UTAH COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION INC

TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THE ORGANIZATION WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UTAH'S STATE COMMUNITY SERVICES OFFICE, THE REGION 8 PERFORMANCE AND INNOVATION CONSORTIUM, AND OTHER NATIONAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT TO THE NINE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES IN UTAH. IN FY 2024, CAP UTAH PROVIDED OVER 1,833 HOURS OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ITS NETWORK AND PARTNERS IN THE STATE. CAP UTAH REACHED 310 DISTINCT INDIVIDUALS FROM 98 ORGANIZATIOND--A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ITS REACH. SOME IMPORTANT TRAININGS OCCURRED VIA THE REGION VIII CONFERENCE SUPPORTED BY CAP UTAH, CSBG DATA BOOTCAMPS, RESULTS ORIENTED MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY (ROMA) TRAININGS (PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SEMINARS), SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND OTHER NATIONAL AND STATE TRAININGS, SPECIAL TRAINING SEMINARS, AND IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS. THERE WERE 1,078 TOTAL TRAININGS AND CONSULTATION INTERACTIONS. CAP UTAH ASSISTED EACH OF THE 9 COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES WITH NEEDS ASSESSMENTS FOR THEIR REGIONS - IDENTIFYING THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF POVERTY AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL AREAS. IN FOLLOW UP SURVEYS, OVER 80% OF T-TA PARTICIPANTS HAVE RESPONDED THAT TRAININGS HAVE HELPED THEM INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO BETTER PERFORM THEIR JOBS. THE AGENCY ALSO COMMUNICATED TRAININGS TO THE NETWORK THROUGH: -12 NEWSLETTERS -84 ALL-NETWORK EMAILS -11 WEBSITE BLOGS -72 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS 5 AMERICORPS VISTA WERE SUPPORTED IN ANTI-POVERTY CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECTS. 1 VISTA ENGAGED DIRECTLY THROUGH DIGITAL ACCESS PROJECT AND 4 ADDITIONAL VISTAS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE POVERTY CONFERENCE FROM THREE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. CAP UTAH SUPPORTED A STATEWIDE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM (ACP) OUTREACH THROUGH 8/9 COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES IN THE NETWORK. THIS OUTREACH HELPED FAMILIES REDUCE THEIR BROADBAND COST BURDEN AND IDENTIFY OBSTACLES TO SECURING FAST, SECURE, AND RELIABLE BROADBAND ACCESS. THE PROGRAM REACHED OVER 79,902 UTAHNS ARE SERVICE LOCATIONS, THROUGH MEDIA OUTREACH, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND AS PART OF WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AT COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES. WHILE THE PROGRAM ENDED EARLY DUE TO FUNDS BEING DEPLETED, CAP UTAH ALONG WITH OTHER PROVIDERS IN THE STATE, INCREASED PARTICIPATION RATES BY OVER 10% - WITH IT BEING AS HIGH AS 40% IN SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THE FIRST PAID EMPLOYEE AT THE UTAH DIAPER BANK AS PART OF THE PROJECT. THIS EMPLOYEE HAS INCREASED THE REACH AND LONG-TERM CAPACITY TO ENSURE THAT DIAPERS ARE DISTRIBUTED STATEWIDE PAST THE DDDRP PROJECT. ADDITIONALLY, CAP UTAH WORKED WITH FOUR COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES AND 1 ADDITIONAL DIAPERS TO PILOT A DIAPER + WRAP AROUND SERVICES MODEL. AS OF THE END OF FY24, THE PROJECT HAS SUPPORTED 2,106 UNIQUE FAMILIES ACROSS UTAH, DISTRIBUTING 339,312 DIAPERS, 141,512 WIPES, AND 4,273 PULL-UPS. NEARLY HALF OF PARTICIPATING HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED FEELING STRESSED ABOUT AFFORDING BASIC NEEDS AND REDUCING SPENDING ON FOOD, MEDICATION, AND OTHER NEEDS TO MAKE IT. THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED ALLEVIATE FINANCIAL STRESS OF PARENTS. COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE ALSO CONNECTED FAMILIES TO OTHER RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND HOUSING AND HAVE SEEN OTHER POSITIVE CHANGES AS A RESULT OF THE DIAPER + WRAP AROUND SERVICE MODEL.