Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is authorized by the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training Educational Services Human Serves Reauthorization Act of 1998, Public Law 105-285, October 27, 1998 (42 USCS §9901 et. seq.), and the act of July 2, 2014 (P.L. 834, No. 90) known as the Community Services Block Grant Act, as a state-administered anti-poverty block grant that funds the operations of a network of certified CSBG eligible entities (CEE) including Community Action Agencies (CAA) and local government entities. The goal of these local agencies is to ameliorate the causes and conditions of poverty. The national CSBG network consists of more than 1,000 agencies that create, coordinate, and deliver programs and services to low-income Americans in 99 percent of the nation's counties. Like other block grants, CSBG funds are allocated to the states and local agencies through a formula. Because CSBG often funds the central management and core activities of agencies, the CSBG network is able to mobilize additional resources to combat the central causes and conditions of poverty. These entities are required to coordinate or provide services and activities addressing the specific needs of their service area as identified through a community needs assessment process. Activities most often include early childhood education and services, income management, emergency and utility assistance services, health and nutrition programs, transportation and housing assistance, employment training and placement, and linkages to other anti-poverty programs. Community representation and accountability are hallmarks of the CSBG network, and CEEs are governed by a tripartite board, federally mandated CSBG Organizational Standards, and continuous improvement principles. States are required to submit a bi-yearly plan to the federal government detailing priorities and plans for the use of CSBG funds across the state. The Pennsylvania state plan includes information on how the state will provide oversight, training, and technical assistance to the CEEs as well as statewide goals and performance measures.