CSBG DCL Model State Plan Revision: Open Comment Period - UPDATE

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Community Services
Division of State Assistance
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/csbg

Community Services Block Grant
Dear Colleague Letter

Re: CSBG Model State Plan Revision: Open Comment Period - UPDATE

Date: March 10, 2015

Dear Colleagues:

On January 29, 2015, the Office of Community Services (OCS) distributed a Dear Colleague message requesting feedback from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Network on the proposed revision of the CSBG Model State Plan (MSP).  While the official deadline for submitting comments is March 27, we strongly encourage members of the CSBG Network to submit comments as early as possible, in order to expedite the review process.  We intend to review all comments carefully before we revise and submit the MSP to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the next level of Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) review. With your help, our goal is to complete the new MSP in time for FY 2016 CSBG State Plan submissions.

To facilitate your review of the MSP, in the past weeks, we have had the opportunity to review and discuss the MSP with many of you through a webinar series and at the National Association of State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) Mid-Winter Training Conference.  The recorded webinars and the slides from the conference are all available on the NASCSP website.

As a courtesy, and in response to requests from States, we are providing a Microsoft Word version of the draft MSP for CSBG State agencies to use for planning and development of their FY 2016 State plan.  This Word version is identical to the draft distributed with the January 29 dear colleague message, except for the insertion of question 10.6 that was missing from the earlier draft.  Please note the content of the draft MSP is likely to change based on comments we receive during the 60-day PRA comment period and upon review by OMB.   We will make available a copy of the final version as submitted for OMB clearance as soon as any changes have been incorporated based on public comments.

Thank you for your partnership in this important work of developing a CSBG Model State Plan that is streamlined, automated, and integrates performance management elements.  As a reminder, information about how to comment on the MSP can be found in the CSBG Dear Colleague Letter Model State Plan Revision: Open Comment Period; please submit your comments to infocollection@acf.hhs.gov.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Jeannie L. Chaffin                                                                              Seth Hassett
Director                                                                                                 Director, Division of State Assistance
Office of Community Services                                                          Office of Community Services