IDA Legislation and CoalitionBuilding: Broader Policy Implications of a Midwest BiState Coalition

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IDA Legislation and Coalition-BuildingBroader
Policy Implicationsof a Midwest Bi-State
Coalition

• Melinda Lewis, El Centro, Inc.
• Lisa Mason, MOKANSave

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IDA Legislation in Missouri

• CED Committee of MASW helped draft model
  legislation, secured sponsors, and mobilized a
  highly active coalition. Key factors physical
  presence in the capitol (staff and practicum
  students), statewide network, and specific tasks
  for coalition members to accomplish.
• 1999 Family Development Account Tax Credit
  Program established. Authorizes 50 state income
  tax credits for contributions to organizations
  that administer an FDA project. Organizations
  must have a 352 status.

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IDA Legislation in Kansas

• Comprehensive IDA legislation has been introduced
  3 times, without passage.
• 2001 Assistive Device IDA Program Act passed,
  with limited state tax credits to leverage
  matching funds for individuals with disabilities
  to purchase assistive technology devices.

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MOKANSave

• New bi-state effort across Missouri and Kansas to
  promote asset-building programs and policies such
  as IDAs.
• Launched in February 2002 by the CED Committee of
  the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, in
  partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman
  Foundation, the Center for Social Development, El
  Centro, Inc., and Heart of America Family
  Services.

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Why Bi-State?

• Affiliation with Kansas City organizations.
• Opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and
  resources.
• Opportunity to explore a collaborative effort
  across state lines, to generate valuable
  information about translating asset-building
  policies across states.
• Step towards a multi-state or regional effort to
  promote IDAs.

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Goals

• Increase access to information and research on
  asset-building and IDAs in Missouri and Kansas.
• Assist coalition-building efforts of
  organizations and groups in both states.
• Provide assistance with policy efforts in both
  states.

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Strategies

• Organize community informational forums about
  IDAs.
• Develop the MOKANSave webpage.
• Organize an annual bi-state IDA conference.

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Community Forums

• Accomplished
• Wichita, Kansas
• June 26
• 35 participants
• Garden City, Kansas
• October 15
• 20 participants

• Projected
• Salina, Kansas
• Discussed at GC forum
• Spring, 2002
• Jefferson City, Missouri
• Promote FDA program
• Spring, 2002
• Rural Missouri
• Raise awareness about IDAs

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MOKANSave Webpage

• Launched July, 2002 www.masw.org/mokansave
• Areas
• Asset-Building Basics - IDA Program Development
• Calendar of Events - IDA Advocacy
• In the News - Links
• Surveys to all Missouri and Kansas contacts for
  guidance and suggestions.

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Bi-State IDA Conference

• May 8-9, 2003 at the Ewing Marion Kauffman
  Foundation in Kansas City.
• Coalition-Building
• Training
• Policy Development
• Building Support

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Policy Implications

• Missouri
• Contribute to the implementation of existing
  policy.
• Coalition in place if/when legislation is
  revisited.
• Increase support across state lines.
• Kansas
• Generate interest in IDAs statewide.
• Coalition in place if/when legislation is
  introduced.
• Increase support across state lines.

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Policy Implications (contd)

• Bi-state
• Monthly updates, listserv (planned), and annual
  conference will enable policy and program
  practices, experiences, and ideas to be readily
  disseminated across both states.
• Beyond
• Multi-state initiatives?
• Regional initiatives?

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Impact of MOKANSave in Kansas
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Discussion

• Coalition-Building Models
• Pros and Cons
• Considerations in Choosing a Model
• Starting a Coalition
• Questions