Collaboration and Partnerships : General Topic

In-Home Learning System
Dallas, Texas (Dallas)

Type of Agency/Organization Coordinating/Operating the Program:
Other

Funding Sources:
TANF, WIA, FSE&T, RIO, Welfare to Work, NEG, ITA, CAV, private foundations, grants

Clientele/Population Served:
all workforce clientele

Mission/Goal of the Program:
Increased earnings, employment retention, employment placement, GED acquistion, prevocational training, occupational training

Programs/Services Offered:
Customizable training according to the needs of the program. Computers in home with ISP services and technical support.

Results and/or Performance Measures:
Workforce boards report that 84% of participants are no longer receiving TANF including no dependent accounts (WorkSource for Dallas County).

Workforce boards report earnings increase - 156% earnings gain in Concho Valley Workforce Board (a rural area)

Texas Workforce Commission reports almost three times more likely to be employed after program exit and earning an average of $1,118 more per quarter.

Rutgers Center for Women and Work reports 92% program completion rate and 14% average increase in earnings.

System tracking results - 500,000+ hours of participation and 35,000 courses taken.

For more information:
http://www.business-access.com
http://www.itwd.rutgers.edu/PDF/Brief-OnlineLearningProgram.pdf
http://www.business-access.com/news/mpaag_octnov_05.pdf
http://www.itwd.rutgers.edu

KEYS Auto Loan Program ( Keeping Employment equals Your Success)
Martinez, Ca. (Contra Costa County)

Type of Agency/Organization Coordinating/Operating the Program:
Other Public Agency

Clientele/Population Served:
Active CALWORKS participants in Contra Costa County

Mission/Goal of the Program:
The KEYS Auto Loan Program is intended to provide auto loans to help CalWORKs participants, including those on retention services, to purchase a vehicle. The loan has a maximum dollar amount of $4,000 and a 2-year term. This auto loan program targets those participants for whom an automobile is the only practical means of transportation to employment or training, and who would otherwise not be able to obtain an auto loan.

Programs/Services Offered:
KEYS Auto Loan Program Rides to Success Bus Program Children's Transportation Project Basic Auto Maintenance Class

Results and/or Performance Measures:
To date, 35 loans have been granted to CALWORKS participants in Contra Costa County, with six of these loans being paid in full by the participant. Of these 6,samples of responses on their exit surveys that they are asked to complete are:

The KEYS Auto Loan Program has helped me tremendously, in more ways than one. I no longer need to catch a ride. I can drive my son to school without any problems. I can schedule doctor appointments anytime of day, take my son to the park or movies without asking for a favor, and I no longer have to walk to the grocery store then catch a cab back home. Completing the Loan Program has successfully helped me to build my credit. Its a great program."

2. "The KEYS Program took the time to provide an opportunity for me to get a car and in return positive results have happen in my life

3. "KEYS has enabled me to finish school so I could earn a position as a medical assistant at Kaiser. I am also still employed at Bank of America. With both jobs I was easily able to pay off my KEYS Loan and have since purchased a newer car. Without the KEYS program I am certain I would not have been able to go to school to get my degree while still working full time. I cannot thank everyone enough".

For more information:
Joel Flamand

LaSalle CAA, Inc. - Fatherhood Initiative
Harrisonburg, LA

Type of Agency/Organization Coordinating/Operating the Program:
Community-based Organization

Funding Sources:
Department of Labor WIA funding, Head Start funding, CSBG

Clientele/Population Served:
Fathers from four parishes in Louisiana (Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, LaSalle)

Mission/Goal of the Program:
To promote strong father involvement with children in our Head Start program, including incarcerated fathers. We're also striving to foster involvement of the noncustodial parent (NCP) in single-mother households.

Programs/Services Offered:
A volunteer male facilitator works to pull together males from four parishes in Louisiana. That male facilitator is a former Head Start parent who works with our Family and Community Services components. On a monthly basis, we have Fatherhood Initiatives at each of our centers with prominent speakers from the community, such as Mayors and Judges. We've also initiated a "Reading to Your Children" program for the fathers. We're also working with the court system to get incarcerated fathers involved in a literacy effort for their children. The fatherhood initiative creates jobs in isolated communities, provides rural transportation, and encompasses elements of a Healthy Marriage Initiative as well.

Results and/or Performance Measures:
None at this point due to the program being too new. Performance measures at the end of the semester will be based on the number of fathers that became involved with the program who are not custodial parents.

For more information:
Dorothy Oliver
Executive Director
LaSalle Community Action Agency, Inc.
318-744-5445

All Faith Community Outreach
Avondale, AZ (Maricopa )

Type of Agency/Organization Coordinating/Operating the Program:
Community-based Organization

Funding Sources:
Proceeds from thrift stores and minimal private contributions

Clientele/Population Served:
Low income, no income, homeless, displaced workers, welfare-to-work, undocumented clients, those unable to get TANF, etc.

Mission/Goal of the Program:
To provide basic and financil assistance & resources to people in need & help them recognize & address their problems in a life changing manner.

Programs/Services Offered:
Food program as host site for St Mary's Food bank provides food in a variety of ways, such as Bread Boxes for the elderly/ disabled, low-cost "Cash'n Carry" food boxes, and emergency food boxes. The working volunteer food program allows clients to receive a food box for the first four hours of volunteering per week. The thrift shop receives clothing donations from private and "Other Mothers"(consignment store) that not only allows clients to receive emergency clothing when they first come in but can earn additional outfits for each hour they volunteer after their first four hours per week. Also clothes are sold at very low cost to help with funding of overhead.

Results and/or Performance Measures:
No one is turned away if they are in need. Since this is a hands up program in assisting either a one time emergency or long term, we have reached a time when we are having to make appointments for volunteers to come in. Volunteer hours have doubled in a one year from 1200 in 2003 to 2400 in 2004. Clients coming in through the welfare-to-work program are being trained to find gainful emplpyment through skills learned at the agency such as office administrative skills, food stocking, and food delivery.

For more information:
Director Cassie Wilkins

Health Care for All
New Orleans, LA (Orleans)

Type of Agency/Organization Coordinating/Operating the Program:
Community-based Organization

Funding Sources:
Annie E. Casey Foundation; Baptist Community Ministries Foundation

Clientele/Population Served:
Families with household income within a maximum of 200% of federal poverty level

Mission/Goal of the Program:
To enroll income eligible children and adults of New Orleans in LA-CHIP and Medicaid.

Programs/Services Offered:
The staff of this innovative program go door-to-door in targeted communities/neighborhoods (using geo-mapping strategies) surveying residents regarding health insurance coverage for all members of the household. If children or adults do not have health insurance, the staff work with them to establish eligibility for LA-CHIP or Medicaid and help the family complete enrollment form and gather all required documents in the comfort of their own home (using wireless internet connected lap top computers and portable copiers). This is the only program in the state of Louisiana that utilizes this home and community-based outreach strategy to complete enrollments. The model has been observed and replicated in several major cities throughout the country.

Results and/or Performance Measures:
As a direct result of Health Care for All's home and community-based enrollment procedures, since program inception in 2000, over 3,000 previously uninsured eligible children and adults in New Orleans (who completed their enrollment applications with the help of the program) now receive comprehensive health insurance coverage via LA-CHIP or Medicaid. The program has over a 99% success rate in enrollment application acceptance.

The Power Plan
McComb, Mississippi

Type of Agency/Organization Coordinating/Operating the Program:

Clientele/Population Served:

Mission/Goal of the Program:

Programs/Services Offered:

Results and/or Performance Measures:
The Power Plan in McComb, Mississippi is a comprehensive neighborhood-based, family focused, self-sufficiency program that moves residents of public housing from welfare to self-sufficiency. Residents define their goals, set their time-tables for accomplishing tasks, and commits at least eight hours of community service and at least two workshops per month that must be job related. The program places a strong emphasis on empowerment; stressing the question where do you want to be in the next year or in the next three years?

All residents of the McComb Housing Authority, through The Family Investment Center, who commit to community service have access to the following services: job training, life skills training, parenting classes, support groups,18-month rent freeze against earned income, low-cost child care for children ages 4 and under, quality after school care program, parish nurse availability, library book and video check out privileges, transportation assistance, resume writing and computer training.