Policies in Practice: Complying with the CSBG Organizational Standards
Effectively governed Community Action Agencies (CAAs) have policies and systems in place that encourage accountability, transparency and efficiency of operations. Dive into this governance checkup to review some key policies your CAA is required to have under the CSBG Organizational Standards — a whistleblower policy, conflict of interest policy, procurement policy, and record retention policy. In this four-part, monthly webinar series, we will distribute and review template policies that CAAs can adapt for their own use. We will also provide practical tips for drafting, implementing and using each policy to effectively guide individual and organizational actions. Each 60-minute webinar is intended for executive directors, management staff, board members, and attorneys of Community Action Agencies.
Webinar One:
Whistleblower Policy
An effective whistleblower policy encourages staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders to report suspected wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. We will discuss CAPLAW’s updated Sample Whistleblower Policy, how the policy should be administered to protect whistleblowers and ensure prompt internal investigations, as well as the legal framework governing whistleblowers under grant requirements, Sarbanes-Oxley, and other federal statutes. Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST
Presenters: Jonathan Cohen, Esq. and Veronica Zhang, Esq.
|
Webinar Two:
Conflict of Interest Policy
An effective conflict of interest policy helps CAA board members and staff navigate conflicts that could result in ethically questionable and potentially prohibited transactions, or lead to transactions that are reasonable but still lack sufficient documentation to withstand external scrutiny. We will discuss CAPLAW’s Sample Conflict of Interest Policy for Boards and Senior Staff of both CAAs with Head Start and CAAs without Head Start, including managing potential gray areas. Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT
Presenters: Caroline Kelley, Esq. and Veronica Zhang, Esq.
|
Webinar Three:
Procurement Policy
An effective procurement policy is a pillar of sound fiscal management, ensuring that a CAA obtains the best value when purchasing business-related products and services, and also minimizes fraud, waste, and abuse. We will discuss CAPLAW’s new Sample Procurement Policy for CAAs, the Uniform Guidance requirements for procurement, and how to apply the policy in a CAA's day-to-day purchasing and vendor selection decisions. Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT
Presenters: Caroline Kelley, Esq. and Allison Ma’luf, Esq.
|
Webinar Four:
Record Retention Policy
An effective record retention policy helps staff, board members, and volunteers manage a CAA’s records to ensure that documents are stored and maintained properly prior to their destruction. We will discuss CAPLAW’s updated Sample Record Retention Policy and the types of organizational documents that it covers, how to choose appropriate record retention periods, and how the policy promotes good governance practices. Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT
Presenters: Jonathan Cohen, Esq. and Allison Ma’luf, Esq.
|
These resources are part of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Legal Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Center. They were created by Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW) in the performance of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Cooperative Agreement – Grant Award Number 90ET0467-03. Any opinion, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The contents of this publication are intended to convey general information only and do not constitute legal advice. Any communication through this publication or through CAPLAW’s website does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact CAPLAW or another attorney directly.
|