The 2024-2025 CAP Plan is now open and is due May 15, 2024. As you begin working on the CAP Plan, please review the CAP Plan Tip Sheet. If you have any questions as you are working on the plan please email csbg@dss.virginia.gov. The Office of Economic Opportunity will present a special webinar to review the 2024-2025 CAP Plan:

Virginia CAP Plan Webinar  

March 27, 2024, 12:30pm

Meeting ID: 271 155 577 654 

Passcode: uSpqw9 

Download Teams | Join on the web

OEO has sent out emails to each CAA indicating the CSBG and TANF allocation amounts for FY2024-2025. We know you will most likely have not completed the budget process at this time; however, we do need a rough draft/proposed budget submitted in CSBG Reporter, under the 2024-2025 “Budget” tab, to begin the Procurement process as soon as possible. When your budget figures are final, you can modify the 2024-2025 budget in CSBG Reporter to show your actual numbers.

The OEO presented a Fiscal Information Webinar on March 5th to go over information related to getting you under contract for FY2024-2025 and to answer any questions. View the recording of this webinar.

We're excited to share highlights from our first ROMA Superheroes peer group meeting on February 22nd. Why ROMA, you ask? Here's the scoop! 

Why should your agency be ROMA Involved?

• Accountability for agency-wide performance measures.
• Leads the efforts in design for supportive documentation for program planning and development.
• Baseline data for use in program evaluations and budget development.
• Facilitates the definition, monitoring, and reporting of impact at the family, agency, and community levels, therefore, adding depth to the full ROMA cycle practices. 
• Strengthens an agency's credibility in conducting evidence-based assessments, program planning, and implementation, contributing to successful community outcomes and support.

Starting the Conversation in Your Agency Regarding ROMA?

• Which tools and resources can our agency employ to clarify the perception around ROMA and help team members better understand its practices?
• How are we using ROMA principles and practices in your decision-making processes?
• Does our agency have a data management plan in place to ensure we’re collecting, analyzing, and managing relevant data with integrity?
• Is our agency utilizing program data software systems to their full potential in assisting with decision-making processes? 
• Should we create a program and evaluation data team that meets weekly or monthly to discuss agency capacity in developing effective strategies that brings sustainable changes to our communities served?
• What policies or regulations determine how data is managed in your organization?

If you missed the first meeting, click here for access to the recording. Additional resources will be sent out by Dr. Landis Faulcon. If you have any questions, contact her at Landis.Faulcon@hrcapinc.org. The ROMA peer group welcomes everyone, and our second virtual meeting is scheduled for May 23rd at 2pm. Registration details will be coming soon. 

Throughout 2024, the Community Action Network will

commemorate its 60th anniversary with national, state, and local events and activities. NCAP has released a helpful toolkit chocked full of ideas and resources to help CAAs and State Associations celebrate this anniversary. The toolkit includes a planning guide, a

starter-pack list of over 60 commemoration activity ideas, a 60th anniversary coloring page, and more. Additional templates and tools will be added to the NCAP website in the coming months.

We encourage you to consider some of the following activities as you plan how your agency will take part in the 60th anniversary event.

• Add the 60th anniversary logo to your website, newsletters, and other branded materials.
• Start using the hashtags #CommunityAction60 and #60YearsStrong on your social media feeds.
• Review the toolkit and consider establishing a 60th anniversary committee.
• Use the tools and resources developed by the OEO and NCAP to come up with creative ways to share the story of community action.
• Make a short video telling the world "What Community Action Means to Your Agency" and use this on your own social media platforms and share with OEO so that we can share widely (see below).

Training Opportunities

The OEO will present a 90-minute webinar addressing CAA Cost Allocation Compliance Challenges on Tuesday, April 9, at 2pm. The training will be presented by Kay Sohl from Kay Sohl Consulting. This workshop has been designed to build understanding of the requirements for charging costs to federal awards in the Uniform Grants Guidance. In this session we will explore specific challenges of CSBG funding, build understanding of the concept of “allocability,” provide examples of compliant cost allocation policies and practices, and offer tools to help CAAs evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their current cost allocation policies and practices. Additionally, we’ll discuss common cost allocation pitfalls and develop effective strategies to strengthen your agency’s compliance with cost allocation requirements.

For the second year, Virginia is partnering with our Region Three counterparts in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, DC, and Delaware to provide webinars on a variety of subjects. These trainings will occur twice a month and be attended by Community Action Agency staff from multiple states. Join us to learn and network with those in similar roles outside Virginia. You will need to sign up for each training individually using the links below. Some sessions are still in the planning stages, so save the dates on your calendar and check LearnWorlds for registration links and full descriptions. Once you are registered, you will receive a Zoom link to add to your calendar.

• Pathways to Excellence CAA Panel (March 7)
• Leadership Development and Succession Planning (March 14)
• Fundamentals of Employee Recognition (March 21)
• Emerging Leaders (April 11)
• Whole Family Webinar (April 25)*
• Managing Your Organizations Social Media (May 9)*
• How to Handle Emotionally Challenging Situations at Work (May 23)
• TBD (June 13)*
• Data & Fundraising (June 27)*
• Cost Allocation Plans (July 11)*
• Cost Allocation, Recovering Agency-wide Admin Costs, and Indirect Rates: A Deeper Dive (July 25)
• CAA Financial Management Challenges and Strategies (August 8)
• Inclusive Communications (November 14)*
• TBD (December 12)*

*Registration Coming Soon

The Office of Economic Opportunity wants to hear from you! If your agency has training needs throughout the year please let us know. We have created a simple form for you to submit any ideas you may have to support your staff, clients, and board make an even greater impact on your community. You can submit a need at any time and our staff will reach out to you to get more information. This form is also available on the LearnWorlds homepage.

The 2024 Virginia Volunteerism Summit will take place virtually on May 15-16. The Summit is Virginia’s leading event for organizations and individuals making a difference in their communities. Hosted by Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation, this year’s event will re-energize your passion for service through opportunities to connect with peers and learn from experts in the field! Keynote speakers include Breauna Dorelus, an AmeriCorps alum and founder of Connecting the Cause, and Sue Carter Kahl, a nationally-known expert in volunteer engagement. In addition, attendees will participate in multiple hands-on workshops each day as well as virtual networking opportunities and resource-sharing. Explore the full line up of sessions here!

Early bird tickets are available through March 9! $75 (individual) or $70 (group tickets for 3 or more). Learn more at servevirginia.org/summit. Community Action Agency staff can use the code "CAA" for $10 off individual or group tickets!

Governor Youngkin has announced $12 million in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grants for 55 projects across the Commonwealth. The funding will advance targeted efforts to reduce homelessness for more than 2,000 individuals and families. Congratulations to three Virginia Community Action Agencies who received awards: Causeway (formerly New River Community Action) $132,850, Bay Aging $325,823, and People, Inc. $303,782. The grants represent 20% of this fiscal year’s fund investment, and the remaining funds support the production of new or rehabilitated housing units through the Affordable and Special Needs Housing Program.  The Homeless Reduction Grant program must be coordinated with other community-based activities, and grantees use a local centralized or coordinated assessment/entry system, which is the best practice for a housing-focused approach for helping households experiencing homelessness quickly regain stability in permanent housing. More