CAN About Us

ABOUT CAN

Programs • Adult Programs • Services • Community Building

Mission Statement. Community Action Network's mission is to serve families from public housing communities in Washtenaw County. CAN helps them lead successful lives by providing educational and life skills programs for children and teens, and supportive housing services for families. CAN advocates for low-income families with schools, community service providers, and government agencies. CAN develops awareness in the broader community of the challenges these families face. CAN strives to build strong, stable and safe communities, which benefits all Washtenaw County residents.

What does Community Action Network Do? CAN provides, free of charge, to family members legally residing at public housing sites:

Services Because CAN's clients represent a range of skills and challenges, their ability to navigate services and systems varies. CAN's support starts where the clients' abilities leave off, ranging from giving out resource phone numbers, to setting up appointments and providing transportation & translation services, and even advocating with and on behalf of a resident. Support includes:

Eviction and DTE shut off prevention
Referrals for counseling and substance abuse prevention
Referrals to Legal Services
Free eye exams and glasses
Warm the Children shopping vouchers
Food Gatherers distribution
ESL and literacy tutors
Day and overnight summer camp ccholarships
Gently used furniture and household goods
Advocacy in children's schools, including at IEPs
Advocacy at DHS, CPS and Family Court
Translation of school, DHS and INS paperwork
Head Start and all day kindergarden enrollment
Health Insurance (MICHILD, WHP and Medicaid) Enrollment
Accessing dental, and health care
Enrollment in Adult Education through GED programs or local colleges

Community Building CAN is committed to building strong and self-reliant communities:

Establish and provide staff support for Resident Councils at both sites (These councils address community concerns, site improvements, serve as a liaison with the Ann Arbor Housing Commission and fulfill an advisory role to our center staff for program and activity planning purposes.)
Sponsor potlucks, Halloween parties, Easter egg scavenger hunts, back to school BBQ's, Thanksgiving dinners and Santa parties.
Support Project Grow community gardens
CAN provides staff support during the twice monthly (Hikone) and once monthly (GBC) Food Gatherers distributions, which require community members to set up the room, unload and distribute the food - set aside food for those who cannot attend, and clean up the center afterwards.
Promote non-violent conflict resolution by mediating when residents have conflicts and by offering workshops in conflict resolution.
Educate about cultural and religious diversity and promote tolerance and friendship between American born and International resident families
Take leadership role in helping our communities be clean, attractive, and safe neighborhoods, where adults collectively support the positive growth of children & youth
CAN organizes (and provides childcare for) social events and adult workshops on such subjects as parenting cooking, first aid, etc.
CAN publishes community newsletters (GBC mostly).
CAN organizes an annual trip to the Toledo Zoo for all families