Kalamazoo, Regional and National Highlights
On Wednesday, April 15th 2009, a regional leadership team representing nine Southwest Michigan counties met to discuss the future of poverty reduction in the region. Last week, Public Policy Specialist for the Michigan Department of Humane Services Linda Schmidt appointed the Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative to provide technical assistance to their region.
The technical assistance includes organizational strategies for leaders to engage their own communities and develop local poverty reduction methods. The KCPRI also offers help to other regions who are struggling to organize their resources.
“Our goal to give assistance to organizations that are either too busy or are geographically separated to participate in our regional poverty reduction efforts,” said Jeff Brown, Director of the Poverty Reduction Initiative.
The regional leadership team represented a diverse group of human service organizations, government agencies, local faith-based and community organizations, non-profits, and businesses.
In November 2008, the statewide Voices for Action Poverty Summit gathered over 5,000 community leaders and low-income residents from around the state to address the barriers that prevent Michigan’s low-income residents from achieving self-sufficiency. The goal of the summit was to reduce poverty by 50 percent in ten years.
The state was divided into regions to tackle poverty in their own communities. Nine counties from Southwestern Michigan were organized into Region VI, which includes Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, and Branch.
In collaboration with the KCPRI, the WMU Lewis Walker Institute has pledged to give technical support and resources to other Michigan universities and colleges fighting poverty.
There are many volunteers who are deserving of our first Volunteer of the Month Award. However, the WMU Alternative Spring Break group was chosen because together they capture the spirit of all our volunteers! They are committed to helping here in our own community, dedicated to making a difference, determined to speak for those who don’t have a voice, and passionate about seeking solutions to poverty together right here in Kalamazoo County!
Thank you to the Alternative Spring Break group and all our loyal volunteers, for your commitment to the community and reducing poverty in Kalamazoo County. While many of their peers traveled to other areas of the country to aid in poverty reduction efforts, this group asked themselves, “why travel so far, when poverty is an issue in my own community?”
During their Spring Break, these WMU students gave their time to Martha’s Table at First Presbyterian Church, The People’s Food Coop, Eastside Neighbored Association, Community Healing Center, C.A.R.E.S, Girls on the Run, The Rickman House, Poverty Reduction Initiative, Ministry with Community, and Vineyard Outreach Ministries. Beyond all of this, they spoke with many leaders in the community to build their knowledge of what Kalamazoo has to offer.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Community Health last week completed its version of the Fiscal Year 2009-10 budget, and included restoration of funding for the 0-3 Secondary Prevention and Nurse-Family Partnership programs -- two programs proven to help keep children and families intact, safe and healthy.
The Nurse-Family Partnership Program is a nationally recognized program aimed to improve birth outcomes for low-income women. Through this program, first-time moms are provided with the skills, support and knowledge they need to become effective parents.
Nurse-Family Partnership is a voluntary prevention program providing nurse home visitation services to low income, first-time mothers in the area. Specially trained nurses begin services early in pregnancy and continue visitation through the child's second year. Nurses provide support, education and counseling on health, behavioral, self-sufficiency, and parenting issues as they work with the mother towards:
* having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
* becoming a better parent
* building a strong network of support
* making the home child-friendly and safe
* obtaining referrals for healthcare, childcare, job training and other support services available in the community
* seeking educational opportunities and develop job skills
Partners in this effort, making up the Nurse-Family Partnership Community Coalition, include Healthy Futures, the Great Start Collaborative, Bronson and Borgess Hospitals, The Family Health Center, Greater Kalamazoo United Way, Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services, and the ISAAC Education Task Force.
