Community Action Month!
Annually, the month of May is designated as Community Action Month (CAM). It's a fantastic opportunity for your agency to share your stories, promote your work, emphasize your impact, and shout your successes. For assistance in planning events, social media posts and activities, please view and download the Community Action Partnership's  2018 Community Action Month Toolkit . 

National Community Action Month in May was created by the Community Action Partnership to reinforce Community Action Agencies' role helping low-income families achieve economic stability. 

If you have stories you would like to share with our office, please send those to [email protected]. We would love to add Community Action Posts to the OVCS Facebook and Twitter during the month of May! 

Community Action Plan 2018-19
Please read our Virginia network thank you and history of the road to our new Community Action Plan! Great work by all to get this step forward completed!

OVCS Update: Julian Parker Hanks
Our Program Consultant, Abby Hanks, did have her son, Julian Parker Hanks, on March 23, 2018. Julian was born 6lb 6oz,and 20 inches. Abby sent these two recent pictures of Julian, and says that he is doing well!
 

 
May and June At A Glance
  • May 1 - Community Action Plan Due 
  • May 2 to May 31 - Community Action Plan reviews
  • May 8 - VISTA Reporting Webinar
  • May 21-22 - Volunteerism and Service Conference
  • May 24th - VISTA Recruitment Webinar
  • June 1 - Feedback to all agencies on CAP
  • June 11-14 - VACAP Conference, Virginia Beach 
Resources for Community Action 
Opioid Epidemic
As you know, all communities in Virginia are attempting to combat the Opioid Epidemic. Last week, the most recent Fatal Drug Overdose Report was issued, detailing the most recent drug related deaths in Virginia for the Quarter. If you are looking to direct staff or others to information and resources, The Governor's Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse in Virginia created CurbTheCrisis.com, a new website intended as a comprehensive resource for all Virginians in the fight against opioid misuse and overdose throughout the Commonwealth. Several AmeriCorps VISTA's will begin, or have just begun, service with CAA's and the State Office to work on these issues. We will provide updates on the results of these VISTA members service throughout the year.
Did you know: NASCSP
The National Association of State Community Service Programs (NASCSP) is the member association for State Offices that administer CSBG, Weatherization, and LIHEAP. Virginia has two representatives on the Board of NASCSP, Willie Fobbs with DHCD (President) and Matt Fitzgerald (Treasurer). Although NASCSP is a member organization for State Offices, they work collaboratively/cooperatively with all other national partners (CAP, CAPLAW, NCAF, etc.) to keeps its members, the federal government, and other interested parties informed about issues related to CSBG and DOE/WAP through its publications and training. But what you may not know is that their mission includes "Building capacity in states to respond to poverty issues", and their website is a very rich resource. Currently on their home page, they have "What's New" announcement for brand new instructions for Modules 2-4 of the Annual Report. Many of the things that we will be working on with ROMA NextGen reporting and Theory of Change and much more have places on the website, and often instruction manuals or crosswalks. Take some time to get acquainted with the great tools on this site! 
Agency Spotlight

Welcome to our newest Executive Directors and best wishes to those retiring!
 

OVCS wishes a happy retirement to Diane Musso and Jack Lanier, the network has benefitted greatly from your leadership and hard work!

 

We would also like to welcome the new Executive Directors. Lisa Gibson (Quin Rivers), Donna Sample Smith (ESAAA), and Fran Lavin (Skyline). If you haven't already, please reach out and welcome these new leaders to the Virginia Network!
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