Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program Federal Monitoring Update James Gray Program Specialist

Background Legislative Requirements GAO Report & Recommendations Performance Measurement Requirements –Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 –Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Rating

Legislative Requirements Community Service Block Grant Act, SEC. 678B(c) evaluate several states’ use of CSBG funds annually and issue reports on the results Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982 establish and maintain internal controls to assure agencies achieve: effective and efficient operations, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with applicable law and regulations

GAO Report Community Services Block Grant Program: HHS Should Improve Oversight by Focusing Monitoring and Assistance Efforts on Areas of High Risk (June 2006) “OCS’s procedures and controls are not adequate to ensure that it performs its monitoring responsibilities…” - Government Accountability Office

GAO Recommendations conduct a risk-based assessment of state CSBG programs, have policies and procedures to ensure monitoring focuses on high- risk states, issue guidance on state monitoring requirements and T & TA reporting, and implement a strategic plan to guide training and technical assistance efforts.

Performance Measurement Requirements GPRA - results-based approach to program planning & reporting PART- assess & link program performance to program budgets  CSBG received rating of Results Not Demonstrated (RND) “Grantees are not held accountable for program results.” - CSBG PART assessment

State Self-Assessment Tools Financial Operations Administrative Operations (Governance) Program Operations

Financial Operations 90% Pass through to eligible entities (CAAs) 5% Administrative expenses (Sec. 675C[b][2]) 5% Discretionary

Financial Operations (Cont’d) Fiscal Control and Fund Accounting procedures –OMB’s Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) –Audits – Single Audit Act –Limitation on the use of Funds –Disbursement policies

Administrative Operations Legislative and Public hearings –When and where –Who conducted the hearings –How was the public informed –Who attended –Revisions to the State Plan Public notice, inspection, comment –To make available to the public for review and comment on the Plan

Admin. Operations (cont’d) Procedures for governing the Administration of its CSBG program? How does the State inform staff and sub- grantees of procedures? Tripartite Board composition and rule The process for Designation and re- designation of eligible entities in unserved areas

Admin. Operations (cont’d) Prohibition of political activities Procedures for compliance with Federal investigations –Fiscal controls, Procedures, Audits and Inspections Terminations & reduction of funding Use of grant funds for construction (Waivers) Non-discrimination provisions

Program Operations Services provisions that respond to the cause of poverty? Funds used to assist low-income individuals and families? Use of discretionary funds Provisions to respond to starvation and malnutrition among the poor Linkages between government and social services

Program Operations (Cont’d) Title XXVI (LIHEAP) Partnerships Procedures to petition for adequate Board representation The Community Action Plan

Program Operations (Cont’d) Results Oriented Management & Accountability (ROMA) Training, Monitoring, and TA Methods to identify CAAs in need Provision of T&TA to CAAs in most in need State’s corrective procedures for poorly functioning agencies

Assessment & Monitoring Events January July June 2006 August 2006 Congress passes GPRA OCS develops ROMA in response to GPRA. PART authorized under the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) CSBG program PARTed GAO issues Community Services Block Grant Program: HHS Should Improve Oversight by Focusing Monitoring and Assistance Efforts on Areas of High Risk OCS Creates DSA/Monitoring Task Force

Assessment & Monitoring Events August 2006 January 2007 February 2007 DSA’s Office Initiative Discussions on PRISM Review and Coordination MTF Activities: Composition; State Self-Assessment tools; Comments on tools; CSBG Monitoring Manual: Internal Procedures and Guidelines for DSA Monitoring Selection Process Reviewing State Comments on the State Self-Assessment tool Monitoring Training for DSA Staff.

Contact Information James Gray (202)