Community Services Block Grant
ALPI has been designated by the State of Florida as the Community Action Agency (CAA) for Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Polk Counties. As such, ALPI receives Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds to assist in the provision of a range of services and activities that have a measurable, and potentially major, impact on the root causes of poverty in the local community. Such services are delivered through ALPI staff as well as subcontracts with local community organizations.
ALPI’s focus of CSBG funding is to support a Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP); however, there are limited emergency assistance funds available to help alleviate an immediate crisis. Under the FSSP, an eligible client is provided services through ongoing case management with the ultimate outcome being the enhancement of a family’s ability to, ultimately, meet their own needs. Participation in the FSSP is based on the family’s income level as well as the availability of Case Manager slots. The client is assigned a Case Manager for the duration of his/her participation in the FSSP. The Case Manager completes an initial assessment with the client and develops a Case Plan to determine appropriate activities/goals for the client and his/her family. Such activities/goals may include assisting the client and his/her family in:
- Securing and retaining meaningful employment
- Obtaining adequate education
- Developing and following a budget
- Obtaining and maintaining adequate housing
- Linking to appropriate community resources
- Pursuing job training
The Case Manager continues to work with the client in providing support, on an on-going basis, via telephone and office visits, to assist with completion of the Case Plan and attainment of self-sufficiency. Quarterly, the client is reassessed to determine his/her progress towards self-sufficiency. The FSSP is unique to each client and may range from a few months to a year or more, with an average participation period of six months. The length and scope of the FSSP primarily depends upon the client’s needs.