Empowering Communities Through Collaborative Governance
Our Purpose
The Yellowstone Country Assistance Network (YCAN) empowers Park and Hot Springs Counties with sustainable solutions, giving low-income individuals a voice in shaping their lives. Our mission is to empower communities—and you can help. Join us today!
CSBG Tripartite Board Recruitment Profiles for YCAN
Private Sector & Community Members
Role: As a private sector or community representative, your role is to bring expertise and resources to drive innovative, sustainable solutions tailored to Park and Hot Springs Counties’ economic and social landscape, ensuring programs address community needs like housing insecurity and foster economic opportunities.
Ideal Candidate Profile: Ideal candidates are business owners, community leaders, or professionals with deep ties to Park or Hot Springs Counties. They understand the challenges of limited infrastructure and workforce shortages, bringing creative problem-solving to align programs with local economic drivers like tourism, agriculture, or small business. Their networks and resources help amplify CSBG initiatives, such as rent assistance for 105 households in 2025, through partnerships and funding.
Skills/Experience/Expertise
- Financial Planning/Management: Expertise in budgeting or financial strategy to maximize limited resources in rural settings.
- Organizational Management: Experience running small businesses or nonprofits, adept at navigating lean operations common in rural areas.
- Fundraising: Proven ability to secure grants or donations in resource-scarce regions, critical for sustaining programs like rent assistance.
- Community Outreach and Relationship Building: Skilled at engaging rural communities through trusted channels (e.g., local events, word-of-mouth).
- Workforce Development: Knowledge of job training or employment programs to address poverty and economic opportunity in rural economies.
Access/Connections
- Local Businesses and Chambers of Commerce: Ties to small businesses or regional commerce groups in Cody, Powell, or Thermopolis.
- Individual Donors and Philanthropists: Connections to local benefactors who support community initiatives.
- Nonprofit Partners: Relationships with organizations like Wyoming Community Foundation.
- Community and Civic Groups: Access to rotary clubs, veteran organizations, or other local groups.
Low-Income Representatives
Role: As a low-income representative with lived experience or deep community ties, your role is to ensure programs reflect the needs of Park and Hot Springs Counties, using insights from the 2025 Community Needs Assessment showing housing insecurity affecting 16.67% of Park County households, with rent assistance supporting 105 households.
Ideal Candidate Profile: Ideal candidates are residents of Park or Hot Springs Counties who have experienced poverty, housing insecurity, or similar challenges, or have close connections to those who have. They are trusted voices in rural communities, able to bridge the gap between CSBG programs and hard-to-reach populations. Their insights ensure initiatives like rent assistance are accessible and impactful in areas with limited service infrastructure.
Skills/Experience/Expertise
- Lived Experience with Poverty or Housing Insecurity: Personal or close knowledge of rural challenges like high housing costs or limited rentals.
- Community Advocacy: Ability to champion the needs of low-income residents in forums like board meetings.
- Cultural Competence: Understanding of rural Wyoming’s diverse populations, including Native American communities.
- Community Outreach and Storytelling: Skill in sharing community needs through relatable narratives.
- Program Feedback and Impact Assessment: Ability to provide qualitative feedback on program effectiveness.
Access/Connections
- Low-Income Community Networks: Ties to residents facing poverty, including informal groups.
- Local Nonprofits and Service Providers: Connections to organizations like First Stop of Park County.
- Faith-Based and Community Organizations: Access to churches or community centers.
- Tribal Communities: Relationships with Native American groups in or near Park/Hot Springs Counties.
Local Elected Officials
Role: As an elected official, your role is to align CSBG programs with regional priorities and advocate for community support, ensuring initiatives like rent assistance have broad impact in Park and Hot Springs Counties.
Ideal Candidate Profile: Ideal candidates are elected officials (e.g., county commissioners, city council members) from Park or Hot Springs Counties who understand rural Wyoming’s policy and funding landscape. They leverage their influence to connect CSBG programs with regional goals, such as affordable housing or economic development, and advocate for community buy-in despite limited government resources.
Skills/Experience/Expertise
- Public Policy: Knowledge of local and state policies to align programs with Wyoming’s rural priorities.
- Legislative Advocacy: Experience advocating for funding or policy changes at county or state levels.
- Community Engagement and Representation: Skill in gathering input from rural residents.
- Strategic Planning: Ability to align CSBG goals with long-term regional plans.
- Budget Advocacy: Expertise in securing or directing funds to support rural programs.
Access/Connections
- Government and Intergovernmental Relationships: Ties to county, state, or federal officials.
- Nonprofit and Community-Based Organizations: Connections to local service providers.
- Private Sector: Relationships with businesses in Cody, Powell, or Thermopolis.
- Wyoming-Based Philanthropy: Access to state-level donors or organizations.
Recruitment Notes
- Park and Hot Springs Counties Context: Candidates should be comfortable with virtual meetings due to geographic distances.
- Alignment with CSBG Goals: All candidates should prioritize poverty alleviation, focusing on housing insecurity, health, mental health, substance abuse disparities, transportation, and employment connections.
- Engagement Strategies: Recruit through trusted rural channels like local newspapers or faith-based networks.
- Compliance Considerations: Elected officials must be serving in office while on the board, adhere to Wyoming Ethics and Disclosure Act (annual financial disclosures by January 31, conflict disclosure), and Hatch Act restrictions for CSBG-paid employees. All candidates must be of legal age and reside in the county they represent (Park or Hot Springs).
Connecting Communities Online
Join our regular Zoom meetings to connect across distances and share your voice. As a 501(c)(3), we ensure accountability with public access, financial oversight, and annual board training, upholding Wyoming’s open meeting laws.
Be a Change-Maker
We seek passionate board members to bring expertise, lived experience, and dedication. Shape our work and drive real change.
Apply online today to join our Tripartite Board!
Apply NowWhat to Expect
- In-person or virtual orientation session
- Tour of the Greybull Facility
- Board Handbook, job descriptions, and bylaws
- Access to financial statements, CSBG Act, and past meeting minutes
Get Involved
Have questions or need support? Contact us!
Email: ycanhelp@protonmail.com
Mail: PO Box 600, Basin, WY 82410