Agenda - 1-5-15 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

023 Community Services Block Grant Program Fiscal Year 2015.16 Application for Funding Planning Process Narrative 1. Explain in detail how each of the following was involved in the planning and development of this strategic plan. a. Low - Income Community: • The STARS Policy Advisory Council met with the STARS staff and other partner agencies in their respective counties and discussed the grant, reviewed reports and shared - insight on areas of concerns or progress. • Community Needs Assessment Questionnaires were distributed to low - income people in our service areas who were either receiving or seeking services from our agency, the Department of Social Services, Head Start, the community college, public libraries, local churches/ faith -based community members, Division of Employment Services. Salvation Army, housing authorities and other groups whose primary clients are low- income • The STARS (Successfully Transitioning to Achieve Real Self- Sufficiency Policy Advisory Council's) met once a quarter in each county reviewed program performance to date and to propose programmatic changes (if applicable). Policy Advisory Members also shared information from their agency and /or area that could provide information that provided insight into the planning process of the grant, participants and the program. • The Policy Advisory Council reviewed and recommended funding proposals and other prospective changes to the STARS program to the Board of Directors. • Representatives from the low- income community completed Community Needs Assessment Questionnaires and distributed them to residents in their own communities or in their workplace. • Some PAC members serve on the Board of Directors and shared their expertise and first -hand knowledge of the current trends affecting all segments of the population that could impact low - income people. • The Policy Advisory Council was very involved in discussions on any proposed changes to the STARS program and would submit them to the Board of Directors for approval, ex. procedures manuals, grant opportunities etc. b. Agency Staff: * Agency staff members played an essential role in the planning and developmental process of the planning process. A number of strategic planning sessions were held with the S.T.A.R.S. staff to re- evaluate the plan from the previous program year. This is helpful in determining the efficiency of the plan and to determine if the needs expressed on the Needs Assessments has been addressed. Working with staff, activities was planned for the next program year that would best meet the needs cited by the participants and the survey respondents using the most proficient process possible. Staff members distributed, collected and quantified the survey data during the strategic planning stage. Information provided by staff members from other agency programs were used in the planning stage of the grant The CSBG Director and other staff members contacted other agencies and organizations in our service areas to collect data. The CSBG Director compiled the data to develop a demographical profile of all three counties. c. Agency's Board Members: The Board participated in the planning process for this grant in a number of ways: • Distributed and collected completed Community Needs Assessment Questionnaires in their respective counties. • Gave their approval to apply for the grant. • Approved the proposed planning schedule for the grant. • Participated in the planning process and shared their insight on the grant during the board retreat and at board meetings • Reviewed and approved the grant prior to its submission to the county commissioners. • They reviewed the bi- monthly computer generated printouts that are mailed to them prior to the board meeting. and on their own, board members reviewed the printout which illustrates the progress made toward the timely fulfillment of Performance Measures. • Received the report, advice and recommendations of the Board Planning and Evaluation Committee with respect to suggestions made by the STARS Policy Advisory Councils and their own ideas for program enrichment. Fiscal Year 2015 -16 Community Services Block Grant Application Page 6 of 49