Agenda - 1-5-15 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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�3i Johnston - Lee - Hamett Community Action, Inc. Planning Process Narrative (continued) 7. Describe activities that your agency has undertaken or plans to undertake, on an emergency basis, for the provision of such supplies and services, nutritious foods and related services, as may be necessary to counteract conditions of starvation and malnutrition among low - income individuals. The agency participates in the Area Ministries and encourages churches to provide emergency assistance when resources are available. We sought and received funding from Food Lion Foundation to provide food for low - income people. Food Vouchers will be issued to eligible applicants in Johnston, Lee and Harnett Counties. We will pursue additional funds from other sources to help meet the needs of low - income people needing emergency assistance. Funding from the Presbyteria of New Hope Outreach grant also assists in this venture. Funding from the United Way and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is used to assist the agency in Johnston, Lee and Harnett Counties providing for emergency needs. Food closets are organized within each area ministry and are supported by volunteers and private donations from churches, schools and food drives conducted by the community. In Johnston County, the Senior Counselor mails the Food Closet volunteers a schedule, so that each volunteer knows when they are scheduled to work. Some low- income people in crisis benefited when private donators contributed funds for the sole purpose of providing emergency assistance. Private donors can help the needy in this way without having to screen them to see whether or not there is real crisis. Local churches in all three counties also provide funds to assist participants who are experiencing a crisis. The program partners with churches, food banks and other organizations whose primary mission is to distribute food to those in need. Some people receive food vouchers, bags of groceries or hot nutritious meals from area soup kitchens that are referred from our agency. We maintain a close relationship with these groups to ensure that no one goes hungry and to keep abreast of any new services that may become available. There are no set agency wide methods used to operate the emergency food programs. Each food distribution program dictates the process that it will use according to their policies and procedures and /or mandates from the funding source. Intakes are completed on all of the clients who come into the agency 8. Describe how your agency will coordinate the provision of employment and training activities with entities providing activities through statewide and local workforce investment systems under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The agency is a Charter Member of the Job Link Centers in both Johnston and Lee Counties which is now known as Division of Employment Services. Referrals are made to agencies in our service area for employment and training programs. We also offer Job- Readiness training to our casemanagement participants. We work with Triangle South Workforce Development in Lee and Harnett County. Staff from our agency as well as from other Human Services agencies serves on each other's Boards and Policy Advisory Councils to ensure that our counselors are well - informed on the availability of services that are beneficial to our clients. We use referral forms to speed -up the delivery of service and to avoid duplication of services. The Executive Director and the CSBG Director serve on the Public Policy Committee of the Smithfield -Selma Chamber of Commerce. This affords the agency an opportunity to be in on the planning stage of any business prospects that may be coming to or leaving our area that could have a positive or potentially negative impact on low- income people. The sharing of information at our Board of Directors and Policy Advisory Council meetings plays a vital role in coordinating, and establishing linkages between governmental and other social services programs in the delivery of services to low - income individuals. As the Board of Directors is a Tri-parte board, its members include county commissioners, bankers, realtors, representatives from legal services, local health department, department of social services, faith based organizations, senior services, teachers, division of employment services, head start policy council, partnerships for children, civic groups, etc., Programming concerning the availability, delivery and quality of services are always of the utmost importance and at the forefront of discussions between partners. Fiscal Year 2015 -16 Community Services Block Grant Application Page 14 of 49