ACF-OCS-CSBG-DCL-25-04 DCA Director Transition Update

Community Services Block Grant

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#: ACF-OCS-CSBG-DCL-25-04

DATE: November 19, 2024

TO: CSBG Network

SUBJECT: Updates on Division of Community Assistance Leadership 

ATTACHMENT(S): Not Applicable

Dear Colleague,

Effective November 17, 2024, Charisse Johnson, who served as the Division of Community Assistance (DCA) Director and Division of Social Services Acting Director, transitioned from the Office of Community Services (OCS) to a leadership role in the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF’s) Office of Grants Management. 

During her tenure as the DCA Director, which began in 2020, Ms. Johnson brought exceptional leadership and strategic vision in expanding the support to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) network. Ms. Johnson’s key accomplishments include:

• Leading the distribution of over $1B in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and disaster funding to address needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, typhoons, and hurricanes. 
• Developing the Performance, Evaluation, Accountability, Accessibility, and Knowledge (PEAAK) framework to strengthen the approach for CSBG administration and fortify the mutual commitment to reducing poverty.
• Leading the inaugural steps for the CSBG Learning Agenda to shape how the federal office builds continued capacity to support the CSBG network.
• Establishing the first Policy, Data, and Evaluation Branch to expand storytelling for CSBG.
• Reducing the administrative burden of data collection for CSBG direct-funded tribes by securing Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the CSBG Model Tribal Plan and CSBG Tribal Annual Report.
• Shaping an enhanced training and technical assistance (TTA) model for CSBG grant recipients with the TTA Needs Survey and new cohort of TTA providers. 
• Expanding federal support to grant recipients for plans and reports resulting in a consistent increase in complete and timely submissions of both the CSBG State Plan and CSBG Annual Report.

We are thankful for Ms. Johnson’s continued dedication to our staff and grant recipients, as well as the entire CSBG network, and we look forward to continued partnership with her in her new role. 

To support the work of DCA and CSBG, Cheryl Zuni will serve as the Interim Director. Ms. Zuni is a Senior Advisor in OCS’ Policy and Legislative Affairs Team within the Office of the Director. For over a decade, Cheryl has worked in partnership with tribal nations and governments across Indian Country providing oversight, administration, and implementation of various activities including new housing construction, water infrastructure, critical community facilities development, and self-sufficiency initiatives.

Prior to joining OCS, Ms. Zuni served as the Deputy Administrator of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Southwest Office of Native American Programs providing oversight of the Albuquerque Satellite Office which consists of the Grants Management and Grants Evaluation Divisions that partner with tribes to administer the largest single source of Native American housing resources in Indian Country. Cheryl is an alumna of the University of New Mexico, where she completed both of her undergraduate degrees and graduate programs, as well as the University of New Mexico School of Law. She is a citizen of the Pueblo of Isleta.

Please join OCS in welcoming Cheryl to the CSBG network.

/s/
J. Janelle George
Deputy Director 
Office of Community Services