ACF-OCS-CSBG-DCL-24-10 Effective Training and Technical Assistance Commitment

Community Services Block Grant

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#: ACF-OCS-CSBG-DCL-24-10

DATE: April 23, 2024

TO: CSBG Grant Recipients, Eligible entities, CSBG TTA Providers

SUBJECT: Commitment to Effective Training and Technical Assistance

ATTACHMENT(S): Not Applicable

Dear Colleague,

The purpose of this Dear Colleague Letter is to provide the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Network an update on training and technical assistance (TTA) being provided by the Office of Community Services (OCS) Division of Community Assistance (DCA) and the cohort of CSBG TTA providers.

Background

Every year, OCS sets aside administrative funding to support TTA for the CSBG Network as outlined in the CSBG Act and remains deeply committed to ensuring these resources are mobilized to support effective, proactive, innovative, and transformative TTA.[1] Aligned with the priority of lifting voices from the field, OCS released the CSBG TTA Needs Assessment Survey[2] in June 2022 to obtain feedback on the TTA needs of all organizations receiving CSBG-funded TTA. The CSBG Needs Assessment Survey received 923 responses from the field. The results of the survey, which are detailed in the FY 2022 TTA Needs Assessment Survey Report (PDF), shaped the OCS TTA Learning Agenda, along with findings from oversight and monitoring activities and consistent questions from the field. OCS used the results of the survey to inform TTA funding decisions through the three-year cooperative agreements (FY 2023—2026), as detailed in CSBG-DCL-2024-01 New Cohort of Training and Technical Assistance Award Recipients. OCS demonstrated the funding was strategically allocated to target the areas identified as most needed: data collection, analysis, and sharing of data; identifying and implementing innovative community-based approaches to build family economic security and well-being; and CSBG basics. Further, these resources are to be available at no additional cost to the CSBG Network.

Current Efforts

To ensure accountability to the CSBG Network and deliver on our commitment, OCS has implemented several activities for documenting and addressing the most pressing TTA needs and priorities of the CSBG Network, developing knowledge, building capacity, sharing best practices, analyzing trends in TTA topics, and evaluating the impact of TTA activities. These strategies will allow OCS to ensure that targeted TTA meets the existing needs of the CSBG Network, strengthens the anti-poverty strategies deployed throughout the network, and informs future areas for targeted TTA through discretionary funding. Current accountability strategies include, but are not limited to:

• Providing substantial involvement in and oversight of the CSBG-funded Cooperative Agreements.
• Building relationships and fostering ongoing, open communication through bi-monthly contacts between project officers and CSBG TTA providers.
• Collecting outcome data via the Training and Technical Assistance Tracking Form which details the need addressed, the type of intervention provided, and the impact of TTA interventions.
• Monitoring spending related to targeted TTA to maximize resources and help ensure the full value of these activities and deliverables are realized.
• Operationalizing monthly contacts between Program Specialists and grant recipients.
• Facilitating regional, quarterly calls with grant recipients and OCS-funded Regional Performance and Innovation Consortiums.
• Providing workshops and consultative office hours for CSBG administrators during National TTA Partners conference.
• Creating virtual TTA environments via webinars and office hours supporting the CSBG State Plan and Annual Report Processes along with the Performance Management Website rollout.
• Engaging workgroups to inform planning for ongoing CSBG administrative work tool developments.
• Utilizing the results of the 2023 ACSI Survey (PDF) to inform direct federal TTA strategies.
• Curating a library of spotlight videos highlighting promising practices that can inform service delivery strategies across the country.
• Piloting learning approaches to enhance service delivery such as Rapid Cycle Learning.

Whether directly through OCS staff or CSBG-funded TTA providers, the CSBG Network can trust OCS to provide TTA that is thoughtfully designed, intentional, inclusive, and effective as we deliver on our promise to administer high-quality programs. In addition, OCS will periodically update the CSBG Network on the concerted and deliberate strategies employed to strengthen targeted TTA.

Should you have questions about accessing targeted TTA, please send your inquiries to CSBGStates@acf.hhs.gov or CSBGTribes@acf.hhs.gov as applicable.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality services to OCS partners.

/s/
Charisse Johnson
Director, Division of Community Assistance
Office of Community Services