March 13, 2015
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ocsWEBINAR WITH OCS ON REVISION TO MODEL STATE PLAN

Model State Plan Revisions - What CAAs and Associations Need to Know

 

Webinar with the Federal Office of Community Services March 19, 2015 at 4:00 ET/3:00 CT/2:00 MT/1:00 PT

 

Join the Office of Community Services (OCS) and Community Action Partnership for a webinar walk through of what CAAs and State Associations need to know about the revisions to the Model CSBG State Plan. Explore changes, new automation processes, and how it relates to State Accountability Measures and Organizational Standards.

 

This webinar is FREE, but pre-registration is required. Please register here

 

The Model State Plan is currently in the Federal Register under an open comment period through OMB. Comments will be accepted through March 27th through [email protected]

 

The State and Federal Accountability Measures are released through a draft Information Memorandum (IM). OCS is currently seeking feedback through March 27th through [email protected]

 

We encourage you to read through the Model State Plan and the Draft State and Federal Accountability Measures, download them to have as you walk through the webinar, and participate in the comment periods.

 

Model State Plan Revisions

Draft State and Federal Accountability Measures

 

For more information on the changes to the performance management system for CSBG, please see the quicklink "Updates on CSBG Organizational Standards and ROMA Next Generation" on the Partnership's website.

   

CSBGCSBG DEAR COLLEAGUE MODEL STATE PLAN REVISION:
OPEN COMMENT PERIODS - UPDATE


Dear Colleagues:
 
On January 29, 2015, the Office of Community Services (OCS) distributed a Dear Colleague message requesting feedback from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Network on the proposed revision of the CSBG Model State Plan (MSP).  While the official deadline for submitting comments is March 27, we strongly encourage members of the CSBG Network to submit comments as early as possible, in order to expedite the review process.  We intend to review all comments carefully before we revise and submit the MSP to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the next level of Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) review. With your help, our goal is to complete the new MSP in time for FY 2016 CSBG State Plan submissions.
 
To facilitate your review of the MSP, in the past weeks, we have had the opportunity to review and discuss the MSP with many of you through a webinar series and at the National Association of State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) Mid-Winter Training Conference.  The recorded webinars and the slides from the conference are all available on the NASCSP website.  
 
As a courtesy, and in response to requests from States, we are providing a Microsoft Word version of the draft MSP for CSBG State agencies to use for planning and development of their FY 2016 State plan.  This Word version is identical to the draft distributed with the January 29 dear colleague message, except for the insertion of question 10.6 that was missing from the earlier draft.  Please note the content of the draft MSP is likely to change based on comments we receive during the 60-day PRA comment period and upon review by OMB.   We will make available a copy of the final version as submitted for OMB clearance as soon as any changes have been incorporated based on public comments.
 
Thank you for your partnership in this important work of developing a CSBG Model State Plan that is streamlined, automated, and integrates performance management elements.  As a reminder, information about how to comment on the MSP can be found in the CSBG Dear Colleague Letter Model State Plan Revision: Open Comment Period; please submit your comments to [email protected] .
 
We look forward to hearing from you.
 
Jeannie L. Chaffin                                                                            Seth Hassett
Director                                                                                           Director, Division of State Assistance
Office of Community Services                                                           Office of Community Services
CMSTAX SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD (SEP)


Special Open Enrollment Period for Families Who Did Not Have Health Insurance in 2014 and Have Had to Pay a Penalty on Their 2014 Tax Return

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today Open enrollment for 2015 is over. But if a person owes a fee on their taxes for not having health coverage in 2014 and don't yet have health coverage for 2015, they may still be able to get coverage for 2015.
 
Starting on March 15, tax filers who have to pay the fee and who were unaware or did not understand the implications of the requirement to enroll in coverage can take advantage of an opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage through a special enrollment period.  If tax filers do not purchase coverage for the remainder of 2015 during this special enrollment period (March 15-April 30), they will risk having to pay the fee again next year for the entire year when they file their 2015 income taxes.

For more information, click here

NASCSPTHEORY OF CHANGE: THE WASHINGTON STATE EXPERIENCE--
WEBINAR ON MARCH 19


Theory of Change: The Washington State Experience

March 19th @ 1:00 p.m. ET

To register, click here or cut and paste the below link into your web browser.

https://nascsp.webex.com/nascsp/onstage/g.php?MTID=e7d65cdf76e335f1beb6126fba716916c
 
The members of the Washington State Community Action Partnership (WSCAP) wanted to understand their business better than they ever had in the past - what the local agencies do, how they do this work, and what impact they are having in their communities and collectively at the state level.

They knew that the spotlight was on Community Action and that the status quo in performance management was not enough. They wanted to serve their customers in the best possible way. They wanted to explain to community members what Community Action Agencies are doing and the value that these Agencies bring. Finally, they wanted to attract outside funders who do not traditionally support Community Action Agencies. They began two years of work to develop a Theory of Change that has since been endorsed by all the local agencies in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Join NASCSP and Washington to learn about the development and implementation of their Theory of Change.
 
Register today and check out the Washington State Theory of Change Case Study and other resources on the NASCSP website. 

NPQNONPROFIT QUARTERLY ITEM

 

Inequality's Dead End-And the Possibility of a New, Long-Term Direction  

  

Recent headlines have included a growing number of reports about a general strengthening of the recession-battered economy.  However, belying this good news is a growing concern that the rising tide has left more than a few ships foundering in uncertain economic waters.  This recent report from the Nonprofit Quarterly places the current economic recovery in historical perspective and casts a worried eye towards long-term trends and disturbing indicators of underlying economic inequality.

 

LINK to article
ssrcSSRC EMERGING SCHOLAR WEBINAR ON MARCH 26

The Impact of Incarceration on Families, Communities, and Offenders

On March 26, 2015 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT, the Self-Sufficiency Research Clearinghouse (SSRC) will host The Impact of Incarceration on Families, Communities, and Offenders Webinar, featuring SSRC Emerging Scholar Dr. Artika Tyner with Dr. Renee Wilson-Simmons as a discussant and Dr. Kristin Anderson Moore as Moderator.
 
This free Webinar will focus on the social and economic impacts of incarceration on children, families, communities, and offenders.
 
Dr. Tyner will discuss the Campaign for Prison Phone Justice, which explores the costs of prison phone calls, and how financial barriers to communication affect incarcerated individuals, their families, and communities. Dr. Tyner will also describe how her research findings have helped promote community engagement and advance policy changes. Registrants are invited to submit their questions here.
 
Register here.
claspSTATE LEADERS' LESSONS ABOUT HUMAN SERVICES REFORMS, INNOVATIONS


State Leaders' Lessons about Human Services Reforms, Innovations


By Cemer� James and Sacsheen Scott

A new report from the Work Support Strategies initiative describes what leadership looks like among state health and human services officials implementing large-scale systems reform. Observations of Leaders Driving Changes in State Government, authored by Urban Institute, offers practical, concrete lessons based on interviews with leaders and staff in WSS states. This includes committing to and communicating a clear vision for serving clients, creating an environment in which that commitment is shared across teams and departments, and promoting shared accountability for meeting objectives and making progress on measurable goals.

The WSS initiative-a multi-state demonstration led by CLASP in partnership with Urban Institute, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), and other national organizations-offers six leading-edge states the support needed to integrate and streamline delivery of work support benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, and child care assistance). The goal is to eliminate barriers that prevent working families from getting and keeping the full range of benefits for which they are eligible. With technical assistance (TA) and grant funding, WSS states (Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and South Carolina) are working to improve management practices, enhance technology, and align eligibility policies for consistency across programs. As the report shows, leaders are taking on the challenges of updating technological systems, cutting down backlogs, and reducing delays in processing to increase access to work support programs through:
  • Business process or operations changes that ensure families receive benefits more promptly, including increasing same-day service;
  • Eliminating bureaucratic processes that cause  "churn," which refers to families being pushed off benefits even though they are still eligible;
  • Implementing new enrollment opportunities for families, such as online and telephone applications, waiting room kiosks, and one-stop service delivery; and
  • Actively cross-enrolling families in health and human services programs by using the information already available in a client's file.
The Urban Institute report counters the widespread myth that public sector officials cannot innovate because the environment is too difficult or because they are "just bureaucrats" who lack change leadership skills.  The report describes openly and honestly the challenges state leaders face; furthermore, it also echoes last summer's WSS Program Integration Forum (where senior officials shared experiences in their own words) by illustrating the skills, energy, thoughtfulness, and optimism these leaders bring to improving government effectiveness and responsiveness.  Robert D. Reischauer, former director of the Congressional Budget Office and president emeritus of Urban Institute, remarked in his role as forum respondent: "I came away with a tremendous positive feeling of what is happening [in the states] and what is possible. Even in a policy environment that is extremely inhospitable, positive and significant change is possible."

As WSS states continue to implement healthcare reform, expand Medicaid, and redesign their child care subsidy programs, the other 44 states should draw on these lessons to improve their own services. Further, federal partners and national thought leaders should take notice of public programs' effectiveness and what it takes to help leaders succeed. WSS states will continue to share hard-earned lessons on service delivery reforms and health and human services integration materials in the coming year.

Click here to learn more about Work Supports Strategies (WSS).
NCAFNCAF's 2015 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

  

 NCAF's Annual Legislative Conference

March 24-27
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
Washington, DC 

 

There is still time to support NCAF by purchasing an ad in the program book.

 

REGISTER HERE  

  

The Community Action Partnership has registered for the 2015 NCAF Legislative Conference! 
 
Have you? 
 
We hope to see you there!
 WipfliWIPFLI NONPROFIT AND GOVERNMENT UPCOMING EVENTS


On-Site Trainings
 
April 20-21, 2015
In-Depth Training on OMB's New Uniform Guidance
Hilton Sacramento Arden West
2200 Harvard St
Sacramento, CA 95815
 
Registration Fee
Early-bird rate: $625 per person if registered by March 23, 2015
Regular rate: $775 per person if registered after March 23, 2015

August 24-25, 2015
OMB's New Uniform Guidance
Community Action Partnership Annual Convention
San Francisco Marriott Marquis
San Francisco, CA

Registration Fee:
Cost for Community Action Partnership members are as follows:

*  $625 per participant registering on or before July 27, 2015.

(Partnership Members must use the promo code CAPSF* when registering or they will be charged the regular early bird rate of $645)

 

*   $795 (regular registration fee) per participant registering after July 27, 2015.

 

 

Webinars
 
March 10, 2015 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Indirect Cost Rates
 
March 12, 2015 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 10% De Minimis Indirect Rate: Is It Right For You?
PLAN NOW FOR THE 2015 ANNUAL CONVENTION
 The CONVENTION BROCHURE is now available to download, click here.


Click here for Convention reservations at the Marriott Marquis

 
 On-line REGISTRATION for the Annual Convention is now available, click here.
 
Grab the early bird rate today!
 
You can register for the full event as well as several
pre-convention activities to help you maximize your trip!

 

Keep an eye on this link for more information!

 

The CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS is now open! 

The deadline to submit session proposals is April 10th.
 
#Partnership15




 Click here to learn about the Irwin Siegel Agency  
alliance with the Partnership or visit their website.