UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Community Outreach Partnership Center

Six-Month Report

Report Period: January – June 2002

Project Focus 1: Housing

Part I - Summary and Synthesis

The Housing program of COPC achieved several significant milestones in the 1st half, 2002:

· The COPC Housing Resource Center supports the development and dissemination of housing options and housing-related information, resource development and assistance to residents and prospective residents on behalf of the communities of Hazelwood, Oakland, and West Oakland. A COPC Housing Resource Center satellite has been established in one of the partner communities: Oakland.

o The Oakland site is now complete and functionally ready for staffing for the next year. The off-campus Housing Resource Center (HRC) received computers and internet connections through the COPC. It is located on the first floor of a building that houses community partners Oakland Planning and Development Corp. and Oakland Citizensommunity Council

· Specialized housing program resources have been developed for the COPC HRC including: Housing/Relocation Guides, Healthy Home Program Information, Fair Housing Information and Resources, Housing Purchase and Renovation Financing Information (Fannie Mae), Property Evaluation and Assessment (standards and enforcement) are in place. Additional targeted resources will be developed in conjunction with community partners to further support community and COPC housing objectives.

· GSPIA doctoral student and COPC intern Sungsoo Hwang prepared the GIS and maps for Tracy Soska’s class report Oakland Connections.

· A COPC-HRC web page was developed by Sungsoo Hwang http://www.pitt.edu/~copc/about_housing.html and will be up and running on the COPC site this summer.

· The University and Community Partners Working Group on Housing, an ad hoc committee of University and Community partners, continued its monthly meetings to discuss solutions to Central Oakland housing problems. COPC and Community Development Work Study fellows participate in this group. The main issues have been on Fair Housing and Absentee Landlords.

· The Housing Focus group research was completed. Presentation of the results was given to community groups, Oakland Task Force and Pittsburgh Partnership on Community Development. The Working Group on Housing designed and administered the focus groups, conducted by OPDC community organizer Megan Bursic and assisted by CDWSP fellow Kelly Hoffman. GSPIA doctoral student and COPC intern Andrew Aurand assisted in the preparation of the final document.

· GSPIA students working on COPC and GSPIA students in the CDWSP assisted at the COPC National Conference, held in Pittsburgh in April.

· GSPIA doctoral student Andrew Aurand assisted in writing a report on OPDC’s community organizing goals, activities and achievement for the past year, for submission to a local foundation.

· A Law School intern has been recruited for the Fall to work with the Working Group on Housing, OPDC, and the Housing Resource Center.

· GSPIA developed a special internship project with the regional HUD office to advance HUD’s new homeownership initiatives for Public Housing and Section 8 residents that will link with COPC.

Part II - Summary of Major Activities (Progress on Tasks)

Activity 1: COPC Housing Resource Center

· Oakland COPC Housing Resource Center satellite office established, equipped, stocked, and initially staffed as of spring 2002.

· Computer/internet resources were prepared and installed as of July 1, 2002.

· The COPC Housing web page section was developed and installed as an aid to clients and staff of the COPC Housing Resource Center and for easier access by others utilizing the COPC site.

· Specialized housing information was developed and is available in the Oakland satellite office for Housing/Relocation Guide, Healthy Homes, Fair Housing, Home Purchase, Renovation Financing, and Property Evaluation and Assessment.

· Housing Focus Groups held with Oakland neighborhood constituents including permanent residents, students, internationals, and landlords.

· Housing Task Force Meetings have included presentations on disability and visit-ability issues, fair housing, and discussion of student housing, absentee landlords, aging residents, city property inspection programs, code enforcement, over-occupancy concerns, transportation and parking, neighborhood gateways, adopt a block programs, and results and follow up of focus groups.

Activity 1.1: Promoting Homeownership and Housing Improvements in Oakland

• Community-based Housing Resource Center on Atwood Street received computers, internet connection and supplies through COPC.
• COPC-HRC web page developed; available http:/www.pitt.edu/~copc/abouthousing.html (temporarily). Site includes Relocation Guide, links to home buying programs, renter information, HUD Fair Housing and COPC partners Fannie Mae and Fair Housing Partnership, as well as check list for apartment inspection placed on web site.
• GSPIA established internship linkages with the HUD Pittsburgh District office to advance the new HUD Home Ownership initiatives for Public Housing and Section 8 residents.

Activity 1.2: Update Oakland Housing survey and improve GIS capacity

• Continued to add to Oakland property sales database with housing in South Oakland. Identified, photographed and researched tax, sales and occupancy data for properties in South Oakland that could potentially be acquired by OPDC and incorporated into their development plans
• Used database and GIS to identify two potential development areas in South Oakland; these include multiple parcels clustered in adjacent blocks.

Activity 1.3: Promoting healthy homes in Oakland

Activity 1.4: Building and Zoning Code Enforcement Inspections

• Housing Working Group had presentation on Private Right of Action, a new local legal procedure for addressing building and health code deficiencies and on local zoning code revisions approved for Oakland.
• Working Group on Housing planning follow-up actions on Building Codes stemming from Focus Group Report.

Activity 1.5: Furthering Fair Housing in Target Neighborhoods

• Community partner Fair Housing Partnership of Pittsburgh participating in the Working Group on Housing
• HUD Fair Housing information linked to web site.
• OPDC and FHP planning fair housing testing for international students in Oakland.
• Working Group on Housing had a presentation on Disability and Visit-Ability issues in housing from the Disability Law Project.

Activity 1.6: Focus on Allequippa Terrace/Oak Hill

• The Allequippa Terrace/Oak Hill HOPE VI Evaluation Report was completed.
• Discussions with HUD regional office on Homeownership in for public housing and Section 8 residents including Oak Hill residents.
• Recommendation for University discussions on Employee Assisted Housing Program in collaboration with Fanny Mae presented at University Senate joint meeting of Plant Utilization and Planning and Community Relations Committees.

Activity 1.7: Hazelwood Housing Inventory (Hazelwood Initiative)

• Continued participation in planning committee meeting of the Hazelwood Initiative to provide input to the committee’s planning regarding development and housing issues.

Sabina Deitrick, PI & Working Group on Housing Robert Hopkins, Director

Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Housing Resource Center

Project Focus: 2. Neighborhood Revitalization

Part I - Summary and Synthesis

Food Pantry

COPC holds three main goals in its role in the Allequippa Terrace (now Oak Hill) Food Pantry: 1) Raise funds to provide adequate monthly food allotments and pay for food pantry staff,

2) Increase nutritional education and value of food, and

3) Expand the Residents Council’s ability to run the food pantry.

All three of these goals have largely been accomplished, with special emphasis having been placed on the third as staff members work very hard to empower community members. Primary community partners are the Oak Hill Residents Council and Housing Opportunities Unlimited, the human services agent for the HOPE VI developer.

Community members working with the food pantry continue to improve the organization of the monthly distribution, focusing on facilitating the delivery of food to those most in need. Seniors and shut-ins have been a major concern resulting in the implementation of new policies and procedures designed to assist those who cannot easily get to the food pantry or the grocery store. The first hour of the food pantry has been designated for seniors only, and they can have the best food selection. Secondly, the residents have made arrangements with a local jitney service to deliver food to those in the community who cannot come to pick it up on their own. While small steps, they have a far-reaching impact and demonstrate growth on the part of the residents.

The Residents Council has become more involved in organizing the volunteers, again a major step illustrating their commitment to the food pantry. Already about ten regular volunteers from within the community have been recruited to unload the truck and distribute the food each month. Mandatory monthly meetings are held to discuss the policies and procedures of the food pantry, and volunteers are expected to attend. The community members in charge of the food pantry have developed written procedures that they distribute to all volunteers in order to improve the organization of the food pantry distribution.

As a result of these initiatives, the food pantry continues to improve, especially in its organization. Resident leaders, in an attempt to limit distribution day chaos, have distributed rules and regulations to members of the community resulting in a more organized event.

The Residents Council also hired a full time business manager within the past year, but he has recently resigned and has not yet been replaced as funding is uncertain. His tasks will be reassigned to other hired staff members, including those at HOU.

It is worth noting that the COPC intern from 2001-2002 who graduated from Pitt in April, has been hired on a full-time basis by HOU. This clearly illustrates her value to the community. A new intern was hired for the summer and another will start in the fall term.

Volunteering with Seniors Program

Since September, three (3)student volunteers from the University of Pittsburgh have assisted Oak Hill residents with home maintenance on a weekly or biweekly basis for one to two hours each visit. HOU Case Manager referred clients to the COPC intern, and after pairing each volunteer with a resident or residents, she accompanied each volunteer in the community to introduce her to that resident and establish specific assistance needed.

Volunteer schedules vary depending on the agenda of each volunteer and the resident she has been paired with. One volunteer works with two residents, each on a weekly basis. Another works with one resident each week, and the third volunteer works with one resident every other week. Then, after completing each session, volunteers report back to the COPC intern so she can ensure that the program is running smoothly and can track the volunteers’ hours. Program activities are suspended for the summer during break but will resume in the fall.

Hazelwood Community Communications

Publication of the Hazelwood Homepage continues, and the COPC has provided a student intern to help the HI committee with the newspaper including advertisement recruitment. COPC also printed the HI 5-K Run/Walk flyer to aid in recruitment for this October event. Membership recruitment, sponsorship/donation solicitation for Oktoberfest and 5-K Run/Walk, and general HI meeting informational outreach was also a focus of activity this period.

Allequippa Terrace/Oak Hill HOPE VI Evaluation

The HOPE VI Evaluation was completed, and the draft report is under review by Resident’s Council, Pittsburgh Housing Authority, and Beacon/Corcoran/Jennison Partners, the HOPE VI developer. Final report should be ready for posting on the COPC website by fall term.

Catalyst for Community Building

The COPC has linked with the School of Social Work’s Catalyst for Community Building Project that provides grassroots leadership training that has involved a number of staff and community leaders from COPC neighborhoods. The United Way has provided support for this initiative, and this leadership capacity building is also being linked to Community Health Partnerships. A cohort of community builders completed the 20-week training report period.

Part II - Summary of Major Activities (Progress on Tasks)

Activity 2.1: Allequippa Terrace Food Pantry

• Increase in food ordered each month
• Improved nutritional quality of food ordered
• Regularly scheduled and paid food pantry staff drawn from the community
• Regularly scheduled mandatory meetings held to discuss food pantry policy and procedure
• Policies and procedures developed and distributed to all volunteers
• Residents determined the rules and regulations for food pantry distribution days - given to all residents
• Established relationship with jitney service to deliver food to shut-ins in community
• Community residents have begun to develop necessary skills for leadership and are running a more organized distribution of food.
• Senior citizen volunteer program established
• The tutoring program has been deemed successful. Of the 26 students enrolled, 14 made the honor roll this year.

Activity 2.2: Community Family Workshop

• This activity was incorporated into the program development and capacity plan of the School-to-Career Program in West Oakland and Oak Hill through the School of Education working with Breachmender’s Ministries. A Parent/Family-involvement component and curriculum addressing self-esteem issues in elementary-age and pre-school children was developed and was the based for a portion of the increased program funding generated in Breachmenders Ministries. (see Education Report)

Activity 2.3: Hazelwood Community Communications

• A social work intern was recruited and assigned to Hazelwood Initiative to work with the part-time HI Coordinator and the HI communications committee on the Hazelwood Homepage newspaper that continues a monthly publication schedule.
• The student intern also worked with HI on membership outreach and recruitment, sponsorships and donations for HI’s Oktoberfest and 5-K Run/Walk, and other public relations about upcoming meetings and special events.
• Hazelwood and HI leadership participated with COPC university leadership in a major display at the Discovery Weekend alumni event to open the University new Peterson Convocation Center. The University developed a major display relating to Hazelwood and the COPC involvement in that neighborhood.
• Hazelwood was featured on the community tours at the National COPC conference.

Activity 2.4: Allequippa Terrace/Oak Hill Evaluation of HOPE VI Revitalization

• The HOPE VI evaluation was conducted with major resident involvement in developing the assessment instrument and in conducting the evaluation survey among community residents. Survey work was completed during this report period.
• The draft report has been sent to the Residents Council, the HOPE VI developer, and the Pittsburgh Housing Authority for final review and comments at the end of this report period. (a copy of the draft report is attached)
• Once final review and comments are wrapped up (end of August), the final report on the Oak Hill HOPE VI will be posted on the COPC website.

Carolyn Carson, Director Tracy M. Soska, PI Hide Yamatani, Assoc. Dean

Urban Studies Program School of Social Work & PI – HOPE VI Evaluation

School of Social Work

Project Focus 3 – Economic Development

PART I – Project Summary and Synthesis

The focus of the economic development portion of COPC is entrepreneurial training. Given the change in federal regulations concerning welfare and other supplemental income programs, the need for low income, minority women to participate in entrepreneurial training is more necessary, yet more difficult and complex. At present there is little to offer women, particularly minority women, who have a desire to pursue self-employment opportunities as an alternative to welfare.

The Self Employment Opportunity Program (SEOP) of the Small Business Development Center has successfully filled this void providing training for three classes of twelve women. The SEOP consisted of 12 weeks of classroom presentations, one-on-one consulting, and a one year follow up period of monthly meetings and additional consulting. The women had been identified as having a skill or expertise that could be transferred into some sort of entrepreneurial venture. COPC will expand this effort by offering training to 8 – 10 women from the targeted neighborhoods of Hazelwood, West Oakland, Oak Hill and Allequippa Terrace.

PART II - Summary of Major Activities (Progress on Tasks)

Activity 3.1: Economic Development Training

· Marketing efforts were underway all year to successfully fill the second class with a stronger group more likely to actually begin their business. Continuous contacts have been maintained and developed with community leaders as well as entrepreneurs in the target neighborhoods. Plans are being finalized with three community economic development and/or assistance providers to establish a base in their centers. The Hazelwood Initiative is the most likely to house a spot for the Self Employment Opportunity Program to provide technical assistance to entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs in this area. Ms. Meyers feels that establishing a presence in the community will result in a stronger class for the next Self Employment Opportunity Program. The next class is scheduled to begin in September 2002.

Catherine M Meyers

Senior Management Consultant

CATEGORY 4 – JOB TRAINING

PART I - Project Summary and Synthesis

UCCDP was awarded the 2002 University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Affirmative Action Award at a recognition ceremony at the University Senate meeting in June. UCCDP was recognized for its 10-year history of bridging the gap from welfare to work by placing participants in at least 15 University of Pittsburgh and UPMC departments during that time. A $2500 award will be used to support UCCDP’s Family component.

In Oakland, UCCDP formalized its collaboration with Job*Links to provide expanded job readiness and placement services for local participants and reduce any duplication of services. Also, the National Student Partnership Project (a student volunteer organization at the University of Pittsburgh) has made efforts to work with UCCDP in developing a computer-training curriculum for UCCDP participants.

The UCCDP Advisory Board (AB) has been meeting on a quarterly basis to monitor UCCDP progress. The AB is composed of strategically selected Pitt and UPMC staff members, and community leaders. A primary activity of the AB is to assist with efforts to gain more credibility and visibility for the program throughout the two institutions. Another function of the AB is to give insight to the Director about possible partnerships with other community programs. The AB is also an important avenue for institutionalizing this program in the University.

Renewed funding from the Pittsburgh Partnership added another $50,000 to the standard budget and included the addition of a full-time Workforce Development Trainer/Mentor Coordinator to assist with all aspects of job seeking, workshop scheduling, and contact with UCCDP mentors. This new staff position has enabled UCCDP to provide more consistency of services to participants and increases the ability to expand its retention efforts. A September start date is the target for this new position.

UCCDP is seeking to expand its funding and network base through a closer working relationship with the leadership of the Office of Community and Governmental Relations with the Workforce Cultures staff at UPMC Health System.

PART II - Summary of Major Activities (Progress on Tasks)

Activity 4.1: Job Readiness Training

• Since January 19, 2002, thirty-three participants have been served through UCCDP. Of those, eleven have obtained full time employment, eleven have been or are currently participating in job readiness and twenty-two have been or are currently placed in Paid Work Experience sites throughout the University.

• Continued recruitment efforts in Oakland (Job Links), with new efforts in East Liberty (Addison Learning Terrace).

Activity 4.2: Supportive Services and Family Support

· Supportive services: Application completion assistance and cover letter/resume’ preparation have been provided to all participants. Mandatory workshops have been incorporated into the program with Tuesdays being set aside for speakers to come and speak to the current groups about various topics.

• An MSW student was assigned to work in the UCCDP office for the Spring of 2002. Her primary responsibilities were training UCCDP participants in weekly workshops pertaining to life skills and career development, developing a structured curriculum for the program, and assisting with the research survey. As a result of her efforts, the first program evaluation was completed and shared with the Advisory Committee. Also, the UCCDP Client Orientation Handbook was updated.

• The Annual UCCDP Picnic is scheduled for August 10, 2002 at Mellon Park. Families attended cultural and sporting events with tickets donated through a variety of sources.

Activity 4.3: Program Development and Evaluative Research

• The Director has made numerous contacts with potential partners in surrounding Oakland communities through the efforts of Mary Curet, UPMC Manager for Workforce Cultures (UCCDP Advisory Board Member).

• Research: Two doctoral GSA’s have been working with Associate Dean and UCCDP Principal Investigator to develop evaluative research component for UCCDP.

Crystal McCormick-Ware, Director Tracy Soska, PI - UCCDP

University-Community Career Development Partnership School of Social Work

PROJECT FOCUS 5: EDUCATION

Part I – Summary Narrative

• Milestones: For Breachmenders Ministries, Inc., with the support of the School of Education, its School-to-Career program, to date, has received more than $415,000.00 from foundation grants and an additional $95,600.00 has been received from Youth Works, a government source, to support the School-to-Career program.

Tutoring Program

The Urban Studies Program joined together with the University of Pittsburgh School of Education’s Pitt Project Tutor, a total of fourteen tutors, all Pitt students, five recruited by Housing Opportunities Unlimited and nine recruited by Pitt Project Tutor, have been stationed with the community’s after school program at the Mercy Neighborhood Center. These nine volunteers work individually with the students.

Tutors, students, the representative of Pitt Project Tutor, and the head of the after school program are pleased with the success of the program.

This program has been suspended for the summer. It will continue again in the fall. Of the 26 students enrolled, 14 made the honor roll this year. The community members are pleased about this and attribute this achievement.

School-to-Career and Youth Programming

The first year of the Breachmenders Ministries School-to-Career Program focused on the first step of a three-year plan:

Year One: Elementary after-school tutorial program,

Year Two: Secondary (middle and high school) academic and work-oriented support program, and

Year Three: Home and community support for children and youth as learners.

In this context, we began Year Two with a carefully structured elementary program that focused on homework completion and the development of personal skills such as organization and management, communication, problem solving/decision making and personal management skills (time, resources). Undergraduate students (22) from the University of Pittsburgh and Carlow College worked with students from all elementary levels, following the carefully structured program format.

During the second year of the project, the primary focus was on the secondary level. The pilot professional training program initiated with 20 students during the first summer was refined based on the first year’s experience. We used the COPS Career Orientation Program, the Goal Orientation Index and various learning style inventories to build a data-based profile for each student. Students were then encouraged to explore the world of work at various work sites including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Twelve students from the initial group will be participating in the third year of the program.

Part II - Summary of Major Activities (Progress on Tasks)

Activity 5.1: Children’s Literacy

• Fourteen (14) volunteer tutors were recruited – nine students and five community members.
• All volunteers were trained and assigned to weekly schedules, at least two each day. A number of volunteers also assist in the after-school program at the Mercy Health Center.
• Twenty-six (26) students were enrolled in tutoring this period, and of these, fourteen (14) made the honor roll at school. The community members are quite pleased about this and attribute this achievement.
• Evaluations were done on both volunteer tutors and their students, as well as with Pitt Project Tutor coordinator, the After-School Program director, and residents. Results were most satisfactory with student school success largely attributed to tutor support.

Activity 5.2: School-to-Career Program

• Twenty-two (22) undergraduate students from the University of Pittsburgh and Carlow College worked with students from all elementary levels
• The pilot professional training program initiated with twenty (20) students in the first year has continued, and twelve (12) students from the initial group will continue into the third year.
• Contact was made with three Pittsburgh high school principals and guidance personnel to lay the groundwork for the academic support program, which will be implemented in Year Three.
• A pilot program was conducted at one Pittsburgh middle school where one social studies teacher worked with four students to improve the use of study skills in the study of American history. Data from this pilot will be used to structure the academic skills support dimension of the program.
• The staff worked together to prepare a major proposal that was submitted to local Pittsburgh foundations. To date, more than $415,000.00 has been received from foundation grants and an additional $95,600.00 has been received from Youth Works, a government source, to support the School-to-Career program.

Shirley Biggs Kay Atman

Pitt Project Tutor School-to-Career Program

School of Education School of Education

PROJECT FOCUS 6: HEALTH AND WELLNESS

PART I - Project Summary and Synthesis

UPMC Health System’s Department of Community Initiatives collaborated with the two community health partnerships, HI HOPE and HOP (Healthy Oakland People), located in the COPC service area:

HI HOPE continues to operate an outreach office on Second Avenue in Hazelwood. The partnership received notice in April 2002 that the PA Department of Health awarded HI HOPE $273,000 to fund Year 2. The project director resigned due to personal reasons in April and was not replaced due to lack of funding. Therefore, the news of the continued funding enabled HI HOPE to begin a search to replace the project director. In addition to this position, the program employs a community nurse and two community health advocates. The nurse focuses her efforts on health programs for senior citizens (example: stress reduction classes, flu shots for shut-ins) and youth (examples: hygiene classes in the middle schools, conflict management classes, nutrition classes). The community health advocates work with community members on issues such as access to prescription drugs and treatment and follow-up care for people with chronic illnesses (diabetes, cancer, asthma, etc.). See the Outcomes Toolkit at (www.act-toolkit.com).

HOP (Healthy Oakland People)

HOP - Healthy Oakland People, a partnership of the Oakland community and UPMC -- has continued its monthly meetings. The HOP Health Partnership conducted nine focus groups to assess the community health needs. The focus groups were organized by local residents and comprised of youth group, seniors’ citizens and “the sandwich generation” across all five Oakland neighborhoods. After a review of the Oakland communities focus group health and health related information the six recurring themes developed from the focus groups were:

1). Preventive Dental Care Access

2). Lack of Education and Awareness to the healthcare services available

3) Transportation

4) Access to Mental Health Services

5) Youth quality after school, recreation program and Job Opportunities

6) Housing and Safety.

Many of these issues create an opportunity for the Oakland Health Partnership to identify possible interventions and areas of focus for the State Health Improvement Plan to be submitted to the PA Department of Health on behalf of the Oakland communities.

Bridging the Gaps – Summer Health & Wellness Internships

COPC funding supported three University of Pittsburgh graduate students with the Bridging the Gaps program. These students performed summer internships working with the COPC neighborhoods of Oakland, Uptown, and Glen Hazel (located in Hazelwood).

PART II - Summary of Major Activities (Progress on Tasks)

Activity 6.1 Community Health Inventories

• Inventories in both Oakland and Hazelwood have been completed and used as the basis for forming Community Health Partnerships under Pennsylvania’s State Health Improvement Program. However, focus session and additional assessment has identifying and prioritizing strategies for addressing health disparities.

Activity 6.2: Community Health Outreach/Partnerships

· Two Community Health Partnerships established from Community Health surveys HI HOPE (Greater Hazelwood) and HOP (Oakland) continue to meet regularly.

· HI HOPE received $273,000 from the PA Department of Health to continue operating a community outreach office in Hazelwood

· HI HOPE is seeking a new project director

· HOP conducted nine focus groups to assess the community health needs in Oakland

· HOP formed a task force to address health disparities in Oakland

· COPC funding supported three University of Pittsburgh Graduate Students in summer community health internships working in the COPC neighborhoods.

Richard Benfer, Vice President Ken Thompson, MD

Department of Community Initiatives Dept. Community Psychiatry

UPMC Health System Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic

and School of Medicine

University of Pittsburgh