CSBG Organizational Standards
This webpage links resources developed by CAPLAW to specific Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Organizational Standards to help Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in their compliance efforts. For some Standards that we regularly receive inquiries about, we also include links to resources developed by the national Community Action Partnership. All of the resources developed by the national Community Action Partnership on the Standards are available on its website.
Note: CAPLAW is in the process of revising some of its resources pursuant to updates in the law; however, the concepts in these resources generally remain applicable.
6. Strategic Planning
Standard 6.1
Private
The organization has an agency-wide strategic plan in place that has been approved by the governing board within the past 5 years.
Public
The department has a strategic plan, or comparable planning document, in place that has been reviewed and accepted by the tripartite board/advisory body within the past 5 years. If the department does not have a plan, the tripartite board/advisory body will develop the plan.
Partnership Resources:
- A Comprehensive Guide to Community Action Strategic Planning (2016). This Guide covers all stages of the strategic planning process, incorporates the ROMA framework and organizational standards, and is tailored for use by CAAs.
- Strategic Planning: The Basic Elements of Developing an Organizational Strategic Plan (2014). This Webinar addresses the core elements of a board-led, staff engaged, agency-wide strategic planning process.
- New Models to Achieve Your Mission: Strategic Restructuring for your CAA (2012). This Toolkit provides 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.
CAPLAW Resources:
- Critical Indicators for CAA Sustainability (2014). When developing a strategic plan, it is important for a board to assess and review the sustainability of its CAA. This Webinar offers tools to help focus board attention on the organization’s most important financial choices and challenges. Learn how improving the presentation of financial information can improve the usefulness of board discussions.
- Working Better Together: CAPLAW’s Guide to Shared Services and Mergers (2013). Increasingly, CAAs are exploring shared services and mergers as strategies to improve their sustainability and enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. This Guide includes questions and answers, case studies, sample documents and information for additional resources to help CAAs and other CSBG organizations better understand these arrangements.
Standard 6.2
Private
The approved strategic plan addresses reduction of poverty, revitalization of low-income communities, and/or empowerment of people with low incomes to become more self-sufficient.
Public
The approved strategic plan, or comparable planning document, addresses reduction of poverty, revitalization of low-income communities, and/or empowerment of people with low incomes to become more self-sufficient.
Partnership Resource:
- A Comprehensive Guide to Community Action Strategic Planning (2016). This Guide covers all stages of the strategic planning process, incorporates the ROMA framework and organizational standards, and is tailored for use by CAAs.
Standard 6.3
Private
The approved strategic plan contains family, agency, and/or community goals.
Public
The approved strategic plan, or comparable planning document, contains family, agency, and/or community goals.
Resource:
- See Standard 6.2
Standard 6.4
Private
Customer satisfaction data and customer input, collected as part of the community assessment, is included in the strategic planning process.
Public
Customer satisfaction data and customer input, collected as part of the community assessment, is included in the strategic planning process, or comparable planning process.
Standard 6.5
Private
The governing board has received an update(s) on progress meeting the goals of the strategic plan within the past 12 months.
Public
The tripartite board/advisory body has received an update(s) on progress meeting the goals of the strategic plan/comparable planning document within the past 12 months.
CAPLAW Resource:
- Tools for Top-Notch CAAs (2010). This six-section Tool is intended to assist boards and management in their collaborative efforts to build well-governed and effective CAAs. Section 1. Making Board Meetings Matter of the Tool specifically discusses the structure of board meetings and provides some guidance as to how and when discussions relating to reports and updates may occur.
This resource was created by Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW) in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Cooperative Agreement – Grant Award Number 90ET0441-02. 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.