Children, Youth, and Families At Risk
CYFAR
Copin County USA: Welfare Reform Local Policy Developemnt
Copin County USA Wins National Award Copin County USA is a role-play simulation created as an educational tool in response to the federal block granting process from which welfare reform evolved. The project recently received the Outstanding Public Issues Education Program award from the National Public Policy Education Committee. Assistant Director to ISU Families Extension Jeanne Warning co-chaired the development of this simulation with a public policy specialist from the University of Illinois. CFCS faculty involved in this interdisciplinary effort are: Sue Crull, Chris Cook, Mary Yearns, Jeanne Warning, Lesia Oesterreich and Cindy Fletcher. |
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Funding came from Farm Foundation to the North Central Region Public Policy Committee. The goal was to create an experiential activity to help citizens understand local public decision making especially as it related to the welfare reform changes of the past several years and enable the citizens to participate in the policy process at the local level.
The objective of the award is to encourage scholarship and leadership within the policy education professional community by recognizing education programs that have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, provided important public service, and demonstrated innovativeness.
Welfare Reform is about:
- Local decision-making
- Communities
- Collaboration
- Strategies to assist ALL families
Background
With changes in the federal welfare reform system, decision-making powers shifted to the local level. The assumption was that local communities are better able to make critical decisions affecting local level. Legislation in Iowa created local empowerment boards. They have have decision-making power and are responsible for allocating block grant dollars to provide services to assist all families. Collaboration among community partners is essential.
Copin County USA: Welfare Reform -- Local Policy Development was developed by the North Central Region. It is a hands-on opportunity to experience how local policy is made. Current devolution of responsibilities from the federal to state and local governments is impacting local communities in many areas. This simulation helps people understand how they can effectively be involved in community decision-making. For more information about Copin County USA, access the simulation overview.
Copin County Overview and Planning Materials (pdf)
Participant Evaluations
- Copin
County Citizen Involvement Workshop (pdf)
April 7, 2000, Newton, Iowa
Audience: Iowa Department of Public Health/Child Health Specialty Clinics Annual Seminar
- Copin
County Citizen Involvement Workshop (pdf)
January 21, 2000, Bloomington, Illinois
Audience: Leadership Bloomington
- Copin
County Citizen Involvement Workshop (pdf)
April 29, 1999, Ames, Iowa
Audience: ISU Extension/Community Partners Inservice
Iowa State University Extension staff may reserve the kit by contacting:
Barb Negri
101 MacKay
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1122
515-294-7244
negrib@iastate.edu
Resources
National
Issues Forums
National Issues Forums (NIF) is a network of civic, educational, and other organizations, and individuals, whose common interest is to promote public deliberation in America.
Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars
The Policy Institute for Family Impact Seminars aims to strengthen family policy by connecting state policymakers with research knowledge and researchers with policy knowledge.
Center
for Law and Social Policy
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a national nonprofit that works to improve the lives of low-income people.
Children's Defense Fund
As it heads into its 35th year, the Children's Defense Fund continues to fight to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood.
Health Resources
Iowa Department of Public Health
The Iowa Department of Public Health exists to promote, protect, and ensure the health and well-being of Iowans and to provide for access,
quality, and affordability of health care services.
Join Together
Join Together is a program of the Boston University School of Public Health. Since 1991 it has been the nation's leading provider of information, strategic planning assistance, and leadership development for community-based efforts to advance effective alcohol and drug policy, prevention, and treatment.
Transportation Resources
Community Transportation Association of America
Focuses on transportation and the important role it plays in keeping communities viable and their residents independent.
US Department of Transportation
The mission of the Department is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
Iowa Department of Transportation
The Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa Transportation Commission, who remain headquartered in Ames, continue to serve the citizens of Iowa today.
Child Care Resources
Child Care Lasts a Lifetime
Practical information about quality child care
List of Useful Links to Additional Child Care Resources
Jobs Resources
Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED)
Information for businesses, employers, and employees
Iowa Small Business Development Center
The SBDC conducts research, counsels, and trains business people in management, financing, and operating small businesses, and provides comprehensive information services and access to experts in a variety of fields.
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Creating a competitive edge for Iowa business by voicing business' views to government leaders, serving as an employer resource, providing business networking through, communicating business issues.
Food Security Resources
Iowa's Food Insecurity, Security, and Hunger
Offers resources for community leaders to learn about U.S. and Iowa food insecurity and hunger, identify individual and community factors that affect food security and hunger, create a profile of their community and find resources and internet sites related to food security, local food systems, and interventions that mediate or reduce food insecurity and hunger.
America's Second Harvest
America's Second Harvest is the nation's food bank network and the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization.
World Hunger Year
WHY is a leading advocate for innovative, community-based solutions to hunger and poverty. WHY challenges society to confront these problems by advancing models that create self-reliance, economic justice, and equal access to nutritious and affordable food.
National Hunger Clearinghouse
The National Hunger Clearinghouse (NHC) and WHY believe solutions to hunger and poverty can be found at the grassroots level and that communities have the ability to provide for themselves if equipped with the proper resources.
Iowa leaders need data on their communities, skills in analysis, interpretation and information management as well as strategies for group visioning in order to plan and prepare their communities for the future.