Staff from 23 different agencies attended OUCAN’s latest free training on CSBG’s Organizational Standards.
The training was held to assist agency staff as they navigate reporting requirements in the new standards tool. Trainers Keelie Gustin, Ike Hickman and Marilyn Montes emphasized the importance of documentation throughout the year as the critical step toward meeting standards.
We know every single day that our client feedback into the services they need is what makes community action different from other non-profits,” Gustin said. “It’s what has kept us motivated. It’s our heartbeat – but it also needs to be documented.”
Many requirements can be satisfied by keeping good records, especially minutes of Board meetings, they said.
Dividing the work among multiple staff members also helps.
“Everyone in the agency should be familiar with the standards because they are all serving them,” Montes said. “Developing a system is critical to getting one hundred percent. It has to be a team effort.”
Gustin is the Chief Policy Officer at Miami Valley Community Action Partnership, Hickman is the Community Compliance Coordinator at Community Action Commission of Erie, Huron and Richland Counties, Montes recently retired as Chief Operating Officer at Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership.
A recording of the training and all presenter materials can be accessed by clicking here.
