We are happy to announce we have finalized Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 of the Risk Management Training Program. Cohort 1 will kick off in mid February. Cohort 2 will begin in Mid May.

The agencies in Cohort 1 are:

The agencies in Cohort 2 are:

We still have room for agencies who may be interested in the Access Model. This would give your agency free access to the Risk Management Plan and Business Continuity Plan Modules.

If you are interested in the Access Model or would like more information please email Abby, Abigail.Hanks@dss.virginia.gov.

Don't forget to check our website frequently as we consistently add webinar recordings and resources. We will be overhauling our website in 2021 to make it easier to navigate. If you have any resources or tools you think should be included in our site please email csbg@dss.virginia.gov.

The Virginia CSBG office set up a Samepage account in January 2020, the VACAP peer groups were looking for a way to share files, resources, ask questions and schedule meetings more effectively. Samepage offers all of those capabilities. Currently we have several teams set up, we have a ROMA Implementer Team, EmpowOR Team, Executive Leadership Team, Fiscal Peer Group, HR Peer Group and the VACAP Board Peer Group. We have 133 people who have received an invite to the platform. Our office regularly posts resources for the network. We want to encourage others to do the same. If you have questions or are looking for resources, please pose that question on Samepage. If you came across a great article or news you want to share, please post that on Samepage.

If you don't have a Samepage account or have lost your log in please contact Abby at Abigail.hanks@dss.virginia.gov.

Also if you need a demonstration on how to use Samepage, check out their demo.

The Virginia CSBG Office will be holding Community Action Plan Technical Assistance Meetings with each agency during the months of February and March. These meetings will allow for discussion on Community Action Planning and Reporting. We are encouraging everyone who plans to attend these Community Action Plan Meetings to watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the recent NASCSP trainings. These trainings covered Outcomes, Measurement Tools, Reporting and Planning.

There are different types of inequities that plague our communities daily. The lack of understanding, resources, and support through healthy conversations sometimes affords those cycles of despair fueled by frustration to continue among our leaders, constituents, and families that we serve. However, our office is continuing its dialogue in looking at systems constantly bombarded with injustices for most Americans. This month we will explore food insecurities in America and its increasing concern that holds a robust disproportionate representation among our cities, counties, states, and as a whole nation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.  

Feeding America- Who Does Food Insecurity? Click here 

NPR- Food Insecurity in The U.S. By The Numbers. Click here

USDA- Key Statistics and Graphics. Click here

USDA-Who Are the World's Food Insecure? Identifying the Risk Factors of Food Insecurity Around the World. Click here

The National Association for State Community Service Programs (NASCSP) is releasing a weekly blog to showcase influential black anti-poverty advocates. Check back often as new information is added weekly!