Pocono Agencies Host Focus Groups To Assist Low-Income People

The Monroe County Community Action Agency (CAA) will be hosting four focus groups and an online survey to inform its next three-year strategic plan.

According to a press release, the focus groups will be held on June 9 and 14 with low-income people and organizations that serve low-income people; pre-registration is required. The survey will be available online or in print through July. The Community Needs Assessment is required to receive the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Every three years, Monroe County CAA creates a new Community Needs Assessment. This assessment will identify the top five needs in each county and will be used to guide planning and service provision to low-income families in the Pike and Monroe County service area.

Many local agencies use CSBG funding to address the needs of low-income people in the region, including partner agencies like the Center for Developmental Disabilities, CSS Shepherd's Maternity House, Family Promise of Monroe County, Family Services Association of NEPA-211 Call Center, Monroe County Habitat for Humanity, Monroe County Meals on Wheels, Pike County Developmental Center, Pocono Area Transitional Housing, Pocono Mountains United Way, Pocono Services for Families and Children, Resources for Human Development/Street2Feet, Salvation Army East Stroudsburg, and Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission.

Monroe County Community Action Agency (CAA) is a public Community Action Program for Pike and Monroe County overseeing the administration of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) for the region. A tripartite board consisting of Public Representation, Community Representation, and Low-Income Representation from Pike and Monroe County reporting to the Commissioners and funding recommendations for grants serving low-income households, under 150% Federal Poverty Level, in our region: the Homeless Assistance Program, Human Services Development Fund, Emergency Food, and Shelter Program. This project was financed by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the administration of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development.

Focus Group #1 will be via Zoom on Thursday, June 9, at 2:00 PM.

Focus Group #2 will be via Zoom on Thursday, June 9, at 7:00 PM.

Focus Group #3 will be in person in Monroe County on Tuesday, June 14 at 10:00 AM at East Stroudsburg University Center for Innovation.

Finally, Focus Group #4 will be held in person in Pike County on Tuesday, June 14 at 2:00 PM at the Pike County Administration Building.

For more information, go to https://www.pikeforward.com/cna or contact Monroe County at cnainfo@monroecountypa.gov.

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