Transforming Virginia's CAA's - Goal 1

Over the course of the next several months we will be reintroducing the Transforming Virginia goals through newsletter articles, trainings and webinars.

This month we are going to focus on Goal 1: One more nonprofit in the community → CAA’s as the recognized, go-to poverty-elimination leaders in the community - This goal emphasizes that CAAs should be seen as primary leaders in the community's efforts to eliminate poverty, moving beyond just being another nonprofit.

It's a strong and important goal for Community Action Agencies (CAAs) to be recognized as the primary leaders in poverty elimination within their communities. This shifts the perception to an essential strategic partner in the community. CAAs were established as part of the "War on Poverty" (Economic Opportunity Act of 1964) with the explicit purpose of combating poverty at the local level. CAAs are uniquely tasked with conducting regular community needs assessments. Leveraging these assessments can identify the most pressing poverty-related issues and demonstrate how the CAA is uniquely positioned to address them. Performance Management is a cornerstone of Community Action. Effectively utilizing ROMA to measure, report, and demonstrate the tangible impact of programs on poverty reduction is essential for establishing credibility as a leader. CAA's have a unique strength due to the tripartite board (low-income community members, public officials, and private sector leaders). This structure inherently positions CAAs as conveners and collaborators across diverse community sectors.

Key Organizations & Networks:

• National Community Action Partnership (NCAP): The national association for CAAs, offering training, technical assistance, advocacy, and resources.
• CAPLAW: Provides legal and management assistance to the Community Action Network.
• National Community Action Foundation (NCAF): Advocates for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and other anti-poverty programs on Capitol Hill.
• VACAP: Each state has an association that provides support, training, and advocacy for CAAs within that state.
• Virginia State CSBG Office (OEO): The state office oversees the Federal CSBG Funding, and provides support, training and technical assistance to agencies.

By strategically utilizing these resources and focusing on these key areas, Community Action Agencies can effectively elevate their status and become the recognized, go-to poverty-elimination leaders in their communities.

NCAP Webinar Follow-Up

HHS Rescinds Key Guidance: What It Could Mean for Community Action and Federal Benefits

NCAP, CAPLAW, and NCAF recently hosted the webinar: HHS Rescinds Key Guidance: What It Could Mean for Community Action and Federal Benefits. The discussion provided useful context around the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) decision to rescind long-standing guidance interpreting eligibility restrictions in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

As discussed during the session, this policy change may have significant implications for how federal HHS grant funds—such as those supporting CSBG and Head Start—can be used to serve immigrant populations. The webinar explored both the legal framework and the potential impacts on the Community Action Network. If you were unable to attend you can now access the slides through the NCAP site.

OEO will continue to monitor this topic and provide any new developments as they are made available.

The Heart of Community Action Success is in Your Stories

Your agency’s success stories are key to amplifying your message and stating the case for the importance of your work. The families you serve are overcoming incredible obstacles with your program’s help. It is important to capture and promote these stories on a regular basis, not only to drive clicks and shares, but because stories:

• Create an Emotional Connection – Personal stories make abstract issues tangible and human driving empathy, compassion, and action.
• Simplify Complex Issues – The issues you are tackling are complicated and your stories illustrate broader issues in a relatable, assessable way.
• Build Trust and Transparency – Sharing stories builds credibility with your donors, supporters, and partners.
• Inspire Action and Advocacy – Stories motivate people to share, act, and advocate for change in ways that statistics cannot.
• Empower the People You Serve – Ethical storytelling amplifies the voices of those you serve in your community.

For some tips on how to draft a strong client story and for resources and tools to help fine-tune your messages, download the Office of Economic Opportunity’s Storytelling Guide.

4th Quarter Reporting Information

On June 24th the OEO team presented a webinar on the 4th quarter reporting components. That webinar was recorded and is now available along with the reporting manual. As a reminder CSBG 4th quarter reports are due August 15, 2025.

Watch now!

Stay Connected - VACAP Federal Update Calls

We encourage all agencies to stay connected with the bi-weekly VACAP federal update calls. These calls provide an opportunity for agencies to connect with VACAP and OEO on the latest federal updates. OEO will issue guidance and interpretation on any new federal information issued in a timely manner. We are coordinating with VACAP to ensure consistent messaging on all new federal information.

Mark your calendars, the next federal update call is August 13 at 1pm.