Resource Library
All of CAPLAW’s resources and publications are now available in CAPLAW’s new Resource Library. Use the search filters below to find the resource you need.
Featured Resources
LIHWAP Primer for CAAs
The Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program, or LIHWAP, is a new emergency program administered by the Office of Community Services (OCS) that helps low-income households pay water and sewer bills to maintain access to drinking water and wastewater services. CAPLAW created this online guide to help the network navigate the program and better understand the role that CAAs may play in facilitating the funding.
COVID-19 Vaccines: Step-by-Step Guide for Community Action
This step-by-step compliance guide is intended to help the Community Action network navigate the employee vaccination mandates announced by OSHA, Head Start, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). We describe the planning process your CAA should consider as you develop and update your policies to reflect the new requirements.
Building Readiness: Plan, Prevent, Respond, and Protect
As organizations across the Community Action network resume operations and services disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, it is critical to thoughtfully consider issues that are likely to arise and plan carefully to adjust to the new normal. This FAQ attempts to anticipate and address many of the questions on the forefront of CAAs’ planning efforts.
All a-Board! Series: Board Chair Role and Responsibilities (People)
This video examines the roles and responsibilities of a CAA board chair. It highlights the vital leadership the board chair provides to the board and emphasizes the importance of the chair/executive director relationship to a vibrant, healthy organization. Join us again in the studio as late-night...
All a-Board! Series: Terms and Term Limits (Process)
Like pruning a plant to encourage growth and fruitfulness, a CAA board of directors can implement requirements to facilitate turnover and help keep itself fresh and energized. Establishing terms for board service and a limit on the number of terms a board member may serve are two such...
Tax Issues to Consider When Sharing Employees
This article focuses on the tax considerations for CAAs entering into a shared employee relationship. It presents three commonly-seen examples of sharing employees within the Community Action network:a 501(c)(3) nonprofit state association sharing employees with another tax-exempt organization,...
Public CAA Boards
Tripartite boards of public Community Action Agencies (CAAs) face unique challenges in overseeing programs funded by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and other sources. While their relationship with local government provides lines of communication to individuals with authority and...
Democratic Selection Procedures in a Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a multitude of unprecedented challenges for CAAs. One of the challenges that has spurred CAAs to innovate is the need to recruit and elect representatives of the low-income community to serve on the tripartite board.While serious obstacles to client engagement...
Do’s and Don’ts of Workplace COVID-19 Vaccinations
As Community Action Agencies continue to adapt and evolve in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, their strategies for protecting employees from serious illness resulting from COVID-19 has shifted from mitigating the risk of transmission via measures like PPE and social distancing to...
Raising the Low-Income Voice
Since the inception of the Economic Opportunity Act, a fundamental goal of Community Action has been to provide low-income individuals with a voice in the administration of its poverty alleviating programs. With the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Act's call to achieve “maximum participation”...
Weatherproofing CAA Bylaws
The COVID-19 pandemic presented numerous challenges for CAAs that impacted existing governance structures and practices. Due to widespread restrictions on gathering, many boards were unable to meet in person or had to postpone regular meetings. For a significant number of CAAs, the pandemic...
CSBG Eligibility
The federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) to carry out a variety of activities designed to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient. The following Q&A is...