Services:
Currently, UCAN devotes its
time and resources to three major program areas: Technical Assistance, Training,
and Organizing.
Technical Assistance and Consulting
• On-Site Technical Assistance: UCAN offers programs and assistance on site as
requested by community organizing groups. Most commonly, this includes
consultation with the director, issue, strategy and organizational development,
and financial management, management issues, sustainability planning and
fundraising.
• Clearinghouse: UCAN serves as a central clearinghouse for information for
organizing groups in Connecticut.
• Grant management: UCAN manages the Community Driven Health Promotion
Initiative for the Connecticut Health Foundation. UCAN works with nine grantees
to coordinated technical assistance, provide overall program management, and to
manage the evaluation process.
Training
• Community Organizing Training: UCAN offers group and individual training to
new and experienced community organizers.
• Leadership Training: UCAN offers group training to leaders of community
organizing groups. UCAN’s Empowerment! Series offers leaders a bi-monthly
training session with practical hints on being an effective leader.
• Board training: UCAN provides training for Executive Boards of organizations
such as the role of the Board, oversight requirements, financial management, and
fundraising.
Organizing
• In 1984 UCAN created United Seniors in Action (USA), a statewide coalition of
community organizations and senior retiree groups that UCAN continues to staff.
• In 1999, UCAN expanded its Health Care Organizing to include families and to
coordinate all its health care organizing under the banner of Caring Families
Coalition.
• Since 1995 UCAN has provided staff assistance to the South Meadows Problem
Solving Committee, a group of merchants in the South Meadows neighborhood in
Hartford dealing with issues such as public safety, restricting adult
entertainment, traffic, drainage, and other concerns of the businesspeople in
the area.
