Pilot Program to Improve Benefits Access in Urban and Rural Communities
While the MiBridges web portal expansion will affect the statewide population, one Kent County initiative is set to improve online benefits access for community members through school-based computer kiosks coupled with on-site personal support.
The Community Schools Connecting Parents with Bundled Benefits project is developing the pilot program in two of the Kent School Services Network (KSSN) consortium’s 18 sites.
“We wanted to develop a model that provides personal client support for the MiBridges platform, tax credit assistance, and access to other resources that lead to greater self-sufficiency,” says David Schroeder of the Kent County Essential Needs Task Force (ENTF).
This summer the system is being integrated into the KSSN consortium’s “Bundled Benefits” pilot sites in north Kent County’s Cedar Springs Schools and an urban Grand Rapids Public Schools middle school. Both pilot sites should be ready by the start of the 2011-2012 academic year.
The KSSN was a natural choice for the pilot program as it expands the county-wide network of “community schools” that include onsite Department of Human Services financial assistance workers, along with tax credit help, public and mental health professionals, and other support services.
“The project design—with partner service systems working together—is intended to serve as a clearly defined template for replication in additional KSSN, ENTF, and other outlet sites,” explains Schroeder.
The project is funded by the Kellogg Foundation and led by United Way of Michigan with community partners including the KSSN, Heart of West Michigan’s 2-1-1, Kent County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition, along with the ENTF.
For more information contact David Schroeder at dschroeder@hwmuw.org.
www.kentisd.org/kssn/
www.accesskent.com/Health/ENTF/
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Voices for Action is a statewide effort to reduce poverty 50% in Michigan by 2020.
Led by the Michigan Department of Human Services, the initiative has created a network of organizations including human service organizations, government agencies, local faith-based and community organizations, non-profits, and businesses.
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You can use tags to highlight themes, such as 'asset building', 'workforce development', 'food assistance', etc.
Here are current poverty statistics for Region 3:
| 2009 Poverty and Median Income Estimates - Counties | |||||
| Name | Poverty Estimate All Ages | Poverty Percent All Ages | Poverty Estimate Under Age 18 | Poverty Percent Under Age 18 | Median Household Income |
| Ionia | 8,952 | 15.8 | 3,068 | 20.7 | 46,926 |
| Kent | 86,639 | 14.5 | 31,431 | 20.3 | 47,684 |
| Lake | 2,455 | 23.4 | 830 | 42.5 | 29,373 |
| Mason | 5,024 | 17.8 | 1,569 | 26.4 | 38,073 |
| Mecosta | 8,053 | 20.9 | 2,107 | 26.2 | 37,840 |
| Montcalm | 11,868 | 19.9 | 4,264 | 29.1 | 38,143 |
| Muskegon | 31,179 | 18.6 | 10,542 | 25.2 | 38,916 |
| Newaygo | 8,900 | 18.6 | 3,210 | 26.7 | 39,059 |
| Oceana | 5,569 | 20.6 | 2,271 | 33.7 | 37,655 |
| Osceola | 4,268 | 19.1 | 1,529 | 28.7 | 34,823 |
| Ottawa | 26,051 | 10.3 | 7,295 | 10.9 | 52,107 |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Estimates Branch | |||||
| Internet Release date: December 2010 | |||||
Region 3 Poverty Data by County Map
View Michigan Counties - Region 3 Poverty in a larger map
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