2015 results - Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

//////Amherst
///////////H.///Wilder
/////////Foundation
/////////////////////////////////////////
The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves
children, families and older adults in greater Saint Paul through direct service
programs, research, leadership development and community building. In 2013
over 8,500 children, families and older adults were served by Wilder.
Our programs focus on children and families achieving their full potential,
older adults maximizing their quality of life, and residents and leaders being
informed and engaged in creating solutions to vital community issues.
Wilder Research works independently of Wilder programs, conducts
non-partisan research, and does not endorse or take positions on any specific
legislation. Each year, Wilder Research works with more than 170 organizations
in Minnesota and the nation to understand emerging trends; identify needs
and solutions at the policy, community, and program levels; measure program
effectiveness; and increase public awareness of issues.
For more information on
Wilder’s Public Policy,
please contact Patrick Ness at
[email protected] or 651-280-2463
meet needs remember us build strength welcome friends
work together provide service share knowledge practice
compassion
press forward create access transform lives
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
inspire
community
families value elders nurture
451 Lexington
Parkway N, Saint Paul, support
MN 55104
651-280-2000
•
www.wilder.org
children
be creative provide relief seize opportunity dem
www.facebook.com/wilderfoundation
onstrate stewardship preserve tomorrow benefit people
promote health exercise reason remain hopeful advance
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
2015 Legislative Agenda Results
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation has
a proud history of serving residents
of Saint Paul and the surrounding
communities. Wilder’s unique
combination of direct services, research,
and community capacity building
contributes to a stronger region for all.
Wilder endorses policies that advance
social and economic opportunity for
low-income people in the East Metro and
across Minnesota.
meet needs remember us build strength welcome friends
work together provide service share knowledge practice
compassion press forward create access transform lives
inspire community support families value elders nurture
children be creative provide relief seize opportunity dem
onstrate stewardship preserve tomorrow benefit people
promote health exercise reason remain hopeful advance
equality remove barriers meet needs remember us build
/////2015
///////Public
//////////Policy
//////////Priorities
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Wilder supports the following priorities:
Wilder endorses the following policies:
by actively engaging and advancing efforts around the legislation:
Secure investments in housing and homeless services.
Results:
• Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program:
$1.3 million increase
• Housing Trust Fund: $1.9 million increase
• Rental Assistance for Students of Highly Mobile Families:
$2 million increase, one-time funding
• Long-Term Homeless Supportive Services:
$2 million increase
• Homeless Youth Act: $2 million increase
Increase monthly Minnesota Family Investment Program cash
assistance by $100 per month for 40,000 Minnesota families.
Results: Did not pass. Provision was included in Governor’s
budget and Senate HHS omnibus bill, but did not make it into
the final agreement.
Invest in the Educational Partnerships Fund to support
holistic, community-based approaches to academic
achievement, both inside and outside the school setting.
Results: $5 million increase for the Educational Partnerships
Fund
• Includes $2 million increase for both the Saint Paul Promise
Neighborhood and the Northside Achievement Zone
• Includes $1 million for StriveTogether partners in Red Wing,
Northfield, and St. Cloud
Advocate for a statewide mental health system that is of high
quality, accessible, and has stable funding.
Enhance the quality and availability of early childhood
education for low-income children.
Results: $48 million increase, and the scholarship amount
was raised from $5,000 to $7,500 per child.
Increase access to healthy foods for low-income
Minnesotans.
Results: $325,000 investment in the Healthy Access Here
at Home pilot to provide $10 vouchers to SNAP recipients to
purchase healthy food at local farmers markets.
Establish earned sick leave benefit standard in the case of
illness of the worker or a family member.
Results: Did not pass.
Streamline and improve support of family and friend
caregivers by passing the CARE Act to ensure adequate
record keeping, notice of discharge from a facility, and live
instruction of medical tasks that the caregiver will perform
at home.
Results: Did not pass.
Restore the right to vote for those with felonies living in the
community.
Results: Did not pass.
Ensure that all young people have access to high-quality
before-school, after-school, and summer learning
opportunities by creating a new state public funding stream
to fund competitive grants for out-of-school programs
primarily serving low-income youth.
Results: Did not pass.
Results: $46 million increased investment in mental health
services, including:
• $5.5 million to stabilize intensive services, and direct
completion of a provider rate payment study
• $5.4 million to advance the Behavioral Health Home model
Wilder’s Legislative Agenda supports our mission to improve the social
welfare of people living in the East Metro and is informed by our research
and practice expertise.