Please visit the New Jersey COVID-19 HUB for critical information on the Coronavirus Disease and live updates. [Click Here]

COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF NEW JERSEY

 

Nationwide Baby Formula Shortage


With New Jersey families facing difficulties obtaining baby formula due to the ongoing national shortage, the Murphy Administration is taking action to protect and support families. Learn more: [Click here] For guidance from the Department of Health for families impacted by the shortage, including families who participate in the WIC program, [Click Here]


[click here to download the press release ]

Get Covered NJ

Download our flyer with information on NJ's Health Insurance Market Place.
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Census News from New Jersey


Census News from New Jersey

It’s #CensusPushWeek! From July 27-August 2, there are Census activities across New Jersey including Ocean Inc. Census event locations throughout Ocean, Atlantic and Cape County as agency staff work to ensure that communities PUSH for a greater #2020Census response rate before Census takers begin to visit households that haven’t responded to the census.

Today the Ocean Inc. Census Push Educational Outreach and Food Distribution event is being held at the agency 200 N. Texas Avenue facility in Atlantic City. Donations were dropped by Lieutenant Santiago of the Atlantic City Police Department to Ocean Inc. staff in preparation of the Census Push Week Outreach event.

Agency staff who participated in today's event includes Channell Wilkins, Sheronda Sheppard, Mimi Nambo, Nadine Kuster-Farrell, Julian Koch, Thelma Wilder and others. At the Food event, staff from the Atlantic City Bangladesh Association of South Jersey, Ocean Inc. and the Atlantic County Sheriffs Department including Sheriff Eric Scheffler assisted in the distribution of food. (See attached photos) At the Ocean Inc. Census 2020 table, the first 30 residents who participated received a free stuffed animal/toy along with census flyers and other free giveaways. Residents were also assisted on how to complete their survey via access to the website.

Additional Ocean Inc. Educational Outreach events held during Census Push Week were as follows:

  • On July 27th, an Ocean Inc. Outreach Census Push Educational Outreach event was held at 40 Washington Street in Toms River (Ocean County)
  • On July 29th the Ocean Inc. Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro and the Cape May County Library Promoted Census Push Week in Cape May County - July 27th to August 2nd (Cape May County)
  • Ocean Inc. staff provided the Cape May County Library with Census 2020 flyers which were sent to all Cape May County branches to distribute in bags with curbside pickup throughout Census Push Week.
  • A Census Educational Outreach event was held at the Concerned Citizens of Whiteboro (Old School House) in Whitesboro with both Ocean Inc. and CCOW staff assisting residents. The Whitesboro site was selected by Ocean Inc. for the Census 2020 Push week since it was listed as a Hard To Count (HTC) town during the 2010 Census.

The idea of the Census Push Week of July 27th to August 2nd is to replicate the April 1st Census Day prior to the Census Enumerators who will be commencing field operations on August 11th.

Ocean Inc., an appointed non-profit community organization of the County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee, (CCC) received grant funding from the New Jersey Department of State 2020 Complete Count Commission, (DOSCC) to support its efforts to achieve a complete count for Census 2020. This is of critical importance as census population counts dictate how federal funding is distributed for many program and services, and also determines congressional representation.

Ocean Inc. "Helping People, Changing Lives"
#NJCENSUS2020

Do your part and #FillitOut TODAY at 2020CENSUS.GOV.


GBCA continues to adapt as the world grapples with ongoing devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic, as it presses forward in its mission through its programs, services and initiatives to help those in need. One of those initiatives is the agency’s Lois A. Braithwaite Scholarship Fund, which provides low-income and academically deserving students with scholarships to assist in meeting some of the ancillary costs associated with pursuing a post-secondary education.


GBCA Awards Thirty Students with Annual Lois A. Braithwaite Scholarship Amid COVID-19


Hackensack, NJ – Greater Bergen Community Action (GBCA), the federally-designated anti-poverty agency of Bergen County, awarded its annually-offered Lois A. Braithwaite Scholarships to 30 deserving local youths last week. Ms. Braithwaite, deceased in 2015, had served as GBCA Board Chair for over 20 years.

GBCA continues to adapt as the world grapples with ongoing devastation from the COVID-19 pandemic, as it presses forward in its mission through its programs, services and initiatives to help those in need. One of those initiatives is the agency’s Lois A. Braithwaite Scholarship Fund, which provides low-income and academically deserving students with scholarships to assist in meeting some of the ancillary costs associated with pursuing a post-secondary education.


[click here to download the press release ]

GBCA Is Still Providing Services Amid COVID-19 Pandemic


Hackensack, NJ - >While Greater Bergen Community Action Inc. (GBCA) buildings are temporarily closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federally-designated anti-poverty agency of Bergen County, which also provides services such as Head Start and Early Head Start to the cities of Paterson and Jersey City, says its commitment to help the most vulnerable population in those communities, remains. 

For more than a half-century, GBCA has worked towards its mission to reduce poverty in the communities it serves by addressing the causes and conditions of persistent economic insecurity, making it not only adept at responding during crisis, but also a trusted resource for assistance ranging from homelessness prevention, to energy payment assistance, and much in between.


[click here to download the press release ]

Ocean Inc. provided the agency's first NJ 2020 Census Outreach


With over 300 local residents in attendance, Ocean Inc. provided the agency's first NJ 2020 Census Outreach at the 2nd Annual Summer-in-Winter Carnival held at the Holiday Inn of Manahawkin over the President's Day weekend.

Hosted by David Wintrode, Founder and President of the Causeway Family of Dealerships, the location was perfect for the agency kick-off of the NJ 2020 Census Outreach Program since the event was located in a Hard-To-Count Region listed by the Department of State New Jersey 2020 Complete County Commission HTC Map (25%-29.9%) and was flagged as a previous low response score by tract of Ocean County in 2010. In addition, it allowed Ocean Inc. to educate special target populations considered hard to count including children under five years of age, men ages 18-49 and other populations applicable to the 2020 census count.

Ocean Inc., an appointed non-profit community organization of the County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee, (CCC) received grant funding from the New Jersey Department of State 2020 Complete Count Commission, (DOSCC) to support its efforts to achieve a complete count for Census 2020. This is of critical importance as census population counts dictate how federal funding is distributed for many program and services, and also determines congressional representation.

The outreach goals include providing outreach and publicity, encouraging participation by educating and motivating individuals to complete their Census questionnaires and to provide effective communication and information on Census 2020 to the communities and residents of Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May Counties.

Causeway’s "Summer in Winter Carnival" allowed 30 Ocean County non-profits like Ocean Inc. to showcase their programs and services required by those in need. Much to the surprise of these agencies, it was announced at the start of the carnival that Mike Gesicki, NFL tight end was in attendance signing autographs/photo ops for a fee that tallied $1,720 and with a generous 100% match by Dave Wintrode totaled $3,440. All participating non-profit agencies in attendance were entered in a raffle pot cash drawing in which all proceeds were ultimately won by the Ocean County YMCA.

Mike Gesicki is the football tight end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He played high school football at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, NJ, college football at Penn State and is the record holder for most receptions by a tight end in Penn State history. He was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

For more information about the NJ 2020 Census, please visit the website at www.census.nj.gov.


February 10, 2020
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release-National Community Action Foundation

TRUMP BUDGET CUTS COMMUNITIES


WASHINGTON, DC – Every year, the Trump Administration proposes eliminating funding for important community programs with bipartisan support, and every year Congress rejects it. Once again, the President’s budget cuts crucial funding from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). David Bradley, CEO of the National Community Action Foundation, which represents the local organizations that run these programs said this:

“The President’s budget is cruel. Though the President speaks about making America strong, he cuts the Community Services Block Grant, which provides essential funding to local communities that allow them to break down barriers to opportunity. He cuts the Weatherization Assistance Program, which makes homes safe for sensitive populations like infants and the elderly during cold winters and hot summers. And, he cuts the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which saves mothers from having to make the choice between heating and eating – a true matter of survival. Congress has continuously demonstrated, on a bipartisan basis, that these three programs are a priority, because they recognize that the character of our nation depends upon the survival and success of our neighbors.”

The Community Services Block Grant provides funding to local agencies known as Community Action Agencies that serve 99 percent of the counties in the United States. The use of the flexible funds is determined locally and is based on what the community needs in order to connect low income individuals and families to opportunity. CSBG funded programs assist nearly 16 million people a year.

The Weatherization Assistance Program provides weatherization upgrades to 35,000 homes every year, and by doing so reduces energy costs for low income households, increases energy efficiency of the homes and improves health and safety outcomes for families.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides assistance with home energy bills, energy crises and weatherization and energy-related minor home repairs. Without LIHEAP, low income seniors and families face utility shut offs that can be deadly.

Since 1981, the National Community Action Foundation has served as the federal advocate for the Community Action network, which is comprised of locally-based anti-poverty organizations and their state and federal partners.

For further information, please call Tara Clark at 202-842-2092 or e-mail taraclark@ncaf.org.


Puerto Rico Community Action Agency seeks donations for Earthquake victims


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