Please Participate in the 2009 Rockford Community Poverty Reduction Survey

The Rockford Horizons Leadership Team, comprised of your Rockford neighbors, is beginning to prepare a strategic action plan to reduce poverty through the year 2012. (This is the third and final development step in our 18-month long Horizons community leadership project which began in September 2008). The first step is to survey residents and community members to see what they feel are the most important and promising strategies to adopt. The next, second step will be to hold two community meetings (June 23 & 30 at 6:00pm at the Harvest Moon) to gather additional public input and to write the action plan. Please plan on attending and bring friends/neighbors!

We invite you to take the survey located to your right. All answers are strictly confidential! All input will help us shape the above mentioned Action Plan! Your input is very important and all ideas will be considered in plan development.

This survey is organized around three guiding poverty reduction goals identified by our funder, the Northwest Area Foundation. They include: increased individual assets/wealth among low income people, increased community capacity to achieve sustainable prosperity, and improved public policy solutions to reduce poverty.

Thank you for taking the Community Poverty Reduction Survey.

Yard & Garden Debris Collection Event

On Saturday May 9th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm there will be an area set up behind the Rockford City Hall to bring your yard waste. Leaves, grass, brush and other home yard trimmings are welcome. There is no charge. If you have a waste pile in your yard and have no way to haul it to the collection area, please notify the City Hall @ 291-4716 before 4:00 pm on May 8th.

Rockford Farmers' & Flea Market

Starts on Saturday, May 29th and 30th and every Saturday through September 12th. It is held in the Rockford City Park from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Farmers and vendors are wanted! The cost to participate is $10 per space, due at sign-up. Fresh produce from the town's three community gardens will be for sale as it becomes available Proceeds go to the food bank and a future community center. Contact Todd @ (509) 291-4601 for registration and information.

Rockford Community Wide Garage Sale

This 2nd annual community event will be on May 29th-30th. The Rockford United Methodist Church, Rockford Historical Society and the Southeast Spokane County Fair will have items for sale. If you want to participate contact Todd @ (509) 291-4601 and get your name on the free "Map of Rockford Sales".

Basketball in the Park

The beginning of the spring/summer activities for youth begins on Wednesday, May 6th. Come to the park from 8:00 to 9:30 pm every Wednesday night and join in the fun! Adults are encouraged to participate (it will certainly keep you in shape).

Downtown Rockford

Coaches Comments on Study Circles

Having the occasion to attend several Study Circles in Rockford, I'm very impressed at how many people are concerned about the vitality of the community. Study Circle participants are identifying a wide range of creative ways to reduce poverty. The process is working!
Patrick Malone

Education

The SallieMae Fund
Dedicated to increase access to higher education for America's students, "Top 10 Tips for Planning and Paying for College,"
http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/smfnew/fin_aid/index.html.

Federal Student Aid
Financial aid for higher education
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Health

Health:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/National Cancer Institutehttp://www.cancer.gov/

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/

US Department Health & Human Services
http://www.ahrq.gov/.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Funding Opportunities,
Provides grants and contracts announcements, notices, information about upcoming research agendas and research training assistance and a multitude of health links.
http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/.

Government Benefits
The official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs.
http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal

Disability Benefits
http://www.disability.gov/

National Institute on Drug Abuse
Supports research that will a) increase understanding of the causes and consequences of drug abuse and b) reduce or eliminate durg use and abuse.
http://www.nida.nih.gov/

CRISP Biomedical Information
CRISP (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects) is a searchable database of federally funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other research institutions. The database, maintained by the Office of Extramural Research at the National Institutes of Health, includes projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMSHA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), Agency for Health Care Policy Research (AHCPR), and Office of Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH). Users, including the public, can use the CRISP interface to search for scientific concepts, emerging trends and techniques, or identify specific projects and/or investigators.
http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/