Administration of CSBG

The Department has been designated by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to serve as the lead agency under the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901 et seq. The CSBG Program shall be administered in accordance with 760 CMR 29.00, the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901 et seq., and other applicable federal and state laws and with guidelines or Information Memoranda (IM) issued by the Department. Pursuant to IM No. 138, State Establishment of Organizational Standards for CSBG Eligible Entities under 678B of the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9914, published by the federal Office of Community Services (OCS) on 2/10/17 (Effective 12/30/16) - corrected 760 CMR - 275 January 26, 2015, under the block grant framework established in the CSBG Act, States have both the authority and the responsibility for effective oversight of eligible entities that receive CSBG funds. § 678B of the CSBG Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9914, mandates that State CSBG lead agencies must establish performance goals, administrative standards, financial management requirements and other requirements that ensure an appropriate level of accountability and quality among the State's eligible entities. The Department shall offer CAAs and other eligible entities an opportunity to comment on proposed guidelines prior to official issuance when the Department deems such opportunity to comment reasonable and appropriate.