Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph. Since 1965

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Community Development

A Core Program of Community Action Partnership

The Community Development program at Community Action Partnership strives to provide low-income persons the right mix of assistance, encouragement, and incentives to become self-sufficient. Funded partially through the federal Community Services Block Grant, initiatives of the Community Development program can be changed to reflect the community's needs every two years.

Current Community Development programs include:

Financial Literacy Coalition: The Financial Literacy Coalition brings bank representatives, members of the FDIC and community agencies around the table to explore ways low-income people can have access to and utilize high-quality, appropriate financial resources, both in terms of products and financial education.

College Entrance: "Movin' On Up" opens the door for low-income high school students to attend college, helping families manage the college application process, apply for financial aid, prepare for college and take for the ACT. The program pays for ACT testing and preparation, college application fees and visits to local colleges for students who qualify. Many will be the first in their families to attend college.

Childcare Access Initiative: Though a network of partners, Community Action Partnership is working to increase access to affordable childcare for low-income, rural families and increase the number of quality, highly-trained childcare providers and after-school programs. Through the Childcare Access Initiative, we believe the quality of life, school success levels and employment opportunities for low-income families can be enhanced.

Working for Success: Through Working for Success, workplace policies and procedures are explored that can result in greater job satisfaction and retention among low-income employees - as well as better communication and successful working relationships among low-income employees and their
employers.

Life Skills and Targeted Coaching: Life skills workshops throughout the year offer relevant information to people with low-incomes to improve the way their family functions. Subjects include financial management, energy conservation, stress management, leadership skills, housing, parenting and entrepreneurship. Families who participate in targeted coaching are expected to move up at least one point on the Family Self Sufficiency Scale in the area of concern.

Back to School Fair: Backpacks filled with school supplies are provided to families who are income-eligible at annual area Back to School Fairs, serving approximately 500 families per year. In addition to the critical supplies a child needs for confidence and success at school, families receive health and safety information from community partners and are connected to networks of help.

Step Up to Leadership: Step Up to Leadership is a 12-week leadership and personal development class that prepares members of the community to serve on the Board of Directors for a non-profit agency. The diversity of interests, experiences and income levels creates an engaging learning environment, and graduates have the opportunity to compete for a community project mini-grant. Step Up to Leadership covers a broad range of topics including team building, diversity, Robert's Rules of Order, and Board responsibilities and roles.

Poverty Simulations: Can you survive a "month" in poverty?
One of the most powerful tools Community Action Partnership has for engaging the community in the fight against poverty are community Poverty Simulations. Through carefully designed curriculum, participants are placed into a "family" in poverty and asked to navigate the month in four 15-minute "weeks," using only the resources pre-assigned to their family and those they can utilize from community providers in the simulation. This is a highly-energized, impactful experience, and the positive feedback toward understanding poverty is tremendous.