OCS Announces Cohort Three of the Diaper Distribution Pilot | |
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The Office of Community Services (OCS) recently announced its third cohort of Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot grant recipients. This program, also known as the Diaper Distribution Pilot, is administered by OCS’ Division of Community Discretionary and Demonstration Programs and funds the expansion of existing diaper distribution services through a robust network of community partners that provide anti-poverty services.
NCAP would like to express its congratulations to the following Community Action State Associations:
- Community Action Association of Pennsylvania
- Community Action Partnership of Oregon
- Connecticut Association for Community Action, Inc.
- Maine Community Action Partnership
- New Hampshire Community Action Partnership
- New York State Community Action Association
Click here to read the Dear Colleague Letter.
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Office of Head Start Officials Visit Maui Economic Opportunity to Offer Assistance | |
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A team from the Office of Head Start and OHS Region 9 visited Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. last week to meet with staff and parents and to tour classrooms with the goal of offering support and assistance in the wake of the wildfires.
Click here to read the full story and see pictures from the event.
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The New-Look Community Action Academy Platform Is Now Live! | |
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Community Action Academy, our online learning hub, has a new look! The platform has been updated with a new look and additional features. The transition to the new platform is in progress and is LIVE, and the old Moodle platform will no longer be accessible after Friday, September 29th. We encourage you to complete any courses you are currently enrolled in, as there may be a short interruption in access during the transition.
For assistance or questions related to creating a new account or any other concerns, users can reach out to Tayla Daniel at tdaniel@communityactionpartnership.com.
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Two NCAP Board Members Honored with Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies' Men of Excellence Award | |
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During the Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies (SEACAA) Annual Conference, two of NCAP’s board members, alongside several other wonderful CAA leaders, were honored with the SEACAA Men of Excellence Award. Please join us in congratulating Bryan Duncan and Paul Dole on this special recognition!
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Register Now for the Pathways to Excellence Implementer Training
October 26 | 1:00 – 5:00 PM ET
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Your agency is ready to move forward in the pursuit of excellence. Set the stage by sending key staff to the virtual Pathways to Excellence Implementer Training on October 26, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.
Engaged participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to recognize and document agency progress towards meeting the 35 Community Action Standards of Excellence.
Agencies currently enrolled in the Silver Tier of Pathways to Excellence can send one staff member to the training at no cost. Enrollments for all other individuals, regardless of your organization’s participation in the Pathways program, are available for just $399.
We recommend early registration as space is limited. To register, sign in to NCAP’s MemberSuite portal. You will find Pathways to Excellence Implementer Training listed in the Events section.
Click here to register. Questions? Contact us at Excellence@CommunityActionPartnership.com.
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New Community Action Promotional Video! | |
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NCAP is excited to release a new 60-second commercial that promotes the power and impact of the Community Action Network! This video was filmed last March in Covington, Kentucky, by the Viewpoint Project. Major thanks to Catrena Bowman and the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission who participated in the filming and were gracious enough to host the event at their Lincoln Grant Scholar House.
Click here to watch the video.
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Community Action Head Start Survey | |
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Do you run a Head Start, Early Head Start, or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program? Are you experiencing enrollment and/or workforce challenges? Change in scope application issues? Let NCAP know! While a change in scope may be a solution for an individual program, NCAP is concerned that the widespread reduction in slots will have negative ramifications for Head Start’s future success and sustainability. We designed this short survey to gather additional information about how Community Action Agencies are addressing these unique challenges, so that we may continue to strengthen, promote, represent, and serve the Community Action Network. Click HERE to take the short survey!
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Blue Ride Community Action Request for Proposals — Organizational Culture Assessment | |
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Blue Ridge Community Action, Inc. invites proposals for an organizational culture assessment of the agency. Information about the agency, project and scope of services are provided here.
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Energy Awareness Month Social Media Toolkit | |
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October is almost here, and that means Energy Awareness Month is coming! Now more than ever it is critical that funders and policymakers learn about the important work you are doing to help make the energy sector more equitable. To that end, NCAP’s 2023 Energy Awareness Month Toolkit is designed to assist you in your social media communications efforts all throughout October.
Our toolkit provides social media graphics and messaging that express the energy needs your customers are facing, as well as actions Community Action and weatherization agencies are taking to address this need. Topics covered include energy burden, energy equity, health benefits of weatherization, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Weatherization Day (October 30) and more.
This is a great resource to use in conjunction with NASCSP’s Weatherization Day Outreach Toolkit, which includes factsheets and infographics, site demonstration how-to, guidance on state and local Weatherization Day proclamations, and additional resources for energy awareness outreach.
Click here to access the toolkit.
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NCAP Request for Proposals for Audit Services | |
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NCAP has issued a Request for Proposals for audit services. The scope of services to be addressed is the financial statement and single audits of NCAP for the years ending December 31, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Click here to submit a proposal and learn more.
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Are You a New Executive Leader? Join Us for the New Executive Director Institute
October 31 – November 1, 2023 | Alexandria, VA
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Are you a newly appointed Community Action Agency Executive Director/CEO seeking to enhance your leadership skills and lean into the Community Action Promise? Join us at the New Executive Director’s Institute for a purpose-centered two day training event designed to prepare Community Action Executive Leaders for today’s unique challenges and opportunities. Centered around the Community Action model, attendees will explore leadership functions necessary for success including finance, board governance, HR, equity, and building organizational culture. The Institute will empower you with the knowledge and confidence needed to tackle the challenges and maximize the opportunities that come with being an Executive Director.
The Institute is ideal for newly appointed Community Action Executive Directors, as well as those who have been in place for less than five years.
Click here to learn more.
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Better Together: Attend the Executive Director and Board Chair Symposium
November 2–3, 2023 | Alexandria, VA
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A strong, positive relationship between a Community Action Agency’s Board chair and Executive Director/CEO is essential to ensure effective governance, strategic leadership, and successful organizational management. Investing in that relationship has long term benefits and impact to the organization. The National Community Action Board Chair/Executive Director Symposium is an opportunity for leaders to come together in pairs over the course of a day and a half to learn, plan, and re-energize around the impact and values of Community Action. This symposium is designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to lead their organizations with excellence, foster collaboration, and achieve their missions.
Click here to learn more.
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NCAP is currently seeking qualified candidates to fill the following positions:
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Administrative Coordinator — responsible for performing specialized and routine operational and administrative functions to support both the Administration & Membership Team and Organizational Capacity Building Team to maintain efficient and effective operations.
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Policy Intern — the internship will provide students with the opportunity to learn about federal and state anti-poverty policies, programs, and advocacy strategies while developing their research, writing, organization, communications, and outreach skills. Specifically, the intern will assist with strategizing, planning, and implementing NCAP’s federal and state public policy and advocacy priorities and initiatives.
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Climate Change and Household Financial Well-Being: Understanding Risk and Building Resilience
Friday, September 29, at 1 PM ET | 12 PM CT | 11 AM MT | 10 AM PT
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Climate change and climate-fueled extreme events like floods, wildfires, and heat waves are imposing significant financial costs on American households and families. Join the Urban Institute as they explore the causes and consequences of household financial stress attributable to climate extremes. This event will include a discussion with the assistant secretary of the US Department of the Treasury, Graham Steele, about the Treasury’s work on climate change and American household finances. It will also feature a panel discussion about the household financial burdens imposed by climate change and opportunities that households, communities, and policymakers have to prepare and respond.
Click here to register for the event.
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HUD Healthy Homes and Weatherization Cooperation Demonstration Grant: Fund Announcement
Tuesday, October 3, at 2 PM ET | 1 PM CT | 12 PM MT | 11 AM PT
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 |  | The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Healthy Homes and Weatherization Cooperation Demonstration Notice of Funding Opportunity was released September 15th. This funding is intended to: (1) demonstrate effectives strategies for coordination between HUD’s Healthy Homes Production and DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to maximize program efficiencies (2) Reduce WAP deferrals, (3) Demonstrate sustainable models of inter-program cooperation including data sharing, reporting, and recruiting clients, (4) Demonstrate effective models for the sustainable financing of coordinated healthy homes/weatherization interventions, and (5) support the collection of data to evaluate the housing interventions conducted through inter-program coordination. HUD will provide an overview of this funding opportunity and representatives from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority will share their experience in applying for funds, recruiting Weatherization subgrantee partners, and launching their program. Attend this webinar to learn more about how this funding opportunity can help you help more families live in healthy and energy efficient homes.
Click here to register for the webinar.
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Building Community Pathways to Family First Prevention Services: Partnering to Redesign the Family Engagement and Service Delivery Context
Wednesday, October 4, at 2 PM ET | 1 PM CT | 12 PM MT | 11 AM PT
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This webinar, presented by Chapin Hall, will provide an overview of the prevention provisions within the Family First Prevention Services Act, highlighting the associated opportunities, limitations, flexibilities, and tensions. Community pathways to prevention services outside of the traditional child welfare service delivery context will be defined and operationalized. Several examples of how jurisdictions are conceptualizing and implementing community pathways around the country will be shared. Opportunities for elevating community leadership in co-design and implementation processes will be elevated.
The objectives for the webinar include:
- CAA leaders will learn about the opportunities and flexibilities inherent within the Family First Prevention Services Act for reconceptualizing the prevention services delivery context.
- CAA leaders will develop an increased understanding about how jurisdictions around the country are designing and implementing community pathways to prevention services.
- CAAs will walk away with actionable insights for how community leaders can partner with child welfare system colleagues to design and implement community pathways to prevention services that are responsive to and reflective of community needs and priorities.
For more information, please review the document, Conceptualizing Community Pathways: Key Questions and Considerations.
Presenter: Krista Thomas, Senior Policy Fellow, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Click here to register for the webinar.
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Weatherization Assistance Program: HUD Partnership for Workforce Development
Tuesday, October 10, at 2 PM ET | 1 PM CT | 12 PM MT | 11 AM PT
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Join the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a robust discussion on how Community Action Agencies have been and can continue to partner on workforce development efforts for the Weatherization Assistance Program. HUD will highlight partnership efforts made in rural Georgia between the HUD field office, Warner Robins Housing Authority, and Middle Georgia Community Action Agency to connect HUD residents to jobs generated by the $3.5 billion in Weatherization Assistance Program through the BIL. By partnering with HUD, we can align efforts to meet the Weatherization Assistance Program workforce needs while providing sustainable employment and economic opportunities for disadvantaged individuals. Attend this webinar to share your thoughts and learn more about the partnership opportunity as HUD launches this initiative.
Click here to register for the webinar.
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NHSA's 2023 Centennial Summit: Advancing Human Services
Thursday, October 12 | 12:00 – 4:30 PM ET
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National Human Services Assembly is commemorating its 100th Anniversary by hosting NHSA’s 2023 Centennial Summit: Advancing Human Services on October 12 from 12:00-4:30 PM Eastern. The Summit is intended to bring human service and other nonprofit professionals at all levels together to recognize the sector’s greatest accomplishments, address our most pressing issues, and envision the next 100 years. Topics for the afternoon include addressing worker well-being, achieving diversity and equity among human service leaders, articulating success with ESG, advocating for sustainable funding, and other issues critical to the sector.
Click here to register and learn more.
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2023 Risk Summit
October 16–17, 2023 | Leesburg, VA
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The Nonprofit Risk Management Center has announced that its 2023 Risk Summit will be back in person this year. This special educational event brings together nonprofit leaders and industry professionals who support nonprofit missions. The 2-day conference will feature 20+ educational sessions, in-person networking opportunities, and evening social events to build and develop relationships with like-minded sector professionals.
Click here to register and learn more.
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Child and Family Well-Being System: Economic and Concrete Supports as a Core Component
Wednesday, October 25, at 2 PM ET | 1 PM CT | 12 PM MT | 11 AM PT
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This webinar, presented by Chapin Hall, will share the growing body of evidence on the relationship between increased access to economic and concrete supports and reduced risk of family child welfare involvement. The intersection of family economic insecurity and involvement with child welfare will be discussed, as well as the potential for increased access to economic and concrete supports to address long-standing racial inequities and disproportionate child welfare involvement for families of color. Policy examples will be shared that demonstrate innovative pathways to increase the provision of economic and concrete supports as a child welfare prevention strategy and opportunities for partnerships with communities. Reorienting and resourcing child and family well-being and child welfare prevention will require new mindsets, partnerships and policies—a vision for the way forward will be introduced.
During this webinar, participants will explore:
- Evidence related to the association between family economic instability and involvement with child welfare.
- Policy choices that decrease or increase economic and concrete supports in the lives of families.
- Implications the evidence and policy choices have on advocacy for children and families involved with child welfare.
- Call to action: encourage CAA leaders to reach out to their local child welfare leaders, start a conversation, and/or use the CAA State Association to connect to state child welfare leaders.
For more information and resources, visit: A Key Connection: Economic Stability and Family Well-being.
Presenter: Yasmin Grewal-Kök, J.D., M.Ed. ECE, Policy Fellow, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Click here to register for the webinar.
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Exploring Health Profession Opportunity Grants Intermediate-Term Impact Report | |
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The Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program is designed to deliver high-quality education, training, and support services to eligible individuals for occupations in the healthcare field.
This report documents intermediate-term impacts on training starts and completion, credential receipt, and earnings about three years after study entry, with a primary focus on the pooled impact across all the local programs.
Click here for more.
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Community Action Conversations: ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Provider Partnership
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Program highlights six specific energy conservation and electrification steps consumers can take to maximize savings. Many, such as insulation, heat pumps, and smart thermostats, are common weatherization measures. EPA would like to discuss this program with WAP subgrantees to learn whether their promotional pathways, market research and educational materials could support Weatherization. Watch this webinar to learn more about the opportunity to be a charter partner as EPA launches this initiative.
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Innovative Partnerships to Advance Health Equity
This webinar features agencies participating in NCAP's Vaccine Equity Project. Through partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), these agencies are working to reduce disparities in vaccination rates among racial and ethnic groups and in rural populations.
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Amplifying Community Action Innovation
For nearly 60 years, local Community Action Agencies have curated and integrated high-impact, innovative strategies to strengthen foundations of families and communities nationwide. In 2021, the National Community Action Partnership launched the Community Action Showcase to highlight examples of high-impact, innovative Community Action strategies and facilitate sharing of best practices throughout the network. Watch for more.
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