SSBG DCL 2019-01 New Format and Defined Use for OCS’ Action Transmittals, Dear Colleague Letters, and Information Memoranda

Publication Date: January 23, 2019
Current as of:

Social Services Block Grants

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#: SSBG-DCL-2019-01

DATE: January 14, 2019

TO: SSBG Grantees

SUBJECT: New Format and Defined Use for OCS’ Action Transmittals, Dear Colleague Letters, and Information Memoranda

ATTACHMENT(S): N/A

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year!

In order to communicate more clearly and effectively with grantees and other stakeholders, the Office of Community Services (OCS) is rolling out a fresh look for its communication documents and a defined use for Action Transmittals (AT), Dear Colleague Letters (DCL), and Information Memoranda (IM).

Beginning January 7, 2019, OCS will use our new OCS letterhead and a standard template for all AT, DCL, and IM across OCS programs, including Community Economic Development, Community Services Block Grant, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Rural Community Development, Social Services Block Grant, and the Assets for Independence programs.

The new templates include a direct hyperlink to the program website, which is embedded in the name of the OCS program releasing the communique as well as the type of communication (e.g. AT, DCL, or IM). Lastly, each communique will now include a unique identifier that consists of the program name, type of document, fiscal year, and a chronological number.

Screen capture of the introductory section of the new template that highlights the letterhead, active hyperlink to the OCS progr
In addition, moving forward, OCS will use AT, DCL, and IM for the purposes outlined below:

Action Transmittal: To request information.

Dear Colleague Letter: To make general announcements.

Information Memorandum: To establish and/or confirm program policy.

If you have any questions about the new format for and the defined purpose of the AT, DCL, and IM, please contact your program liaison.

Again, the effective date for the use of the new template is January 7, 2019 and applicable to all OCS programs.

Thank you for your attention and OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high quality services to OCS grantees.

/s/
William Bolduc
Program Operations Branch Chief, Division of Social Services
Office of Community Services