Answer: Staff in Community Action Agencies, like staff at DSS, 2-1-1 Infoline and other agencies, are already working hard to get people the help they need. But they're not necessarily doing it in the most coordinated fashion. HSI should change that. We envision CAAs to become 'Self-Sufficiency Centers'-doing comprehensive intake and assessment; DSS pre-application assistance; direct services; referral to services outside their agencies; case management, tracking and outcome reporting.
As background, Connecticut's CAAs have a nearly 40-year history as the federally-designated anti-poverty agencies. CAAs are locally-based and well-known in their communities. They serve a diverse base of clients/customers of all ages and backgrounds with a wide range of needs. People served by CAAs include everyone from infants to elders, the unemployed and the employed, in-school youth and out-of-school youth. CAAs are governed by boards comprised of representatives from business, the public sector, and the populations served.
2-1-1 Infoline, operated by the United Way of Connecticut, has a strong record as the state's human services information and referral network, dating from the 1970s. In 1999, Connecticut helped set a national trend with the easy 2-1-1 phone contact, on a 24-hour/seven-day basis. 2-1-1 Infoline and CAAs will work together to ensure that available resources are identified.
Both of these partners are available statewide, and both have longstanding contractual and funding relationships with DSS.