Item8-CSBG-Report-April2024 — original pdf

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Community Services Block Grant 2024 Contract Programmatic/Financial Report April 9, 2024 The Community Services Block Grant funds the delivery of services to low income Texas residents in all 254 counties. These funds support a variety of direct services in addition to helping maintain the core administrative elements of community action agencies. For the City of Austin, the grant provides funding for the delivery of basic needs, case management, preventive health and employment support services through the City’s six (6) Neighborhood Centers and the two (2) Outreach Sites. Mission: The Neighborhood Services Unit improves the lives and health of people experiencing poverty by providing public health and social services and connecting residents of Austin and Travis County to community resources. ◼ Basic Needs (food, clothing, information and referral, notary services, transportation, car safety education and car seats, tax preparation, fans, Thanksgiving food baskets and other seasonal activities); ◼ Preventive Health (screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar including a1C, and cholesterol; pregnancy testing; health promotion presentations, coordination and participation in health fairs, immunizations, coordination of wellness activities, linkages to medical home providers and diabetes case management); ◼ Case Management (individual/family support counseling, advocacy, self-sufficiency case management, crisis intervention, linkages with employers, educational opportunities and training, and working with individuals on quality of life issues); ◼ Employment Support (intake, assessment and goal setting, job readiness training, job placement assistance, and job retention services) Expenditures Categories 2024 Contract Budget % of Total Cumulative Expenditures as of 2/29/24 Personnel Fringe Benefits Other Total $382,594 0% 1  4 4E 5 5B 5D 4C 4I 5A 5JJ 7A 7B 7D 7N Transition Out of Poverty Goal Goal Achieved TOP Individuals who transitioned out of poverty 43 6 Success Rate% 14% Austin Public Health Report on PY24 Community Action Plan MISSION: To prevent disease, promote health, and protect the well-being of our community. TOP 5 NEEDS: Housing; Health; Employment; Basic Needs; Education Report Date February 2024 FNPI Outcome Description Target #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % Housing Households who avoided eviction Health and Social/Behavioral Development Individuals who demonstrated improved physical health and well being Individuals who improved skills related to the adult role of parents/caregivers 800 10 50 20 0 15 SRV 3O Service Description Tax Preparation Programs Number Served A Year Ago #Enrolled #Achieved Success Rate % 20 0 8 18 279 26,864 13,950 20 0 41 83 6 440 420 Rent Payments Utility Payments Immunizations Food Distribution Case Management Eligibility Determinations Transportation Emergency Clothing 3A.1 Total number of volunteer hours donated to the Agency Programmatic/Administrative Updates 1. Neighborhood Services – We offer Basic Needs including Food Help, Emergency Rental assistance in collaboration with Catholic Charities of Central Texas, Utility Assistance, Self-Sufficiency Case Management services, Bus Passes, Health Screenings, Information & Referrals, and Seasonal Services* at our six Neighborhood Centers. 2.5% 53% 2 *Child Safety Seats, Fans and Income Tax filing. 2. Rosewood Zaragosa/Blackland CDC Nomination/Selection Update – The Responsible Organization for this geographic area, the Rosewood Zaragosa/Blackland Advisory Board, is no longer active. We are working on identifying a new Responsible Organization. 3. Fresh Foods For Families (FFFF) – The Neighborhood Centers in collaboration with the Central Texas Food Bank holds Fresh Food For Families events that provide free monthly distributions of fruits, vegetables and other fresh foods to low-income families. These distributions supplement existing grocery budgets with much-needed nutritious foods. The events are walk-thru or drive-thru. 4. Home Delivery Program – In collaboration with the Central Texas Food Bank and Amazon, the NSU offer a home delivery food program. Eligible individuals (Travis County Residents, “Low Income,” Target Population (Household with children 0-18 or Senior 60+), Individuals with a disability, Veterans and Active Military members) can sign up to receive a box of shelf stable foods monthly. Since launching the program in June of 2022 over 50,000 deliveries have been made. In February, 2,121 Households/6,271 Individuals had food boxes delivered to their doorstep. 5. Community Needs Assessment – Woollard Nichols Torres Consulting is conducting the Neighborhood Services Unit Community Needs Assessment. Their staff has completed the key informant interviews and surveys. Our grantor, the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs, requires this be done every 3 years. 6. Emergency Rental Assistance Funding – Austin Public Health has accepted funds from the United States Department of the Treasury, Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA 2) to provide rental assistance to households that are unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In late February, we began working with the Austin Area Urban League to begin processing financial assistance payments for eligible clients. From February 26th – March 31st we assisted 192 people in 64 households avoid eviction using these funds. The total amount of rent assistance payments was $151,292.40. 7. Austin Energy Plus 1 Program – Serious illness, a recent job loss, or the pandemic can make it difficult for some customers to pay their utility bills. The Plus 1 fund helps by providing emergency financial aid to customers who are having a temporary problem paying their utility bills. 8. NSU Public Health Nursing* - The Neighborhood Services nurses are offering free health screenings at the Neighborhood Centers. Services included: blood pressure screenings, blood sugar screenings, cholesterol screenings, health education, hemoglobin A1c, pregnancy tests, and general health information & resources. 3  9. Self-Sufficiency Case Management Services – The Neighborhood Services Unit social workers help clients reenter the world of work, connecting them with resources, agencies, and training opportunities; including assistance with housing stability, basic needs, and public transportation. *NSU Nursing Success Story In the Neighborhood Center’s RN’s own words: I have a success story from a client who visited our HUB at the Rosewood Zaragosa Neighborhood Center. Since we began doing HUBS at our Neighborhood Centers in 2023, clients have returned to the center to get food, information/referrals, health screenings, etc. The client I met with was coming to our center before the COVID pandemic. They returned recently for a Health screening. They had become a regular at RZNC, knows the staff, and are very sweet. Their blood pressure was high, their blood sugar was in the 300s, and their A1C was 10.9. I explained to the client that their vitals were out of range. The client stated they had been stressed and had not seen their PCP. I discussed with the client what was going on in their stressful life and then we discussed their health issues. They understood and were concerned about their health as well. I told them to make an appt with their PCP as soon as possible, asked them if they were interested in our Diabetes Care Program (DCP), and explained the program. They were very interested. They made the appointment with their doctor and the DCP Program. Since working with their doctor and DCP, they have successfully come down on all their vitals. Their blood pressure is lower, their blood sugar is now in the 130s, and their A1C is below 7. They have been working with the DCP social worker to address their stress from family and work. They are continuing to do well and make changes with their eating and exercising and dealing with their stress on a day-to-day basis. This is just one small instance where we helped a client become more aware of their health issues, empowered them to take action, and provided referrals for continuity of care. 4