The elimination or reduction in funding of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the “core” funding for Community Action Agencies (CAAs), will seriously limit our ability to help Connecticut’s low-income families make progress toward self-sufficiency. CAAs are effective and accountable agencies because of the support of CSBG.

Connecticut’s twelve Community Action Agencies provide a wide variety of services in all of our 169 cities and towns. CAAs provide cost-efficient and cost-effective services to Connecticut’s poor and low-income working individuals and families. With limited resources available, it is more important than ever that government support cost-effective service delivery that helps people move toward self-sufficiency, stay out of poverty and prevent more costly expenditures in the future.

CAAs provide coordinated services using funding from federal and state agencies. These services include employment and training, early childhood services such as child care, school readiness and Head Start, energy assistance and weatherization, Individual Development Accounts and financial counseling, eviction prevention, transitional housing and shelters, food pantries and other emergency services, alternative to incarceration, AIDS and substance abuse prevention, and many others.

Using Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds, CAAs integrate the funding from these diverse areas, federal, state, local and private funding, into comprehensive programs for our clients.  CAAs respond effectively to diverse local and regional needs by planning and delivering services with the direct involvement of our communities’ leaders and residents through municipal, private sector and low-income representation on each agency’s Board of Directors.

The Impact of CSBG Funds in Connecticut

• · In 2008, Connecticut CAAs leveraged over $197 million in additional federal, state and private dollars for needed anti-poverty programs in our cities and towns. The state received about $7.5 million in CSBG funds in 2008, which means that for every $1 of CSBG, $25 was leveraged. CSBG funds are a solid investment of federal resources in our human service delivery system.
• Connecticut Community Action Network is the linchpin of the CT Human Service Infrastructure. Working in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) and Connecticut’s statewide information and referral system, 211 Infoline, CT CAAs are using information technology to create an automated, statewide, “one-stop” approach to human services delivery, called the Human Services Infrastructure (HSI). This system is a more efficient way of doing business and is more accountable.
• CSBG funds are critical for us to continue to provide this comprehensive human service delivery system in our local communities. In 2008, CT CAAs served over 296,000 clients in a variety of services. Through referrals, direct services, and comprehensive case-management, families gain access to services that help them move towards self-sufficiency.
• CSBG supports implementation of Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA), which is used to measure the impact of services to clients and communities, break down “program silos,” and improve management and accountability.
• CT CAAs mobilized over 900,000 volunteer hours in their communities in 2008, the equivalent of 480 full-time employees. Volunteers donated their time and energy to help their communities. Examples of volunteer in our agencies includes the Boards of Directors, Head Start Policy Councils, Head Start and Child Day Care classrooms, senior services, neighborhood services, and advocacy services.
• Using CSBG funds, CAAs integrate funding at the local level in innovative ways that meets local needs. We create partnerships with other community-based providers, the faith community, businesses, and state and local government that leverage in-kind resources, improve program efficiency, coordinate service delivery, and improve community planning.
• Below is a sample of innovative programs in Connecticut that would potentially close if CSBG funds were eliminated:

• Individual Development Accounts: All of Connecticut’s CAAs operate IDA programs. IDAs are matched savings programs that help low-income people save money to purchase their first home, attend college or capitalize a small business. The federal IDA program provides no funds for program operations, yet because of CSBG, our agencies can integrate IDA services into our existing programs. Currently, CT CAAs are working with 296 IDA participants. Without CSBG funding, we would not be able to bring this innovative program to Connecticut or operate it at such a large scale.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance: VITA provides free tax preparation and e-file services to the low to moderate-income people. CSBG funds support the program with staffing, planning, office materials, coordination of community outreach, volunteer training sessions, and hosting the sites. In 2008, 2,209 people obtained refunds and tax credits through tax preparation service and brought in over $3.8 million in refunds to our local communities. This program would not be possible without CSBG.
• Norwalk Works: Utilizing CSBG funds, NEON has implemented a new approach to offering employment and social services to Norwalk residents—Norwalk Works. Norwalk Works extends employment and social services to vulnerable populations in the greater Norwalk area. Currently, neither the Southwestern CT Workforce Investment Board nor the Department of Social Services has a satellite office in Norwalk. Norwalk Works offers low-income and vulnerable populations in the greater Norwalk area services in overcoming employment barriers. Norwalk Works served over 400 individuals during 2008, assisting them with employment services and social support, with over 50% receiving resume development support and job club assistance; and 65% obtaining local jobs.
• New Opportunities Family Preservation/Reunification Program: The Family Preservation/Reunification Program’s purpose is to prevent the continuous abuse of children, who reside with their biological or foster families within the Northwest Region of Connecticut. CSBG funding supports program administration and the coordination of other services for these families, such as financial support for outstanding utilities bills, purchasing emergency fuel, eviction prevention, and for educational and recreational support services. Partners include the CT Department of Children & Families, Child Guidance Clinic of Waterbury, Inc., Family Service of Greater Waterbury, Catholic Family Services, and many others. The ultimate goal of the project is to avert placement among case families and 90% of families complete the program successfully.
• TVCCA: The Community Health Access Management Program (CHAMP) in New London County received $2 million. TVCCA’s participation in this collaborative that will ensure people enroll in available health insurance programs, was possible due to the Human Services Infrastructure initiative (HSI), partially funded through CSBG. Without CSBG, TVCCA wouldn’t be able to operate a streamlined intake and assessment system for all of its clients or provide this important service for the CHAMP project.

These are just a sampling of the many effective programs that CSBG funds support.

The true value of Community Action and the Community Services Block Grant is that it brings about change at the state level, the local level, as well as with the individuals and families served. With CSBG as our foundation, CAAs are able to build strong communities, healthy families and maintain flexible agencies with the capacity to respond to local needs. The CT CAAs look forward to working with Congress in continuing to address the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

A Sampling of Reported Outcomes by Connecticut CAAs in 2008

• Over 785 partnerships to coordinate service delivery, streamline administration, improve community planning or to achieve specific family outcomes.
• 121,750 families/households had their emergency needs, such as food, shelter, or home heating utility payments, reduced or eliminated.
• 48,276 families/households obtained access to additional needed services.
• 13,352 people eliminated or reduced barriers to employment and self-sufficiency by receiving job training, childcare and other employment support services.
• 4,262 people obtained employment or self-employment.
• 21,185 people demonstrated increased ability to manage income to achieve self-sufficiency, including increased financial literacy, opening IDA and savings accounts, and purchasing assets, such as a home, attending college, or starting a business.
• 2,209 individuals received free tax preparation services and increased their total household resources.
• Over $3.8 million in federal income tax refunds (including Earned Income and Child Tax Credits) came into low-income communities, through free tax preparation services at CAAs.
• 5,750 children ages 0-5 attended quality pre-school programs that developed school readiness skills.
• 5,402 adults demonstrated increased skills and were strengthened through counseling, classes and other support services.
• 10,495 people obtained, maintained or improved their housing arrangements.
• 26,024 people improved or maintained their nutrition through congregate meals, meals-on-wheels, child care food programs, food pantries, and other nutrition programs.
• 32,013 seniors maintained active, independent living through volunteering, senior employment, meals, homemaker and other services.