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Service providers at ACF forum urge more local flexibility, faster damage assessment
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Summary
Direct service providers said flexibility in funding and prebuilt local networks helped them move from months to days in assessments and deliver services to newly affected households; they highlighted CSBG, LIHEAP, LIHWAP and emergency childcare models.
At a panel moderated by Seth Hassett of the Office of Community Services (OCS), national and local providers outlined operational lessons for disaster human services. "OCS is an anti‑poverty office" Hassett said, describing tools including CSBG flexibilities, LIHEAP, LIHWAP and an 'extreme heat dashboard.' He framed OCS's role in aligning federal tools with local networks.
Denise Harlow of the Community Action network said community action agencies are trusted local partners who can deploy mobile units and flexible dollars quickly to reach households. "We have the trust in the community," Harlow said, noting CAAs served millions annually and can pivot to on‑the‑ground assistance.
Melissa Mesquita of Save the Children described emergency childcare for essential workers and programs that embed literacy and social‑emotional supports when centers reopen. "We fund emergency child care now," she said, noting pop‑up camps after Hurricane Ian.
Paula Johnson, bureau chief for the Harris County Area Agency on Aging, described responding to older adults in non‑regulated "55+" apartment buildings, using cross‑agency outreach and new delivery models to maintain meals and in‑home services during extended outages.
Panelists said a central challenge is getting timely ground assessments: Save the Children said assessment timelines moved from months to 72 hours by leaning on hub networks and year‑round training. Speakers repeatedly urged federal programs to give local providers discretionary flexibility and funding mechanisms that reduce application complexity.
Why it matters: Providers described how program rules, technology barriers and application complexity slow recovery for vulnerable households. Examples ranged from an 80‑room motel purchase to house wildfire survivors to phone‑based call centers for older adults during COVID vaccination campaigns.
Next steps: Panelists urged ACF and partners to keep building interoperable resource maps (2‑1‑1), invest in digital equity, and fund community partners for long‑term recovery work beyond the initial inflow of donations.
