The Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency (SMCAA) is asking for your input to help it do an even better job of fighting powerty in the region. Since 1982, SMCAA has served Southwest Michigan with programs dedicated to helping end the cycle of poverty for those in its service area.
SMCAA explained the process in a statement:
As an agency operating under the national Community Action Agency umbrella, SMCAA is required to conduct a survey every three years as a part of maintaining eligibility for Community Services Block Grant federal funding. The Community Needs Assessment (CNA) will be available to the public for three months. After which, SMCAA will analyze the results and data accumulated within a comprehensive publicly available report.
This information is vital to the organization, as it not only helps ensure continued funding, but it shapes SMCAA’s strategic planning, programs, development, funding allocations, and more. The collected information is used to assist SMCAA in determining the underlying causes and conditions of local poverty, identifying vulnerable or underserved demographics, and noting gaps in programmatic coverage.
The wider the reach of the CNA, the better the understanding of the needs of the community, and the more impact it will have on SMCAA’s future endeavors and goals. All residents of Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren counties are asked to participate in this survey. Public input is greatly appreciated by SMCAA, and will help shape the future of Southwest Michigan.
The survey takes an average of five minutes, and the answers and opinions provided go far in continuing SMCAA’s work of empowering diverse people in need.
The Community Needs Survey can currently be accessed on SMCAA’s website – www.smcaa.com – as a pop-up option, or under the Get Involved tab. It’s also available on the SMCAA Facebook page.
