From: Denise Harlow
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 10:22 AM
To: Adrian Fassett; Alan Jones; Amy Turner; Andrea Ogunwumi; Barbara Rivenburgh; Charles Darden; Charles Kalthoff; Cindy Colter; Craig J. Cashman; Dan Maskin; David Hill; David Woods; Debra Schimpf; Denis Wilson; Denise Harlow; j.hoxsie@saratogaeoc.org; Diane Cooper-Currier; Ed Fancher; Florence Ohle; Gladys Walker; Gloria Griffin; Gordon Hazel; Iris Johnson; James Norman; Janelle Cooper; Joan Tarantino; John Eberhard; Joseph O'Hara; Karen Gordon; Kathleen Cloutier; Kathleen Horner; L. Nathan Hare; Larry Kithcart; Lee Dillon; Linda Heyward; Lindy Glennon; Lynn Ackerschoek; Martin Mucher; Maureen Lashlee; Melinda Gault; Nancy Reich; Norma Cary; Roberta Keller; Rudy LaMarr; Scott Mathys; Stacy Alvord; Stuart Mitchell; Suzanne Lynn; Suzanne Shears; Timothy Grippen; Tina Sharpe; TZerbian(Cattaraugus); Vedeta Hanley; Winston Ross; ballen@acapinc.org
Cc: Annette Marchese; Barbara Goldstein; Beatrice Murray; Cindy Denick; Conloy Finn; Craig Howard; Debra Relyea; Dolores Franco; Emmett Ferris; Frances Hanna; James Kovarik; Katharine Hand; Kathy Wright-Austin (kwright-austin@dos.state.ny.us); Linda Snead (lsnead@dos.state.ny.us); Lisa Nieves ; Martha (Nancy) Pfohl; Nancy Flowers; P Wright; Patricia Purcell; Robert Grace; Suzanne Lehtonen; Tim Luse; William Breidinger; William Harlow; Tom Coffinger; Lisa Allison; Liz M. Hughes; Kristine Speth; Patty Barnes; Sondra Browne
Subject: NYSCAA News and Update 1-14-08

Good Morning, Folks-

 

Here are some news items and updates that may be of interest.

 

NYSCAA News and Updates

 

Welcome! 

Please join us in welcoming Julie Hoxsie as the new Executive Director at Saratoga EOC.  Ms. Hoxsie has been named Executive Director following the retirement of Dennis Brunelle earlier this month.  She can be reached at j.hoxsie@saratogaeoc.org or 518 587-3158, ext. 30.

 

As you already know, Ms. Dolores Franco has taken on the role of Director, Division of Community Services at NYSDOS.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Franco in New Orleans last week and we look forward to working with her. 

 

Poverty Symposium.  The lineup for the Second Annual Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security (February 25-26, 2008 at the NYS Museum in Albany) has been finalized.  We are very excited about the series of speakers and hope you agree.

Speakers and Panelists include:

Ø       Secretary of State Lorraine A. Cortes-Vazquez

Ø       OTDA Commissioner David Hansell

Ø       OSCF Commissioner Gladys Carrión

Ø       Chair of the Assembly’s Social Services Committee Keith Wright

Ø       Chair of the Senate’s Social Services, Children, and Families Committee Carl Kruger

Ø       Mark Greenberg, Center for American Progress

Ø       Robert Eggers, DC Central Kitchens

Ø       Trudi Renwick, Fiscal Policy Institute

Ø       Jim Masters, Center for Community Futures

Please plan on joining us and brining your staff and customers. Registration is open at http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_details.aspx?cnfNum=123 and hotel information is posted. Late February is a busy time in Albany, so you will want to book hotel accommodations soon. This conference is not a lobbying event and CSBG funds can be used to attend. We also have scholarship funds available if you are interested. Please contact me to discuss scholarships for staff, customers or board members. You may also contact Kristine Speth to register by phone at 518-690-0491, ext. 27, or via email at kspeth@nyscaaonline.org.

 

Walk A Mile Kicks Off.   The Walk A Mile (WAM) project kicks off this week at kick off events around the state.  WAM is a partnership with the LIFE (Low-Income Forum on Energy), NYSERDA, NYS Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and NYSCAA. 18 Legislators and NYSERDA President and CEO Paul Tonko will join Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Program, Fulmont Community Action Agency, CAPC of Jefferson County, CAO of Erie County, PEACE, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, CAPCO (Cortland), Schenectady Community Action Program, ProAction of Steuben and Yates, RECAP in Orange County and the Family Services League on Long Island in the project.  The project links a low-income family and elected official to have them “walk a mile” in each others’ shoes.  The project is a month long and will culminate with a reception held at the Second Annual Poverty Symposium, February 26, 2008. It will also be the keynote address at the LIFE Statewide Conference, will be held at the Albany Marriott May 20-21, 2008.

 

Rooting Out Poverty Report Released.  The National Community Action Partnership’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty and to Promote Economic Security was announced on January 9th at the Partnership’s Winter conference in New Orleans.  While the report, Rooting Out Poverty: A Campaign by America’s Community Action Network is not yet available online at the Partnership, it should be soon.  Once they post it, we will also make it available on our website.  All Partnership members should have received a copy via mail and more are available for $10.  We will be ordering additional copies for the Congressional Delegation visits in March and the report will be discussed at the Symposium in February and at the June Conference.   NYSCAA will be working to get the information on the report out to as many groups as possible.  If you would like NYSCAA to visit your CAA or region to discuss the report and/or facilitate a discussion with staff/board on how to implement the Reports’ 5 Action Themes and accompanying 64 recommendations, please contact Denise Harlow at dharlow@nyscaaonline.org or 518-690-0491, ext. 24.  Thank you to all who volunteered to host local press conferences for the release.  For more information, go to http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/news.asp?id=397

 

Governor Spitzer’s State of the State Address.  As you know, Governor Eliot Spitzer gave his State of the State Address on Wednesday, January 9th.  His office has compiled and easy to navigate summary page at http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/ that allows you to search easily for specific topics.  For PDF Fact Sheets on issues of interest to those of us working with low-income families, you may also use the following links.

 

Children’s Health Insurance http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/SCHIP_Funding.pdf

Paid Family Leave http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/Paid_Family_Leave.pdf

Sub-Prime Lending http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/Sub-Prime_Lending_Legislation.pdf 

Housing Opportunity Funds http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/Housing_Opportunity_Fund.pdf

Property Tax Relief, Cap and Reform. http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/Property_Tax_Relief_Cap_and_Reforms.pdf

Medicaid Reimbursement Reform http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/Medicaid_Reimbursement_Reform.pdf

Upstate Revitalization http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/Upstate_Revitalization_Fund.pdf

Education Accountability Phase 2  http://www.ny.gov/governor/sos/pdfs/Education_Accountability-Phase2.pdf

 

Other Events of Interest

 

NCAF Annual Legislative Conference.  March 5-7, 2008 at the Hyatt in Washington DC.  See www.ncaf.org for more information.

Low Income Forum on Energy Conference.  Mark your calendars for the annual LIFE conference that will be held May 20-21 at the Marriott in Albany.  The Walk a Mile project will be highlighted at the conference as well as a diverse array of workshop topics.

Family Development Association of New York State (FDANYS).  Mark your calendars with a save the date for FDANYS’ annual confernce scheduled for May 21-22 at the Desmond in Albany.

 

Thanks!

Denise

 

 

 

 

Denise Harlow, CEO

New York State Community Action Association, Inc.

2 Charles Blvd.

Guilderland, NY  12084

518-690-0491, ext. 24

FAX 518-690-0498

dharlow@nyscaaonline.org

 

Register now for the Second Annual Symposium on Poverty and Economic Security to be held February 25-26, 2008 at the NYS Museum in Albany, NY.  To register, go to: http://www.nyscaaonline.org/Events_details.aspx?cnfNum=123.