Community Action Partnership

Resources

ONLINE TOOLS | WEBINARS | TOOLKITS | ARCHIVE | MISCELLANEOUS

Weatherization program’s history documented in new film

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), like so many services offered by CAAs to help vulnerable Americans, is under intense scrutiny and faces significant budget cuts at a time when people need it the most.

As such, State and Local Energy Report has produced Filling the Gaps, The History of the Weatherization Assistance Program—the first feature-length documentary to tell the WAP’s complete story. This pivotal point is the perfect time look back on this vital program and highlight from the very beginning its triumphs and successes.

Through interviews with WAP's pioneers, including former US Congressman David Obey and others key leaders, the film shows how a modest plan to put people back to work grew into the sophisticated, technologically driven program it is today.

To view the video, go to https://vimeo.com/47748620 (enter the password "thisiswap")

Looking Ahead: Draft Proposal for a
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Accreditation Process Story

As always, one of our Network’s most important objectives is to discuss, strategize, plan, and think about public policies that impact our communities and the people and families we help.

We –in partnership with the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP)- have recently developed two documents that are worth your reading and thinking about (click on the link below to access the full text of the merged documents):

The Partnership and NASCSP cover memo to the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services (ACF/OCS) – December 23, 2011

The Partnership and NASCSP cover memo to the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services (ACF/OCS) – December 23, 2011
Draft Proposal for CSBG Accreditation Process – December 23, 2011

• Click here to access the full document

Background: Last January the Obama Administration proposed a 50% reduction in CSBG funding and “reformulating” the program to included identifying “underperforming agencies” and having them compete for CSBG funds. In February, ACF/OCS invited the Partnership and the other national organizations in the Community Action Network to meet individually with them. With the full understanding that the Partnership was opposed to the 50% funding cut, our leadership met with them to discuss the situation, as did the leaders of all the national Network partners.

On April 21st, the Partnership and NASCSP convened the CSBG Working Group comprised of leaders from local Community Action Agencies, State CSBG offices, State Community Action Associations, CAPLAW, NCAF, and other experts, e.g. Barbara Mooney of ROMA (Results-Oriented Management and Accountability). The group agreed there are areas that can be addressed that will improve results for low-income families and communities while respecting the work and structure of Community Action. The Working Group came to consensus that any future reforms should focus on six key principles and address five areas with specific recommendations. This initial document is available on both the Partnership’s and NASCSP’s websites.

The Working Group broke into subcommittees and developed more detailed recommendations in these five areas and including strongly recommending the development of a framework for demonstrating our Network’s accountability. The resulting memo to ACF/OCS was sent by the Partnership and NASCSP; the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) and Community Action Program Legal Services (CAPLAW) elected not to endorse this course of action. This document is also available on both the Partnership’s and NASCSP’s websites. The State and Local Accountability Subcommittee developed the following recommendation:

the creation and definition of performance criteria that are consistent, non-arbitrary and possible for State and local grantees to meet could strengthen the CSBG Network. The use of performance criteria in an accountability system that may include a performance threshold should be developed with maximum participation of the CSBG Network, including comment periods and a transition plan. Technical assistance and due process must be part of any accountability plan that includes performance thresholds as well as consequences for failing to meet defined criteria

Network input continued at CAPLAW’s June 2011 Conference in Minneapolis, the Partnership’s August 2011 Convention in San Francisco, and NASCSP’s September 2011 Conference in Seattle.

Recent Developments: We have continued to work on specific recommendations for ACF/OCS. Due to recently increased requests for additional details from both ACF and OCS leadership, the Partnership and NASCSP sent the memo and proposal on Friday, December 23, 2011. Developed together with the committee chairs from the CSBG Working Group, this is a DRAFT proposal for an accreditation framework and process. Opportunities for your input and from others in our Network are and will continue to be available as our discussions with ACF/OCS proceed. We very much look forward to hearing from you – please direct your comments to csbg@communityactionpartnership.com .

ONLINE TOOLS . . .

Click the button to log on

The Partnership is proudly launching, in a joint enterprise with NASCSP, the National T/TA website. This valuable partnership will achieve significant economies of scale, and enable coordination and analysis of Network T/TA, from State CSBG offices, to State Associations to Community Action Agencies. The website enables electronic submission and management of T/TA requests, and allows users to search for specialized consultants. By late fall 2011, thewebsite will host a library of vetted resources and training materials and provide a unified Community Action calendar of events. Future improvements will include moderated discussion forums, user ratings, and the launch of Community Action TV.

And first and foremost, the Center handles training and technical assistance requests from the Community Action Network. Staff will help CAAs and Associations by assessing requests, using diagnostic tools to identify what help is needed, assisting in the development of a plan to address the need, and then working with the organization to implement the plan. Whether the issue is one of risk mitigation, capacity development or quality improvement, the Center stands ready to assist.

Click to access information and resources

Click on the logo above to be taken to the National Training Center’s Affiliates Page with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. This will be your entry page to the various affiliate benefits provided to you through the NRMC and the Community Action Partnership’s National Training Center.

Affiliates have access to various discounted risk management resources as well as a customized risk management tool designed specifically for CSBG eligible entities. The tool may be accessed directly free of charge. The additional resources may be purchased at a discounted rate.

Need help accessing the Affiliate page? Contact us at TTAsupport@communityactionpartnerhship.com

Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment Online Tool

The Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment (CCNA) Online Tool provides a significant amount of the secondary data to help you along your way to complete comprehensive community needs assessment with the click of a button.

The CCNA tool allows you to:

Select state(s) and county(ies) to be included in your report (i.e. Indiana, Porter County; New York, Albany County, Rensselaer County, Schenectady County; Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska)
Select specific data elements (Demographics, Employment, Education, Housing, Income, Nutrition, and Health Care
Preview a draft report
Download a draft report onto your desktop in a Microsoft Word document that is fully editable. From there you can add text, tables, maps, etc.; delete unwanted sections; and modify it any way you need.

This tool was developed by the Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems (CARES) at the University of Missouri in cooperation with the Community Action Partnership’s National Training Center, the Missouri Association for Community Action, and the New York State Community Action Association and is FREE to Community Action Agencies and Other CSBG Eligible Entities.

Try it out now to see how easy it is to get a jump on your CSBG Community Needs Assessment or Head Start Community Assessment. Go to: www.communityactioncna.org . For more information, contact the National Training Center at TTAsupport@communityactionpartnership.com

WEBINARS . . .

Click below for full details

Click here for ARCHIVED WEBINARS

Risk Foundations: Examining Risk With the Partnership’s Online Tool

Original Air Date: April 30, 2013

Click here for the recording

Presented by:
Melanie Herman, Nonprofit Risk Management Center

Summary:
Learn more basic risk management techniques and how the Partnership’s online tool created in coordination with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center can help in applying these techniques. Ms. Herman offers a guided trek through a comprehensive risk management framework outlining key concepts and techniques that can be used in concert with the online tool. Learn not only about foundational aspects of risk management, but how to integrate these techniques into the management of their organization with the aid of the Partnership’s online risk management tool.

CCAP Examination

Original air date: April 5th, 2013

Click here for the recording

Click here to view the slides

While the CDF documents Community Action experience and the ESP is the candidate's means to communicate Community Action skills, the examination is the method to demonstrate mastery of the knowledge base expected of Community Action leaders.

Objectives:

Identify the route to qualifying to sit for the examination
Understand the testing methods and types of questions used in the examination
Understand how source materials are to be used in preparation for the examination (the Study Guide)
Identify the options open to candidates to prepare for the examination

Audit Essentials: What Every Board Needs to Know

Original Air Date: March 20, 2013

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Presented by:
Kevin Myren, CommonBond Communities

Summary:
This is a second live presentation of Kevin Myren’s webinar of the Partnership’s new financial management toolkit “Audit Essentials: What Every Board Needs to Know”. This second presentation offers previous webinar attendees the chance to review key concepts as well as the chance to pose questions that were not answered in the first webinar. Additionally, webinar attendees learn about various aspects of the audit process such as how to interpret auditor opinions and the parts of an audit. Mr. Myren covers how to effectively utilize various organizational financial reports such as the statement of financial position, statement of activities and the cash flow statement. The toolkit and webinar are specifically addressed to board members; though they serve as a good overview for anyone interested in learning the basics of the audit process and reading financial statements.

Demonstration of the CSBG T/TA Resource Center

Original air date: February 22, 2013

Click here for the recording.

Presented by:

Sandra Mendez, State Assistance Director, NASCSP

Andy Cruz, Program Specialist, Community Action Partnership

Cashin Yiu, Program Support Specialist, Community Action Partnership

Summary:
This webinar is a demonstration of the CSBG T/TA Resource Center. The CSBG T/TA Resource Center is a joint project between the National Training Center housed at the Community Action Partnership (the Partnership) and the State Performance Management Clearinghouse housed at the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP). Through the T/TA Resource Center, the CSBG Network can submit a request for training or technical assistance; search for tools, guides, and evidence informed practices; view a calendar of upcoming trainings and meetings; search for a consultant that you can contact to work with your organization; and participate in discussion forums with your peers. Join the staff of this project to learn how to take advantage of this resource and ask questions.

Second National Update to CSBG Organizational Standards, ROMA Next Generation, and Performance Management Activities

Original air date: Thursday, February 21, 2013

Click here for the recording
Click here for the PowerPoint slides
Check back here soon for FAQ

Summary
The Second National Update on the progress of Organizational Standards Development and ROMA Next Generation was co-hosted by the Community Action Partnership and NASCSP.

This event covered new developments related to the ongoing process to strengthen organizational standards for Community Action Agencies and further refine ROMA to meet the needs of the CSBG Network.

Panelists

Pamela Harrison of California Community Services Division, and NASCSP Board Member and CSBG Program Chair
Thomas Tenorio, CCAP - Executive Director, Community Action Agency of Butte County, Inc. and Partnership Board Chair
John Edwards, Jr., CCAP – Executive Director, Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, Inc., Partnership Past Board Chair
Bill Brand, Administrator, Iowa Department of Human Rights, NASCSP Vice-President

Needs Assessment Know How: An Introduction to the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Online Tool

Original air date: January 23, 2013

Click here for the recording

Presented by:
Christopher Barnett, Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems (CARES)

Summary:
This webinar is a demonstration of the “Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment Online Tool”. This tool was developed by the Center for Applied Research and Environmental Systems (CARES) at the University of Missouri in cooperation with the Community Action Partnership’s National Training Center, the Missouri Association for Community Action, and the New York State Community Action Association and is FREE to Community Action Agencies and Other CSBG Eligible Entities. The creators of the tool go step-by-step on how to use the tool and ideas on how to take advantage of this resource. The tool itself is available under Online Tools (above on this page).

First National Update to CSBG Organizational Standards, ROMA Next Generation, and Performance Management Activities

Original air date: Tuesday, December 18

Click here for the recording.

Click here for the powerpoint slides.

Click here for CSBG Working Group Membership List

Click here for CSBG Performance Management Task Force Participant List

The Office of Community Services (ACF/HHS) is making significant investments in, and commitments to, the future of the Community Services Block Grant and Community Action. They are deeply engaging our Network, and have brought in outside experts to work with us at this critical time.

Please join the Partnership and NASCSP as we provide an update for the Network—Agencies, State Associations and State CSBG Offices—on this national effort to frame Organizational Performance Standards, ROMA Next Generation, and CSBG Performance Management.

With the two new Centers of Excellence (Organizational Standards/Partnership and ROMA Next Generation/NASCSP), the involvement of the Urban Institute and Performance Management Task Force, there are many players and activities going on currently.

Panelists:

Pamela Harrison of California Community Services Division, and NASCSP Board Member and CSBG Program Chair
Thomas Tenorio, CCAP - Executive Director, Community Action Agency of Butte County, Inc. and Partnership Board Chair
John Edwards, Jr., CCAP – Executive Director, Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, Inc., Partnership Past Board Chair
Bill Brand, Administrator, Iowa Department of Human Rights, NASCSP Vice-President
Vaughn Clark, Director - Oklahoma Office of Community Development, NASCSP Ex-Officio Board Member

CCAP Executive Skills Portfolio

Original air date: January 4, 2013

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Click here to view the slides

While the CDF affords the opportunity to be recognized for experience in the field of Community Action, the second major step, the Executive Skills Portfolio (ESP), gives CCAP candidates the opportunity to showcase their skills as Community Action leaders.

Objectives:

Understand what qualifies as an appropriate work sample for the ESP
Identify the process for constructing the portfolio
Understand the intent of the 4 brief explanatory essays that the candidate writes to accompany the work sample
Understand how the ESP is evaluated by the CCAP Commission

CCAP Candidate Data Form (CDF)

Original air date: November 30th, 2012

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Click here to view the slides

The CDF is the first of three major steps in becoming a CCAP. The form functions as a "fill in the blanks" resume. It provides the opportunity for CCAP candidates to be acknowledged for their experience in Community Action as a part of their qualification for CCAP certification Objectives:

Understand the rationale for CDF
Identify what qualifies for inclusion on the CDF
Understand the intent of each section of the CDF
Know the methods for CDF submission

Audit Essentials: What Every Board Needs to Know

Original air date: November 28, 2012

Click here for the recording

Presented by Kevin Myren, CPA

Summary: This webinar is a companion piece to the toolkit “Audit Essentials: What Every Board Needs to Know”. Webinar attendees learn about various aspects of the audit process such as how to interpret auditor opinions and the parts of an audit. Additionally, Mr. Myren covers how to effectively utilize various organizational financial reports such as the statement of financial position, statement of activities and the cash flow statement.

Collaboration Checkup: Assessing and Improving Your Community Partnerships

Original air date: October 31st, 2012

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Presented by Dr. Barbara Mooney

Summary:
This webinar will highlight the release of a new National Training Center toolkit related to the fourth National Goal: Partnerships among supporters and providers of services to low-income people are achieved. As with the other National Goals, it is becoming more important to have tools to evaluate how effective the CSBG Network is in reaching the goal. The goal is to help the Network develop and nurture partnerships that have an impact in local communities and to have tools to measure both that impact and the functioning of the partnerships.

This publication was created by National Association of Community Action Agencies - Community Action Partnership in the performance of the U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. This training is made free of charge to CSBG grantees as part of the National T/TA Strategy for Promoting Exemplary Practices and Risk Mitigation for the CSBG Program.

Executive Transition Management

Original air date: October 24, 2012

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Presented by: Don Tebbe and Lisa Burford

Summary
Learn how to use the three-phase process of Executive Transition Management to minimize the risk related to executive turnover and position the agency for greater levels of success. This session is based on a resource guide – Preparing For Your Community Action Agency’s Future: Sustainability, Succession and Transition, Part 3 - that outlines a three-phase process for managing the CEO transition. It includes 12 ready-to-use tools to help you manage the entire process.

This series was created in partnership between the Leadership Development Center of Excellence and the National Risk Mitigation and Quality Improvement T/TA Center (National Training Center)

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90EQ0231. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Leadership Succession Planning

Original air date: October 22, 2012

Click here for the recording.

Presented by Don Tebbe and Lisa Burford of TransitionGuides

Summary:
Explore the three major types of leadership succession planning. Learn how to ensure leadership continuity for your agency through backup planning. This session introduces a resource guide – Preparing for Your Community Action Agency’s Future: Sustainability, Succession and Transition, Part 2 - that provides an overview of different types of executive succession planning models coupled with a set of detailed action planning tools - ready-to-edit templates for an executive backup plan and a board-adopted leadership succession policy.

This series was created in partnership between the Leadership Development Center of Excellence and the National Risk Mitigation and Quality Improvement T/TA Center.

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90EQ0231. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office ofCommunity Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Orientation to CCAP

Original air date: October 12th, 2012

Click here for a recording.

Click here to view the slides.

CCAPs (Certified Community Action Professionals) are on the front lines of leadership in Community Action. CCAP is the only national peer based certification program that recognizes the accomplishments of current and emerging Community Action leaders. This session introduces potential CCAP candidates to the intent, structure and benefits of becoming a CCAP.
Objectives:

Understand the benefits of CCAP for current and emerging Community Action leaders
Identify the qualifications for CCAP candidacy
Understand the general requirements for each of the steps to becoming a CCAP
Identify options for assistance in process of becoming a CCAP

Cost Allocation: Red Flags and Remedies

Presented in partnership with CAPLAW

Original air date: September 27, 2012

Click here for the recording

Presented by Kay Sohl, Kay Sohl Consulting

Across the country, Community Action Agencies are experiencing heightened auditor and Inspector General interest in cost allocation plans and practices. CAPLAW and the Partnership have teamed up to produce a new Cost Allocation Toolkit (COMING SOON!) designed for CAAs who do not have federally negotiated indirect cost rates and face the torturous web of cost allocation requirements in A-122 and layers of additional, at times conflicting guidance from specific federal and state programs.

This 90 minute webinar focuses on the common cost allocation mistakes and practical strategies to avoid or correct them. Webinar discussion topics include:

Red Flags- common cost allocation practices that may result in findings
Cost Allocation Plans- what compliant plans contain
Cost Allocation Methods – allowable and unallowable
PARS and Cost Allocation – why Personnel Active Reports are essential for most cost allocation plans
Dealing with Administrative Cost Limitation

Organizational Sustainability: Assessing and Acting for the Future

Original broadcast date: September 24, 2012

Click here for the recording

Speakers:
Lisa Burford, TransitionGuides
Don Tebbe, TransitionGuides

Summary:
This webinar serves as a companion piece to the new Organizational Sustainability Guide created by TransitionGuides in coordination with the Community Action Partnership. Learn how to assess your agency’s sustainability outlook using a simple, but powerful, “mini-assessment” tool. Explore the four elements of organizational sustainability and identify ways to strengthen your agency’s future.

Who Should Attend:

CEO
CFO
Executive Staff
Board Members

This publication was created by National Association of Community Action Agencies - Community Action Partnership in the performance of the U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. This training is made free of charge to CSBG grantees as part of the National T/TA Strategy for Promoting Exemplary Practices and Risk Mitigation for the CSBG Program.

PARs (Personnel Activity Reports): The Do’s and Don’ts

Original broadcast date: September 20, 2012

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Speaker:
Janet Johnson, CPA, CMA – Senior Manager, WIPFLI

Summary:
Webinar on a key aspect of Time and Effort Reporting and Cost Allocation: Personnel Activity Reports - what’s required, red flags that may mean you need to look at PARs, what is best practice, and practical advice for doing them well. Based on a new guide from Wipfli created in partnership with CAPLAW and the Community Action Partnership, get a first glimpse of this new tool with a walk through from the principal author.

Attendee Takeaways:

Importance and requirements of PARs
Practical guidance on how to do PARs well

Who Should Attend:

Executive Staff
Human Resources Staff

A New Tool for Agency-Wide Risk Assessment for Community Action

Original broadcast date: September 19, 2012

Click here for recording

Speaker:
Melanie Lockwood Herman, Esq., Nonprofit Risk Management Center

Summary:
Learn more about the new Community Action Partnership Risk Management Tool created in coordination with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. It offers a guided trek through a comprehensive risk management framework. Ms. Herman will outline how to use the tool and highlight key features that allow Agencies to use the tool for better risk assessment.

Check out the toolkit itself available in the Resource Bank of the T/TA Resource Center and on the Partnership’s website under National Training Center.

Attendee Takeaways:

Basic concepts in risk assessment
Key features of the new tool
How to use the new risk assessment tool

Who Should Attend:

Executive Leadership
Program Managers
Those interested in risk

Improving Performance, Scoring Success: Using Balanced Scorecards for Organizational Excellence

Original broadcast date: September 18, 2012

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Speakers:

Howard Rohm, Balanced Scorecard Institute
Dan Montgomery, Balanced Scorecard Institute

Summary:
This webinar highlights the release of “Improving Performance, Scoring Success: Using Balanced Scorecards for Organizational Excellence.” Working with the Community Action Partnership, the Balanced Scorecard Institute has created a "do-it-yourself" planning toolkit available free for Community Action Agencies. The Toolkit is based on the Institute's rigorous Nine Steps to Success™ balanced scorecard framework that combines strategic planning, change management, program and service prioritization, performance measurement and target setting. The Toolkit follows the five stages of the ROMA cycle: Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Achievement of Results, and Evaluation. The toolkit is designed to help CAAs not only perform strategic planning, but organize measures and reporting in a way that maps to the six ROMA goals, helps meet National Performance Indicator reporting requirements, and supports participation in the Pathways to Excellence program. The goal is to help Agencies improve their efficiency and effectiveness, and become more strategy focused and aligned.

Take a look at the toolkit itself, available in the Resource Bank of the T/TA Resource Center

Attendee Takeaways:

Why strategic planning efforts in CAAs are often ineffective
How the balanced scorecard addresses these problems
Key features of integrated strategic planning and management
Overview of the Toolkit, including how to integrate: Assessment; Planning; Implementation; Achievement of Results; Evaluation

CED Webinar: Marketing on a Shoe String Budget

Original broadcast date: August 2, 2012 

Click here for the recording

Speaker:
Becky Nave,  People Incorporated , Abingdon, VA  (People Inc. is a Community Action Agency)

About This Webinar:
Whether you are marketing your organization, a project or program, marketing with a limited budget does not have to be complicated or expensive. Senior Business Trainer for People, Inc., Becky Nave, will provide detailed information on developing a marketing strategy, creative advertising methods, promotion ideas and effective techniques for using social media channels to increase client engagement and obtain market research information.

Multiple Ways to Integrate CED Strategies into Healthy Food Initiatives

Original broadcast date: July 26, 2012

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Speaker:
Glenn Sanada, Director of Technical Assistance, California Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA)

Summary:
This session is designed to introduce Community Action Agencies interested in understanding the multiple ways organizations can integrate community economic development strategies into community healthy food initiatives. From farm or community gardens, through distribution systems, value added processing and finally through retail or directly to the consumer, community based organizations are actively employing community economic development strategies to create jobs, income and needed services for the communities they serve.
Entrepreneurial training, micro-lending, social enterprises, food incubators, coop farming, community gardens, transportation, delivery, food preparation, packaging, retail and commercial development are some of the many community economic development opportunities organizations are successfully implementing. This session will provide a framework for understanding the partnerships and processes needed to bring fresh healthy food to communities.

Attendee Takeaways:
•    A full summary of the healthy food industry
•    An overview of opportunities for CED healthy food activities
•    A list of resources for healthy food projects
•    Real time application through project case studies

Strategic Communications

Original broadcast date: July 19th

Click here for the recording

Speaker
Lynn Grogan 

Summary
This webinar featured the California/Nevada Community Action Partnership Communications Planning Guide, a reference manual designed to provide valuable information on how to approach the implementation of a successful communications program and contains communications program suggestions, resources, tips and examples.
• Learn how to improve communication techniques
• Learn how to plan successful campaigns
• Be provided with a set of valuable tools, strategies and examples
• Be given the information how to obtain the no-cost guide for their own organization

Takeaways:
• Developing Marketing Strategies
• Partnering with the Media
• Outreach Planning
• Tools of the trade and how to use them

This publication was created by National Association of Community Action Agencies - Community Action Partnership in the performance of the U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

Successfully Competing for Funding, Part 2

Original broadcast date: June 21, 2012

Click here for the recording

Summary

Part two of Successfully Competing for Funding will host speaker Julie Jakopic as she provides practical steps to uncover foundation and alternative sources of funding for your economic development projects. Ms. Jakopic will discuss the best practices in receiving foundation funding and provide solid strategies on how to establish and sustain relationships with foundations to obtain non-restricted private funding for your projects.

Take Aways:

• Detailed information on what foundation funders look for in your application
• Techniques for building relationships with private funders
• Tips to keep the funding you receive

CED Business Start-Up Series CORE FOUR® Webinar, Part 2

Original broadcast date: June 28, 2012

Click here for the recording

Speaker:
Becky Nave, People Incorporated

Biography:
See above.

Summary:
On June 14th Becky Nave, Senior Business Trainer for People Incorporated, shared her expertise on laying the foundation to establish a for-profit entity. She discussed how to provide technical assistance to small business owners in the business planning discipline. In Part 2, Becky will delve deeper into Cash Flow and Operation Planning for your business start-up goals.

Attendee Takeaways:
Using the nationally recognized CORE FOUR® curriculum, you will learn:

• How to Calculate Cash Flow Projections
• How to Project Sales
• Setting Business Goals
• More on Contingency Planning

Batter Up! : Developing a Leadership Bench for your Organization

Original broadcast date: June 20, 2012

Click here for the recording.

Speakers:
Lil Dupree, CCAP
Sue Buckley

Summary:
This webinar introduced the Partnership’s new resource kit on how to develop tomorrow’s leaders in your organization while essentially building a future succession plan. Topics will cover how to identify and then train and support future leaders who will be the EDs, CFOs, and Program Directors of the future. Participants will learn how to start a formal, yet simple agency-based leadership development program, designed to grow dedicated employees who can become tomorrow’s leaders.
Take Aways:

Developing succession plans for key program, administrative and fiscal staff;

Identifying, selecting and developing next generation leaders; and

The nuts and bolts of setting up an agency Leadership Development program

CED Business Start-Up Series CORE FOUR® Webinar (Part 1)

Original broadcast date: June 14, 2012

Click here for the recording
Go to the CED webinar page for more presentation materials

Speaker:
Becky Nave, People Incorporated

Biography:
Becky Nave is the Senior Training Manager for People Incorporated Financial Services. Ms. Nave is a graduate of King College with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She is a Certified Credit Counselor and a Licensed Coaching Clinic Facilitator from Corporate Coach U. She is a graduate of LEAD Bristol, which is a Certification in Leadership Development. Among her duties are teaching Business Basics, Credit Building, Customer Service, Leadership, Social Media and Core Four® Business Planning Classes, as well as providing business financial and development services to clients in Southwest Virginia and the Northern Shenandoah Valley. These workshops have served to stimulate entrepreneurship, publicize and provide opportunities for businesses to network. Ms. Nave was instrumental in beginning the Entrepreneurship for Youth program in Washington County and the City of Bristol.

Summary:
Has your CAA considered starting a social enterprise or for-profit entity? Has your agency considered providing small business assistance to local business owners? Does the business planning aspect of it all seem a little challenging? This webinar will provide detailed information on the ‘how to’s’ of starting a new business enterprise or providing technical assistance to small business owners in your community.

Attendee Takeaways:
Using the nationally recognized CORE FOUR® curriculum, you will learn:

How to conduct Business Start-up Due Diligence

Success Planning-How to Develop a Sound Business Plan, Goal Setting and Selling Skills

Marketing Planning- How to Develop Strategies for Selling, Pricing, Promotion, Packaging and Positioning Your Product or Service

Cash Flow Planning-Understanding Cash Flow Management and How to Keep the Business Profitable

Balancing the Non-profit vs. For Profit Operational Transition

Successfully Competing for Funding, Part 1

Original broadcast date: June 7, 2012

Click here for the powerpoint.

Speaker:
Julie Jakopic, iLead Strategies

Summary:
As we move through this turbulent time, funding opportunities seem to be in flux, growing one minute and shrinking the next. In the past, we have been able to rely on consistent funding from the agencies and sources that have funded CAAs in the past. However, in this new environment, more and more agencies are challenged to compete for funds which were once reliable sources in providing services and programs for low-income people. In this two part workshop, "Successfully Competing for Funding," we'll explore strategies for winning competitive funding. This session will focus on new strategies in successfully applying for grant funding from Federal, State and Local government sources.

Take Aways:

• Tips on identifying which grants are appropriate for your project
• Learning the do’ and don’ts when applying for government grants
• How to make your application stand out from all the rest
• Key strategies to applying for local and state grants

Getting Your Community Action Agency Board of Directors to the Table, Engaged, and Motivated

Original broadcast date: May 24, 2012

Click here for the recording.

Supplements:

Summary:
Understanding your legal requirements and Board responsibilities is one thing, but finding the right people and keeping them engaged in the Community Action Board room is another. This session will focus on the human side of board service, presenting practical strategies to motivate genuine board participation. We will cover strategies and tools that will help you find and welcome the best candidates, motivate board members to attend and actively participate in meetings, organize committees that get the work of the board done AND build the strength of the board as a whole, and develop leadership habits and routines that help the board establish and maintain a culture of momentum and contribution.

Attendee Takeaways:

Strategies to attract, cultivate, recruit and engage board members

Tools to organize the practical work of the board and its committees

Strategies for board assessment, recruitment, and orientation

Leadership roles and routines that keep the board moving

Monitoring Map For CAAs: A Guide For Navigating The CSBG Review Process

Original broadcast date: April 19, 2012

Click here for a recording.

Summary:
The Community Action Partnership and CAPLAW are pleased to introduce a new guide for CAAs on navigating the CSBG monitoring process. The guide outlines the rights and responsibilities of CAAs and state CSBG offices in that process and provides CAAs with tips and tools on how to prepare for and respond to CSBG reviews. Join us as we explore the guide and explain how CAAs can use it to ensure that their next review is a constructive one.

Attendee Takeaways:
This webinar discussed the different aspects of this new guide for CAAs and in doing so we will touch on the following:

The monitoring process from before monitoring begins to a potential reduction or termination in funding to a request for federal review;

A state CSBG office’s responsibilities throughout the monitoring process;

A CAA’s rights and responsibilities throughout the process;

Actions a CAA may take throughout the process;

Common findings and ways that a CAA may address them; and

Example documents a CAA may use as it navigates the process.

TOOLKITS . . . . .

collaboration_cover COLLABORATION CHECKUP: Assessing & Improving Your Community Partnerships

Click here to download

This toolkit is directly related to the fourth Community Action National Goal: Partnerships among supporters and providers of services to low-income people are achieved. As with the other National Goals, it is becoming more important to have tools to evaluate how effective our CSBG Network is using partnerships to achieve outcomes.

The goal with this document is to help the Community Action Network better understand the functioning of partnerships so they can more effectively develop and nurture those that have a measurable impact in local communities. Example surveys and other measurement tools to assess both the functioning of the partnerships and the results achieved because of them are provided.

audit-essentials-cover AUDIT ESSENTIALS: What Every Board Member Needs to Know

Click here to download

This guide is intended as an overview of the audit report and financial statements. Addressed to Board members of CAAs, the toolkit walks through the terms and processes of an audit report and how to read financial statements. The toolkit includes an exercise that walks through financial reports, a sample RFP for audit services, and a directory for additional resources.

eicap-cover PRACTICAL RESOURCES FOR PURSUING EXCELLENCE: The EICAP Toolbox

Click here to download

This toolkit is designed to provide CAAs a range of practical tools and resources that have been found to be effective in key organizational management and leadership areas of agency functioning. Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP) was presented with the Community Action Award for Excellence in August, 2012. The work products produced by EICAP’s board and staff during the process are included in this toolkit along with copies of presentations made at the national Community Action Partnership Annual Convention in August 2012. EICAP is proud to share all of these resources with the Community Action Network so that all CAAs can benefit from EICAP’s experience.

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PERSONNEL ACTIVITY REPORTS (PARs): The Do's and the Don'ts

Click here to download

Personnel Activity Reports (PARs), or time and effort reporting, provide written support that salaries and wages charged to a federal grant benefit the grant and are a required component of your receipt of federal funds. This toolkit outlines the key concepts behind PARs, spotlights potential trouble spots for Community Action Agencies (CAAs), and provides best practice samples to help CAAs better meet this requirement.

cost-allocation-cover COST ALLOCATION: Red Flags and Remedies

Click here to download

This toolkit is designed to help your Community Action Agency (CAA) meet the requirements for cost allocation contained in Office of Management and Budget A-122 (OMB Circular A-122, now incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations as 2 CFR Part 230). In order to substantiate charges to federal, state, and local grants and contracts, CAAs must develop and implement effective approaches to cost allocation. At a deeper level, every CAA needs a sound cost allocation system in order to understand what it really costs to deliver their services.

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NEW MODELS TO ACHIEVE YOUR MISSION:
Strategic Restructuring for your CAA

Click here to download.

Strategic Restructuring comprises a range of collaborative strategies that Community Action Agencies (CAAs) might use to pursue new opportunities, build capacity, increase client impact, increase access to funding, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. This toolkit has been developed to provide CAAs with baseline information on strategic restructuring, resources necessary to begin the discussion of possibilities, and key board and staff questions that need to be considered before starting the strategic restructuring process.

PREPARING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY'S FUTURE: SUSTAINABILITY, SUCCESSION AND TRANSITION

The three guides in the Community Action Partnership Sustainability Toolkit were written specifically with Community Action in mind. These guides were designed to help Community Action Agency (CAA) leaders strengthen the capacity of their organizations, especially those organizations that may be facing a chief executive or other leadership transition in the near future. While each of the guides can be used individually, together they are designed to help leaders strengthen their organizations and manage leadership turnover.

This series was created in partnership between the Leadership Development Center of Excellence and the National Risk Mitigation and Quality Improvement T/TA Center.

Part 1 – Organizational Sustainability Planning
The first guide, Organizational Sustainability Planning, is a tool for assessing and strengthening the four areas critical to the organization’s long-term sustainability by conducting an organizational sustainability assessment and using the results of the assessment to develop an organizational sustainability action plan.

Click here to download

Part 2 – Executive Succession Planning
The second guide, Executive Succession Planning, provides an overview of three approaches to succession planning and presents a detailed approach for developing “succession essentials,” a board-adopted succession policy for the chief executive position and a companion emergency backup plan for the CEO position, but it can be adapted to other staff leadership positions as well.

Click here to download.

Part 3 – Executive Transition Management
The third guide, Executive Transition Management, presents a three-phase approach for managing turnover in a leadership position, especially the agency chief executive position.

Click here to download.

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership,in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

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BATTER UP! BUILDING YOUR LEADERSHIP BENCH

Succession Planning needs to be part of an agency-wide and comprehensive Leadership Development program in order to enable the organization to develop, support, and retain staff with the skills and qualities needed to lead Community Action Agencies in the 21st century. This Toolkit provides current Community Action leaders with a guideline for implementing a systematic approach to meet short-term leadership needs while developing long-term strategies to cultivate the next generation of Community Action leaders – Building a Leadership Bench.

CLICK HERE for a web-friendly version

CLICK HERE for a print version

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IMPROVING PERFORMANCE, SCORING SUCCESS
Using Balanced Scorecards for Organizational Excellence

Working with the Community Action Partnership, the Balanced Scorecard Institute has created this "do-it-yourself" planning Toolkit available free for Community Action Agencies. The Toolkit guides the user through a comprehensive planning and outcome measurement process using the five stages of the ROMA cycle: Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Achievement of Results, and Evaluation. The Toolkit is based on the Institute's Nine Steps to Success™ balanced scorecard framework that combines strategic planning, change management, program and service prioritization, performance measurement and target setting into a comprehensive strategy management system.

Click here to view.

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

MONITORING MAPS FOR CAAs

This new toolkit represents a collaborative effort between the Community Action Partnership (Partnership) and CAPLAW to provide timely training and technical assistance (T/TA) material about the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) monitoring process. The toolkit, designed for usability, outlines key aspects of the monitoring process as defined by the CSBG act and more specifically IM 116. Key features include:
•    Actual examples of monitoring tools
•    Letter templates
•    Approaches to addressing common monitoring findings

Click here to view.

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

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RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLKIT
A Handy Quick Reference Guide for Risk Assessment in Today’s Community Action Agency

This is a toolkit designed to be a quick reference guide for the foundational elements of risk assessment. It is based on
IM-112 which outlines standards to be used in risk assessment.

Click here to view

This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies – Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Grant Number 90ET0428. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

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