AUGUST
"CAP Services' employee Betsy Rozelle joined former Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler and Steve Rose, author of the book "Peas Soup for the Packer Heart: A Tribute to the World's Greatest Fans & Team!" for a book signing in Waupaca recently. The book includes a favorite memory described by Rozelle."
JULY
CAP Services received a call this past February from a group in the Milwaukee area, interested in sponsoring a fundraising event to benefit CAP Services. The group created a website for the event and named the 5K event, “the CAP It Off 5K.” The slogan would be “CAP Off the Beginning of the End of Poverty.” The Waterford Chamber of Commerce provided some technical support for the website, registration, etc. The 5K was held on Saturday July 24, despite the heavy, heavy rains in the area that week. The event generated $200 for CAP Services. Special thanks to Matt Ferlindes and his family, Hayes Barry, Aaron Derner and Nick Zimmerman for all their efforts in making it happen.
.
JUNE
Ministry Dental Center’s partnership presented a report to the Community Foundation of the Fox Cities Basic Needs Committee on progress in expanding services to include all of Waupaca County. Patient encounters for Waupaca County residents has continued to grow since the Foundation provided a $100,000 grant to meet the needs of those families. Waupaca County patient encounters in November and December of 2009 averaged 91, and by May and June of 2010, the encounters averaged 269. CAP’s staff and partners did an effective job of outreach to be sure eligible families seek appointments. The Foundation committed $80,000 to continue services for the November, 2010-October, 2011 period.
Jean Christensen of Wipfli presented CAP’s 2009 audit to the Board of Directors on June 30 at its meeting in Montello. She congratulated them on an audit without questioned costs, internal control findings or compliance deficiencies.
Construction is nearing completion at Weyauwega Senior Village and an Open House is planned for July 7th. Individuals interested in the facility can contact CAP’s Rental Housing Program staff at 1-877-377-1434.
MAY
WISCAP, the state’s trade association for community action agencies in Wisconsin, held its annual meeting in Madison on May 6 and 7. Senator Julie Lassa was recognized for her efforts on behalf of low-income families, including her efforts on the CORE legislation, which among other things, provides support for the state’s 16 community action agencies to offer CAP’s Skills Enhancement Program model.
Allison Mothes, owner of Kewaunee Coffee and Tea in Kaukauna, was also recognized for her efforts to move toward self-sufficiency. She enrolled in CAP’s Business Development Program and has continued to grow her business, meeting a niche in the Fox Valley.
Nancy Ross of CAP’s Business Development Program was recognized by the Portage County Business Council with its Friend of Small Business Award on May 7.
CAP also hosted its Annual Reception at the Waupaca Ale House on May 26. It used the opportunity to recognize its many volunteers, donors and partners that contributed to CAP’s overall successes in 2009. Over 170 individuals attended the event.
An Open House was held at CAP’s Waupaca Fresh Start Program on May 27. The project, made possible through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, created 11 jobs. Nine young people were hired and engaged in a number of program activities. Five of nine needed and obtained their high school diploma or equivalent. They all provided community service time to the development of some boardwalks along the Waupaca River Trail. Some also pursued certification as Solar Site Assessors and all worked to construct a 3-bedroom home in Eastgate Estates in Waupaca. Department of Commerce Secretary Aaron Olver spoke on behalf of the Governor, in congratulating these young people for their work and announced funding to continue the program there. The home was purchased the following day by a low-income buyer with three children.
APRIL
CAP Services’ completed its free tax assistance program with a volunteer recognition dinner at Simpson’s Restaurant in Waupaca. The program, which operated in Waupaca and Waushara Counties, provided free tax assistance services to 179 households. The refunds totaled $220,871, including $104,790 in Earned Income Tax Credits and $37,378 in Homestead Tax Credits. Volunteers provided the many of the services. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the next tax season, contact Betsy at 920-209-0760.
CAP Services’ staff facilitated a poverty simulation on April 16 at Affinity Health Care. Fifty individuals participated in the session designed to have one walk in the shoes of a low-income individual for a month. Participants are assigned new identities and given a profile including income and financial obligations. They each make decisions necessary to get to the end of the month. Most participants are struck with the complexity and difficulty in making ends meet each month and cite a deeper understanding of the challenges low-income households face.
A second simulation was offered for University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh nursing students. Again, feedback was very positive. If you are interested in when a simulation may be available in your area, contact Betsy at 920-209-0760.
CAP was recognized by the Stevens Point Housing Authority with its 2010 Volunteer Service and Community Partner Award.
CAP’s Work-N-Wheels Program assisted with the purchase of the 25th vehicle. Low-income households in Portage County in need of reliable transportation can apply for a 0% interest
loan of up to $4,000 for the purchase of a vehicle. For more information, contact Cheryl at
715-343-7110.
The Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin increased its investment in CAP’s Business Development Revolving Loan Fund. This fund provides a variety of financing opportunities to new or expanding businesses that create jobs or represent value-added businesses. The investment, now at $200,000, earns interest for the Foundation’s work at the same time.
MARCHA number of CAP program funders have completed monitoring visits over the past few months. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Family Services completed its review of CAP Services, including American Recovery and Reinvestment Act activities (for a progress report, click on the “Recovery” logo at CAP’s home page. All financial and programmatic reviews were positive. CAP expects monitoring visits by the Department of Labor, AmeriCorps, Head Start & Early Head Start as well as Weatherization and Housing Programs in the next several months.
CAP’s Board of Directors approved the organization’s updated Ten-year Strategic Plan.
This ten-year plan is updated every five years and reflects the long-term goals in a number of development areas. Click HERE to view the plan.
Construction progress continues at senior housing projects in Weyauwega and in Colby. Applications for tenancy can be accessed by calling CAP’s Rental Housing Program at
1-877-377-1434. Units in Weyauwega will be ready for occupancy in mid-June.
CAP’s Early Childhood Development Department began providing Early Head Start Services
to 72 families in Portage and Waupaca Counties on March 22, 2010. Notified only in mid-December of its successful application for funding, staff recruited and trained 10 staff,
remodeled space at the Family Development Center in Stevens Point and organized curriculum and program protocols in this very short period of time.
CAP’s Family Development staff met for training on working with families with AODA issues, the Virtues Project and an overview of CAP’s new Early Head Start Program. This group of staff that provide longer term services meet 4-5 times each year for training and networking opportunities.
Activity in CAP’s Free Tax Assistance Program in Waupaca and Waushara Counties remained high. As of March 30, 124 households received assistance, with many more scheduled through the April 15 tax filing deadline.
FEBRUARY
Lt. Ron Carlson of the Stevens Point Police Department recently announced the selection of Heidi O'Brien of CAP Services for the Stevens Point Police Department's Citizen's Academy. The Academy provides community members with an inside look at the Police Department and all facets of law enforcement in the city. During the ten (10) week academy, students will be introduced to the Police Department's operations and participate in a firearms training session. Other topics explored include: dispatch, patrol and investigation, OWI enforcement, emergency vehicle operations, defense and arrest tactics, and firearms. Lt. Carlson indicated that participants even have the opportunity to be hit with a taser. Only one of last year's participants declined!
Several new staff have been hired to deliver early childhood services. They include a number of home visitors (Teresa Coppus, Monica Meinholz, Derin Tangwall, Jill Wilcox and Shannon Piotrowski in Portage County and Amie Krueger and Deana Hirte in Waupaca County). Liz Sippel will serve as the teacher in Stevens Point and Meghan Corrigan will serve as the administrative program assistant. Suzanne Oehlke will provide nutrition consultant services and Sarah Wilke will provide health information to families enrolled in the program. Recruitment is well underway, with a service start date of March 22.
Mary Patoka presented as part of the USDA’s “Forum for the Future-Pathways to Wisconsin Job Creation” on January 26, 2010 in Eau Claire. She spoke specifically about the lack of access to capital and credit for small businesses and its detrimental effect on job creation. Other panelists represented Marshfield Clinic, UW-EaU Claire, the Farm Services Agency, a small farmer, Wisconsin’s Workforce Development Board, USDA’s State Director Stan Gruszynski and others.
CAP Services hosted a monitoring visit by the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Reinvestment in January. Recommendations included a modification to CAP’s Whistleblower Policy to allow for anonymous complaints and a very minor adjustments to an internal staff control. Overall, the office described CAP’s protocols to be in good form.
CAP Services broke ground on its two most recent senior housing projects in Weyauwega and Colby. The Colby project is being done in partnership with North Central Community Action Program based in Wisconsin Rapids. These projects will bring affordable housing options to seniors in those communities.
CAP staff facilitated Poverty Simulations in Stevens Point on February 12 and in Appleton at Prince of Peace Church on February 28. These sessions allow someone to walk in the shoes of a low-income individual for an afternoon and experience directly the challenges facing them.
JANUARY
CAP Services has been awarded a 22 month, $1,608,842 grant by the Federal Administration for Children and Families through funding from the American Recvery and Reinvestment Act. Funds will be used to develop an Early Head Start program in Portage and Waupaca counties.
The Waushara County Tavern League donated $1,000 to CAP Services Domestic Violence Outreach program.