Committee Notes: Jan 6 2006

Our First Mini Training
Today was corps day and our committee's first mini-training.
Lauree took the lead on this by preparing and presenting a hearing impairment awareness workshop which started with a game and followed up with a comprehensive list of resources. The resource list will be posted to our blog in the near future. Great job Lauree!

MLK Day Conference Workshop
Our committee is now gearing up to present at the MLK Day AmeriCorps Conference on Monday Jan 16. We will co-present with the Programming Committee on "Training Challenges" (How to present around difficult and/or sensitive issues, such as teaching technology to people who are afraid of technology and discussing disability issues). This Friday each of us will bring our ORGANIZED thoughts on what has worked well in our trainings, and what we think could use improvement, and why. This will help us pull together talking points for our MLK Day training.

Committee Timeline
We now have a timeline for our committee work through August 2006; the first three months listed below:

January

• Mini Training -- Hearing Impairment
• MLK Day Workshop
• Plan spring training schedule

February

• Mini Training -- Topic to be determined
• AU 101 handouts covering disability issues (Fact Sheets)
• Completed drafts brought to end-of-month committee meeting for feedback
• Ken: Individualized Education Plans
• Lauree: Step-by-step process of accessing local services
• Linda: State and Federal laws, specific disabilities if possible
• Jesse: Local services available
• Lindsey: Employment
• WebAdapt Outreach
• Brainstorm outreach plan
• have Sue come to a committee meeting to talk about her grant

March

• Mini Training -- topic to be determined
• AU 101 handouts
• finished by mid-month
• paper copies brought to Corps day, electronic versions posted to message board
• WebAdapt outreach
• Finalize and begin to implement outreach plan
• Toolkit
• Each member brings 1-2 resources for toolket to end-of-month commitee meeting--expand upon each member's handout topic

January 6, 2006 Community Resources (Economic Assistance)

TED Program
(http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/disabilities/
documents/pub/dhs_id_005557.hcsp)

TED application
http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-4005-ENG

Carelink assisted living
http://www.carelinkusa.com/

211 united way
http://www.211unitedway.org

United Way Twin Cities Beehive
http://www.beehivetwicities.org/

Fare for all (food resource)
http://www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/ffa/whatis.aspx

Individual Development Accounts (IDA) CFED
There is a search engine on this under IDA directory, the IDA program is under FOCUS on the top tabs, then IDA, and on the left-hand side bar of the IDA page is an IDA Directory (they have a few in Minneapolis and St. Paul along with state wide).
http://www.cfed.org/

Accountability Minnesota – Free Tax Preparation Information
Walk-In Tax Clinics, either under individual taxpayer or on the right hand mini side bar
http://www.accountabilitymn.org

Twin Cities Metro Deaf Adult Education Class Sites 2005-2006
This is not limited to deaf only, they do have deaf and sight impaired events also.
http://www.tcdeaf.com/

Minnesota STAR Program - a System of Technology to Achieve Results (Minnesota’s Assistive Technology Act Program)
http://www.admin.state.mn.us/assistivetechnology/

MAC and NAPS
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/csfp/index.html

WIC
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/

Covering All Families Minnesota’s nine work supports for free or low-cost benefits (Childen’s Defense Fund, Minnesota
http://www.cdf-mn.org/
http://www.covreingallfamilies.org

State of Minnesota – Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
(http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/common/
content/include/contentitem.jsp?contentid=536901430)

First Stop
Cold Weather Rule
Energy Assistance Program
Weatherization Assistance Program
Energy Information Center
Other Options are listed and linked to for qualifications and applications.

They are associated with the LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/

Minnesota Department of Commerce - Energy Assistance Programs
They have a tab for Heating Assistance
http://www.commerce.state.mn.us/

“Power of You” Program – minority students two year free tuition
http://www.minneapolis.edu/powerofyou/index.cfm

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe – Urban workforce Center
http://www.millelacsojibwe.org/

Tandem Plus (Practice your language skills and make new friends)
http://languagecenter.cla.umn.edu/tandem

Metro Transit Limited Mobility 31-Day Pass ($21.00)
(http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/
paratransit/intro.htm)
Note: To order Mobility passes you must be certified and have appropriate paperwork on file with Metro Transit. If you are not certified your order cannot be filled. Please call 612-349-7415 for certification details. They have applications on the website.

Two programs for both having your own city garden (the city garden can be leased on a seasonal basis) or purchasing garden raised vegetables (the community supported agriculture program has a seasonal fee)
http://www.farminthecity.org/