CSBG-DCL-2022-38 Program Specialist Regional Assignments

Community Services Block Grant

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#: CSBG-DCL-2022-38

DATE: June 23, 2022

TO: The CSBG Network

SUBJECT: CSBG Program Specialist Regional Assignments

ATTACHMENT(S): N/A

Dear Colleagues,

To help support a responsive and meaningful grant recipient experience, the Office of Community Services (OCS), Division of Community Assistance (DCA) is announcing a realignment of regional assignments for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program Specialists.

This realignment is effective today, June 23, 2022.

Realignment

Prior to the realignment, regional portfolios were divided, with some staff working with states and territories and other staff working with tribes and tribal organizations. To help streamline our work and develop a more inclusive, comprehensive structure that is responsive to and supportive of all grant recipients in each region, each CSBG Program Specialist will now provide support to all of the states, territories, and tribes and tribal organizations within their region(s).

At the federal level, this will help foster a regional view of CSBG activities, enhance opportunities for collaboration across the CSBG Network, and help CSBG Program Specialists to provide timely and targeted assistance.

The Transition Process

In some cases, a CSBG Program Specialist may retain one or more of the regions they have supported in the past. In the instances where this is not the case, the incumbent CSBG Program Specialist has provided transition documents to the newly assigned CSBG Program Specialist. This transition documentation provides key programmatic, fiscal, and administrative information on the state, territory, and tribal grant recipients in the region. The incumbent and newly assigned staff member then met to discuss the assignments in detail to ensure a smooth transition.

The newly assigned CSBG Program Specialist will reach out to all state, territory, and tribal grant recipients to coordinate introductory calls and regular recurring meetings. Your new CSBG Program Specialist will reach out to you by Tuesday, June 28, 2022 to schedule an introductory call. All introductory calls are expected to be completed by Friday, July 15, 2022.

In addition to realigning the portfolios, there are a few staffing changes happening as well. Two of our CSBG Program Specialists are moving to other program areas - one within DCA and one within OCS. And two of our staff members who formerly supported other areas of DCA will now join the DCA Program Operation Team, so there will be a few new - hopefully, familiar faces - on the Program Operations Team.

Recurring Meetings

OCS will continue to hold quarterly regional calls to provide grant recipients with updates on projects and activities impacting the CSBG Network. In addition to the quarterly calls, CSBG Program Specialists will schedule more frequent check-ins with individual grant recipients to address grant recipient-specific issues, concerns, and questions.

CSBG Regional Assignments and Contact Information

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