Maryland's Outreach Plan FY 2001

Entity

The State Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) within the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR), which is the LIHEAP grantee

Background/ State Issues

Maryland's 1999 restructuring legislation created a $34 million Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) to be administered by the Department of Human Resources (DHR), through the Maryland Energy Assistance Program. As of July 2000, the OHEP began collecting the universal service funds and operating the new program. The EUSP helps participants pay current and past due electric bills and provides weatherization measures. Clients can apply at local LIHEAP agencies for both LIHEAP and EUSP year round, as well as for the Maryland Weatherization Assistance Program, operated by another department.

According to the OHEP outreach plan: "Effective outreach plans are critical to the success of the Electric Universal Service Program. Not only is the program's success important in order to meet the needs of low-income residents in Maryland, but also to have documented quantitative data to help justify the need to fund the program beyond June 30, 2003 since funding is appropriated for only three years."

Maryland's outreach plan included goals and activities of the state OHEP and the local administering agencies. The state plan is listed first, followed by the local outreach plan, which includes a detailed list of LAA activities, plus the results of an "Outreach Outside of the Box" session where agencies were asked a series of questions about effectiveness of outreach activities, barriers to outreach efforts, and how they would develop an ideal outreach plan.

Because Maryland's LIHEAP office underwent changes in early 2001, and the computerization of LIHEAP and EUSP was beset with problems for most of the season, the outreach plan could not be fully implemented. It is presented here for information purposes only.

State and Local Agency Outreach Goals

To promote use of self-help strategies that encourage energy independence by assisting participants to meet their electric needs through help with their current and past due bills and weatherization measures;
To enable participants to successfully compete in a competitive deregulated environment by helping them to achieve electric bill rate affordability;
To provide effective knowledge about EUSP/MEAP services, not just information, so that the participant can make better decisions;
To reach rural, low income, elderly, disabled, ethnic minorities and other traditionally under-served populations; and
To increase participant awareness of energy efficiency and conservation options that result in more affordable bills.

State OHEP Outreach Plan

The State Office of Home Energy Programs purposes to increase public awareness of home energy services available to low-income residents in the State of Maryland, increase enrollment, and provide services to all who meet the eligibility criteria for the Electric Universal Service Program.

This Office has developed four primary outreach goals and various activities that have either already been accomplished, are currently underway, or are projected for implementation in the near future. They are as follows:

Goal #1:

Develop and implement a media and public relations campaign for EUSP

Activities:

Solicit air time on public affairs shows (TV and radio)
Develop script for special series on local television news program to communicate energy assistance and conservation to the public
Participate in hour radio broadcast on local Sunday morning public affairs show
Prepare press releases and respond to all media inquiries concerning the Program
Prepare Press Kit for distribution to all LAA Directors, Energy Advocates, and Utilities
Develop Poster and "Postcard of Interest" to distribute statewide through the local agencies, Advocates, and Utilities.
Improve and update EUSP display board
Distribute program information to non-traditional sites
Ensure DHR/Website, Constituent Services (1-800 Hotline), and Biospherics (Statewide 1800 Hotline) present current EUSP information
Prepare Annual Report and disseminate to local agencies, partners and public about MEAP and EUSP activities during year

Goal #2:

Establish a strategy to support ongoing Statewide Community Outreach Activities

Activities:

Attempt to eliminate language barriers that hinder outreach to non-English speaking customers
Distribute program information to targeted ethnic groups
Distribute program information to the Faith community
Establish a speaker's bureau to participate in community forums, meetings, fairs, and special events
Develop Outreach Plan Model for distribution to LAA
Develop effective strategy for reaching residents living in rural areas of Maryland
Target subsidized housing recipients

Goal #3:

Enhance consumer education efforts to better inform Maryland residents about OHEP services and promote enrollment

Activities:

Participate in local community forums to inform public and receive feedback about energy related issues
Participate in Statewide Conference, Fairs, and other statewide community events
Sponsor State Energy Fair and Community Outreach Activities
Enhance working relationship between State Office of Home Energy Programs, LAA Directors, Advocates, and Utilities to support their local outreach efforts
Ensure OHEP newsletter is issued each quarter

Goal #4:

Ensure staff at Local Administering Agencies has working knowledge of OHEP programs and services

Activities:

Present information to agency/organization leaders that serve targeted areas
Strengthen staff training efforts
Communicate new program information, changes, and policy/procedure updates to agency staff

Local Outreach Activities

Attachment 1 provides a view in chart format of the most common outreach activities that are either currently underway or planned to soon occur at Local Administering Agencies (LAA). The top five efforts include 1) targeting senior citizens and working with the Department of Aging, 2) targeting TCA recipients and working with local DSS, 3) working with all media outlets (newspaper, TV and radio), 4) reaching out to the Faith community, and 5) interfacing with the Department of Housing, and targeting apartment complexes.

Unique Outreach Activities at Local Agencies

In addition to the activities listed in Attachment 1, many of the agencies' outreach plans include current and future activities that are unique to their individual agencies. They are outlined as follows:

Allegany County

Coordinate with Resource Awareness Council

Anne Arundel County

Projected outcome is to reach 60% of goal by 1/31/01

Baltimore City

Emergency evening/weekend I/R
"First Call for Help"
Mayor's Emergency Response Team
Outreach to Union Representatives
Project Reconnect – emergency effort to eliminate termination of utility service and restoration service
Distribution of Program information
Hair Salons
Barber Shops
Taverns
Federal, State and Local government offices that interact with people

Caroline County

Enrollment at the Mayor and City Council Office

Carroll County

Distribution of Program information
Scouts Meetings
Neighbors in Need (Christmas Package Program)
Support Enforcement
Speaking engagements at
Carroll County Children's Council
Youth Services Bureau
Juvenile Services

Cecil County

Outreach to Domestic Violence Programs

Frederick County

Projected outcome measure to increase the participation in the MEAP program by 10%

Garrett County