Grassroots Community Solutions Combining forces to empower community life

Agenda• History & Impetus• Client Services Model• Working with the Community

Part I: History & Impetus

• What is Grassroots Community Solutions?• What services do we provide?• Why do we need GCS?

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What is GCS?History and Impetus Continued…

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What is Grassroots Community Solutions?• Case management organization• Founded in early 2015 • Incorporated in AZ• Preparing to apply for 501(c)3 statusWhat is our mission?• To empower struggling persons in every

community to obtain the resources they need to increase their quality of life, while simultaneously working with community members to support those in need.

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What services do we provide?History and Impetus Continued…

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What demographics does GCS serve?• The homeless, near homeless and transitional living

population.How does it accomplish its purpose?• Extensive knowledge of social help programs• “Local contributors” and “closest associates”

provide additional help.• Intake & assessment to determine immediate

needs.• Strategy Meetings to maintain accountability.

What services does GCS provide?• General case management and resource navigation.

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Why do we need GCS?History and Impetus Continued…

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

60%18%

22%

Maricopa County Homeless Statistics (2014)

Single AdultsAdults in familiesChildren in families

Who is experiencing homelessness in AZ?

Maricopa County represents 61% of the state’s population and reports 61% of the state’s homeless population.Over 65% of all individuals experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County self-report some level of mental, physical or substance abuse disabilities.

*Information provided by the Homelessness in Arizona Report 2014.

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Why are people struggling today?• “Factors such as jobs, evictions, foreclosures and lack

of affordable housing have influenced…homelessness in Arizona.” • “Lack of available healthcare has [made it difficult] to

overcome barriers to employment and independence. • “…[such persons] are more likely to experience

serious illness, depression and mental illness and…substance abuse issues.” • “Homelessness among older Arizonans is…brought on

by lack of jobs, extended periods of unemployment…decline of savings and assets that have been expended to maintain housing.”

*Information provided by the Homelessness in Arizona Report 2014.

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Are more or less jobs becoming available?• “The recently reported unemployment rate of 4.9% is

misleading as it does not count discouraged workers…the actual rate of US unemployment is about 23%, a number more consistent with the decline in the labor force...”

• “50% of American 25 year-olds live at home with their parents because they…cannot find jobs that pay enough to support an independent existence.”

• “Manufacturing plants have declined sharply in the last decade, shrinking by more than 51,000 plants, or 12.5 percent, between 1998 and 2008.”

• “A recent Duke University survey found that “only 4 percent of large companies had future plans for relocating jobs back to the United States.”

*Information provided by Paul Craig Roberts and Alex Lach.

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What is troubling the American middle class?• “Eduardo Porter of the New York Times points out that

healthcare spending per person, adjusted for inflation, has roughly doubled since 1988.”• “The cost of going to college has been rising faster than

inflation.” • “66% of people with bachelor’s degrees relied on loans

to get through college, up from 45% two decades ago.”• “Average student debt in 2011 was $23,300.” • “At the same time, those in the middle class have been

working longer hours— an average of more than 200 more hours per year than they did in 1979.”

*Information provided by Peter Wehner, Room to Grow.

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What is the status of the American family?• “More than 50% of families in the United States

earn $60,000 or less per year.”• “Nearly 50% of families in the United States live

below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.”• “Struggling lower-middle-class families are almost

equally headed by single parents and married couples.”• “Only one out of two families in the struggling

lower-middle class is headed by an adult who has attended college.”• “Nearly 75% of struggling lower-middle-class

families rely on income support from a government program.”*Information provided the Hamilton Project, A Dozen Facts about America’s Struggling Lower-Middle Class

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Grassroots Community SolutionsPart II: Client Services Documents

Part II: Client Services ModelIntake & Assessment

Case Management

Strategy Meetings

Intake & AssessmentPart II: Client Services Documents

Intake Interview

Client Services Documents

Why is the purpose of an intake interview?

What does it consist of?• Release of Information Agreement• Basic information Form• Client Assessment Tool• Action Plan Summary• Right to Publicity Agreement (optional)

• Gather important case data• Create action plan• Record contacts • Determine needed resources

Part II: Client Services Model

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Release of Information

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Basic Information Form

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Client Assessment Tool

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Action Plan Summary

Right of Publicity

Client Services Documents

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Right of Publicity

Case ManagementPart II: Client Services Documents

Why is case management so critical?• Guidance• Support • Resources• AccountabilityWhat makes a good case manager?• Network• Empathetic• Organized• Consistent• Leadership

Strategy Meeting

Client Services Documents

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Strategy Meeting Document

Grassroots Community Solutions Combining forces to empower community life

Part III: Working with the Community• Community involvement• Community partners• Cottage Meetings

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Community InvolvementWorking with the Community continued…

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What effect does service have on

those who serve?

What are the fruits of service?• Joy• Fulfillment• Satisfaction

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

How do volunteers help our clients?• Additional resources• Support• Confidence• Encouragement

How do you get good communities

to flourish?

How do you empower communities?• Help them recognize common issues• Provide opportunities to serve• Inspire them to help

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

How does GCS accomplish this?• Organization & framework• Personal case managers that lead out• Community meetings & forums• Work with the client’s closest associates

Community PartnersWorking with the Community continued…

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What is a Community Partner?

What is a community partner?• Community partners are community volunteers

who provide goodwill services when needed.History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What are some examples of such services?• Transportation• Vehicles • labor• Employment• Food• Furniture

Who are our partners in the

community?

Community PartnerFather of 3 childrenOwner of Real Results RolfingStudied Neuropathic medicineHumanitarian Service Leader in Atlanta, GAScottsdale, AZ

Community PartnerMother of 7 childrenFormerly owned a day spaWells Fargo BankerAssociates Degree at SLCCPeoria, AZ

Community PartnerAmazon employeeFreelance community work helping women in needStudied sociology, psychology & PTR.Cashion, AZ

GCS Cottage MeetingsWorking with the Community continued…

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

What is a Cottage Meeting?• A casual, social environment that allows GCS

staff and community partners to discuss ongoing cases, network with others and invite interested persons to learn about GCS.

What comprises a GCS Cottage Meeting?• Host • Refreshments• Entertainment, such as live music• Group discussion• Networking

What’s next for GCS?

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Final remarks

Current Objectives• 501(c)3 designation• Provide case management services to residents

of transitional housing in Mesa & Phoenix• Monthly newsletter• Monthly Cottage Meetings throughout the valley• Local campaigns and fundraisers• IOS app for case managers

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Any Questions?

History and Impetus

Client Services Model

Working with the Community

Thank you!!

Grassroots Community Solutions Combining forces to empower community life