STEP, Inc.
From childcare shortages to rural transportation gaps, STEP, Inc. is redefining what’s possible in Community Action. In this episode, CEO Rachelle Abbott joins Beck Moore to explore how STEP is breaking barriers with innovative childcare solutions and tackling transportation deserts in rural Pennsylvania.
Rachelle also shares insights on trauma-informed intake processes, the economic impact of Community Action, and how these initiatives create lasting, sustainable growth for local communities. Don’t miss this conversation on the power of bold, forward-thinking solutions!
Thinking CAAP Talking Points
[00:00] Introductions and STEP Agency Overview
Beck Moore introduces special guest Rachelle Abbott, CEO of STEP, Inc.
Overview of STEP, Inc., serving Lycoming, Clinton, and Tioga counties within Pennsylvania’s Community Action Network.
[01:15] STEP’s Comprehensive Approach
Rachelle highlights STEP’s lifecycle programs ranging from Head Start and Early Head Start to workforce development, transportation, housing rehabilitation, and aging services.
STEP's unique positioning as one of two Pennsylvania community action agencies that include Area Agency on Aging under their umbrella.
[07:25] Innovative Transportation Solution
Discussion of STEP’s designated stop transportation program, created to tackle Clinton County's transportation desert by efficiently using existing bus capacity.
The program's success in providing reliable transportation primarily to workplaces, enhancing local economic stability.
[09:17] Trauma-Informed Intake Processes
Emphasis on STEP’s trauma-informed approach designed to reduce retraumatization by minimizing repetitive client intake processes.
Rachelle details how this approach builds trust, supports strength-based customer services, and fosters pathways to self-sufficiency.
[11:42] Addressing Unexpected Poverty and Homelessness
Exploration of STEP’s Supportive Housing Program, assisting those facing sudden life crises (medical emergencies, loss of income) regain financial independence.
[13:31] Innovative Childcare: Substitute Aide Pool (SAP) Program
Introduction of STEP’s Substitute Aide Pool (SAP) program, connecting individuals interested in childcare with local facilities needing temporary staff.
Utilizes an innovative app-based system for efficient matchmaking between childcare providers and substitute aides.
[15:31] Childcare’s Community-Wide Impact
SAP program’s critical role in preventing childcare closures, supporting family employment, and strengthening the local economy.
Plans to expand the program to Clinton and Tioga counties, highlighting its replicable nature.
[17:15] Busting Community Action Myths
Rachelle addresses misconceptions around "handouts," clarifying that community action focuses on empowerment and building sustainable strengths.
Reinforces STEP's goal of long-term community self-sufficiency, reducing dependency on services.
[19:39] Community Action as an Economic Driver
Discussion on how STEP revitalizes blighted areas (such as renovating former school buildings and commercial properties), contributing significantly to local economic development and employment opportunities.
The broader vision of creating vibrant communities where residents can thrive, aligning with community action’s mission.
[23:48] Conclusion and Looking Forward
Beck and Rachelle express gratitude and discuss future podcast topics, encouraging listeners to get involved with STEP and community action agencies across Pennsylvania.
Transcript of Episode 8
00:00
Hi everybody, and welcome to the ThinkingCAAP. I'm Beck Moore, the CEO. Typically, I am accompanied by one of our co-hosts, either Heather Holloway or Amanda Hopridge, and unfortunately, today I'm by myself, but that's okay, because I have a phenomenal guest with me, Rachelle Abbott, who is on another episode as well to talk about her. It's her leadership journey. But today we are here to talk about, very specifically her organization, STEP, which serves Lycoming, Clinton, and Tioga counties within the community action network here in Pennsylvania. So welcome Rochelle. So happy to have you again.
00:31
Very glad to be back here. Thanks so much. Excited to have a conversation.
00:36
Yeah, so one of the things that we've really start to do within the ThinkingCAAP within our podcast is to talk a little bit about our agencies, meeting with some of our executive directors, talk about who each of you are, because while we are very much unified in our framework of community action and the way that we look at things, evaluating community needs assessments and trying to create programs and strategies to address those community needs. And Jen wintermeyer says this in our video, right? Even the way that we address those needs within a local community, from one zip code to the next can be very different. And so we want to make sure to share a little bit about each of our networks, organizations, what you do, some of the programs that you run, and so that's what we're here to do today.
01:16
All right, well, I could talk about this forever, so make sure you get your timer on and tell me when I have to, you know, cut it off.
01:23
I will. I will. So let's, let's start with an easy question just about so I know that you run many, many different programs at STEP, if you can share, you know, a few examples of some of those programs and an overview of a key program that you really want to make sure to highlight on today's call.
01:40
Okay, so I call this the elevator speech for STEP right? Yeah. So we are the community action agency for Lycoming and Clinton County. We also provide services through the Early Learning Resource Center to Tioga County. Our mission is to engage diverse individuals, families and communities in the pursuit of social and economic success, and we fulfill our mission between our programs and our programs are very life cycle in nature. So we help individuals who are going to have a baby, so pregnant mothers all the way to individuals who are older adults. And so we are unique in the fact that we have both our Head Start, Early Head Start program as well as our pre K counts, and then all the way on the other end of the spectrum, the Office of Aging is under our umbrella. And I know there's not that many community action agencies that have kind of both ends of the spectrum. So we are, I think, very lucky to have that kind of life cycle of services. In the middle of that life cycle, we have a lot of services that really focus on family and families in crisis. So our basically just community development or community development family navigation program that really focuses on family navigation, it's in our community collaboration pathway, and then which is part of the One Stop. And then we have our workforce development programs. We also provide transportation, both for medical assistance transportation as well as Workforce Development transportation. And then our housing programs. So our housing programs really focus on weatherization as well as as housing rehab in general. And so those are kind of the big picture programs that we kind of operate on a, on a daily basis. Our AmeriCorps program fits under the community collaboration pathway. If you're keeping track. In total, we have about 34 different programs that we have under our umbrella. So if you want me to speak about one in particular, if you, if you don't, if
03:34
you don't mind, I want to, I want to pop and give you a second to think for a second, yes, decide which one you want to highlight. But I think you know, you all are one of our organizations that has a very high number of programs, and a lot of times within our network, we get tangled up in describing who we are as a collective network. And it's challenging because there are so many different programs that each of you facilitates, administers however you want to, whatever language you want to use, but as you mentioned, I want to make sure to just kind of pause there and say that, yes, you are one of only two agencies in the state of Pennsylvania, at least, that has area on aging as a part of your organization. So it's you and the greater Erie Community Action Agency located, of course, in Erie County. But I do think it really creates an ecosystem of care for the families and multi-generational families, right? It's it creates a lot of opportunities to serve folks robustly. But the other thing I really love about you all and so many of our agencies is that that also doesn't stop you from having really great partnerships in the community and acknowledging when you don't have a program, or when you don't or aren't able to serve a particular, maybe deep cultural need, that you're also working with other organizations within that community to to accomplish those things together.
04:53
Yeah, I mean being a community action agency and doing the community assessment really defines like, Okay. What can we do internally, and what can we do externally? And I would say, over the last, you know, 14 years that I've been here, that's how all the new programs have been developed, right? And so the One Stop, which is really kind of the central intake, I would say, for our organization, really came about because, you know, there was such a siloing of programs and programs across both our agency as well as our partners. And so being able to have that one place where people come in, they do an assessment, form, explain what their needs are, and then we can move forward based on whether are they in crisis today, or are they in a place where they may need case management, but it's not like in a crisis situation. And so I think you know, you're definitely right on we talk about ourselves as a network, but oftentimes we don't highlight the specific programs that we have. What I want to do is highlight a really exciting transportation program that kind of goes from kind of start to finish, right? So in the needs assessment, it illustrated, really that Clinton County is a desert of transportation. And so, you know, there was a for a hot minute, a River Valley Health and Dental or River Valley Transportation, had a fixed route there, but that didn't last very long. And so the community in Clinton County is very large, a very large county, very rural. And so without a fixed route. The only thing they had was our transportation, which is shared, right? And so we worked with PennDOT and the rest of our partners to actually develop what's called a designated stop. And so this program really focuses on the extra seats that are already existing within our buses from going from one appointment to the next. So think, okay, this person is going to dialysis with it the hospital, but going to that hospital, we can pick up people and fill up those spots until we get to that hospital right and they may also be going to that hospital. So we worked with PennDOT and developed a systems approach to the designated stop. And we have three routes that we operate. One is from the Lock Haven Center all the way to Williamsport. One is from Renova to Williamsport, sorry, Renova to Lock Haven, and then Lock Haven to Williamsport, and then the other one is kind of an inter bus kind of style, which goes from Lock Haven to Mill Hall. And so this kind of system of transportation is relatively new within kind of the Pennsylvania structure, there's only a few designated stops, but it really kind of provided that gap, and it really has been going really well. Most of the trips for the designated stop since we started almost two years ago now is for the workplace, and so people are going to work utilizing this service. And that is just incredible.
07:38
I think it's really remarkable. And you're maximizing the investment of that public resource in a way that helps individuals. It doesn't allow for waste, right? I mean, what a great story to tell for all kinds of reasons, and genuinely helping people in a space where there's not a lot of public transportation,
07:56
Yep, maximizing efficiencies, I think that's a really key piece.
08:00
Yeah, no, I really appreciate that very much. I also want to go back to something you talked about around the framework of your intake process, because this is something that I know in my own life that has been difficult in navigating some, some hard situations, that your intake process really does have a trauma-informed approach, and so I want to just recognize that. And so when I say that out loud and feel free to add anything else you might like, is that when we're going through scenarios right needing resources for whatever that reason might be, we have to explain ourselves and explain our situations and what we've gone through over and over and over again through the intake process, and that is re-traumatizing, and I find myself all the time wanting to say, well, just read my file. But unfortunately, right, you go from one service provider to the next service provider, or even within an agency, it happens. You know, sometimes I've gone to this case manager, to this case manager, and even though I'm working across an organization, I'm having to re-explain myself again. And so it really minimizes that and whether it's intentional or not, it does create a space where the client doesn't have to do it. And so I think that that's really important, just acknowledging that that's whether it was a part of the framework, I appreciate it, because I think it's important.
09:23
Yeah, I mean, it was totally part of this framework, because we're really focused on, right, that strength-based customer services. And when you're looking at that, people don't want to retell their story, right? They're coming to us when, like, it's the hardest part of their life, likely, like they never really thought that they would have to be coming for services, particularly with some of our housing and homelessness services, you know, the individuals that are coming to us have found themselves in situations that, you know, they never expected to be in, and so to continually ask for, like, How'd you get here? What happened? You know, so we really kind of try to eliminate as much as possible that reiteration and just focus on. And okay, these are the services that you may be eligible before. These are the exterior services you might be eligible for. And this is how we're going to move you forward, whatever your journey is to self-sufficiency. And so some of our programs are very kind of long in length, like our YES program can be up to 18 months. The YES Program is for youth enrichment, for success, and this is a program specifically for either at risk youth or youth in the juvenile justice program, and that's like a long stay that they have with us, right? Or it could be somebody from 211 that is registering with the 211 system, who's basically in our system for a very short period of time until we get him them Rapid Rehousing, right? And so no matter what type of customer you are, we don't want you to have to kind of reiterate your story over and over again, because it is re traumatizing, and it takes a lot of courage, really, to come to our services, to come to our agency, and be able to be vulnerable and say, I need help, and it's not we're not going to get to really help the people that we need to and want to help if they don't feel like we're there, and really being thoughtful and helpful to them, and knowing that what we're doing is going to have an impact.
11:11
It creates trust. And I think it's, yeah, I just think it's such an important part of the framing of this for sure. And one of the things that we hear fairly often, and this is one of the questions, the questions we ask folks to typically. So, you know, just saying this out loud now that one of the, what are the myths that we're busting about community action and or the clients that we work with? And I think that's one of the myths very often that we talk about, is that poverty, homelessness, not things that are by choice more often than not, right? It's things that have happened around us, and it's not just about the circumstances that you know that we've put ourselves in. Sure people make choices sometimes, but it's so much. It's so much, so many more layers than that.
11:56
Yeah, one of our programs is called the Supportive Housing program. For that program, you have to be self-sufficient prior to getting into that program, and then some kind of traumatic or crisis life event, so a loss of a partner, a car accident, various things like that, have perpetuated health bills maybe, a person kind of getting into a place where they aren't being able to be self-sufficient. And so we help them by helping out with rent or mortgage forward so that they could pay their back arrears, right? And the idea is, like, it's a pretty intensive interview process, so that at the end of the program, they are back to self-sufficiency, right? So these are things that they did not ever expect to happen, and these are things that, you know we are trying to help them get back to that place to be self-sufficient.
12:45
Yeah, absolutely no. Thank you for sharing that. So I know I only have a little bit of time with you. I want to be respectful of your time. So is there anything in particular that you want to lift up in terms an emerging trend or an issue within your community that you are thinking about and or your community needs assessment has really pointed to that you're trying to, you know, crack that nut fix. You know, saw the Rubik's cube of how to figure this situation out, or something in particular that is really on your mind right now is your particularly because I know, you know, in another episode, we're talking with you about your leadership journey. I know that you're only about a month in right as an executive director, and by the time this airs, you'll be a few more months in but still new in your role. What's what's top of mind for you?
13:30
Yeah, so that's a great question. So one of the things that really has been at the top of the radar for a few years now is child care. We are the Early Learning Resource Center, but as that we support providers and then families who are working or going to school for the subsidy, end of it. And so I'm very happy to report that we through kind of an innovative really. And be honest, it was like this idea that I thought was like real. And my director and I were talking about it, we're like, this has to be happening somewhere. Well, it's not actually happening anywhere, but now it is, because we're doing it. So the substitute aid pool program, and this
14:11
I. love. it. so. much.
14:11
is a very lovely, very cool program, and we just did our 100th which is crazy, because we just started in like, the end of October, our 100th timeframe, where of us being in those classrooms, covering up the covering the slots. And so this is kind of like a fun matchmaker program, where individuals who want to work as classroom aids, they become STEP staff. They are classroom aides, and they work within local childcare facilities. And we have an app called Connect Teams that connects them to open spots, like open shifts, and basically what time that you are available to be in those shifts. And so we just completed our 100th shift. Shift, it is huge. We have 11 facilities on board. We have five individuals right now that are operating as AIDS, but then a lot of other ones that are kind of coming on board. We're around 80% of completion of each of those shifts and of those in each month. And so it's pretty significant. I would say it has really kind of changed the kind of face of of childcare in our area. Many of the directors have come out to basically say, like, we would have to shut down if it wasn't for this program, if it wasn't for this program, we would like literally have to shut down. Shutting down a childcare center doesn't just impact the childcare, it impacts every single family that has children at that childcare, and thus also impacts every single employer that has children at that facility. So there is so much kind of layered and, you know, kind of wave effect to childcare within our community and both in Lycoming and Clinton and Tioga, this is like a like childcare desert, right? And so if we can do our small part and through the STAT program, I think we really are, and we're working to expand that into Tioga County and Clinton County. It's incredible. So right now it's in Lycoming County. It's been primarily funded through Lycoming County ARPA funds for kind of the startup. But it is going really well, and it's been kind of one of those things where for years we were like, What are we going to do? This is such a challenge, right? We kind of found a little innovative solution, so
16:38
I love that so much. I know you had shared that recently we were somewhere, and you had shared a little bit about it, but we need to, we do a future episode about this, because I think it's something that is replicable,
16:49
A hundred percent.
16:49
that I think right those best, best baked ideas from within our network that others should take notice of. I think it's deep community solution, you know, created from understanding needs and trying to say, okay, we can, we can solve this.
17:03
Yes, yeah. And I think it's super replicable. I mean, really love the idea of, like an open book, like we are very much happy to create and share, because, you know, that's how we all get better. You know, that's how we are able to address those needs. And why waste more energy trying to do something similar when you can just replicate.
17:23
You know, I used to always say that in a prior organization that there really aren't any new ideas. There is just a evaluation of current ideas and seeing if it can fit and massaging it a bit to make it fit within a different framework. So, yeah, I believe that wholeheartedly for sure. well, Amanda would be very disappointed me if I didn't ask this last question of you, and then we'll make sure to get you on. Make sure to get you on the road so you can get home. So the huggy heart of the matters, (as we like to say) what myths are you busting about community action right now?
17:54
So see, within all the work that we do, I think one of the myths is about, like, just kind of handouts, right? Like we're just helping poor people by giving handouts, right? None of our programs do that. All of our programs are really, really, really focused on, you know, working alongside the customer, building strengths, right? Kind of the whole key is making sure that we are working alongside a family so that they don't come back. Our entire goal is to work ourselves out of jobs, right, like by helping so many people that they won't come back.
And so I think that that is just something that when you think about community action, really think about that action piece, because we are taking that action to focus, you know, on the families, on the communities. You know that that's the other piece. It's the other piece that I think a lot of people don't know. And if you want to mind, if I add,
18:53
Please, no go.
18:55
Like Community Action is such an economic driver, right? We are a catalyst of change, I know, for us as STEP, you know, our Head Start classrooms are in an old school facility that we, you know, remodeled a few years ago that literally was blighted, right? You know, our Clinton County Community Center was an old Kmart building that, like, went bankrupt. And so those kind of economic creation pieces oftentimes aren't thought about when they think about community action, but are totally, like, inherent in who and what we are. And so that is something that I think we really should do another podcast on, like, totally doing on just like the community impact, because there's so much, there's so much around it.
19:38
Yeah, I agree. And we were in a conversation about a year ago, and somebody said, we have all of these empty dorm facilities. Why can we not create a housing solution by using empty dorms? And that has been on my mind for a while, and trying to, you know, to try to facilitate conversations on a local level. But I think, you know, not, not for me to solve, because I'm not doing the work in the local community. I'm supporting you all as community action agencies. But I think understanding deep community needs and figuring out those solutions is just such a remarkable part of what you just shared, because that's what you're doing.
20:14
Yeah, it's, it's those kind of like big picture aha moments that you can actually like, translate, right, you know, and maybe I have the ability to do that as a planner a little bit more. But really, it's the team, you know, our team is incredible, and we're able to kind of do these things, you know, like we installed an exterior fitness track right for the seniors in our community. That was like in a kind of desolate park right now, it's used all the time. People love it. And so it's really, is kind of looking at those needs, thinking outside the box, and then partnering with organizations and agencies that are going to help make your reality real, right? And so it is the community. End of it, I think, isn't talked about enough. You know, because we are, our day to day is families, but we do so much of that community work. You know, we're a large employer in our rural Pennsylvania County, right? We have 300 staff.
21:11
We have over 2000 Community Action employees within the state of Pennsylvania alone.
21:16
Yeah, that's huge.
21:18
Well, and, you know, we say this a lot. I think it's in our video, I think Megan says that towards the end, is that “Everybody wants to dream big,” and we at Community Action. We give people that reality. But I'm going to go a step further, and to say, I think we also bring dreams to communities, right? We make the we're making a community better in order to bring dreams that, you know, maybe that walk, that garden, that right ride to work, all of those things open up other opportunities.
21:46
Yes, I it's, it's about creating the space to be a great place to live, work and play. Yeah, yeah. And we, we, just as much as municipal government and state government, federal government, our local business partners, like we are part of that, like we are creating that space. And if we want Pennsylvania and our region to thrive, we have to be a partner. We have to be a vocal partner within that, because, you know, we're a player,
22:17
Yeah, yeah, no, I absolutely feel that. And I think your your planning background also gives you, you know, I think, a step up from other organizations that maybe don't have that, that same type of position. Sometimes. I'm not saying that our other organizations don't do the same work, but I definitely even in the context in which you explain things, I think a lot of times, having gotten to know you over the last few years, I can see that so clearly in the the way that you describe things, it's just a little bit different than sometimes the way that others do. So I appreciate that.
22:48
Thank you. interconnectedness, right?
22:51
Yeah, yeah, no, for sure, and it's that is social determinants of health, right? You're creating a place in which somebody would choose to live.
22:56
Yes, and will thrive, right?
23:00
Yes, absolutely anything else you want to share before we say goodbye,
23:06
Yeah, I just want to say thank you. This has been a great opportunity. I look forward to being a guest on future ones like you know, one about SAP, one about community programs. So yeah, very excited. And think this is just the beginning.
23:19
Absolutely. thank you so much for joining us and for our listeners. If you want to become a part of STEP, if you want to get if you're looking for a job, potentially, they are an important employer. If you're looking for a volunteer opportunity, a place to donate to would highly encourage you. You can go to the CAAP website, thecaap.org, and you can look for one of our members, STEP, Inc., specifically, or you can Google STEP (https://www.stepcorp.org/) of course, serving Lycoming Clinton in parts of Tioga County. But thank you so much, Rachelle, for the work that you do and for being an excellent leader. Appreciate you and a board member at CAAP, also for the record. Just appreciate you so much, and thank you to our listeners for joining us in the ThinkingCAAP. We look forward to you joining us on a future episode and continuing to learn more about the 42 organizations serving every single county across the state of Pennsylvania.
24:03
Thank you.
24:08
Thank you for being a part of this episode of the ThinkingCAAP. Check the show notes for resources and links to other episodes, and don't forget to subscribe and follow to be notified when new episodes are released. If you have any community action questions you'd like Beck Amanda or one of our local experts to answer in a future episode, please email your questions about community action to info@thecaap.org, subject line, ThinkingCAAP.