All private nonprofit community action agencies and SERCAP participated in the VACAP wage study (23 in total). We want to thank the HR Peer group and all of the HR teams and other leaders that assisted with this effort! This effort exemplifies the best of community action and the power of associations in working collectively to save costs and help each other address key challenges.

This study took time, that a lot of your staff did not have, but you set aside other tasks to complete the study. Hopefully, this will save you time in the future from having to do this alone. Wipfli is now compiling the information. They may be following up with you and your HR team as they work to prepare their final report by early October.

As you know the income eligibility limit was expanded to 200% of poverty at the beginning of the pandemic for CSBG CARES funds and FY21-22 funds. We anticipate a continuing resolution to include and continue the 200% eligibility limit which will extend the use of increased income eligibility past September 30, 2022. If anything changes we will issue guidance to the network. 

The OEO staff would like to welcome Christian Bradley to the team.  He is an AmeriCorps member in the VISTA program serving with the Virginia Department of Social Services in working on the Virginia Community Action Capacity Building Project. Christian will be leading efforts to expand equity capacity and practices of the network by identifying needs relating to DEI and providing resources and tools for all CAAs to use. Through one-on-one conversations with CAAs, the VISTA member will assess the current state of DEI initiatives, and provide guidance on how to increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across the network.

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Christian is a recent graduate of Old Dominion University with a bachelor's degree in Strategic Communication and a minor in Public Service. Christian's interests include charitable volunteer work, helping others, and raising awareness in his free time. Playing tabletop games with friends, spending time with family, and teaching his cat, Aurora, new tricks is also a passion of his.  Christian welcomes and looks forward to the opportunity in working with everyone in the capacity of public service in our great Commonwealth. 

Christian can be contacted via email at Christian.Bradley@dss.virginia.gov.

Last year the CSBG State office worked with a small workgroup to develop the agency dashboards which contained information and feedback on needs assessment, organizational standards, outcomes, fiscal and more. This year we will continue with the agency dashboards and we plan to send those out to agencies in November. 

We also plan to create a statewide dashboard to compile data from all agencies to give a bigger picture of the impact of Community Action in Virginia. If you have any ideas on specific data points that would be helpful to have at a state level please email Abby at Abigail.hanks@dss.virginia.gov, so they can be worked into the dashboard. 

The Capital Strategy Group, LLC will be conducting its fifth training in the Leadership 101- Foundational Principles Series on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Cultural Intelligence will run from 10 am to 11:30 am. In this training, learners will be introduced to a new concept, Cultural Competemility which combines Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility. The facilitator will orchestrate conversations on how people interact with various cultures differently, while acknowledging that all people deserve to be valued and respected. The deadline to register is October 3. Click here to register. 

Participants Will:

1. Reflect on their own behavior and attitudes towards various groups.

2. Share self-awareness lived experiences that shapes agency culture shifts.

3. Highlight core competencies: self-reflection, humility, inclusion, interpersonal skills, and communication.

When? Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2

Where? Virginia Housing Center: 4225 Cox Road, Glen Allen VA (Innsbrook) 



What is it? Pathways from Poverty to Prosperity Summit is the first convening for community action agencies, their local, community and state-wide and partners and funders to discuss and share best practices in creating economic opportunities and facilitating moving from poverty for the people of Virginia. This Summit will be a wonderful opportunity to re-connect with colleagues and friends after the long absence of in-person meetings.

Who should attend? Virginia CASH Campaign VITA partners, VACAP leadership, VACAP emerging and senior leaders within community action, and partner organizations from across Virginia.

What sessions/workshops will be held? The Fall Classic, traditionally the Virginia CASH Campaign’s fall meeting, will kick things off on Tuesday morning. Sessions and plenary discussions will be held about ongoing initiatives surrounding Whole Family/Two Gen Approach, Workforce Training, Housing, Health and Human Services Workforce Challenges and Opportunities, Broadband Affordability and Adoption, and Financial Empowerment. VACAP Senior Leadership/Emerging Leaders Peer Group and VACAP Board Meeting will also be held.

What does the agenda look like? The tentative agenda is:

Tuesday: 8:00 AM Breakfast; 8:30 AM Fall Classic; Noon-1:15 Networking lunch; 1:30 PM Plenary; 2:45 PM Session 1; 4:00 PM Session 2

Wednesday: 8:00 AM Breakfast; 9:00 AM Session 3; 10:15 AM Session 4; 11:15 AM Charge; Noon Networking lunch; 1:00 PM VACAP Board Meeting

Will there be food? Of course. Breakfast and lunch will be served on both days.

How much will it cost? $200 per person for VACAP members; $300 for non-members.

When will Registration open? Online registration coming soon.

Where should I stay? A list of hotels in the Richmond area is available upon request and will be posted on the online registration platform.

Who should I contact if I have questions now?  Please email info@vacap.org and include your name and agency along with your question.

The federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) to carry out a variety of activities designed to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient. The following Q&A is intended to assist state CSBG lead agencies and CAAs in better understanding certain aspects of determining client eligibility for CSBG services or benefits provided by CAAs.

> Click here to Download the Q&A on Eligibility

The Office of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives (OISI) invites you to join us for a Lunch & Learn exploring the diverse and impactful work of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) on Monday, Sept. 12 from 11:00 a.m. to noon. 

Founded in 1965, ARC is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments (including Virginia) focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.

The ARC Lunch & Learn will be facilitated by five panelists and will cover the following areas with emphasis on the related applications in Virginia:

1.   Tamarah Holmes: ARC Overview

2.   Karen Fabiano: ARC Power Initiative (Economic Development)

3.   Lauren Wood: ARC INSPIRE Initiative (Health & SUD)

4.   Kinsey Walker WORC Overview (Workforce Development)

5.   Bettina Jones: Community Capacity Overview

If you would like to attend, please register here: https://virginia-gov.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_ILqjhMgQRZeBbdhuYBH05Q