Programs & Services

Advocacy Services

 

CCA maintains a policy of speaking out on issues that affect families that are poor who live in New Haven. The CCA staff participate in coalition-building efforts at the local, state and national levels. CCA draws on its social service experience and knowledge to advocate for policies that will effectively combat the problems of poverty and injustice.

 

Advocacy and Education Project
The Advocacy and Education Project (AEP) originated in 1977 as the Welfare Reform Project. In recognition of the displeasure of many with the federal welfare reform law passed in 1996, the project changed its name to the Welfare Justice Project in 1996 and to the Social Justice in 2001.  In 2004, it changed to its current name in recognition of the need to broaden and deepen its mandate from simply changing the welfare system to promoting social change overall.

 

This Project seeks to fulfill Christian Community Action’s mission to change systems that perpetuate poverty and injustice.” Its goal is to promote social change and justice for all by focusing on issues such as empowerment, grass-roots organizing, leadership training and economic justice. Its commitment is to insure that previously unheard voices are given the opportunity to share their stories, participate in public policy conversations and to have opportunities to advocate on the issues that concern them.

 

In that regard, AEP sponsors grassroots groups so that people, whose opinions are often marginalized or ignored, can have their voices heard and provided with opportunities to have their suggestions heard by policy and decision makers in the hopes of influencing positive changes.

 

 

 

Mothers for Justice

Mothers for Justice was founded in 1993. Sponsored by CCA’s Advocacy and Education  Project , Mothers for Justice is a group of women from the New Haven area dedicated to improving the lives of families who are low-income. The goal of Mothers for Justice is to empower women and their families, increase awareness of social issues through advocacy and action and improve the quality of life for families and the community as a whole. By taking steps to educate and organize women in the community, Mothers for Justice seeks to increase awareness of the important issues that will improve the capabilities and circumstances of families, thereby improving the community of New Haven.

 

Mothers for Justice meet monthly.  Childcare, transportation and refreshments are provided.

 

For information on upcoming meetings, contact Merryl Eaton at (203) 777-6072 or meaton@ccahelping.org

 

Educational Programs

AEP sponsors outreach events that are designed to engage new individuals in advocacy. The Project hosts training and educational institutes that prepare participants to become powerful agents of change in the community. Past effort have been a Leadership Institute,  to help people develop leadership skills for use in their personal and professional lives and a Public Policy Institute, featuring elected officials and policy makers, which teaches how our governmental system works and how people can create positive change within that system.  

 

One of the new educational initiatives is the Parent Leadership Training Institute. It is a free twenty week program available to the community to train, inspire and empower parents to become effective advocates for change. Over 1,600 parents have participated in the program throughout Connecticut. More information about the program can be found at www.plti.org

 

The program begins with a Saturday all day retreat to develop good group communication skills. There is 10 weeks of leadership and public speaking training and 10 weeks spent learning about local and state government and public policies. Participants must choose and implement a community project. Childcare and a family dinner are provided.

 

Advocacy efforts
AEP also connects and partners with statewide advocacy groups that welcome and desire to hear from those voices who have unmet needs in important arenas such as housing, healthcare, prison reform and economic security.

One of the newer activities is the No More Crumbs campaign.

 

It has been our experience that people who are poor are so weighed down by the challenges of living in poverty that they are content to take “the crumbs” offered to them by the government.

 

For the past two years, the Advocacy & Education Project has partnered with Clifford Beers Guidance Clinic to present a marketing campaign that says "No More Crumbs” and “We Believe There is Enough”. A Recipe for Success was created (see below).The campaign is designed to build a grassroots constituency that joined service providers and advocates in the community to speak out on the issues that impact their lives. 

 

To become involved in AEP efforts, contact Merryl Eaton, Project Director at (203) 777-6072 or at meaton@ccahelping.org