Community Action Partnership--Standards of Excellence Guides

Community Action Partnership is pleased to announce the availability of two Standards of Excellence Category Guides— Organizational Leadership (Category 1) and Customer Focus (Category 3). These guides demonstrate how to achieve each Standard of Excellence—one of thirty-four of the very best Community Action Agency practices—grouped within seven categories. Over the next few years, we will develop guides for the other five categories (Strategic Planning, Measurement Management, Human Resources, Organizational Process Management, and Organizational Results). The Category Guides are part of our Excellence program, which is designed to help CAAs strive for and achieve the highest level of quality and service.

Posted by VACAP Archives at 4:50 PM - Categories: Member News

Economic Stimulus Package Tax Rebate Information

The IRS has released information on the Economic Stimulus Package Tax Rebates. The information is available online at the IRS Website. Links on this page include the FS-2008-16, Stimulus Payments: Instructions for Low-Income Workers and Recipients of Social Security and Certain Veterans' Benefits and FS-2008-15, Facts about the 2008 Stimulus Payments.

Starting in May, the Treasury will begin sending economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million individuals. The stimulus payments will go out through the late spring and summer.

The vast majority of Americans who qualify for the payment will not have to do anything other than file their 2007 individual income tax return to receive their payment this year. The IRS will use information on the tax return to determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the stimulus payments.

Posted by VACAP Archives at 4:53 PM - Categories: Stimulus

Waynesboro - Community Action Expansion Update

Two groups in the city [Waynsboro] are joining forces to cut poverty by starting a program called Community Action. Shenandoah Valley Social Services Director, Elizabeth Middleton, says the public would be shocked to know how many people in the area are considered to be living in poverty. She says, "There are many people in poverty in this area, and this is one of the largest federal and state programs to help ameliorate poverty at its root causes."

Middleton is teaming with the Director of the Office on Youth, Carol Blair, to start Community Action. She says most localities in the state already have the program. "Community Action has been in Virginia since the 1960s, and was started as a part of civil rights legislation with the economic opportunity act of 1964," says Middleton.

Posted by VACAP Archives at 4:59 PM - Categories: Member News

VACAP Expansion Funding Update

Unfortunately, neither the VA General Assembly House nor the Senate budget contains increased funding for community action for expansion. This is an extraordinarily difficult budget year, and there are virtually no amendments in the VA House or VA Senate bills which would increase funding for programs of the Department of Social Services.

The VA House bill would substitute $1.7 million of TANF in place of general (state budget) funds for community action in FY 2010.

The VA House bill would reduce funding for Project Discovery in FY 2010 by $100,000 and would "consolidate" Project Discovery into another education initiative. This would appear to eliminate direct funding for Project Discovery in FY 2008-2010. The VA Senate bill would make no change to Project Discovery, providing $900,000 in FY 2009 and $1 million in FY 2010.

Neither the VA House nor the VA Senate bills contain additional funding for the VACAP EITC initiative, which was reduced in the Governor's budget by five percent.

Posted by VACAP Archives at 4:57 PM - Categories: Member News

New York Times Editorial - "In Search of a Real Urban Policy"

For those of you whose community action activities are in urban areas, this NY Times editorial, "In Search of a Real Urban Policy", may resonate with you.

In Search of a Real Urban Policy
> Read More

Posted by VACAP Archives at 4:56 PM - Categories: Press Releases

New York Times Op-Ed - "Poverty Is Poison"

Paul Krugman of the New York Times has been focusing on poverty in his recent op-ed columns. This is a particularly powerful column.

Poverty Is Poison...
> Read More

Posted by VACAP Archives at 4:55 PM - Categories: Press Releases

New York Times Op-Ed - "Totally Spent"

A New York Times Op-Ed Contributor, Robert B. Reich, has written a timely article describing the current economic conditions for middle- and lower-income Americans.

Posted by VACAP Archives at 5:01 PM - Categories: Press Releases