RPIC Workshop 2012 NASCSP Mid-Winter Conference Tim F. Reese, California/Nevada Community Action Partnership

Urban Perspective State Association’s Work  Region IX consists of Nevada, California, Arizona, Guam, Hawaii, American Samoa, & Northern Mariana Islands, and:...serves the largest geographic area in the U.S. – from the New Mexico boarder to Guam....is an extremely diverse area that is both urban and rural....consists of a variety of organizations and budgets.

Urban Perspective State Association’s Work (cont.)  Issues & differences between rural and urban areas: Political power and cultural differences. Urban needs are more concentrated & obvious; rural poverty can be hidden. Urban areas often have a more comprehensive infrastructure system to provide resources and services. Proximity to resources is often an issue for rural areas. Funding formulas: If a base level of funding is guaranteed for rural areas, this means urban areas may have less funding person. It’s a constant dynamic of balancing fairness and equitability.

Region IX RPIC LINKS Leverage, Innovation, Network, Knowledge, Sustainability  Only CA, AZ and NV have State Associations: Hawaii has an Executive Director Association, and the islands/territories just have a State Office.  Geographic & time zone differences, along with high travel costs, present challenges.  The roles of the new RPICs are still under discussion and negotiation.  Funding and resources for the RPIC scope of work is limited.  Challenges include a lack of regulatory & legal authority.  The concepts (IM 123) of the new national approach to training and technical assistance has merit and can improve outcomes for CSBG eligible entities.

Importance of State Participation & Engagement  In order for the RPICs to be successful – the State Offices need to be supportive and clearly understand the RPIC goals and objectives.  State Offices should be encouraged to provide matching funds for the RPIC. We can’t rely just on federal funding. This would also help the State Offices become invested in the outcomes of the RPIC.  There is often a tension/disconnect between State and Federal regulations.

Questions? Thank you!