An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
The Office of Community Services (OCS) has received a number of questions from State Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Lead Agencies and from CSBG eligible entities regarding state direction in the implementation of supplemental funds distributed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, P.L. 116-36 (CARES Act).
To help address these questions, this letter discusses the role of states in (1) ensuring flexibility to meet urgent community needs, (2) creating procedures to amend plans and address new needs, (3) supporting locally identified services and strategies, (4) facilitating communication, performance management, and technical assistance, and (5) monitoring and accountability.
This Information Memorandum highlights how Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) grantees and local eligible entities (commonly referred to as Community Action Agencies or “CAAs”) can play a vital role in strengthening and advancing COVID-19 vaccination efforts and increasing community awareness, as CAAs serve as trusted entities in communities and reach 99% of U.S. counties.