Community Action Partnership of Natrona County (CAPNC) conducts an annual needs assessment. Information from the needs assessment is used to develop our Annual CSBG Community Action Plan. In 1996 and 2000 the HSC participated in the "Dialogue on Poverty" a nationwide effort coordinated by the National Association of Community Action Agencies. The purpose was to raise awareness about poverty, to give a voice to low-income people in the policy making process and to identify and mobilize local. State, and national resources that poor individuals, families, and communities need to become more self-sufficient. Participants had the opportunity at six town meetings to offer solutions that will help reduce poverty.

Local Agency Funding

CAPNC provides local funding of human services programs. Funding is provided through Natrona County and City of Casper General Funds and 1% funds. Funding is available for senior services, preschool developmental services, mental health, substance abuse prevention and treatment, family violence services, developmental disability services, and youth services. Request for Proposals are requested in late March or early April of each year. In 2004-2005, CAPNC provided funding to 11 agencies.

Grants Management

Besides the services the CAPNC provides directly through a number of federal grants (CSBG, HCH, and TANF), the CAPNC also administers a number of other federal grants and subcontracts. These grants include the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG), Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Grant, and Community Development Block Grant.

Continuum of Care for the Homeless

Since 1997 the CAPNC has sponsored the Casper Area Homeless Collaborative, a coalition of agencies working to develop a continuum of care of services for the homeless. Since March 2000 the HSC has also sponsored the Wyoming Statewide Homeless Collaborative, a confederation of regional continuum of care coalitions in Wyoming. The HSC has been the sponsor for the HUD Continuum of Care grant application from 1997 to 1999 for the Casper Area Homeless Collaborative from 2000 to 2001 for the Wyoming Statewide Homeless Collaborative.

Resource Directories

Since 1984, CAPNC has published a Human Services Directory. The directory is published every two years and includes information on over 150 agencies. In 2004, the Natrona County Workforce Development Council cosponsored the printing of the Directory.