members with basic needs.

Iowa Disaster Case Management Virtual Training Series

In lieu of an in-person IDCM Training this year, ICAA will be offering a three-day virtual training series. Participants may drop in and out for relevant sessions; trainings are both for onboarding new staff to the program and can serve as refreshers for those already familiar with disaster services.

Daily Agenda & Registration are now available!

Leadership & Training Happenings

Emerging Leaders' Institute for Training and Excellence (ELITE)

ICAA's 2021 ELITE Cohort kicks off April 23rd! The cohort will be diving into leadership styles, the role of fiscal and human resources in Community Action operations, as well as Community Action needs assessments, programming and performance management strategies. ICAA convenes a cohort each year so mark your calendars to apply next fall.

2021 Cohort Members:

Martin Ahrndt, NEICAC
Samantha Bragg, MICA
Dena Briones, WCCA
Tyler Henderson, UDMO
Jennifer Huber, Sieda Community Action
Monique Ortiz, Mid-Sioux Opportunity
Sara Paar, MICA
Danielle Rodriguez, HACAP
Whitney Sanger, HACAP
Jamie Swearingin, SCICAP
Mindy Williamson, WCCA

Real-Time Leadership Development

ICAA is holding an opportunity for Community Action staff to dive into various leadership topics in June, August, October, and December. You can register for one or more. You'll spend 90-minutes learning about a leadership approach and then have three weeks to practice the new concept before coming back together for a one hour debrief meeting. Upcoming topics and dates include:

Real-Time Decision-Making (June 18)
Real-Time Change (August 16)
Real-Time Fair and Accountable Culture (Oct. 15)
Real-Time Leader Care (Dec. 13)

Introduction to Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA)

The Introduction to ROMA Training, which is normally an eight hour in-person training, is now available through an online format. If your agency is interested in hosting this training please contact Tiffany Keimig (tkeimig@iowacaa.org).

On-Demand Training Modules

ICAA offers an array of on-demand training you can view independently, as a group, or with a trained facilitator. If you would like to work with a trained facilitator contact Tiffany Keimig (tkeimig@iowacaa.org). Training topics include:

A Brief History of Poverty in America
Board Duties and Responsibilities
Community Services Block Grant in Iowa
Disaster Services and Community Action
Head Start Board Responsibilities
Head Start Non-Federal Match
Head Start Policy Council Responsibilities
Head Start Standards of Conduct
How Poverty is Measured
Payday Loans
Recipe for a Community Action Needs Assessment
ROMA in Action

National Community Action Equity Summit

April 19-21, 2021

The National Community Action Partnership's virtual event is focused on "Centering in Truth, Activating Community Healing & Resiliency". The Community Action network deeply believes that "othering", particularly racism, rests at the nucleus of poverty in America and that equitable opportunities can only be built and sustained by centering ourselves in this truth. To that end, the Equity Summit will showcase voices and expressions that activate healing and resiliency in local communities. The Summit will take place April 20-21, 2021 and Pre-Summit Healing Circles on April 19, 2021. Click here to learn more and register.

Health Intersections Convening: Adversity, Trauma, Resilience, and Early Childhood

May 13, 2021

Join the Community Action Partnership to explore the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), strategies for assessing and addressing ACEs, and how a Network of Care can strengthen community-based strategies to reduce and disrupt the effects of childhood trauma. Register Here.

NEW! Individual and Team Resources Available

We believe that people are craving deeper connections, meaningful work, and healthy team environments that support them AND their work. If we are not strong, have healthy cultures and feel supported, our impact cannot reach its full potential. As formal or informal leaders, and as people of influence in other people’s lives, it is our responsibility to grow, develop, and learn different ways to support ourselves and our teams. It’s not easy – and as our work evolves with this changing environment, now is the time to recreate what is possible on our teams.

Would you like to improve your communication, relationships, and results at work and with your team? Do you need some teaming experiences to set your team up for success as the world around us speeds up?

Sarah Ennis with SparkPoint is partnering with ICAA to offer individual and/or team access to Myers-Briggs (MBTI) and DiSC assessments. If you would like to take your communication, decision making, change management and conflict resolution to the next level, please contact Sarah Ennis for pricing and scheduling information.

Sarah Ennis, Facilitator, Consultant, Executive Coach, Des Moines, IA

Sarah Ennis is the founder and President of SparkPoint Inc. and has devoted the last 20 years helping teams across the country and overseas. She has worked with corporations, nonprofits, and government to help leaders and teams unleash their vast potential. She has a passion for helping organizations build skills and work environments where leaders and team members can thrive, in an aligned and healthy culture with purpose-driven leaders.