Emerging Communities Project
Catholic Social Services (CSS) Refugee Assistance and Immigration Service (RAIS) is creating the Emerging Communities Project, a network of community and faith based organizations that serve their local community members. The primary purpose of the Emerging Communities Project is to help faith-based and community organizations increase their effectiveness, enhance their ability to provide social services to serve those most in need, expand their organizations, diversify their funding sources, and create collaborations to better serve those in need. RAIS is actively seeking applicants to participate in this new capacity-building effort. Grantees in this network will work together to enhance their capacity in four key areas:
• Leadership development
• Organizational development
• Program development
• Community engagement
The Emerging Communities Project is funded by the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.
Program Details
The Emerging Communities Project will include four to six community and faith-based organizations who currently serve, or plan to serve their ethnic community members in one or more of the following areas:
• Low income individuals to gain greater access to state and federal benefits and tax credits.
• Low income individuals find and retain employment, earn higher wages, and better quality jobs.
• Low income individuals in need of financial assistance, and/or credit counseling
• The homeless
• Elders in need
• At risk youth; and/or
• Families in transition from welfare to work.
These agencies will work in partnership with CSS RAIS to address self-identified needs and enhance organizational capacity.
Participation in the network will begin with a comprehensive needs assessment, and the identification of distinct, measurable goals. During the six months of participation, network members will be offered group trainings, one-on-one technical assistance and peer-to-peer activities, each designed to assist in the attainment of these self-identified goals. Organizations selected to participate in the program will receive a capacity-building grant of $10,000 - $12,000.
Useful links:
- CSS Grant Award Press Release
- Grant Helps to Welcome the Stranger - December 2009 Newsletter
- What is capacity building?
- Find out about the staff responsible for the project
- US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.