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What is DSL, and what benefits and advantages does it offer?
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a technology that provides high-speed Internet bandwidth connections to individual homes and businesses. DSL uses the same line as your regular telephone service, but it can provide the higher data speeds because it uses digital modems. DSL has become a reliable service to meet the needs of customers who demand high-speed Internet access.
DSL technology offers three major advantages over dial-up Internet access: much higher speeds, a constant "always-on" connection, and talk-and-surf capability.
1. Speed – DSL can deliver more than 100 times the network performance of a dial-up modem. While exact speeds vary, depending on the service plan or network capability, most DSL connections easily outperform standard modems by a factor of 20 or more. In essence, DSL works on the unused (high) frequencies of your phone line. DSL modems contain an internal signal splitter that directs voice signals to the voice (low) frequencies and data signals to the higher frequencies.
2. Access – a DSL connection is "on" all the time. DSL users do not have to dial their Internet service provider each time they want to "access" the Internet. You should be aware, however, that an always-on connection, such as DSL, does have security issues. It's a good idea for DSL users to install personal firewall products on their home networks to guard against external attacks.
3. Talk and surf – with DSL, you don't need a second line to keep your telephone line "open." With the splitter sending the voice and data signals to "different parts" of the line, DSL users enjoy simultaneous access to both the telephone (voice) and the computer (data). Thus, DSL customers do not need a second line for their Internet access.


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- Worldwide Rank #63,391,737
- Follower/Following Ratio 2.92
- Daily New Followers 0
ゆうた Twitter Stats
@0204_shouta - Tracking ゆうた Twitter profile since September 20, 2014
ゆうた Tweets
@0204_shouta has posted 249 tweets in the last 2 days, which translates to an average of 124.5 tweets per day.
ゆうた Twitter Followers
@0204_shouta has 70 followers on Twitter.
This account is #63,391,737 in the worldwide rank of the most popular Twitter users.
ゆうた Following on Twitter
@0204_shouta is following 24 Twitter accounts.
Last month this account stopped following 383 users.
ゆうた Predictions & Milestones
@0204_shouta will hit 70 followers in the next 3 months, and 70 in one year.
You are on ゆうた's Twitter stats page
We track these Twitter stats since September 20, 2014 . You can see how many followers ゆうた lost or gained and what the prediction is for tomorrow or the next 15 days, together with all kinds of other stats like rank compared to all Twitter users, tweets etc.
Why don't you give it a try and compare ゆうた to yourself ? Or if you are ゆうた get even more feature rich & up-to-date stats with our premium Twitter Stats.
Twitter Counter is the #1 Twitter stats site powered by Twitter. It all started in June 12, 2008 and we grew rather rapidly because of our Twitter Counter badge. The button is a nice small image that shows your visitors how many followers you have on Twitter. Within a year the button was on many many blogs around the world and we displayed more than 100 million buttons in one month. We track follower stats for over 180 million users now.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tips and Tricks for Halloween Graphics
Halloween is a unique and international festival celebrated by almost half of the population of the world. From ancient monster legends to the modern day practices of costume parties and 'trick or treat', Halloween offers a diversified pool of activities associated to its tradition. These activities can range from recreational to commercial purposes.
From a graphic designer's point of view there isn't a more enjoyable holiday for graphic designers than Halloween. Halloween is a holiday that many businesses take advantage of for marketing purposes and Graphic Designers can take find many free resources for Halloween projects. When it comes to designing marketing material life brochures, posters, flyers, postcards and even business cards, all the legends, stories, traditions and history of the Halloween season come together to offer endless design possibilities. Halloween themed graphics like these can be used on printed party flyers and even printed tickets to be handed out before an event.
Whether you are looking for graphic ideas for ideas for a client or a freelance designer who seeks self-promotional marketing material for yourself, Halloween provides lots of opportunities of creativity and design variation. Halloween festival offers a lot of traditional fun you can look into and make use of when designing yours or your clients' marketing material. This popular holiday opens up new avenues of design techniques for reaching your customers and beating out the competition. The following are a few tips to raise your creativity and scare your competitors out this Halloween:
Basic Theme
For any campaign or marketing material, a particular theme or concept is the most basic requirement. Similar is the case with Halloween graphic designing. As a graphic designer, you are responsible to set the tone of your clients' promotional materials as the first step towards proper designing. Map out some copy and concept and accurately represent them through images that cater to your particular audience and evoke the required emotions.
Halloween offers a bundle of traditional themes that can go you're your concept. For instance, when promoting a competition, use a tombstone or a wicked werewolf. Similarly, when advertising a special sale, add 'Trick or treat!' in it. You can also experiment with more localized themes for your much limited target audience in amplify its impact.
Color Combination
No matter what your theme is, colors are the inevitable important elements of graphic designing. Every traditional element of Halloween festival is accompanied by its particular colors. Black cats, orange jack-o'-lanterns, nutmeg pumpkin pie, green monsters, and white ghosts. The possibilities are numerous when it comes to color schemes in Halloween design.
The most common colors associated with Halloween festival are black and orange – the type of color combination that easily captures onlooker's attention. So you can easily incorporate these eye-catching colors onto the marketing material you design for your client. There are some other colors you can use to add spice to your designs like White for a ghostly theme; Green skinned monsters lurking in shadows; Brown, Red, and Yellow for a harvest theme; or even Purple for spiders and witches. For a more professional and strictly corporate approach, you can use your client company's corporate colors in the icons or figures or even in the background.
Fonts and Typography
Another important element of graphic design themes is the font or typography. Like all other marketing communication, Halloween graphic designing calls for special Halloween fonts and typography. Catering to special design needs of Halloween festival, there are a remarkably large number of fonts dedicated to it.
Halloween is a relatively short season but as so many people celebrate it all around the world and because the graphic theme tickles the palette of so many designers out there, there is a whole genre of fonts dedicated to Halloween festival. Even designing Halloween fonts is great fun.
Don't get stuck with limited use of fonts in your design ideas. Basically what usually happens as an immediate thought with fonts is that they can only be used in headings and written text. Strong fonts, however, can be used in more graphic ways without needing to represent real words or text. A good example of such a use is to form a background to an image that could include lots of overlapping words of different tones that blend together to give the impression of an interesting texture without the text being legible.
If you are short of time or resources, need not worry because you can easily find great Halloween fonts from almost everywhere on the Internet, and a huge number of these fonts are absolutely free. However, it is up to you and your aesthetic skills that you pick and place the best fonts from the rest.
Consistency in Style
The style of your Halloween-based marketing communication should have a particular style to it. Keep consistency throughout the communication you design for yourself or your client. The tone that you set in your marketing materials needs to be in the spirit of the holiday and should convey the same message at every communication medium i.e. website, printed material, and electronic medium etc.
Halloween festival has special symbolism associated to it. The festival gives you a unique opportunity to be a part of a season being celebrated at a mass level. Make use of the unique symbolism of Halloween tradition and incorporate ghostly legends into your communication materials to encourage customers to flip through the pages. Also, Halloween is celebrated in almost everywhere and different areas of the world have their own myths and legends which are a part of their particular culture.
Graphic designers can localize their Halloween themes by using the particular legends and mythical creatures of their areas as a theme for your Halloween promotional materials and advertisements. This is a wiser approach to connect with the local public and making the most from your Halloween communication.
Figures and Icons
When one thinks about Halloween, one thing that comes in our mind are the great number of figures and icons associated to it. When it comes to Halloween graphic designing, there is no shortage of shapes and icons you can use in yours or your client's communication material. From witches, pumpkins, monsters, goblin, ghost and vampires under the moon to special Halloween candies, legends and historical traditions, there is always something you can find for designing.
As mentioned earlier, if you are indulged in local-level Halloween designing, then it is better to use the local legends and mythical creatures. Using local Halloween figures will enable you to develop a better understanding of your communication among the masses and your audience will be in a better position to relate to it.
Similarly, the icons that represent Halloween are endless i.e. witches, ghosts, werewolves, scare-crows, jack-o-lanterns, any creepy crawly insect, and harvest vegetables. These icons can also be used for different backgrounds of your design. As a food for thought, try half moons, cats, pointed hats and other shapes in varying shades and hues for a layered effect. No matter what you use, make sure you blend your shapes and icons into the message.
The Crux
All year long, there are many occasions and holidays marked in the calendar that inspire various marketing campaigns for a wide range of businesses. Halloween, however, is a unique occasion. Business and companies all around the world seek many advantages this holiday to give their regular marketing materials a seasonal boost and keep their business out of the graveyard.
For graphic designers, both freelance and working in design houses, Halloween bring many opportunities to showcase their talent and creativity.
However, my fellow designers should keep in mind that when it comes to Halloween graphics, originality is the key. There is an avalanche of competitors out there. So keeping it impressive and original is inevitable for your design's success. Also, there is a vast opportunity to create innovative designs. So, all you designers out there go out this Halloween with ghastly or autumn graphic designs for your marketing campaign.


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John Abraham is active for the FalconsThe Falcons need Abraham on the field for Sunday's NFC Championship Game with San Francisco. John Abraham injured his ankle on Sunday But it's clear the Falcons will be pleased to have Abraham on the field for any length of time against San Francisco . Th… (more)Sources: yahoo.com ESPN.com profootballtalk.com
Atlanta Falcons injury reportThe Atlanta Falcons are listing defensive end John Abraham (ankle) and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder) as questionable for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against San Francisco. But both took part in Friday's practice on a limited basis,Source: ESPN.com
Checking on Falcons' injuriesThe Atlanta Falcons appear to be about as healthy as possible as they get ready for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive end John Abraham practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day. Abraham aggravated aSource: ESPN.com
Smith Feels Abraham Will Start Sunday Vs NinersThe Falcons are making contingency plans in case defensive end John Abraham is unable to play at full capacity in Sunday's NFC title game against San Francisco. Abraham, the NFL's active sacks leader, missed practice Wednesday with a sprained left ankSource: falconsgab.com
John Abraham "retweaked" his ankleThe Falcons got that elusive playoff win on Sunday, but it didn't come easy and it didn't come without a possible price in terms of health for the NFC Championship Game. Defensive end John Abraham left early in the game and did not return because, perSource: profootballtalk.com


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giveaway :: Serenity Small Stone Drop Earrings
Dreaming of blue oceans and sandy beaches? While summer is not here just yet, the Stella and Dot Summer jewelry collection launches tomorrow. It's filled with spirit-lifting, day-brightening, wardrobe-updating color! To celebrate, new-to-the-business stylist Callie D is giving away a pair of ocean blue earrings to one lucky City and Dale reader. To enter,
- Like the Stella & Dot Stylist Callie D Facebook Page
- Leave a comment on this blog post saying that you did! Then tell us which blue you would choose (aqua or lapis).
- Please include your full name and valid email address in the appropriate boxes (information will not be publicly visible).
- Get a bonus entry by tweeting this: Win a pair of ocean blue earrings from @stylistcallied. Enter here: http://ow.ly/a9RSc #yegfashion
{*Limited to residents of Canada only. $36 CDN total retail value. A winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 2pm Winner will be contacted by email and announced on the bottom of this post.}


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We are excited to inform you that our brand new, spectacular 4,000 square foot showroom is now up and running at our headquarters in Downtown LA. Conveniently located on the first floor next to the Will Call window, you can't miss us. Come check out our newest features and browse the entire collection of Made in the USA garments.
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I'm just curious. My 9-month old has been dropping some of her feedings. I think we now BF 6-7 times a day, on demand. It's not all regularly spaced. Sometimes feedings are 2 hours apart or even less, and sometimes she can go 4 hours between feedings (during the day) or even longer at night.
Is this normal?
She's healthy, happy and chubby. She eats solids twice a day, but not a whole lot--sometimes she eats 1 oz, sometimes 2 oz. No water or juice.
Diaper output is within the normal range, although she has fewer wets than when she was 5 or 6 months and was eating 12 times a day (then she pooped and peed all the time).


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They had big voices, "as big as Aretha Franklin's," an admirer confesses. But they gave up their dreams, learned to "sacrifice individuality," to step into the background as Ike and Mick, Bette and Bruce, Paul Simon and Ray Charles and legions of others took the spotlight while these lesser lights swayed in time to the music and sang backup, a mere "Twenty Feet from Stardom." Here's a documentary built on that signature line from Lou ...
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2009-08-13 / Entertainment
'Beauty' auditions
Audtions for Central Mass Onstage's "Beauty and the Beast" (actors 24 and under) will be held Friday, Aug. 14, 7-9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16, 1-3 p.m., at the Rutland Community Center on Glenwood Road. Performance Dates are Nov. 22, 23 and 24. Bring music for your singing audition and be prepared to read and dance. More info at centralmassonstage.com.


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Get Dayton, TN Digital TV Service for Less
Since June 13, 2009, 100 % of United States TV stations have broadcast in digital, which is advanced broadcasting technology. The government pressed for the switch to digital over analog because of the benefits such as more readily available broadcast spectrum, enhanced picture and sound quality, many programming choices and interactive features.
Top Digital Television Features for Dayton, TN Residents
Among the newest options digital TV range from the various programming choices or multicasting that is available. With the old analog broadcasts, stations could offer only one program per station. However, with digital, a station can provide many programs. For instance Channel 8 can broadcast one program on 8-1, another program on 8-2, and yet another program on 8-3, and so on. This means more programming is accessible to fit viewers' needs.
An additional feature provided with digital TV is a digital video recorder (DVR). This easy-to-use device makes watching favorite TV programs so handy. The DVR can record one program or multiple programs so viewers can watch them at any time. The DVR also can pause, rewind, or stop a program currently being viewed. Therefore if you wish to see the touchdown or even the romantic scene again, just rewind and watch it again, after which you can continue enjoying the show.
Another feature of digital TV is high definition (HD) TV. HDTV provides the best picture and sound quality out there.
Currently there are a variety of options when it comes to getting digital TV in Dayton, TN. Digital television services are provided via satellite, cable, and fiber optic lines.
Dayton, TN Digital Satellite TV Services and Providers
In order to receive services, customers of digital satellite TV will have a satellite dish receiver installed usually on their roof. The stationary satellites in earth's orbit broadcast the television signal to each customer's dish that is then transferred to the customer's TV set.
Digital satellite TV provides hundreds of channel options, the latest information, and satellite TV is accessible to even those customers living in remote areas.
Dish Network is presently one of the top providers of digital satellite TV services in Dayton, Tennessee
Dayton, TN Digital Cable TV Services and Providers
Digital cable TV comes to customers' homes by way of a buried cable system. Digital cable TV allows for multiple TV sets to be connected to the system without any extra charges. Furthermore, bad weather has little effect on the cable TV signal because cables are buried. Many packages are obtainable offering a variety of channels and programming.
Comcast, Time Warner Cable® and Cox Communications are the leading providers of digital cable TV in Dayton, TN.
Dayton, TN Digital Fiber Optic TV Services and Providers
Fiber Optic TV is the newest technology readily available for providing customers with digital TV. Fiber Optic service is dependable because the glass strands of fiber optic cable are highly durable and stable. The speed of data transmission through the fiber optic cables produce excellent quality both in images and sound.
There are two providers of fiber optic digital TV: Verizon FiOS® and AT&T U-Verse®. Verizon FiOS provides a 100 % fiber optic digital TV signal, while AT&T U-Verse provides a mixture of a fiber optic and copper digital TV signal.
Get the Best Dayton, TN Digital TV Deals - Compare Digital TV Providers Instantly
Searching for digital TV deals in your area?
At NorthAmericanPatriot.com we make searching for home services a piece of cake. Within only a couple of minutes you can compare the absolute best digital TV providers, prices and plans to obtain the choice which fits your budget best. We've done the research for you so you don't have to!
Get the best digital TV deals in Dayton, Tennessee – call the toll free telephone number above for immediate assistance or type in your address inside the box above to easily compare offers.


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Fiscal Year 2007 Community Services Block Grant Program Report to Congress
CSBG State AssessmentsFY 2007
State Assessments (SAs)
The statute governing the Community Services Block Grant stipulates that the Secretary conduct evaluations in several States each fiscal year regarding the use of funds received under the CSBG Act. This includes compliance with the provisions of the law regarding applications for CSBG funds and public hearings on the proposed use of such funds; and compliance with assurances (1) through (13) in Section 676 of the Act. Further, the CSBG statute requires that each State designate a lead agency to administer the CSBG program. The lead agency provides oversight of local eligible entities that administer programs in the communities.
In FY 2007, to fulfill its responsibility to conduct evaluations, OCS conducted reviews of the use of FY 2006 CSBG funds by the States of Florida, Massachusetts, and Ohio. In addition, OCS conducted reviews of the use of FY 2005 CSBG funds by the States of Maryland and West Virginia. When States conduct monitoring assessments of the eligible entities, they review the latest complete fiscal year of an eligible entities' performance. Therefore, depending on when the State conducted the monitoring visit, the review could consist of performance information from 2005 or 2006.
OCS also used its training and technical assistance authority to provide for and focus on leadership and governance, financial management training, and coordination among other Federal funding sources. The purpose of this effort was to promote the continued focus, effectiveness, and accountability of States and the network of eligible entities. OCS found that some States were working closely with specific agencies within their State to strengthen performance management, administrative standards, financial management obligations, or other State requirements. The assessments applied to CSBG-funded programs, as well as the overall health of the entire entity. Eligible entities make a variety of financial and management decisions each year that may impact multiple funding sources rather than just a single program. Therefore, it is possible that a CSBG program could experience fiscal problems associated with financial irregularities or disallowed costs uncovered in other Federal or State funding sources. OCS collected information related to State activities that may enable early identification of local agency problem areas and preventive strategies (i.e., board member training, program governance, financial management, and fiscal oversight). This helped OCS to assure the smooth operation of the CSBG program at the State and local levels.
The following State Assessments for the States of Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and West Virginia include information about the States' program operations and sub-grantee operations.
State of Florida
State Assessment Summary
From July 31 to August 9, 2007, a State Assessment was conducted in the State of Florida regarding activities implemented with FY 2006 CSBG funds. A review of the information collected during various interviews and documentation received during and after the review determined that the State of Florida was compliant with the CSBG Act.
Program Operations
Florida has designated the Department of Community Affairs (FL DCA) as the lead agency to administer its CSBG program. The Florida CSBG program provides funding, technical assistance and support to 32 multi-purpose eligible entities serving 64 counties throughout the State. Each eligible entity provides an array of services according to community action plans formulated to address local needs. Services may include housing, energy assistance, nutrition, employment and training, transportation, family development, child care, health care, emergency food and shelter, and domestic violence prevention services. Services also may include money management and micro-business development.
The largest groups of clients served were African American, high school graduates/GED recipients, single adults, renters, and those with family incomes up to 50 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines. The following table illustrates the number of reported characteristics of individuals and families served throughout the State.
Client Characteristics and Statistics for the State of Florida
CSBG Client Characteristics and Statistics Reported by State
Hispanic or Latino
African American
Education: Years of Schooling by Number of Persons
0-8 Years
9-12 Years, Non-Graduates
High School Graduates/GED
12+ Some Postsecondary
2 or 4 Year College Graduates
Family Structure by Number of Families
Single Parent Female
Single Parent Male
Two Parent Household
Single Person, No Children
Two Adults, No Children
Family Housing by Number of Families
Level of Family Income as a Percentage of Federal Poverty Guidelines by Number of Families
Up to 50%
51% to 75%
76% to 100%
101% to 125%
126% to 150%
151% or more
Uses of CSBG Funds
State officials and eligible entities reported the following program activities associated with FY 2006 CSBG funds:
Employment Programs
Florida reported spending $1,957,145 in CSBG funding to support a range of services designed to assist low-income individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment.
Education Programs
Florida reported spending $2,281,019 in CSBG funds to provide education services.
Housing Programs
Florida reported spending $1,781,396 for CSBG-coordinated housing programs to improve the living environments of low-income individuals and families.
Emergency Services Programs
Florida reported spending $3,306,116 for emergency services to combat many kinds of crises.
Nutrition Programs
Florida reported spending $986,924 in CSBG funds to support nutrition programs.
Self-Sufficiency Programs
Florida reported spending $4,458,602 on self-sufficiency programs to assist families in becoming more financially independent.
Health Programs
Florida reported spending $386,240 on CSBG-funded health initiatives that were designed to identify and combat a variety of health problems in the communities served.
Income Management Programs
Florida reported spending $665,102 in CSBG funds on income management programs.
Florida reported spending $1,662,157 on linkage initiatives to mobilize and coordinate community responses to poverty.
Programs for Youth and Seniors
Florida reported spending $1,606,611 on programs serving seniors, and $1,333,798 on programs serving youth. Services noted under these categories were targeted exclusively to children and youth from ages six to 17 or persons over 55 years of age.
Eligible Entities Monitoring and Assessments
The State is required to perform full onsite monitoring reviews at least once every three years for each eligible entity. In addition, the State conducts onsite fiscal monitoring of its 32 eligible entities on an annual basis. The State's monitoring visits address financial management, planning and evaluation, programs and services, human resource management, community relations, and Board of Directors' compliance with the CSBG Act. OCS SA team members visited the following seven eligible entities:
Broward County Community Action Agency
Broward County Community Action Agency (BCCAA) is administered by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners under the Broward County Human Services Department. BCCAA's annual 2005 CSBG budget was $1,311,861. The agency operates a CSBG funded Self-Sufficiency Case Management Program. This program assists low-income individuals and families in setting goals, learning skills, and accessing services they need to become self-sufficient. In addition, BCCAA operates the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which makes direct payments to Florida Power and Light for households that have an income below 150 percent of the poverty level.
According to the State's FY 2005 monitoring report, BCCAA had four findings and four areas of concern. The SA team evaluated the finding and concerns and supported the State's conclusions. BCCAA encountered numerous challenges during the year which contributed to a number of the findings and concerns. For example, the agency lost their main office as a result of a hurricane and had to operate from four different sites before establishing a permanent location in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The SA team recommended that the State provide further guidance and technical assistance to BCCAA and that an action plan be developed to ensure progress in addressing the findings and concerns. The State has provided technical assistance and the State and BCCAA have worked in partnership to strengthen BCCAA's administration of the CSBG program and to ensure BCCAA's success.
Capital Area Community Action Agency
The Capital Area Community Action Agency, Inc. (CACAA) was established in 1965 and currently serves seven counties (Leon, Calhoun, Jefferson, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, and Liberty). CACAA manages a variety of Federal grants to help low-income families overcome crisis needs, and gain skills, confidence, and community support to become self-sufficient. The agency's annual operating budget in 2006 was $6.2 million, which included $537,244 of CSBG funds. In addition to CSBG, the agency administers: on-the-job training, small business development, individual development accounts, home energy assistance, Project Share, Project Quincy, direct emergency assistance, weatherization, emergency food assistance, emergency shelter, and Head Start.
In the State's FY 2006 monitoring report, it identified two findings related to the tripartite board requirements for CACAA. The SA team learned that the agency has difficulty recruiting and retaining low-income representation. This was partly due to a lack of understanding of the roles and responsibilities of being a board member. The SA team recommended mini-training opportunities throughout the service area that address board member roles and responsibilities. The team also recommended that CACAA seek additional technical assistance from the State and other CSBG resources. The SA team recommended that the agency modify its current property policy to include a property inventory system.
Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners administers funding from the CSBG Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and other Federal programs specifically tailored to assist low-income residents of Hillsborough County. Hillsborough County has a population of approximately 999,000 and nearly one-third of its households reported earning less than $25,000. The agency administers programs that address employment, education, income management, housing, emergency services, nutrition, linkages, self-sufficiency, and health.
According to the State's November 2005 monitoring report, a number of findings were identified concerning tripartite board composition and filling vacancies. The SA team recommended that the State give specific technical assistance to address the findings. The team also recommended that the State provide training and technical assistance on case management and consistent eligibility determination. The agency's financial accounting and management information system was found to be adequate for the accounting, expending, and safeguarding of CSBG funds.
Manatee Opportunity Council
The Manatee Opportunity Council (MOC), located in Bradenton, Florida, was founded in 1968. The mission of MOC is to "help low-income residents become and remain self-sufficient." MOC's service area for the CSBG program includes Manatee, Hardee, and DeSoto counties. The agency's annual CSBG budget is $388,015. MOC operates 17 programs that address the needs of the community and its client base, including self-sufficiency, energy assistance, homelessness, housing, weatherization, direct care services for seniors, child care, and pre-school.
According to the State's FY 2006 monitoring report, deficiencies were identified regarding board composition, personnel, eligibility determination, and performance outcomes. The SA team conducted a review of the concerns and concurs with the State's assessment of MOC. The extent of board issues, missing documents, and the need for a standing governance committee suggests that MOC lacks adequate internal controls and should be monitored closely by the State. The SA team requested that the State submit periodic progress reports to the Office of Community Services. A review of fiscal records and related operations found the system in place adequate for the accounting, expending, and safeguarding of CSBG funds.
Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency
The Miami-Dade County Community Action Agency (MDCCAA) is located in downtown Miami, Florida, with four satellite offices spread throughout the county. Established in 1965, MDCCAA provides services that help low-income individuals and families gain self-sufficiency and economic independence. MDCCAA administers a full range of programs, including single family home rehabilitation, weatherization, rental assistance, energy conservation, hurricane shutters, home energy assistance, family and child empowerment, South Dade Adolescent Success Program, FATHERS Project, Greater Miami Service Corps, community enrichment centers, transportation assistance, self help computer training and employment, Head Start and Early Head Start, Safe Start, services for immigrants, meals for the elderly, Meals on Wheels, and Pine Island After School Program.
According to the State's FY 2006 monitoring report, problems exist related to board composition and household income documentation. The SA team recommended that additional board training be conducted. Also, staff should receive training and technical assistance regarding the appropriateness of completing the intake application thoroughly and accurately. The SA team examined the financial management system and found that it was adequate, complete, and up-to-date.
Miccosukee Corporation (Miccosukee Tribe of Indians)
The Miccosukee Corporation is a Tribal entity that serves the Miccosukee reservation located in Miami-Dade County. The corporation has an annual budget of $4,051,227 that includes $120,967 of CSBG funds. The Miccosukee Corporation provides employment, education, emergency assistance, nutrition, and self-sufficiency assistance.
The State's monitoring report for FY 2006 had a number of findings and one concern. The SA team reviewed the State's reports, interviewed Miccosukee Corporation staff, and reviewed numerous documents. The SA team recommended that the Miccosukee Corporation and State work jointly to address tripartite board composition. The organization should establish goals for Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) and strengthen agency procedures and provide technical assistance on adhering to State CSBG program requirements. The SA team also recommended that the State make the necessary adjustments to its procedures to help assure that the Miccosukee Corporation receives results of monitoring visits in a timely manner.
Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, Inc.
The Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, Inc. (NFCAA) is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. It has two outreach offices that annually serve low-income individuals and families in seven counties in Northeast Florida. The NFCAA provides a broad range of program services, including self-sufficiency, vulnerable population services, home energy assistance, crisis assistance, weather related or supply shortage, emergency food assistance, job training, and employment.
The State conducted a monitoring visit in December 2005. The SA team interviewed NFCAA officials and reviewed files and records, the State's monitoring report, the 2006 A-133 Audit, and prior year audit reports. No audit findings were found related to the CSBG program. The SA team recommended that the agency request assistance from the State regarding board training and development.