Here are the questions and answers submitted. Please vote below.
Keith Ford
Question:
For 360 Coalition--how do you evaluate or confirm the actual financial need of your applicants to know that the funds provided are meeting those with the greatest need?
Great question, thank you Keith. Because we are a Coalition of 26+ agencies it is important to have an understanding of how each agency determines eligibility for support for the clients they are serving, never is a decision to provide support an unilateral one. Agency representatives are consulted throughout the process so we can best use support given, and maybe leverage it with other opportunities. Through 2019 we spent a lot of time communicating about such things. During this time of Covid and the immediate needs support that the Coalition has been providing we spend time with each client that will be receiving support ensuring that they are connected with the right resources and this just isn’t a one time handout until the next need arises. During the discussions we do look at all avenues of income and opportunities that the clients have, trying to find alternative resources that are more long term and sustainable before providing financial assistance. One of our most important statistics is that 59% of all individuals/families assisted since April are still receiving long term services from a provider. In the end the determination for who gets assistance and how they are assisted is considered if all income and other resources opportunities have been exhausted. Two important note are 1) We have refused requests for support after consulting with providers in our Coalition, and 2) Very rarely his financial support given directly to the clients. Typically the 360 Coalition has acted as an intermediary between clients and utility provider, landlord, or other payee for assistance. We are very focused on ensuring that assistance given to individuals is used for the purposes it’s requested.
Todd Lewis
Question:
for the 360 organization. What would they do with an award from us? What organizations/agencies make up the network, and more importantly, which of those would benefit from the award? Are all the organizations that would benefit willing to exclude themselves from consideration for another award for the next 2 years, per the 100 Men guidelines? For example, when Dollars for Scholars was selected, all 4 chapters had to agree not to be considered for the following 2 years.
Answer
Thank you Todd. Funds received from 100+ Men would be used to provide direct immediate needs support for clients being served through one of the 26+ agencies who are part of the 360 Coalition, and potentially others who have been referred to our Coalition in need of services. A very clear distinction that I want to share is that no single agency receives direct funding. All funds received are used to provide direct support for clients and/or client services. By using this model, it helps Organizations and programs in our Community preserve their budget but also be able to connect clients in immediate need with an opportunity. To answer your question about Organizations agreeing to not to receive funds if awarded, the answer is NO. It is our hope that 100+ Men will see the distinction and uniqueness of this funding request. The 360 Coalition has worked hard to develop a model that allows Organizations to work better together, breaking down the silos that exist in service delivery and funding opportunities. Never did we expect to be responding to a pandemic, but because of our collaboration and organization, we have been able to provide expanding support opportunities for individuals and families all over our County without putting more burden on the limited resources of our Organizations. Family Support Services serves as the fiscal agent for the 360 Coalition, and we understand that we may become ineligle for funds for one of our other program areas (Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Victims Services, Healthy Families, and the Putnam County Recovery Coalition) but we believe in the strength and unique opportunity the 360 Coalition provides our Community and partners, and we are willing to take that chance. If the distinction is not made about the uniqueness of our program and all partner agencies would be eliminated from future consideration for funding, then I would have to reluctantly withdraw the 360 Coalition from consideration. My hope is that 100+ Men will see the tremendous value the Coalition has provided, especially during this time in not only serving clients, but also strengthening the relationships and network of providers in our Community.
List of 360 Coalition Partners
FSSWCI - Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Victim Services
Healthy Families - Putnam County
Putnam County Recovery Coalition
Cummins Behavioral Health
Hamilton Center
Mental Health America
Putnam County CASA/Youth Development Commission
Children's Bureau
Indiana Youth Institute - Putnam County
Putnam County Senior Center
Beyond Homeless
Putnam County Pantry Coalition
Purdue Extension
Habitat for Humanity
Putnam County Comprehensive Services
Thrive Indiana (formally West Central Economic Development)
West Central Indiana Community Action Program
Opportunity Housing
Putnam County Government
City of Greencastle
Gobin United Methodist Church
Circles Program
Chances & Services for Youth
Rural Transit
Putnam County Hospital
Indiana DCS
Carenet Pregnancy Center
Clean Slate Center
First Presbyterian Church
Greencastle Chrisitan Church
Bethel
Conspire Contemporary Crafts
NAACP
Putnam County Sheriff Department
Greencastle Police Department
Greencastle Community School
North Putnam Community School
South Putnam Community School
Cloverdale Community Schools
Putnam County Trustees
and more.
Jeff Sigworth
Question
If 360 is functioning as an “umbrella” to many, then is our premise of giving to one organization - impacting them greatly - being diminished by our $$ being spread out?
Answer
Thank you Jeff, I can see your point, hopefully my previous answer and this will clean it up a bit. No one Organization is provided direct support, but we work to provide the greatest opportunity for those we all serve in our Community. What the 360 Coalition has created in our community is a centralized network of resource providers that have simplified the service delivery model. Before, each individual organization had to work individually in a silo to serve their clients and the needs that may arise with their clients. As you know through your experiences with 100+ Men and beyond, many organizations suffer from not having the people resources or the financial resources to provide the support needed in times like we’ve seen in 2020 with COVID-19.
Through this collaboration what we have been able to do is expand the opportunity for agencies to provide deeper support with what we collaborative case management. If an organization is serving a client, for example that is food insecure what we are also able to, our network not only addresses the food insecurity, but also other issues that may be present, like mobility issues, lack of work, housing challenges, mental health and wellbeing and more. We work hard to help clients address the immediate need, but also look into the short term and future. We all know that those most in need in our community are often impacted by more that one thing (food, education, housing, transportation, health, job, etc.) Our Coalition provides a network that not only can address the immediate need or symptom of their life situation, we can also help address the cause and build a foundation of stronger positive opportunity outcomes.
As an example just 6 weeks ago a gentleman that contacted Family Support Services seeking help to get out of an abusive relationship with a significant other that has a severe opioid addiction issue. He was homeless and felt trapped, but desired to make a change. He wanted to get out of that situation and working with 4 other Organizations (Greencastle Christian Church, Gobin, Beyond Homeless, Family Support Services ) the 360 Coalition was able to secure temporary housing for him within our local hotel/motel network. Food and other personal items were provided by other faith based institutions and organizations. Once established he secured a full-time position with a local restaurant, using training and skills he already had. The Lifecycles Program provided him with a mode of transportation by giving him a bicycle, and the Coalition supported him as he secured permanent housing at Opportunity Housing. In total, 7+ Organizations helped this gentleman move from homeless in an abusive relationship to working with a permanent residence within a 6 week period of time. Individually, no one Organization could do it that quickly due to the lack of resources, but collectively we can make great things happen. Though not every request and support provided is this dramatic, there are many other examples where one task, assistance provided, or connection to better resources will make a lasting impact.
So I would say, in this instance, supporting the 360 Coalition expands the opportunity for funds to make the greatest impact in our Community for those who need it most.
Ken Heeke
Question:
How does round barn preschool and daycare compare with in home daycare, like curriculum and teachers certifications?
Answer