"Helping People Changing Lives"

Community Action Kicks Off Summer Program for Middle School Students

Fifty Annapolis Middle School students are participating in Community Action’s summer program, which meets Monday through Friday at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis. The program started on June 24, 2024, and will end on August 9, 2024. The program is being led by Dr. Eric Elston, with the assistance of the Agency’s youth coordinator Ishan Johnson.

The program is a component of a 2-Generation/Whole Family Approach initiative that will be providing wrap-around services for youth attending Annapolis Middle School, as well as their families. The program offers plenty of fun activities for participants, but also serves as a way to build rapport and trust. Many of the youth are experiencing challenges, but Community Action believes that all children will learn and thrive in a proper environment.

So far this summer, the youth have enjoyed educational explorations to the Smithsonian African American Museum, Sky Zone, and visited Anne Arundel County’s SWAT headquarters. Workshops, guest speakers, and activities are integrated into the program. Participants enjoyed a visit by a local rapper/poet who performed some of his work and helped the youth write their own poems. A yogi visited and introduced youth to the benefits of yoga. The youth also engaged in charades-type game which led to each youth creating and presenting their personal brand.

The Agency is pleased with the response to our summer program and look forward to continuing to support the youth and their families throughout the upcoming school year and beyond.

Community Health Ambassadors Wrap Up FY2024 Session

The Community Action Agency’s Health Ambassadors team wrapped up our fourth session on June 30, 2024! The Agency’s Health Ambassadors staff members work within our partnership with the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, which provides program funding, training and oversight. The Community Action Agency is one of several organizations involved in the Department of Health’s Community Health Ambassadors initiative, and we are excited to announce we have been invited to participate in the program again for Fiscal Year 2025.

During the past nine months, our Health Ambassadors team engaged over 3000 Anne Arundel County residents through attending approximately 50 community events, several workshops, and door-to-door visits in local communities. They held three Mental Health First Aid workshops, with 61 attendees receiving three-year certification; they held a Mental Health Awareness session reaching 22 attendees; and 2 Narcan training sessions, teaching 30 people to administer the drug. In addition, they met with local residents who completed 646 surveys that help the Department of Health gauge needs in the County. The team also distributed 1600 COVID test kits and 250 gun locks. The Health Ambassadors have been well-trained to provide referrals to Community Action and other organizations for people requiring services, including 3000 referrals for food support, 1500 each for health care and health insurance referrals, 2600 for substance misuse support, 3200 for mental health services, and 2000 for rent and utility assistance.

We congratulate our Health Ambassadors team – ShaJuan Morgan– Lead Health Ambassador, Virgil Wells, and Ishan Johnson – for a very productive session helping Anne Arundel County residents!

Early Head Start Makes a Difference!

Early Head Start director Ms. Finney recently interviewed one of her parents about how EHS staff helped her to complete the LPN program, from which she just graduated! When the staff cheered and congratulated her, she smiled and said, “It’s been a struggle, but I did it!”

Ms. T., who is the mother of a handsome, curly-haired, almost 2 year old son, shared some of her challenges and her thankfulness for the support she received from EHS staff. She shared she was reluctant at first to put her baby in outside care and was glad a friend encouraged her, so she could work and finish school. Ms. T. had started school before her son was born, took a short break, and started back to school and work when her baby was about two months old.

Ms. T. admitted to our Family Advocate that she was apprehensive about leaving her son and it didn’t help that he cried each morning when she left him – sometimes off and on all day. She knew he was attached to her and they shared each other’s anxieties. At first it was hard to balance school in the daytime while also working night shifts, commuting, making time to study, get some sleep, and get her son to and from school on time. As if this wasn’t enough, during this time her grandmother passed and her grandfather required more care. She was devastated and had to drop out of school and regroup. Regroup, she did!

With the encouragement of EHS staff, and especially the Family Advocate, she managed to do it all – maybe not perfectly, but she even made it to some of the parent meetings at the Center. At the last meeting, the parents cheered her accomplishment – graduating from her LPN program in Fairfax, Virginia. She recognized that everyone has obstacles and the Center is a place to get support – sometimes for food to take home, gifts for holiday time, a listening ear, and the freedom to just drop off her son and get about her day.

Ms. T. reflected on those days and smiles with pride about her graduation. Others have observed her growing self-confidence. She is planning her next steps: pass the state exam, securing a better job in her career sector, and enrolling to earn her RN degree. Her son loves coming to school and hardly ever cries. He loves his teacher “Brina”, who lets him explore and express himself as he learns about the world around him, put words to his emotions, practicing sharing and interacting with his fun friends, and to just be himself!

With Open Eyes, I DO See You!

As a relatively new Communications and Public Relations Coordinator for the Anne Arundel Community Action Agency (CAA), I recently attended a graduation ceremony for over 20 Justice Involved Individuals (JII), both men and women, at the Jennifer Road Detention Center in Anne Arundel County. These men and women graduated from one of the many programs offered by the Agency’s Diversion and Reentry Services (DARS) Division, entitled “Enhanced Behavioral Health Services Program.” This program can provide life-changing opportunities for those ready to embrace transformation through hard work and dedication. Community Action’s DARS division is the hub for ALL of Anne Arundel County.

Up to this point, the likelihood of me ever seeing the inside halls of a detention center, prison or a jail was slim. But as I helped set up for the graduation, the students started trickling through the door. I could see their faces glow and the connection with my four colleagues, their instructors, was encouraging. They had learned new behaviors and how to treat people with kindness and respect. Well, they showed it, and the instructors gave it right back to them. In some of their cases, I hope they were reminded that there is still humility left among us in this world and they can be part of it, too.

I will be honest: some students came through that door that I could not imagine ever being in that building as they were well-spoken, intelligent, eager, and friendly. But for one reason or another, as I sat and watched them politely sit down and ready themselves for the ceremony, I quickly realized they ALL had a story to tell. You could see the youthful exuberance in their eyes, and a willingness to accept themselves with a simple sense of gratification and integrity. They had learned a lot from this class and were humbled by the experience. They have experienced some of the hard knocks of life, and the wrong decisions that changed their lives – potentially forever – but as each person received their certificate, there was a sense of pride, and everyone cheered the others on with mutual admiration and respect. Many admitted that they initially didn’t want anything to do with the other students and didn’t want to be in this elective class. Even to what appeared to be the hardest-core system impacted individuals, they laughed like children by the end – very pleasurable to witness.

We believe in the work that we do wholeheartedly at Community Action and the men and women we serve need to know someone cares and that they can rehabilitate themselves and return to society. May they find peace in knowing that they will also have some assistance regardless of whichever phase of their lives they are living in.

Every day is a teachable moment. I am humbled and honored to be part of a team that has such a direct and immediate impact on its community. The mission must continue! – Kia Baskerville

Supreme Court Rules on Homelessness: Now What?

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold a ban on the homeless sleeping outdoors is likely to have little effect in Maryland, which has moved legislatively this year to help those without a permanent address.

 That's the prediction - and hope - of Mario Berninzoni, chair of the Anne Arundel and Annapolis Coalition to End Homelessness and executive director of the Arundel House of Hope, a shelter in Glen Burnie.  While the ruling will create significant new challenges for many of the homeless nationwide, Berninzoni said, "I don't think it's going to have a huge impact here in Maryland," predicting few, if any, of the state's 180 towns, cities, and counties will now adopt such bans.

 "I think such ordinances are counterproductive," Berninzoni said. "They aren't good use of the time or money of police or the courts" to ticket, fine, and possibly jail people for sleeping on public property if they use as little as a blanket to keep warm. I don't see our jurisdictions arresting people."

 "I hope he's right," said Eric Tars, senior policy director at the National Homelessness Law Center, noting "communities in Maryland have been taking a more-evidenced based approach to homelessness," such as offering additional affordable housing rather than threatening fines and arrest. But Tars said, "We're concerned that we're going to see an increase (across the country) in the criminalizing approach to homelessness."

 In June, on a 6-3 vote, the court upheld a ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors in Grants Pass, Oregon. It ruled that the prohibition does not violate the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment, as alleged by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and others. Instead, the court said, its decision upholds the power of localities to decide how to deal with the issue.

 "Homelessness is complex," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority.

In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor countered for the minority: "Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime."

Homelessness has been growing in recent years, mainly because of the lack of affordable housing and the ending of COVID-19 aid. On a single night in 2023, more than 650,000 people were identified as homeless nationwide, a 12 percent increase from the year before. In Maryland, the number rose from 5,349 to 5,865, 1,551 of them in Baltimore, where the city in March cleared an encampment of the homeless and moved to connect them with needed services.

Homelessness may soon decrease in Maryland, thanks to Gov. Wes Moore and the General Assembly teaming up this year to enact legislation to build more affordable housing and better protect low-income renters against eviction.

In an email exchange, the Maryland Municipal League said it supports local control and receives guidance on federal issues, like the court ruling, from the National League of Cities, "the voice of America's 19,000 cities, towns and villages."  The NLC, on a blog on its website, under the headline, "SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) Issues Win for Local Control ….,” wrote: "This case returns the hard task of solving the homeless crisis to state and local policymakers, where it belongs, with resource support from the federal government."

 Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, condemned the court ruling, saying, "This decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free reign to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions."

The Community Action Agency of Anne Arundel County shares the hopes and concerns of all those seeking to end homelessness. Together, we can do better.

The Community Action Agency of Anne Arundel County is highlighting the problem and challenge of homelessness with this, the fourth in a series of articles on the issue that will be featured in our monthly newsletters. We are delighted to work with Tom Ferraro, a new volunteer with the Agency, who is a former news reporter with The Hagerstown (MD) Morning Herald, United Press International, New York Post, Bloomberg and Reuters. After he retired from daily journalism, he served with AmeriCorps VISTA, helping foster youth and those experiencing homelessness.

Did you know that extreme heat can challenge mental health by disrupting hormones, sleep, and social norms? So, before you get down on yourself for feeling sad or angry on a hot, sunny day, learn how high temperatures may be affecting your brain.

Many heat-related factors may contribute to more severe depression, including:

·      Increased substance abuse: Heat that hinders your ability to work or be social may lead to increased drinking or drug use.

·      Medication inconsistency: Heat can cause some mental health medications to not work as well or have more side effects, especially if you are dehydrated.

·      Poor sleep: Research shows that air temperature can directly affect the quality and quantity of sleep. When you aren’t sleeping well, your hormones can get thrown off balance and cortisol (stress hormones) increase.

·      Serotonin levels: Experts believe that higher temps may effect this neurotransmitter that regulates your mood, especially with people already living with depressions and those who drink alcohol regularly.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there are several signs that hot weather is affecting your mental health, including:

·      Behavioral changes, especially impulsivity

·      Cognitive issues, including trouble with concentration or memory

·      Difficulty sleeping or getting enough sleep

·      Feeling stressed or overwhelmed

·      Mood changes, including feeling more depressed, irritable, or anxious

·      Physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or nausea

When the temperature starts to rise, there are ways to protect your mental health:

·      Drink water: Dehydration can worsen stress, anxiety, and irritability. It can also change the effects of certain medications.

·      Make healthy choices: Physical health supports mental health, so eat balanced meals, exercise, and get enough sleep.

·      Manage stress: Use meditation, yoga, and other techniques to reduce stress levels.

·      Socialize: Being around other people can boost mental health.

·      Stay cool: Spend time inside or in the shade during the hottest parts of the day. Wear cool clothing, use fans or air-conditioning and take cold showers whenever possible.

Please be careful during the extreme heat we have been experiencing. Contact your primary care or mental health provider if you are experiencing increased symptoms during times of extreme weather and temperatures.

Community Action is On the Move!

The Community Action Agency knows it is important to meet people where they are. While we have full-service offices in both Annapolis and Linthicum Heights, many people find it difficult to access them. Each month, Community Action staff are at off-site locations and community events to meet with local residents and assist them with accessing services.

Here is where you will find Community Action through the end of August:

Thursday, July 18, 9 - 11 a.m.; St. James Parish, 5757 Solomon's Island Road, Lothian

Friday, July 19, 10 a.m. - noon; Severn Center, 1160 Reese Road, Severn

Monday, July 22, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Edgewater Library, 25 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater

Wednesday, July 24, 10 a.m. - noon; Brooklyn Park Library, 1 E. 11th Ave, BP

Thursday, July 25, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.; St. James Parish, 5757 Solomon's Island Rd, Lothian

Friday, July 26, 10 a.m. – noon; Severn Center, 1160 Reese Road, Severn

Wednesday, July 31, 10 a.m. – noon; Brooklyn Park Library, 1 E. 11th Ave, BP

Friday, August 2, 10 a.m. – noon, Severn Center, 1160 Reese Road, Severn

Monday, August 5, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Edgewater Library, 25 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater

Wednesday, August 7, 10 a.m. – noon, Brooklyn Park Library, 1 E. 11th Ave BP

Thursday, August 8, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., St. James Parish, 5757 Solomon's Island Road, Lothian

Friday, August 16, 10 a.m. – noon, Severn Center, 1160 Reese Road, Severn

Monday, August 19, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Edgewater Library, 25 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater

Wednesday, August 21, 10 a.m. – noon, Brooklyn Park Library, 1 E. 11th Ave., BP

Thursday, August 22, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., St. James Parish, 5757 Solomon's Island Road, Lothian

Friday, August 23, 10 a.m. – noon, Severn Center, 1160 Reese Road, Severn

Sunday, August 25, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., River Days, Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Road, Annapolis

Wednesday, August 28, 10 a.m. – noon, Brooklyn Park Library, 1 E 11th Ave, BP

Thursday, August 29, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., St. James Parish, 5757 Solomon's Island Road, Lothian

Friday, August 30, 10 a.m. – noon, Severn Center, 1160 Reese Road, Severn