CAAP 2008 Annual Conference
"Foucs on the Future"

This year's conference featured a wide variety of speakers. Click on the picture of a speaker to open their video page. Once the page has loaded press the play button on the video player in your browser to start the video. Videos can also be viewed in QuickTime or Windows Media formats by clicking on the links located below each speaker's description.

To enter the Focus on the Future conference website, click here.

 

 

Ken Klothen

Deputy Secretary Ken Klothen opened the 2008 conference with this welcome message and words of encouragement for conference attendees.

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   Windows Media  | Quicktime 7 H.264

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Complete conference video coverage:

Keynote Address: Focus on the Future of Family Economic Success - Deborah Weinstein, Coalition on Human Needs

Download Deborah Weinstein's powerpoint presentation.

It turns out reducing poverty helps all of us not just the poor. Around the country there is a growing movement to support a national goal to dramatically reduce poverty and lead families to economic success. Ms. Weinstein focused on ten steps that would lead to national economic recovery by providing people in poverty with the resources they need to become self-sufficient.

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Sharpening our National Outlook - Don Mathis, Community Action Partnership

Enhancing Community Action's national presence has been a key objective of the Community Action Partnership. By continuing to focus on national policy and advocacy initiatives, building relationships with other national partners and setting a national anti-poverty agenda with the publishing of Rooting out Poverty, the partnership thrust community action into the national arena.

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Pinpointing the Answers - Estelle Richman, PA Department of Welfare

The Pennsylvania Department of Welfare (DPW) and CAAs have a strong partnership of working together to eliminate poverty an assist those that live within the confides of poverty. Through common public policy and innovative programs, both entities have successfully moved numerous individuals from poverty to self-sufficiency. The Secretary of the DPW will provide insight into the issues facing the state as it moves forward with its low-income assistance initiatives.

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Impact of Energy on the Working Poor - Joe Dudick, Dynamic Strategies Group & Al Neri, Energy Association of PA

Energy prices are effecting all households and businesses in America. But those on the lower end of the income scale are hit disproportionately by rising costs of energy. CAAP, along with the Energy Association of Pennsylvania, have commissioned a study to report on the impact the rise in energy costs are having on the working poor and strain on assistance programs.

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Strengthening the Family - Jodi Sue Kelly, Cygnet Associates

Download Jodi Sue Kelly's powerpoint presentation.

The primary mission of Community Action Agencies is to eliminate poverty and move people and families to self-sufficiency. The core value of Family Economic Success is helping families earn, keep, and grow their financial assets. These two approaches are symbiotic and describe the strength that Community Action brings in addressing the whole needs of a family, not just one aspect. By focusing on creating robust community service programs that cross barriers and address multiple needs, Community Action provides a solid foundation for a positive future outlook.

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Focus on Earn It - Tammy Knouse, Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc.

The first step in building Family Economic Success is providing avenues for people to earn money and assets. This takes place by supporting low-income individuals in several areas: readiness to earn, opportunities to earn, and "patching" strategies. The Earn It strategies provide a foundation that enables people to move forward while having basic needs met for their families.

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Focus on Keep It - Allan Robinson & William Hunter, Blair County Community Action Agency

Download Allan Robinson's powerpoint presentation.

Being able to Keep enough of the money earned becomes the second step i the Family Economic Success strategy. Decreasing expenses, improving financial literacy, and ensuring access to fair financial practices allow families to support their needs.

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Membership Meeting - Darlene Bigler, CAAP Board President

Download Darlene Bigler's powerpoint presentation.

The business meeting of the association will include a review of the strategic goals of the association as well as dialogue on the Family + Community Forum.

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Simulations in Action - Brenda Stegeman & Elaine West, Missouri Association for Community Action

Learn how to take your poverty simulations, as part of your Family + Community Forum, to the next level. hear examples such as "Step Up Savannah," where the city has incorporated the poverty simulation into poverty reduction initiatives since 2005 by using the simulation to promote business and government involvement in shifting perspectives about people living in poverty. The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City is using the poverty simulation and the PBS special "Unnatural Causes" to show how poverty affects health and to educate business leaders about the realities of poverty.

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Elevating the Conversation on Poverty - Neil Harrison, Lutheran Advocacy Ministries in PA, John Wilson, CAAP,

Not since the Great Society era has the issue of poverty and the ramifications for society been so prevalent in the media and the policy halls of state and federal governments. However, the way poverty is talked about has also changed. the Pennsylvania Welfare Coalition has created a task force to address capitalizing on this renewed interest in the poverty discussion, and how to use vocabulary in the context of advancing sold and equitable public policy.

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Focus on Grow It - Alan Jennings, Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley

Long-term family economic success depends on stable employment and sound financial investment. Grow It strategies help families increase their assets to build secure financial futures for themselves and their children. In addition, these strategies look to the larger community, sparking efforts to create and sustain business's growth and development that is connected to the regional economy.

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2008 CAAP Self-Sufficiency Awards -- For 12 years the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania has been celebrating the extraordinary accomplishments of the individuals who are served by our Community Action Agencies. In this video, we present 28 success stories of self-determination and the journey to self-sufficiency.

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