Highlights


Annual Report 3.0 Transition

Collective Impact

ROMA Training

February 2026 CSBG Newsletter


February brings an important moment of alignment for Virginia’s Community Action Network as we deepen our work under Transforming Virginia Goal 6 and continue strengthening our role in collective impact efforts statewide. This month’s newsletter highlights how CAAs are advancing community‑wide solutions through collaboration and systems thinking, while also preparing for the upcoming transition to CSBG Annual Report 3.0. Inside, you’ll find key updates, timelines, and resources to support your agency as we move toward a more coordinated, data‑driven future for families and communities across the Commonwealth.

 

Important Annual Report 3.0 Transition Information


The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Annual Report is changing—and now is the time to prepare.

On January 28, OEO hosted the Annual Report 3.0 Transition Webinar, the first session in a planned series designed to support agencies as they shift to the new CSBG reporting requirements. The recorded webinar is now available on LearnWorlds.


Beginning October 1, 2026, the CSBG Annual Report 3.0 will transition to the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY), while CSBG and TANF contracts will continue to operate on the State Fiscal Year (SFY).


To support this transition, agencies will complete a one‑time 15‑month annual report covering July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, which includes an extended fourth‑quarter report and a revised 2025–2026 CAP Plan due April 1, 2026. Agencies will receive budget numbers for the 2026–2027 contract year by February 13, and budgets will also be due April 1, 2026.


Additional key deadlines include fiscal forms due May 1, 2026, the new FY27 CAP Plan due August 1, 2026, and the launch of the new FFY‑aligned reporting cycle on October 1, 2026. More details will be shared in the coming months, including webinars on the new CAP Plan requirements and reporting expectations.


Check out the new Annual Report 3.0 transition hub on LearnWorlds. This page is your central resource for Virginia-specific guidance, tools, and training materials to support local agencies during this change. Here you’ll find resources tailored for Virginia’s network, including helpful tools and recordings of webinars. Check back frequently—new updates and webinars will be added over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition for all Virginia CSBG partners.

Transforming Virginia's CAA's - Goal 6


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 6: CAA staff are skilled at service delivery in specific program areas to CAA includes staff with strong expertise in community problem-solving, collective impact models, convening, and leadership - The focus is on building staff capacity not only in specific service areas but also in areas like leadership, collective impact, and community problem-solving to address systemic issues.


Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across Virginia have long been recognized for their deep expertise in delivering high‑quality services—from housing supports and workforce development to early childhood programs and emergency assistance. Yet the strength of our network extends far beyond program delivery. CAA staff bring a powerful combination of community problem‑solving skills, leadership capacity, and experience with collective impact models that position agencies to address not only individual needs, but the systemic barriers that shape them.


As the challenges facing Virginia communities grow more complex, the focus of capacity‑building is expanding as well. Agencies are increasingly investing in staff development that strengthens not only program‑specific knowledge, but also broader competencies such as facilitation, convening, systems thinking, and collaborative leadership. These skills are essential for driving long‑term, community‑wide change.


Why This Matters

  • Systemic issues require systemic solutions. Staff trained in collective impact and community problem‑solving can help build cross‑sector partnerships that address root causes, not just symptoms.
  • Leadership at every level strengthens agency resilience. When staff have the tools to lead initiatives, facilitate conversations, and navigate complex community dynamics, agencies are better equipped to respond to emerging needs.
  • Community Action’s mission is inherently collaborative. The ability to convene partners, elevate community voice, and coordinate shared strategies is central to advancing equity and economic mobility.


How Agencies Can Strengthen Staff Capacity This Year

  • Integrate leadership and systems‑change training into annual staff development plans.
  • Encourage cross‑department collaboration to break down silos and share expertise.
  • Support staff participation in statewide and national learning communities.
  • Create internal opportunities for staff to practice facilitation, convening, and collaborative planning.
  • Use community needs assessment findings to guide training priorities.


Looking Ahead

Virginia’s CAAs are uniquely positioned to lead community‑wide efforts that address poverty at its roots. By continuing to invest in staff capacity—not only in program delivery, but in leadership, collective impact, and systems thinking—our network strengthens its ability to create lasting, equitable change.

Join Us: Performance Management Peer Group Launch Meeting



The Performance Management Peer Group invites Community Action Agencies to its first meeting of the year on March 23 at 1 pm. This virtual session will highlight the group’s new leadership, evolving focus, and its role as a space for peer support, best-practice sharing, and collaborative learning.

 

Come hear what’s ahead and how the peer group can support your agency’s performance management efforts.

 

Click here to register.  

Introduction to ROMA Training – Registration Now Open


The Virginia network will host a virtual Introduction to ROMA training on March 31–April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Facilitated by OEO’s Sr. Program Consultant, Angel Ampey, this training will cover essential ROMA concepts, including mission alignment, community needs assessments, outcome measurement, program evaluation, and ROMA logic models.

 

Registration closes February 27. Click here to secure your spot—space is limited!

 

Hosting a community event, have a story to tell? We would love to help spread the word! Please reach out to Gail.Doyle@dss.virginia.gov to share!