The Region VII Performance and Innovation Collaboration project (henceforth to be known at the Heartland RPIC) serves a well-defined service area that includes the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. There are a total of 54 Community Services Block Grant eligible entities (Community Action Agencies) within the region.
The region includes urban centers such as Kansas City, Wichita, St. Louis, Jefferson City, Lincoln, Scotts Bluff, Omaha, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids, and, Des Moines, as well as many small, rural, mid-western communities. Levels of economic need within the region vary from state to state as well as within each state. The overall poverty rate in Region VII is 12.72%.
The Heartland RPIC has five objectives:
v Objective 1: To strengthen the long-term financial and organizational capacity of State CAA Associations in Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska).
v Objective 2: To strengthen the capacity of the Region VII Heartland RPIC members, as well as that of the national CSBG network, to address the broad training and technical assistance (T/TA) needs of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) sub-grantees.
v Objective 3: Facilitate and promote opportunities to strengthen and sustain relationships within each state between the CAA State Association and the corresponding State CSBG Lead Agency.
v Objective 4: Promote innovative and exemplary practices by State CAA Associations, State CSBG Lead Agencies, and CSBG-eligible entities.
v Objective 5: Support leadership development in State CAA Associations as well as within the broader, Region VII Heartland RPIC network.
A Heartland RPIC Coordinating Council has been established to oversee and monitor project progress and to carry out planned activities that fall under the 5 established objectives. This Council includes the Executive Directors and selected staff of the four State CAA Associations in Region VII. The Heartland RPIC will benefit from the existing, collaborative relationship amongst the participating State CAA Associations. The core functions of coordinating training and disseminating information will be managed through the Coordinating Council and will include, but are not limited to:
v Collaborations amongst Heartland RPIC members and partners (such as State CSBG Lead Agencies, National T/TA Partners and Community Action Agencies)
v Capacity-building activities targeted to identified needs of State CAA Associations, State CSBG Lead Agencies, and Community Action Agencies
v Exemplary practice identification and demonstration amongst State CAA Associations, State CSBG Lead Agencies, and Community Action Agencies