Update April 29, 2009

Wednesday, 29 April 2009 09:18

A lot of things are happening, all at once. The MCMC project continues to chart a new course in the way that the Federal government can partner with States in order to deliver Human Services following a disaster. This was illustrated this week as the FEMA Region IV finance team visited us in Jackson. This visit marked the very first time that a FEMA finance review team had conducted a site visit for a Disaster Case Management program that it had funded. The result: the MCMC finance team exceeded all expectations in their preparation for the visit, and the FEMA finance review team praised what they saw. In the world of auditing and financial review, it is very rare to be told that your records “are some of the best we have ever seen.” This statement was made by a very seasoned FEMA employee who reported that her 17 year career with FEMA had given her the opportunity to see many things. So, to say that the MCMC project had produced some of the best documentation and standards that she had seen is no small feat. Paulette and Jane are to be commended for their tremendous hard work and attention to detail, and I hope that you all appreciate what they do for your agencies in terms of assisting you to build capacity that is preparing you for the future in your work and affiliation with government funding.

A couple of other issues that are before us include the May 1^st end of the Individual Housing Program (IHP) which funds the temporary housing units, and the June 1^st end of the MCMC programmatic operations. We are working diligently to review options, and are pressing forward with justifications as to why the MCMC project is worthwhile to consider for an extended period of service. We are meeting with State and Federal representatives and other stakeholders to determine what, if any, options exist for additional funding for the program and will certainly keep you posted as events unfold. We are also working to understand and assist with the coordination efforts that are needed to implement the Housing Choice Voucher program and other HUD related resources. Many of you have contributed to that conversation already and we certainly do need your continued feedback on HUD issues.

Finally, I had the pleasure of sitting in on an MCVS staff meeting on Monday morning. It was refreshing to hear all of the ideas and plans that MCVS is making for the future of volunteerism within the State. One of the phrases that I heard, and that really made an impact on me this week was: ‘We do not serve humanity because it is broken, but because it is Holy.’ This word of encouragement was offered by one of the youngest members of the staff and was attributed to Mother Theresa. Both of those factors increase the impact of the statement for me. We would all do good to keep a fresh, youthful, perspective as we go about our work, less we become jaded and cynical. And, I think Mother Theresa had it right. Humanity, although we are a broken lot, are still Holy and deserving of each others’ love and compassion. Remember, this week, that although we will not be able “fix” every broken person or system, we are still called to serve and to try our best to leave something better than we found it.

Blessings,

Stephen