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SECTION 1000

OUTREACH

LIHEAP MANUAL JANUARY 2022 44

1000 BACKGROUND

Special outreach emphasis will be placed on informing and reaching homebound and elderly households. The State will reserve the first thirty (30) days to conduct outreach activities to identify, target and serve homebound households and households in which all adult members are 65 years of age or older.

1000.1 REQUIREMENT

The State will conduct outreach efforts to assure that potentially eligible households are made aware of assistance available through the Energy Assistance Program. Special efforts will be made to inform and reach households with homebound individuals including the elderly and persons with limited English proficiency.

This effort will include, at a minimum:

• Posters • Brochures • Local public service announcements • News releases and other information concerning the program

1000.2 STATE COORDINATION

The State will encourage local coordination of outreach activities between the Area Agencies on Aging and the local administering agencies.

The State will reserve the first thirty (30) days of the Energy Assistance Program to conduct outreach activities to identify and serve homebound households, disabled and households where all members are aged 65 years or older. Activities during this period will include media releases, home visits, and application intake.

Communication with disabled groups will inform low income persons of program availability and how to access services.

Other outreach activities will include informing CAAs of local assistance programs available. The following agencies will be asked to assist with the distribution of information fact sheets, brochures, and posters:

• Community Action Agencies • Area Agencies on Aging • Vocational Rehabilitation/ Department of Labor • Home Energy Suppliers offices • DFCS • County Departments of Public Health • Home Health Care Agencies