Coronavirus Updates for the Community Action Network
In light of increasing concerns about a broader coronavirus outbreak and the impacts on normal business operations, CAPLAW has compiled resources that are particularly relevant to the Community Action network. We will be closely monitoring the situation and will update this page as new developments occur, particularly when federal awarding agencies issue program-specific guidance.
Last updated February 16, 2022
National Partners Guidance
CAPLAW
- CAPLAW News Alert: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: Final Rule Clarifies and Provides Flexibilities – Issued February 16, 2022
- CAPLAW News Alert: Supreme Court Blocks OSHA Mandate; Allows CMS Mandate to Take Effect – Issued January 13, 2022
- CAPLAW News Alert: Head Start Vaccine and Mask Requirements Blocked in 25 States – Issued January 3, 2022
- CAPLAW News Alert: OSHA Mandate NOW in Effect, Compliance Deadlines Extended – Issued December 22, 2021
- Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Template (OSHA and Head Start) – Issued December 3, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: Head Start Issues Vaccine Rule; Masking Required Immediately – Issued November 29, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: More Details on the Head Start Vaccination Requirements – Issued November 23, 2021
- Federal Vaccine Mandates: Step-by-Step Compliance Guide for Community Action – Updated February 4, 2022
This step-by-step guide is intended to help the Community Action network be nimble with respect to their approaches to vaccines in the workplace and maintaining compliance with applicable federal mandates issued by Head Start and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Various legal challenges to the mandates, including to the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard and the Head Start vaccine mandate, have resulted in many CAAs no longer being subject to any federal vaccination, testing, or masking requirements. However, such CAAs may, subject to their state and local laws, voluntarily adopt their own workplace rules regarding COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and masks. - COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Templates – Updated February 4, 2022
CAPLAW drafted these template policies to assist CAAs in planning their approaches to vaccines in the workplace while maintaining compliance with applicable federal mandates issued by Head Start and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). - Religious Exemption Request – COVID-19 Vaccine – Issued October 29, 2021
- Medical Exemption Request – COVID-19 Vaccine – Issued October 29, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: Game Changer: Highlights of the President’s New Pandemic Strategy – Issued September 10, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: Supreme Court Settles Eviction Moratorium Dispute: Evictions May Resume – Issued August 27, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: Stepping Back to Move Forward: Updated OSHA COVID-19 Guidance Responds to CDC Recommendations – Issued August 18, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: CDC Issues Limited Eviction Moratorium Through October 3 – Issued August 4, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: Return of the Masks: CDC Response to the Delta Variant – Issued July 30, 2021
- Weatherproofing CAA Bylaws: Preparing for Emergency Governance – Issued July 19, 2021
- Do’s and Don’ts of Workplace COVID-19 Vaccinations – Issued July 9, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: OSHA Issues Long-Awaited COVID-19 Guidance for Employers – Issued June 21, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: EEOC Issues Updated Workplace Vaccination Guidance – Issued June 3, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: OHS Instructs Programs to Expect New Normalcy – Issued May 25, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: OSHA Recognizes New CDC Vaccination Guidance – Issued May 20, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: New CDC Vaccination Guidance – Implications for CAAs – Issued May 14, 2021
- CAPLAW Legal Update – Issued May 7, 2021
Topics: Payroll Tax Credit Guidance • COBRA Premium Assistance • Head Start COVID-19 Flexibilities • Head Start Supplemental Funds • CDC Eviction Moratorium Update • OCS/CDC Vaccine Webinar - Preserving the Low-Income Voice: Snapshots of Democratic Selection Procedures in a Pandemic – Issued April 9, 2021
In this collection of short snapshots, CAPLAW presents the experiences and outcomes of CAAs that successfully recruited and elected new low-income sector representatives to their board during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some agencies tested out new ways of conducting their process, while others implemented their existing procedures in an exclusively remote or socially-distanced environment. We hope their stories will inspire other CAAs to consider innovative methods of engaging their communities and complying with tripartite board requirements throughout the pandemic, and beyond. - Raising the Low-Income Voice: Case Studies in Democratic Selection Procedures – Updated April 9, 2021
CAPLAW’s case studies provide an in-depth view of the various ways CAAs are meeting the CSBG Act’s requirement that the low-income sector of the tripartite board be selected in accordance with “democratic selection procedures.” We updated these case studies in 2021 to show how these CAAs adapted their existing democratic selection procedures in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. - CAPLAW Legal Update – Issued April 6, 2021
Topics: Treasury ERA FAQ and Award Terms Updates • OCS Vaccination Guidance • New COBRA Subsidies • CDC Eviction Moratorium Extended • OCS Monitoring Guidance • PPP Extended - Sample Remote Work Policy – Issued March 18, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: The American Rescue Plan Act: Highlights for the Community Action Network – Issued March 16, 2021
- CAPLAW News Alert: OSHA Issues Updated Guidance for COVID-19 in the Workplace – Issued February 22, 2021
- CAPLAW Legal Update – Issued December 30, 2020
Topics: COVID Relief and Consolidated Appropriations Act in Effect • EEOC Issues Vaccination Guidance for Employers • ACF Issues Rule on Head Start DRS During Emergencies - Families First Paid Leave FAQ + Refresher – Issued December 10, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: Office of Head Start Limits Wage and Benefit Flexibility – Issued October 2, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: DOL Issues Revised Rule on FFCRA Leave in Response to Court Ruling – Issued September 15, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: CDC Issues Nationwide Residential Eviction Moratorium – Issued September 10, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: UPDATE: Treasury Department Issues Employee Payroll Tax Deferral Guidance – Issued August 31, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: Executive Order Defers Employee Payroll Taxes – Or Does It? – Issued August 26, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: Federal Court Strikes Down Certain FFCRA Leave Rules – Issued August 12, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: OCS Issues Guidance on Role of States and CAAs with respect to CARES Funding – Issued July 17, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: PPP Amendment Expands Loan Forgiveness Options – Issued June 5, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: PPP Guidance on Loan Forgiveness and SBA Review Process – Issued May 29, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: Office of Head Start Issues Further Guidance on COVID-19 Response and Reopening – Issued May 28, 2020
- Building Readiness: Planning, Prevention, Response, and Liability – Updated April 29, 2021
As organizations across the Community Action network resume operations and services disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is critical to thoughtfully consider issues that are likely to arise and plan carefully to adjust to the new normal. CAPLAW has developed this Building Readiness: Planning, Prevention, Response, and Liability Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource in an attempt to anticipate and address many of the questions on the forefront of CAAs’ planning efforts. CAPLAW will update this resource as regulations are issued and new guidance becomes available. - CAPLAW News Alert: PPP Loans Under $2 Million Qualify for Safe Harbor – Issued May 14, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: SBA Guidance on Economic Necessity for PPP Loans – Issued May 1, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: Funding for PPP and EIDL Replenished – Issued April 24, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: Key Points in OCS IM #157: Guidance for COVID-19 Response – Issued April 14, 2020
- CARES Act Benefits for Nonprofit CAAs Web Portal – Updated April 23, 2021
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, offers various forms of aid to nonprofit Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and state associations whose operations have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. This resource covers each of the benefits available to the Community Action network under the CARES Act, including a detailed analysis of what CAAs should consider with respect to these programs. CAPLAW will update this resource as regulations are issued and new guidance becomes available. - CAPLAW News Alert: CARES Act Resources for Nonprofits – Issued April 3, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: IRS Issues Guidance on Claiming Credit for Paid Leave – Issued April 1, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: ACF Issues Guidance on Administrative Flexibilities – Issued March 31, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: DOL Issues Additional Guidance on Paid Leave Requirements – Issued March 30, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: CARES Act: Historic Supplemental Funding for Key Community Action Programs – Issued March 27, 2020
April 6, 2020 update to CSBG section: The expansion of CSBG eligibility applies to supplemental CSBG funding and regular FY 2020 CSBG appropriations. - CAPLAW News Alert: DOL Guidance: Paid Sick and FMLA Leave Effective April 1; DOE COVID-19 Guidance for Weatherization – Issued March 25, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: Paid Leave Under COVID-19 Response Act – Issued March 20, 2020
- CAPLAW News Alert: OCS and OHS Funding Source COVID-19 Updates – Issued March 13, 2020
- Managing Coronavirus Risks: What Should the Community Action and Head Start Networks Think About? – Issued March 5, 2020
In light of the increasing concern about a broader coronavirus outbreak and the impacts on normal business operations, CAPLAW issued guidance for the Community Action and Head Start networks addressing the following issues: managing employees, providing services, and planning events.
Community Action Tipsheet | Head Start Tipsheet
Community Action Partnership
- Guiding Principles for the Community Action Network During COVID-19 Response and Recovery – Issued May 11, 2020
- Guidance & Resources for Managing Coronavirus Risks – Issued March 2020
- COVID-19 Community Needs Assessment Update Template and Data Resource Guide – Issued April 14, 2020
The National Community Action Partnership released a Community Needs Assessment template for use by local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) as an addendum to their full Community Needs Assessment in response to the COVID-19 global health pandemic. This document can assist CAAs and State CSBG offices by serving as a foundation to the use of the special supplemental CSBG funding. Within the template is pre-filled text accompanied by places to insert local data and examples. Following the template is a data resource guide for easy access to data and resources to utilize within the template.Download Template (PDF) | Download Template (Word)
NASCSP
- NASCSP Resources on COVID – Updated April 9, 2020