6 Outreach, 2605(b)(3) - Assurance 3, 2605(c)(3)(A)

6.1 Select all outreach activities that you conduct that are designed to assure that eligible households are made aware of all LIHEAP assistance available: Place posters/flyers in local and county social service offices, offices of aging, Social Security offices, VA, etc. Publish articles in local newspapers or broadcast media announcements. Include inserts in energy vendor billings to inform individuals of the availability of all types of LIHEAP assistance. Mass mailing(s) to prior-year LIHEAP recipients. Inform low income applicants of the availability of all types of LIHEAP assistance at application intake for other low-income programs. Execute interagency agreements with other low-income program offices to perform outreach to target groups. Web Posting Email Texting Events Social Media Other (specify): The state issues press releases regarding LIHEAP. Human service zone offices and alternate outreach organizations distribute heating assistance application forms to all individuals upon request, and provide such application forms to fuel suppliers, Community Action Agencies, senior citizen centers or any other individuals or organizations that are willing to distribute the form to potentially eligible households. Community Options Outreach The Department contracts with Community Options to provide outreach services with a focus on elderly and people with disabilities. Community Options Specialists participates in local events at Senior Centers, businesses and organizations to give marketing presentations for LIHEAP and provide information and education about the program by placing flyers/door hangers in local communities statewide. They also attend various conferences around the state and conduct outreach activities via booth presentations. In addition, they provide applications to interested clients, assist clients with completing applications and obtaining the required verifications, assist counties in obtaining necessary verifications for eligibility, and conduct home visits to home-bound individuals to assist with the application process. All activities are coordinated with Human Service Zone office and the community action agencies to ensure that there is no duplication of services. LIHEAP applications are also sent to all fixed income households from the prior year via mass-mailing in September. Marketing The state will implement a marketing campaign via a third-party vendor. The marketing efforts will focus on promoting the LIHEAP program to our target populations (individuals with young children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. If actual LIHEAP funding is more or less than estimated in the Final Plan, North Dakota's LIHEAP may increase or decrease the marketing/outreach activities. Additionally, North Dakota's LIHEAP reserves the right to shorten or extend the program depending on the availability of funds, increased demand, or other factors that impact the expenditures of LIHEAP funds. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.