CSBG:  The Partnership: State Community Action Associations & State Community Services Block Grant

Offices (Part One)

Verna P. Best, OEO DirectorNC DHHS/DSS/Economic & Family

ServicesNASCSP Conference September 14, 2012

CSBG State Office & CAA Association…Is Partnership Necessary?

• IM – 49 Program Challenges, Responsibilities and Strategies-FY 2001-2003 (February 2011)

• IM 103– CSBG Final Strategic Plan (August 2007)

• IM – 123 Reorganization of CSBG T/TA Resources – A New Strategy for Excellence (May 2011)

Partnership Defined

A mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to sustain results they are not able to achieve alone. An intense and complex process that gets people to work together in new ways. A process that doesn’t end but spawns new collaborative activities. A continuing effort with a wide range of results that empower people and systems to change.

Partnership Practiced(NC CSBG Office &

NCCAA)

Communication, Collaboration & Challenges

Communication…(Not Like Dilbert)

Communication is the foundation of partnership building!

NCCAA copied on ALL sub-grantee communicationsOEO attends/provides reports during NCCAA CoEd MeetingsOEO provides support letters for NCCAA grant opportunitiesNCCAA & OEO Directors meet as needed/frequentlyOEO participates in NCCAA Annual ConferencesNCCAA participates in OEO Contractors’ ConferenceBoth offices maintain current websites

Collaboration…(Not Like Dilbert)

Collaboration breeds TRUST & Shared Responsibility!

Training & Technical Assistance ( Board Summit)Outreach & Advocacy (NC State Fair, Poverty Simulation, Face to Face w/Poverty)State Plan for Administering CSBG (Public & Legislative Hearings)Statewide Initiatives (The Revival of NC ROMA/co-facilitators for National P2P Certification)

ATTACHMENT BSCOPE OF WORK

FY 2011-12

The Contractual Agreement

To provide consistent, relevant and ongoing training and support to the OEO and sub-grantee agencies related to administrative, programmatic and fiscal operations. Coordinate logistics, meeting dates, trainers, training facilities, equipment, agendas and meeting materials for capacity building, board governance, fiscal management, employment law, customer service and ROMA training. CSBG Task Force support, Poverty Study, OEO Contractors’ Training Conference support, OEO staff Retreat support and Poverty Simulation training and Data Collection support.

Design training brochure(s) to promote statewide training initiativeCreate training registration formsDevelop training note books for each training curriculumDevelop pre- and post evaluation forms, sign-in sheetsCollect and record evaluations, agencies represented and participantsProvide OEO with related evaluations, reports and information as necessary

Challenges…(Very MUCH Like Dilbert)

Challenges ”We must look for the opportunity in every difficulty instead of

being paralyzed at the thought of the difficulty in every opportunity.”

Defining Roles – “Staying In Your Lane”Escaping the PAST

Demonstrating AccountabilityFUNDING through Transitions

On a POSITIVE Note

The POWER of United Messaging

“THE NECESSITY OF THE TIMES, MORE THAN EVER, CALLS FOR OUR UTMOST

CIRCUMSPECTION, DELIBERATION, FORTITUDE, AND PERSEVERANCE.”(AND PARTNERSHIP) –

SAMUEL BUTLER

Think About It…

CSBG:  The Partnership: State Community Action Associations & State Community Services Block Grant

Offices (Part One)

Verna P. Best, OEO DirectorVerna.Best@dhhs.nc.gov

919-527-6251(Let’s Work Together)