Organizational Standards: Where do we go from here? 
Virginia agencies are well on their way to meeting the Organizational Standards. We want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication to supplying the information we need to assess the 58 Standards. On November 28th at 10am our office will hold a webinar to discuss where we go from here. This webinar will include guidance on when and how new documentation is uploaded, including future board minutes. 

Please save the date for this webinar and plan to have an agency representative attend. There is no need to register. Use the link and phone number below to join the meeting. 

Please join the meeting using this link: 

Dial: +1 (571) 317-3112
Access Code: 677-764-317


For questions on this please don't hesitate to email [email protected]. 
Application Comment Period 
The application comment period is OPEN!  Hopefully everyone participated in the webinar on October 12th for the new Application/Community Action Plan that is being developed by our network Task Force. 

Please remember, we are proposing eliminating several documents, combining several others into two excel workbooks, and cleaning up the old application. Please take a look at all documents and provide comments to   [email protected] by November 10th. If you have confusion about why any documents look the way they do, you may want to view the webinar. Most things included are part of the new ROMA Next Gen/Annual Report requirements, or they are very similar to what was required last year. Once we have received comments, made any changes, and finalized the documents, we will have training's on the new Community Action Plan (application), and the ROMA Next Gen/Annual Report through December and January so you have plenty of time to complete the new plan by the May 1st deadline. 

The webinar and all new documents can be found on our website: http://virginiaservice.virginia.gov/community-support/community-services-block-grant/csbg-application-documents/
 November & December At A Glance 
  • November 10 - Veterans Day State Offices Closed 
  • November 23-24 - Thanksgiving State Offices Closed
  • November 28 - Organizational Standards Webinar
  • December 5 - Strategic Planning Training Wytheville
  • December 6 - Strategic Planning Training Lynchburg
  • December 12 - Strategic Planning Training Newport News
  • December 15 - Strategic Planning Training Richmond
  • December 25-26 - Holiday- State Offices Closed
CSBG Office Offering Regional Strategic Planning Workshops
We are pleased to announce that the Virginia CSBG State Office will offer 4 regional training workshops on strategic planning during December. The training will be delivered by Gail Harris, Director of the Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Services at the Virginia Department of Social Services.  The training will emphasize ways to insure that your long range planning has a strategic focus and will also cover key activities and methods to help you implement an effective, meaningful planning process.  This training is most appropriate for CAA management, planning staff, and board members.  
 
The training is open to staff and board members, each person will need to register using this link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DYKJ8K5 , Currently we are limiting each agency to a maximum of 5 participants , if you would like to send more than 5 please let us know and we will add those extras to a waiting list and can add them in if there is room.
 
Registration will close on November 27. 
Save the Date: 2018 Virginia Volunteerism and Service Conference 

The 2018 Virginia Volunteerism and Service Conference is May 21-22, 2018, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Richmond - Midlothian!  
This conference attracts more than  
400 human service professionals from across the Commonwealth including volunteer coordinators, program   managers and directors from nonprofit  
and government agencies, and national service members.  

Presented by the Virginia Office on Volunteerism and Community Services and the Virginia Service Foundation, this highly-interactive two-day conference featured a diverse array of instructional workshops, networking events and opportunities for service!   

We are seeking a cadre of workshop presenters who can share their expertise with our conference guests and engage them in active learning. W e encourage you to submit your workshop proposal(s) and to share this call for proposals with other strong presenters. Workshop presenters will receive a complementary conference registration. It's going to be another great conference. We hope you will be a part of it! 

Resources for Community Action 
CAPLAW Resource:
Raising the Low-Income Voice
Since 1968, local community action agencies have been required to have tripartite governing boards to gain and retain designation as eligible entities and to receive CSBG funding.  For private nonprofit entities, a minimum of one-third of tripartite board membership must be democratically selected representatives of low-income individuals and families who reside in the geographic area being served by the agency.

CAPLAW has released a new case study in Democratic Selection Procedures to give agencies another example of how democratic selection should look in action. 

This toolkit provides a community election kit, fact sheet and recruitment email, election procedures and more. We suggest reviewing this document as well as your agencies procedures. 

Your Assistance is Needed! 
With the many changes to the healthcare system and fewer dollars to advertise,  Healthcare.gov estimates that nationally up to 1.1 million fewer people may sign-up for health insurance this year.  Please help promote the open enrollment period by posting the message below in your print and electronic media.  Thank you! 

Open Enrollment for Individual Health Insurance
November 1, 2017 to December 15, 2017

Open enrollment starts November 1, 2017 and ends December 15, 2017.  If you are currently enrolled in health insurance through the marketplace, you will be auto-enrolled in the same or a similar plan unless you select a plan by December 15.

Several health insurers have made changes for 2017 that may affect you. If your insurer is no longer offering coverage in your area, a new plan with a new insurer will be selected for you unless you select a plan on your own or opt out of the exchange.  You will need to log into your account at www.healthcare.gov/login to verify your information and shop plans available in your area.  When shopping for a plan, it is important to compare the cost as well as the benefits to find the option best for you.  Options may vary from what was available in 2017.  Even if you are auto-enrolled in a plan, you are able to choose a different plan at any time during the 45-day open enrollment period. 

As health plans and prices change, the amount of financial help you can get changes. Healthcare.gov is the only place to get financial help. The website also offers free assistance.

Not currently enrolled or need help?  For more information about health insurance options available through the Federal Marketplace, Medicaid or FAMIS programs for children, pregnant women and adults call 1-855-242-8282 or visit  https://Coverva.org
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