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This report summarizes the Office of Community Services (OCS) effort to consult with Tribal leaders regarding the proposal to implement an Assets For Independence (AFI) program Performance Progress Report (PPR).  A virtual consultation was held on July 6, 2015, and a transcript of that consultation is attached.

The Office of Community Services (OCS) is requesting feedback from Assets for Independence (AFI) grantees and stakeholders on proposed AFI program specific Performance Progress Report (PPR) data collection instruments. On May 19, a Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) notice for public comment was published in the Federal Register: https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-12096.

On March 31, 2015, President Obama declared April National Financial Capability Month . In support of National Financial Capability Month, ACF issued notices to a broad range of ACF-supported programs to highlight the importance of financial capability, and to encourage programs to consider ways in which they can structure their services and activities to strengthen financial capability among the populations they serve. Link to these notices are provided below. Additionally, Acting Assistant Secretary Mark Greenberg sent a letter to State Human Services Commissioners and Secretaries on April 27, 2015 to highlight the importance of addressing financial capability in human services programs and to provide links to a set of resources that can be useful in developing state and local efforts.

AFI Dear Colleague Letter Information and Resources Related to Financial Capability

Assets for Independence (AFI) Program 2015 Grant Awards

AFI DCL EITC Awareness Day

Increase Access to EITC and Connect Tax Refunds to Asset Building
April 1, 2015

Dear Colleagues,

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the largest IRS public benefits for low-income households. The EITC is a refundable credit for families and individuals that work but earn low wages. It is a powerful work incentive and anti-poverty tool.

Building Financial Capability: A Planning Guide for Integrated Services (available for download below), is an interactive guide for community-based organizations interested in integrating financial capability services into existing programs (e.g. housing, job training, or Head Start). The interactive tools in the guide walk organizations step-by-step through the process of developing an integration plan, beginning with developing a deeper understanding of clients’ financial circumstances and which financial capability services can help them improve their situations. The guide also includes tools to help organizations determine how best to provide financial capability services—whether through referrals, partnerships, or in-house. The final step in the process is the creation of a logic model that serves as a comprehensive roadmap for implementing the integration plan. Building Financial Capability is a practical resource for organizations providing financial capability services for the first time as well as those that want to improve or expand existing efforts.

Since this resource was published, the links to tools in the PDF no longer work. In order to access all the tools, go to https://prosperitynow.org/tools-building-financial-capability-plannin... .

To learn more about the guide, view the associated training video series.

Dear Colleagues:
We in the Office of Community Services (OCS) want to make sure you are aware of the President’s 2016 Budget proposals for OCS programs.  Please note that appropriation levels and policy proposals are only final with Congress’s approval.

Dear Colleagues,

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation has released the 2015 Poverty Guidelines.  The Poverty Guidelines have a key role in eligibility determination for the Assets for Independence (AFI) program. Please make sure that your program policies and procedures are updated and accordingly. An updated Eligibility Worksheet is available in the AFI Grantee Toolkit section of the AFI Resource Center or can be downloaded directly by clicking here .

OCS is working to encourage the integration of asset building and financial capability into social services and programs for low-income and vulnerable populations. As part of this effort, OCS conducted an environmental field scan from January to March 2013 to analyze trends in integrating asset building, to locate promising asset-building practices and to identify ideas for technical assistance support.