Connect, Communicate, Collaborate Fall 2020

2020 has proven to be a challenging year, given the COVID-19 pandemic, the collateral economic toll that has accompanied the pandemic, and the racial equity issues that have come to the forefront since last spring. CCRS has been forced to change the way we work, and we have examined and readjusted our work to be more relevant to these new realities. As part of this, CCRS has produced policy briefs and presented webinars on the impact of COVID-19 on housing and homelessness in Delaware; has examined how COVID-19 has impacted the legislative agenda related to child welfare, and has ongoing studies on related health and public health impacts. In addition, we are continuing our other ongoing, high-quality activities as is outlined in this Fall Connect issue. I am proud of our work, and look forward to CCRSs role in addressing the challenges of our times and communities.

Mission Statement

In keeping with our changing world, CCRS has revised its Mission Statement to better reflect the focus of our research and public service:

The Biden School's Center for Community Research & Service works to create more just and equitable communities and enhance the wellbeing of underserved populations in Delaware and beyond. Our research engages with communities and the health and social service systems serving them, thereby contributing to identifying solutions and improving policy. Our public service strengthens the ability of our partners to improve the wellbeing of their communities. Our teaching and professional development builds and supports community leaders and researchers.

Jumpstart Wilmington:  CCRS is partnering with Cinnaire and providing program administration for the recently launched Jumpstart Wilmington program. CCRS's Roger Hesketh, Assistant Policy Scientist;  Jennie Yeow,  Public Allies Community Engagement & Program Manager; and graduate research assistants Allie Foster and Mimi Rayl, are participating in this important project. Modeled after the original Jumpstart Germantown, the nine-step program aims to help Wilmington residents become developers of their own neighborhood. Jumpstart Wilmington focuses on community-focused real estate development training and financing options. The first cohort will begin in October 2020 and the program has already received 120 applications and selected 15 first cohort participants. Future cohorts are scheduled for February, May and August 2021. Click here for more information.

Homelessness, Veterans, and Registered Sex Offenders:  Dr. Stephen Metraux, Director, CCRS, collaborated with researchers from the Veteran Administration, University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, and University of Alabama in a recent study assessing the relationship between registered sex offender (RSO) status and risk of housing instability and homelessness among military veterans.  Analysis found that veterans with RSO had a 2.97 times greater odds of homelessness, suggesting a gap in policy and programmatic responses to this unique group of veterans.  The results of this study have been published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence: Byrne, T., et. al. (2020).  

Homelessness and Medicaid:  CCRS researchers Dr. Steve Metraux, Erin Lynch, Mary Joan McDuffie, Eli Turkel and Alexa Timmreck are working on a project linking Community Management Information Systems databases to the Medicaid claims and encounter data in order to analyze Medicaid health utilization among the homeless.    

In the News: 

The clearing of Philadelphia's homeless encampment  Dr. Steve Metraux participated in the WHYY podcast on homelessness about what happens when homeless encampments are cleared, September 9, 2020. 

Philadelphia keeps clearing homeless encampments. But who is being helped? Dr. Stephen Metraux, Director, was interviewed about homeless encampments.  Philadelphia Inquirer, September 4, 2020.  

2020 KIDS COUNT in Delaware Legislative Wrap-Up Special Edition: Governing Delaware in the Time of COVID 19 This annual legislative wrap-up historically highlights legislation, affecting children and their families, that passed in the previous session. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the content of this publication has been expanded to include (1) policy and governance decisions affecting children and their families within Delaware made by both Delaware's legislature and the executive branch of government and (2) legislation passed related to the state's governance and basic operations due to the virus' impact on the very structures on which our children and families rely.

2020 What Would It Take Delaware A companion piece to the Annie E. Casey's annual national KIDS COUNT Data Book, this publication provides an overview of the sixteen national indicators (4 each grouped into 4 categories), an analysis of where Delaware falls in comparison to the national average for each indicator, and examines "what would it take" for Delaware to rank best in the nation for each of the indicators. 

Timeline Tuesdays: Data Snapshot Debut Webinar Series  The COVID-19 pandemic and recent civil unrest resulting from racial injustice have intensified the need to re-imagine how communities and public systems support children and families. Because these barriers persist even with the broad progress of the past twenty-five years, it is more urgent than ever for leaders to focus on systemic solutions that work for everyone.

In a new webinar series "Timeline Tuesdays," KIDS COUNT in Delaware will bring together leaders from across the state to engage in conversations - both grounded in data and informed by those working in the field - to advance collaboration towards positive outcomes for children and families. The goal of this series is to translate research and policy from the past 25 years into effective action steps in partnership with stakeholders.

Webinar dates & topics planned:

• September 29, 2020 at 2:00 PM Data Snapshot: Health Coverage
• October 20, 2020 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Early Care and Education
• November 17, 2020 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Adverse Childhood Experiences
• December 15, 2020 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Food Insecurity
• January 19, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Infant Mortality
• February 16, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Lead Poisoning
• March 16, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Home Ownership
• April 20, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: High School Graduation
• May 18, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Children in Poverty
• June 15, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Student Assessment
• July 20, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Children in One-Parent Families
• August 17, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot: Births to Teens
• September 21, 2021 at 1:00 PM Data Snapshot Wrap-up, Revisit and Review

Webinars:  CCRS health policy researchers participate in several webinars this fall:

Mary Joan McDuffie presented a Medicaid overview and COVID impacts at the Kids Count in Delaware's Data Snapshot: Health Coverage, September 29, 2020

CCRSs Katie Gifford, Rebecca McColl, Erin Lynch, and Eli Turkel joined Biden School colleague Katie Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor and Dr. Navin Vij to highlight ongoing projects in the Medicaid Research Program at the University of Delawares Data Science Institute & DiCOS Core  Fall Symposium On Computational Social Science For An Inclusive Society, Friday, October 2, 2020

Dr. Erin Knight, along with Cassandra Codes-Johnson of the Delaware Division of Public Health , will present Structural Racism as a Fundamental Cause of Health Inequities in Delaware, November 12, 2020.  This presentation is part of the University's Community Engagement Initiative series Racial Justice Through Collaborative Programs and Projects.  For registration information, please click here.

New project:  Dr. Katie Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor at the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration, is leading a new project, funded by an ACCEL grant, to investigate the use of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) and the association of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  CCRS researchers Erin Knight, Katie Gifford, and Mary Joan McDuffie are part of the analytic team for this 12 month project.

Briefs

Overview of Medicaid in Delaware.  Authors:  Erin Lynch, Assistant Policy Scientist; Oliva Malinowski, Research Assistant; and Liddy McCulla, Undergraduate Student.  August 2020.  This brief provides a historical overview of the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance program (CHIP) in Delaware. The policy implications of the Medicaid and CHIP programs are extensive and the importance of the program-especially during the pandemic when so many are losing employment and their employee sponsored health insurance- is paramount. The authors hope that the information contained within the brief provides a starting point for policy discussions.

A Safe & Effective Vaccine for COVID-19: Opportunities, Challenges and an Equity Imperative:  Author:  Erin K. Knight, PhD, MPH; Associate Director, Partnership for Healthy Communities and Center for Community Research & Service.  June 2020.

Signe Bell, CCRS's Director of Nonprofit Programs, will present Reimagining the Path Forward with Strategic Doing at the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources (ANR) and the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) Collaborative Conference, Thursday, October 29, 1:30 2:45 pm

Nonprofit Management Program Graduates 30th Cohort!

CCRS is proud to announce the graduation of the 30th cohort of the Nonprofit Management Certificate Course (NPMCC). The course started in February and, after taking some time off with the hopes of returning in-person, resumed virtually in July before finishing strong in September.

 The Nonprofit Management Certificate Course provides valuable training to nonprofit leaders so that they may lead their organizations efficiently and effectively. In addition to receiving critical content from accomplished trainers in the sector, participants build on the course modules to assess their organizations and develop action plans in the strategic areas of their choice. Graduates of the program have gone on to lead organizations of every size and in every sector of the nonprofit industry.

 Congratulations to this year's cohort on their graduation!