2004 Community Action Report
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2004 Community Action Report Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. 2004 Community Action Report Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................ 5 Message from the Minnesota Community Action Association ....................... 6 Minnesota’s Community Action Agencies .................................................. 7 Message from the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.................................... 8 Minnesota’s Tribal Governments .............................................................. 9 Community Action Overview ...................................................................... 11 Community Action Basics ..................................................................... 12 Minnesota Community Action Association 2002-2005 Strategic Plan ........... 15 Minnesota Economic Opportunity Act ..................................................... 16 Guiding Principles for Partnership .......................................................... 20 The Experience of Poverty in Minnesota ................................................. 21 2004 Federal Poverty Guidelines ........................................................... 23 Antipoverty Programs Information ............................................................ 25 Results Oriented Management and Accountability .................................... 26 Selected Family Results ....................................................................... 27 Selected Community Results ................................................................ 28 Selected Agency Results ...................................................................... 29 Minnesota Community Action Best Practice Awards .................................. 30 Homelessness in Minnesota .................................................................. 33 Food Shelves and Food Support in Minnesota ......................................... 34 Asset Development for Low-Income People ............................................ 35 Integrating Information Management Systems........................................ 37 Community Action and Head Start: Partners Fighting Poverty ................... 39 Statewide Overview ................................................................................... 47 2004 Client Characteristics................................................................... 48 Statewide Program Activity Summary .................................................... 50 2004 Community Action Funding Summary ............................................ 52 Funding Source Definitions................................................................... 54 Local Agency Information .......................................................................... 57 Data Definitions ................................................................................. 58 Anoka County Community Action Program, Inc. ...................................... 64 Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, Inc. ....................................... 66 Bi-County Community Action Program, Inc. ............................................ 68 Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Council ..................................................... 70 Community Action Duluth, Inc. ............................................................. 72 Community Action of Minneapolis.......................................................... 74 Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties, Inc. ... 76 Community Action for Suburban Hennepin, Inc. ...................................... 78 Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee ......................................... 80 Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council ............................................... 82 Heartland Community Action Agency, Inc. .............................................. 84 Inter-County Community Council, Inc. ................................................... 86 KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc. ....................................................... 88 2004 Community Action Report 3 Table of Contents Lakes & Pines Community Action Council, Inc. ........................................ 90 Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, Inc. ............................... 92 Leech Lake Reservation Tribal Council .................................................... 94 Lower Sioux Indian Community ............................................................ 96 Mahube Community Council, Inc. .......................................................... 98 Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians ....................................................... 100 Minnesota Valley Action Council, Inc. ................................................... 102 Northwest Community Action, Inc. ...................................................... 104 Olmsted Community Action Program ................................................... 106 Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council, Inc. ................................ 108 Prairie Five Community Action Council, Inc. .......................................... 110 Prairie Island Tribal Council ................................................................ 112 Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians .................................................... 114 Scott Carver Dakota CAP Agency, Inc. ................................................. 116 Semcac ........................................................................................... 118 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community ........................................... 120 Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council, Inc. ................................ 122 Three Rivers Community Action, Inc. ................................................... 124 Tri-County Action Programs, Inc. (Tri-CAP) ........................................... 126 Tri-County Community Action, Inc. (TCC) ............................................. 128 Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. ..................................................... 130 Upper Sioux Community .................................................................... 132 West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. ................................. 134 Western Community Action, Inc. ......................................................... 136 White Earth Tribal Council .................................................................. 138 Wright County Community Action, Inc. ................................................ 140 Examples and Success Stories ................................................................. 143 Living on the Edge in Itasca County .................................................... 144 Community Action: Senior Successes .................................................. 146 Community Action: Youth on the Move ................................................ 147 Community Action: Advocacy Is Powerful ............................................ 148 Community Action: Helping Clients Succeed ........................................ 150 Community Action: Leveraging Help for Success ................................... 153 Reference and Contact Information ......................................................... 159 Legislative Directory ......................................................................... 160 Commonly Used Acronyms ................................................................. 168 Staff Directory ................................................................................. 170 Key Community Action Partners .......................................................... 171 The Three Faces of Poverty ................................................................ 172 4 2004 Community Action Report Introduction 2004 Community Action Report 5 Message from the Minnesota Community Action Association Many Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. What a great time to reflect on the legacy of our work with and for low-income residents in Minnesota. Minnesota can be proud of the strong programming for low-income residents developed through the community action network. Minnesota CAAs are known across the nation for being very innovative, mission driven and well-run organizations. This legacy is due, in large part, to the commitment and dedication of our grassroots board of directors. The membership of each board of directors reflects the community action service area. Faith-based organizations, other non-profits, public officials, and low-income persons serve on the local board, which governs the local organization. These local boards are working to improve the community in which they live and work. They have a personal investment in their school systems, local governments, and in their local businesses. Community Action Agencies are true to their mission by making low-income citizens the center of programming decisions. Who can better tell the story or identify the barriers than a person experiencing poverty? Giving a voice to those in need keeps the programming relevant to the needs of the local community and not simply a dream of someone behind a desk in Washington D.C. or St. Paul. CAAs give a face, meaning, and a voice to the low-income experience. Community Action Agencies were created through the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act “to provide services, assistance, and