Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries, Inc.
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Mission Statement
The Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries, Inc. (ACAM) is a nonprofit management support organization fostering innovation through the coordination of a diverse network of 71 nonprofit and community organizations with the mission to advance community-wide solutions through collaboration to strengthen the safety net in Greater Houston. ACAM was founded 20 years ago to increase the capacity of programs that meet basic needs, connect low-income families to social services, and remove barriers to gainful employment.
About This Cause
Programs ACAM developed the proprietary Nine Elements Assessment Tool (NEAT)© to provide evaluation and technical assistance in 9 core areas: board leadership, human resources, financial management, fund development, program strategies and outcomes, community relationships, technology, facilities, and executive leadership. By providing a comprehensive look at an organization’s strengths and areas for growth, NEAT© serves as a foundational step in the organizational development process. As part of the OND Program, ACAM provides grants to network organizations based on their assessment results. These grants are used to implement capacity-building plans aimed at long-term strategic growth. In addition to funding for organizational development, professional development grants are available for staff and volunteer training. Resiliency FIRST is a high-touch, short-term intervention program within the OND framework. Through this initiative, families are empowered for self-sufficiency and stability. Cut: ACAM developed the proprietary Nine Elements Assessment Tool (NEAT)© to provide evaluation and technical assistance in 9 core areas: board leadership, human resources, financial management, fund development, program strategies and outcomes, community relationships, technology, facilities, and executive leadership. By providing a comprehensive look at an organization’s strengths and areas for growth, NEAT© serves as a foundational step in the organizational development process. As part of the OND Program, ACAM provides grants to network organizations based on their assessment results. These grants are used to implement capacity-building plans aimed at long-term strategic growth. In addition to funding for organizational development, professional development grants are available for staff and volunteer training. 2. AT-PACE© – Assessment Tool for Program Advancement© In essence, AT-PACE© is an abridged version of ACAM's NEAT©. AT-PACE© focuses specifically on enhancing the effectiveness of service delivery models. This tool helps organizations evaluate their current programs, identify areas for improvement, and align services with best practices. It provides the roadmap for improving outcomes through more efficient, impactful programming. 3. Resiliency FIRST Resiliency FIRST is a high-touch, short-term intervention program within the OND framework. It supports families in crisis who are not yet ready for traditional self-sufficiency or financial mobility programs. Through this initiative, families are empowered with the tools for self-sufficiency and stability. Over the course of six to eight weeks, resiliency coaches work directly with clients to create goal plans, connect them with necessary services, and offer consistent follow-up and accountability. The program focuses on building resiliency and helping clients take initial steps toward long-term stability. It bridges the gap between crisis services and long-term stability programs by ensuring that individuals have the necessary support to move toward self-sufficiency. Resiliency FIRST strengthens the safety net by providing essential services and serves as a replicable model for advancing collaboration and amplifying regional impact. CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANTS TO IMPLEMENT ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS As part of the OND Program, ACAM provides grants to network organizations based on their assessment results. These grants are used to implement capacity-building plans aimed at long-term strategic growth. In addition to funding for organizational development, professional development grants are available for staff and volunteer training. Through this process, over $3 million has been granted to ACAM network organizations, resulting in: • New Leadership Capacity: Strategic planning, board retreats, leadership development • Enhanced Social Enterprise Operations: Increased revenue, improved thrift store productivity, and business planning • Boosted Infrastructure: IT system upgrades, client/donor databases, updated websites • Strengthened Support Base: Increased congregational giving, volunteer hours, and diversified funding sources These investments have led to enhanced services, such as: • Expanded food pantry services • Increased children served through back-to-school programs • Additional mental health, parent education, and healthcare navigator services • More service units and extended hours Training & Networking ACAM’s Training & Networking programming consistently focuses on building skills and relationships for program and managerial staff of partner organizations. Content stems from needs identified by participating agencies, industry best practice standards, and the network’s commitment to the continuous improvement of client-centered programming. In 2024, ACAM hosted 38 events, for 529 participants of which 242 were unduplicated attendees from 58 organizations. 98% of participants rated the meeting as excellent/good in anonymous surveys, 100% of trainees returning surveys found trainings informative and useful, and 100% relevant to their work. Pre-/post-tests specifically designed for each workshop revealed an average 23.2% increase in knowledge as a result of the sessions. To strengthen this network ACAM convenes the following six groups, each with a different focus, for the purpose of networking, training and collaboration: • Executive Leadership • Volunteer Management • Program Development & Care Coordination • Resource Development • Thrift Store Institute • Other Opportunities Collaborative Initiatives Since 2004, ACAM has led 649 collaborative programs, braiding together over $14.2 in private and federal funding to funnel resources into, and build the capacity of, the regional human service safety net. This comprehensive experience spans designing, implementing, and monitoring integrated programs, culminating in a proven track record of impactful outcomes. As a result, ACAM has a reputation for being a responsive, relevant, and productive organization that equips community-minded nonprofits with the tools and programs they need to face a multitude of issues that affect the quality of life of vulnerable people. ACAM has a strong CEO at the helm, experienced at strategically leveraging private/public funding to bring more resources to the region. Current collaborative initiatives include programs for families experiencing housing instability, basic needs assistance (food, emergency financial aid), youth disconnection, workforce development, and public benefits application assistance. Community Education & Outreach ACAM represents the Network at sector and cross-sector collaborative planning sessions, conferences, and workshops of external organizations across the region to keep informed of industry trends and best practices, and to champion the issues that are important to our partners. These community education and outreach events are opportunities to make connections and participate in the development of cross sector partnerships and programs, as well as serve as a representative for the ACAM Network in key advocacy areas including: Homeless Prevention/Intervention & Affordable Housing, Poverty Reduction, Capacity Building & Collaboration, Other Outreach & Education, Disaster Relief & Crisis Response, Public Health, Health Access & Nonmedical Drivers of Health (NMDH), Disconnected Youth, Employment Services, Partner Outreach, VISTA trainings, and Fund Development. ACAM staff participated in 607 community education and outreach meetings in 2024. Management Support Opportunity Youth / Young Adult Programs Youth education and employment disconnection is a crisis in our region. Nearly 125,000 young adults between the ages of 16-24 are neither working nor in school. Disconnection has both short- and long-term effects on individuals and families. Young adults who experience disconnection have a dramatically different path after 15 years. Those who remain in education or employment earn $38,400 more annually, are 45% more likely to own a home, are 42% more likely to be employed, and are 52% more likely to report excellent or good health (Measure of America, “Two Futures: The Case for Keeping Youth on Track,” 2018). Services designed to connect young adults to education, training, and employment can be difficult to access and complicated to coordinate. The challenge of navigating from a low-skilled job (or informal employment) to a suitable technical skills training program and securing a role in an in-demand occupation is daunting for even the most tenacious. In order to scalably reconnect young adults who are not engaged with any educational system or employer, the region needs a multi-faced collaborative approach to young adult reconnection. ACAM houses two separate but symbiotic collaborative initiatives to support young adults to reconnect with work and school: the Greater Houston Opportunity Youth Collaborative (GHOYC) and the Next Generation of Youth Employment Services Program (NextGen). Together, these programs have launched the Peer Navigator Program. The Peer Navigator Program provides young adults with lived experience internship opportunities to serve at local social service organizations where they support case management of their peers and engage in outreach to opportunity youth. The aim of the program is to provide professional development to opportunity youth with lived experience, increase engagement of opportunity youth, and enhance services offered to young adults by adding structured peer support. Greater Houston Opportunity Youth Collaborative (GHOYC) The GHOYC supports opportunity youth & young adults from a systems-level change point of view, bringing together organizations, employers, and young adults to create education and career pathways for the next generation of workers. Following the motto “nothing about us, without us,” the Young Adult Action Advisory Council, a group of young adults with lived experience, informs the direction of the GHOYC. The GHOYC's website serves as a central hub for information and resources related to initiatives supporting youth re-engagement.