Annual Conference Session Descriptions

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

9:30a – 10:30a

Atrium Floor
Welcome Keynote – Leveraging our Past for an Inspired Future
Tiffney Marley, Senior Vice President for Practice Transformation – National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)

• Join us for a dynamic session celebrating nearly 60 years of Community Action’s impact in combating poverty. Explore our rich history, its influence on our present, and opportunities to shape an inspired future. Together, we’ll reignite our passion, align our purpose, and review strategies to propel our leadership in the Community Action movement
  Legends Club Room

Breakout Sessions
10:45a – 12:00p

• Session 1 – Food Security Grant and Programmatic Updates: TEFAP and Reach & Resiliency
  Presenters: Jeanne M. Williams, Emergency Food Systems (EFS) Training Specialist – UW Extension, Sarah Smith, Policy, Systems and Environment Specialist for FoodWISE – UW Extension  and Carol Johnson, Emergency Food Assistance Program Coordinator – DHS-TEFAP
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description:
  The first portion of this session will be hosted by UW-Extension and will include information about the Reach & Resiliency grant round 1. This will include information about the training modules, outreach materials and an updated Guidance Manual. The second portion of this session will be hosted by DHS regarding looking ahead in the TEFAP program. Including Reach and Resiliency round 1 take aways, aligning with other states, program updates, progress, budget constraints and cost reduction.
  Room: Johnny Blood A
• Session 2 – The Five Protective Factors: Building the Foundation of Family Resiliency, Stability and Well-Being
  Presenters: Rebecca S Mather, Prevention Education Specialist – Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description:
  In order to have the ability to draw on the resiliency, motivation and sense of agency necessary to achieve stability and the sense of wellbeing, all families, but especially low-income families, need to have the skills to understand their own strengths and building upon those capacities to initiate change. The Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework provides a model of how professionals and families themselves can use strategies to enhance the five protective factors that research informs us build family strength and protect families and children from the negative impacts of adversity. This workshop will describe the Protective Factors Framework and the unique characteristics of the five Protective Factors that comprise the framework using interactive activities and practical examples. Participants will have the opportunity to examine and discuss how knowledge of the Protective Factors would be applicable and useful in their own work and for the families they serve.
  Room: Willie Davis B
• Session 3 – Networking & Resource Opportunity for Economic Security Programs (Nursing Skills and JBD)
  Presenter(s): Amy Loeffelholz, Program Manager Economic Security – WISCAP
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: During this session program operators will have an opportunity to network with other community action agency staff, share best practices, discuss successes and challenges, and review program updates. The first portion of this session will focus on the Nursing Skills Program and the second portion will focus on JBD.
  Room: Paul Horning C
• Session 4 – Developing Solutions to Compensation’s Latest Trends and Hot Topics 
  Presenter(s): Julia Johnson, Director – Wipfli, LLP
  Track: HR Management (New Hire, Payroll, DEI, Interviewing, Compensation etc.)
  Session Description: The quest to attract and retain talent over the past few years has caused employers to push their pay levels, otherwise they may find themselves losing out on talent. While cash compensation in the form of base pay is king (or queen), there are other internal and external factors to consider to help your organization succeed in today’s dynamic market. Join this session to learn and discuss how employers are managing compensation challenges, the strategies and pitfalls to avoid, and the latest trends and topics.
  Room: Bart Starr D
• Session 5 –  Purpose-Driven Board Governance
  Presenter(s): Tiffney Marley, Senior Vice President for Practice Transformation – National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: Community Action Agencies are governed by tripartite Boards, with representation from the public sector, private sector, and community members with low-incomes and their representatives. These unique boards juggle many requirements, including those outlined in the CSBG Act, Organizational Standards, and state policy and laws. In this session we will review the landscape CAA Boards function in including the rich history of Community Action and board service, Community Action board structure and responsibilities, key requirements for CAA Boards, best practices of effective tripartite Board governance and engagement, and the fundamental principles and practices Community Action boards need to succeed. The session will inform and inspire boards to not just meet requirements but also to fulfill their purpose.
  Room: 4th Floor Indoor Club
• Session 6 – Newcap’s Journey to Transform Service Delivery using the Whole Family Approach
  Presenter(s): Cheryl Detrick, President & CEO of Newcap and Jessica DeGrave, VP of Newcap 
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: Join Cheryl and Jessica of the Whole Family Implementation team to learn about their journey to transform service delivery to low income people and families using The Whole Family Approach and the combined Community Health Worker and Family Centered Coaching model. In 2022, during the aftermath of the pandemic, Newcap led a pilot pairing WI Emergency Rental Assistance participants with a Success Coach where the families achieved powerful outcomes that WERA only participants did not. Follow our journey through year 2 of the Success Coaching Pilot, restructuring of roles, and our current year’s full implementation and sustainability plan.  Learn how to transform your deliverables into outcomes!
  Room: MVP Box 4039

12:15p – 1:30p
Atrium Floor
Lunch & Keynote – Defying the Odds: From Struggle to Self-Sufficiency – A WISCAP Success Story by Arletta Allen
Thoughts from Arletta regarding her Keynote Presentation:

• “I’m so excited to share as this year’s keynote celebrating 50 years of Hope and Empowerment with WISCAP. During my presentation I’ll be sharing a deeply personal narrative that intertwines with the remarkable journey of WISCAP’s impact over the past half-century. I’ll recount how WISCAP has played a pivotal role in my own success and the generational impact it has had on my family. Through my story, we’ll witness firsthand the transformative power of WISCAP’s initiatives and support networks, illuminating the profound ripple effects that extend beyond individual lives. Together, we’ll celebrate not only the organizational milestones but also the deeply personal victories achieved through the collective efforts of WISCAP and its community and statewide partners.”
• About Arletta – Arletta Allen is the CEO of Authentically Arletta Unlimited LLC. Arletta is a Best-Selling Author, national award-winning professional speaker, workshop facilitator, Professional Speaking Coach/Trainer, TEDx Speaker, trauma recovery expert, and healing strategist.
  Arletta is an academic scholar, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Marian University and has a Bachelor’s of Communication (BOC), Leadership Development Business degrees from Marian University of Wisconsin as well as certifications in Organizational Leadership, Healthcare Leadership, Principles of Leadership and Human Resource Management.
  Arletta Allen advocates for many non-profit organizations nationally, especially National Community Action Partnerships as well as all Community Action Programs and Agencies nationally by sharing her personal story and experience as a former client. Arletta advocates for TRIO/ Upward Bound/SSS programs as a voice to the underrepresented and first-generation college students.
  Arletta is the author of the memoir, Defy the Odds: Making the Transition from Trauma to Triumph and Gratitude Anthology: Who Influenced You? Three Relationships that Transformed my Life.

Breakout Sessions
1:45p – 3:00p

• Session 7 –  Food Security Roundtable
  Presenter(s): Jonathan Bader, Director of Food Security – WISCAP and Jorey Dvorak, Food Security Specialist – WISCAP
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: This session will include a focused round table lead by WISCAP food security team, Jonathan Bader and Jorey Dvorak, to hear your thoughts on changes that have been rolled out in the last year. We want to know your thoughts on Salesforce, surveying methods, food ordering etc. and how our Food Security team can continue to improve these systems.
  Room: Johnny Blood A
• Session 8 –  Thriving Families: Eliminating barriers to housing through a public-private partnership
  Presenter(s): Hetti Brown, Executive Director – Couleecap, Inc. and Ashley Lacenski, Community Development Director – Couleecap, Inc.
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: Thriving Families is a first of a kind bridge housing program in La Crosse County designed to provide barrier-free housing to populations typically denied housing by traditional landlords. Couleecap Community Action Program and Catholic Charities utilize county granted funds to purchase homes to house families with children experiencing homelessness. The nonprofit agencies serve as the landlord and the county provides family referrals and case management. Families are placed with no application and do not necessarily need income upon entry due to the unique design of the program. In this workshop, presenters will discuss how the program was created, how it works to house families that no other landlords will accept, and why the model could be used to fill gaps in other communities and for other populations struggling to find housing.
  Room: Willie Davis B
• Session 9 – Take Root Wisconsin Network Update & Roundtable
  Presenter(s): Johanna Jimenez, Take Root Wisconsin Program Manager – WISCAP
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: Take Root® Wisconsin is a Statewide Homeownership Network that brings together private-public stakeholders to increase homeownership and help people fix and stay in their homes. The Network is a consortium of community organizations, housing counseling agencies, Realtors, lenders, government leaders, and other groups working to promote sustainable homeownership. As a program within WISCAP, the Network will bring together new stakeholders, promote and develop new resources, implement strategies to dismantle housing discrimination and inequities, and more. Join us for network updates and a conversation about collaboration.
  Room: Paul Horning C
• Session 10 – CSBG State Plan and Beyond
  Presenter(s): Lauren Frederick, Contract Manager – WI Dept. of Children & Families and Barb Schachern Contract Manager – WI Dept. of Children & Families
  Track: CSBG fundamentals (Risk Assessment, Community Needs Assessment, Agency Audits, Client Satisfaction, Data Management, CSBG Annual Report etc.
  Session Description: This will be a roundtable for CSBG Contract Managers to Provide an update on where we are at with working toward out State Plan Goals, overview the new Data Warehouse and gather feedback.
  Room: Bart Starr D
• Session 11 – Building Social & Economic Mobility
  Presenter(s): Tiffney Marley, Senior Vice President for Practice Transformation – National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.
  Session Description: This session explores the enabling conditions for thriving community environments and provides a foundational understanding of the Social and Economic Mobility frameworks Community Action leaders can use to empower families and drive systems change. The session will highlight new and improved tools to equip Community Action leaders for the journey ahead, including the Whole Family Approach Design Plan, and the Building Place-Based Opportunity Ecosystems Toolkit. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insight into the challenges and opportunities of advancing social and economic mobility as you continue the work of changing lives and improving communities.
  Room: 4th Floor Indoor Club
• Session 12 –What do we do when we can’t do everything?  A workshop on priorities & decision-making
  Presenter(s): Rachel Peller, Director – Wisconsin Partners and Kirstie Yu, Equity & Workforce Specialist – Wisconsin Primary Health Care Assn
  Track: Non-profit management (Leadership, Project management, Supervisory Skills etc.)
  Session Description: With the best intentions, our organizations often bite off more than they can chew. We know the needs are endless and there is always more to do. But could we prioritize quality over quantity and focus our energy on the work that really matters most? This highly interactive workshop will provide case studies, discussion, and exercises to evaluate and guide your organizations toward intentional decision-making and values-based prioritization.
  Room: MVP Box 4039

Breakout Sessions
3:15p – 4:30p

• Session 13 –  Wisconsin’s Unsheltered Homelessness Crisis
  Presenter(s): Michael Basford, Director – State of Wisconsin Interagency Council on Homelessness
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: This will be a presentation on the state of unsheltered homelessness in Wisconsin, current trends, and ideas to tackle this issue.
  Room: MVP Box 4039
• Session 14 –  Family Keys; Using Innovation Across Sectors to Keep Families Together
  Presenter(s): Dustin Koury, Strategic Initiatives Supervisor – WI Dept. of Children & Families and Kristie Buwalda, Strategic Initiatives Specialist – WI Dept. of Children & Families
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)Session Description: Learn about the collaborative approach between county child welfare agencies, law enforcement, and other local and state partners to keep families stably housed. This workshop will show that innovation in how child welfare intersects with other agencies can prevent unnecessary removals, return youth to their families sooner and offer cost savings to the broader community.
  Localized teams in La Crosse, Wood & Marathon counties have strengthened partnerships between community-based services and invested in up-front costs to support more children and families in their homes. By utilizing shared learning in their communities and with other participating teams.
  Family Keys is unique as it is designed to meet the needs of the partners involved, allowing for community-specific relationship building, investment, and implementation.
  Homelessness is not a reason to remove children from their parents, but 81% of parents whose children enter foster care experience housing instability either now or in the past.  Housing instability leads to family strain and often coexists with chronic health or substance abuse struggles. Without stable housing, successful participation in needed services is even more challenging.
  We will discuss together;
  1) What if we could help meet a basic need (housing) so that families could be strengthened without the compounding strain of inadequate housing?
  2) And what if that meant better outcomes for kids in our community?
  Family Keys is a three-year pilot program. Three county child welfare agencies (La Crosse, Wood & Marathon) partnered with DCF and if our proposal is chosen, we will invite our county partners to participate in the panel discussion
  Room: Willie Davis B
• Session 15 –  Building Lead-Safe Communities
  Presenter(s): Harry Dettinger, Contractor Coordinator, Lead Safe Homes Program, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Kimberly Schneider, Public Health Nurse – Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: Childhood lead poisoning continues to disproportionately impact children in lower socioeconomic environments and children of color. In this session you will learn about:
  Impacts of lead on brain development.
  Blood lead levels as low as 3.5mcg/dL can negatively impact a child’s health and brain development, even though it may not show up until years later after the source has been removed.
  Typical and emerging sources of lead.
  While lead paint in housing is still the number one source of lead exposure in Wisconsin, there are many other sources to consider.
  Wisconsin’s new blood lead testing recommendations.   Wisconsin now recommends universal blood lead testing. All children should be tested at age 1 and again at age 2. Children between 3 – 5 years of age should be tested if there is no record of a previous test.
  The Lead-Safe Homes Program.   This program provides grant opportunities for local organizations or health departments to help make homes lead safe for kids and pregnant women on, or eligible for, Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus.
  Room: Paul Horning C
• Session 16 –  Appropriation v. Appreciation
  Presenter(s): Kayla Oestreich, Program Manager – Community Action Inc of Rock and Walworth Counties and Staci El-Amin, Site Supervisor/Project Manager – Community Action Inc of Rock and Walworth Counties
  Track: Diversity, Inclusion
  Session Description: We will lead a respectful conversation around the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. This will be done through the use of videos and discussion questions.
  Room: Bart Starr D
• Session 17: Skills Enhancement Roundtable
  Presenter(s): Barb Schachern Contract Manager – WI Dept. of Children & Families
  Track: CSBG fundamentals (Risk Assessment, Community Needs Assessment, Agency Audits, Client Satisfaction, Data Management, CSBG Annual Report etc.)
  Session Description: SEP overview; SFY 2025 program planning; program trends
  Room: 4th Floor Indoor Club
• Session 18: Food Security Roundtable Part 2
  Presenter(s): Dr. DeWayne Goldmon,  U.S. Dept. of Agriculture – Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to the Secretary of Agriculture,  Jonathan Bader, Director of Food Security – WISCAP and Jorey Dvorak, Food Security Specialist – WISCAP
  Track: Programmatic (Housing, Economic Development, Food Security, Head Start etc.)
  Session Description: A continuation of the Food Security Roundtable discussion with special guest DeWayne Goldmon,  U.S. Dept. of Agriculture – Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to the Secretary of Agriculture
• Room: Johnny Blood A

Reception
5:00p

Hotel Information

Home2Suites

810 Morris Ave. Green Bay, WI 54304

920-227-5757

Hampton Inn by Hilton Green Bay Stadium

830 Morris Ave. Green Bay, WI 54304

920-785-9660

Hilton Garden Inn Green Bay

1015 Lombardi Ave. Green Bay, WI 54304

920-785-9660

Who should attend?