2018-2019 Contracting Update
The State CSBG Office recently received the final funding letter for this fiscal year. The amount received was slightly more than the amount included in 2017-18 contracts. We will include the additional amount received in 2018-19 Funding Allocations. This will be discussed more in depth during the CSBG Roundtable at VACAP next week. We are currently working on 2018-2019 contracts and you should receive those within the next few weeks. When you receive the contract, please sign and return promptly so we can get final executed contracts to you in early July.
2018-2020 CSBG State Plan
The final 30 day comment period for the  2018-2019 State Plan will begin on June 11th. Matt will be reviewing the State Plan and any changes that were made during the VACAP conference. We are currently in the process of finalizing the date for the legislative hearing, this typically occurs in late July or early August. Once that date is set we will let the network know. You are welcome to attend the legislative hearing which will take place in Richmond.
Saying Goodbye
As many of you may know, Dottie Avalon, the CSBG Fiscal Specialist, will be leaving our office in July. We will all greatly miss her and her fiscal expertise! She will be moving across the country to the Northern Coast of Oregon. She plans to stay involved with Community Action in some capacity in Oregon so we will hopefully still have a chance to stay connected with her. Dottie will be at VACAP next week, so don't forget to wish her well in her new endeavors. We will all miss you Dottie! Thank you for all your years of service to the network, and your great work with OVCS!
OVCS and the upcoming VACAP Conference 
OVCS will be participating throughout the VACAP Conference next week. On  June 11th, OVCS will conduct a board training for the Project Discovery Board. On  June 12th, Dottie Avalon will lead the Fiscal Peer Group, with presentation on Internal Controls, and other group work. Also on June 12th, Fran Inge will conduct fundraising training with the Planner Peer Group. On  June 13th, OVCS will present a morning session, including the Roundtable (full office updates), State Plan, Next Year reporting, and some information on data systems. In the afternoon, OVCS will participate in the ROMA Peer Group, including presentations by Matt Fitzgerald, Lil Dupree, and Bill Coleman, followed by the ROMA Peer Group attending the session led by Jeannie Chaffin. We look forward to seeing everyone next week!
June and July At A Glance
  • June 11-14  - VACAP Conference  
  • June 25 - 2018-2019 Contracts Issued
  • June 25- July 1 - Sign and return contracts to CSBG office
  • July 4 - State Offices Closed 
CSBG Staffing Update
Jessica Jones, our Program Assistant, will be out on extended leave into August. The processing of invoices and the contracting process will be handled by all other CSBG staff, but please be aware that the processes could be slightly slower during this period. We will still work to ensure all items are processed quickly, but there is no replacement for the efficiency of Jessica, and we look forward to her return soon!
Resources for Community Action 
Hurricane Preparedness Information  
With the start of hurricane season on Friday, June 1, VDEM External Affairs, wanted to send you all several updated hurricane preparedness resources for your use and reference. 

Your agency may use any message points and content from the links below in your traditional and social media outreach productions. In addition, please share as you deem appropriate the resources below with your agency staff members, as well as local government and NGO partners. 

While www.KnowYourZoneVA.org is targeted to the 23 participating coastal Virginia localities, all other resources are applicable statewide. VDEM will continue to strongly push for all Virginians, in every region of the Commonwealth, to talk to their insurance agent or to contact the National Flood Insurance Program (details below) about purchasing flood insurance. Purchasing a flood insurance policy is one important, proactive action Virginians can take to protect their financial investment and to assist with disaster recovery costs.  
 

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES: 

*Updated   www.KnowYourZoneVA.org for coastal Virginia communities: Know Your Evacuation Zone and Route

*Updated  Hu rricane Evacuation Guide is located on the  www.KnowYourZoneVA.org pag e


*Updated  H urricane Preparedness Guide for all Virginians and regions of the Commonwealth 


Thank you for attending the 2018 Virginia Volunteerism and Service Conference!
Nonprofit leaders from throughout Virginia joined together in Richmond May 21-22, at the Virginia Volunteerism and Service Conference to learn from industry experts and share knowledge with each other. Nearly 400 individuals attended 30 sessions on topics like fighting the opioid epidemic in local communities and strengthening volunteer relationships. At a special awards luncheon at the conference, honors were given in six national service categories for their outstanding service (see story below). Conference attendees also participated in a variety of service projects over the two days resulting in the collection of 21 pints of blood for Virginia Blood Services and donations for Housing Families First and McGuire VA Medical Center - Women's Therapy Program. See photos from this year's conference.
Agency Spotlight
New AmeriCorps VISTA Members working in Virginia
There are four new AmeriCorps VISTA members serving in Virginia, they are focused on Opioid prevention and education. Tori Noles and Brendan McDonald are working for the Virginia Department of Social Services. Tori will be identifying gaps in data and service that can improve VDSS' response to the opioid epidemic. Brendan will be researching policy that address the prevention, treatment, and harm reduction of the opioid epidemic. Crystal Curtis is working for AppCAA providing support to existing Community Coalitions who are addressing the opioid epidemic as well as developing outreach plans to bring the acclaimed NeedleWorks play to Southwest, VA. Corissa Reed is working for HRCAP to help ensure that low income families and individuals receive education regarding opioid and substance abuse by collecting and preparing community resource packets.
STAY CONNECTED: