Chapter 122:5-2 | Community Action Agencies

Rule 122:5-2-01 | Definitions.

• Effective: September 2, 2016
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

As used in the rules of the Ohio development services agency, office of community assistance:

(A) "C.S.B.G. program" means the state-administered community services block grant program as authorized by the Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C.A. 9901-9912.

(B) "Office of community assistance" means the office created within the Ohio development services agency and charged with the administration of the Ohio C.S.B.G. program.

(C) "C.S.B.G. provider" means a community action agency or migrant and seasonal farmworker organization funded by the office of community services to carry out the C.S.B.G. program in a single- or multi-county area.

(D) "Community action agency" means a community-based and operated private nonprofit agency or organization that includes or is designed to include a sufficient number of projects or components to provide a range of services and activities having a measurable and potentially major impact on the causes of poverty in the community or those areas of the community where poverty is a particularly acute problem and is designated as a community action agency by the office of community services pursuant to sections 122.68 and 122.69 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Community" means a city, village, county, multi-city or multi-county unit, a neighborhood or other area, disregarding boundaries of political subdivisions, which provides a suitable organizational base and possesses a commonality of needs and interests for a community action program suitable to be served by a community action agency.

(F) "Service area" means the geographical area served by a community action agency.

(G) "Low-income person" means a person whose adjusted gross income as defined in division (A) of section 5747.01 of the Revised Code is below the poverty line.

(H) "Poverty line" means the official poverty line established by the director of the United States office of management and budget and as revised in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act, 95 Stat. 1609, 42 U.S.C.A. 9902.

(I) "Grant agreement" means the agreement between the Ohio development services agency, office of community assistance and a C.S.B.G. provider, whereby funds are granted to the C.S.B.G. provider to carry out specified programs, services or activities authorized under the Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C.A. 9901-9912.

(J) "Program participant" means an individual or family unit receiving funds or services provided by a C.S.B.G. provider.

(K) "Chief elected official" means the mayor of a municipal corporation or, if no mayor is directly elected in a municipal corporation, then the person designated to act as such by the legislative authority of a municipal corporation shall be considered its chief elected official, and each county commissioner.

(L) "Endorsement" means the exclusive recognition and approval of a community action agency by a chief elected official.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 122.68
Amplifies: 122.68, 122.69, 122.70, 122.701
Five Year Review Date: 9/2/2021
Prior Effective Dates: 3/21/1985

Rule 122:5-2-02 | Yearly performance assessments.

• Effective: September 2, 2016
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

The office of community assistance will conduct yearly performance assessments, according to the following criteria, to determine whether community action agencies are in compliance with section 122.69 of the Revised Code:

(A) A nonprofit agency or organization shall be deemed to have obtained the endorsement of a chief elected official of a municipal corporation or county within the community to be served by the agency or organization when written notice of such endorsement is received by certified mail by the office of community services at the following address: "Office of Community Assistance, Ohio Development Services Agency, P.O. Box 1001, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1001." A copy of the notice of endorsement shall be provided by such chief elected official to the nonprofit agency or organization seeking designation as a community action agency. Notice of endorsement by a chief elected official of a municipal corporation or county of a nonprofit agency or organization seeking designation as a community action agency shall remain effective until a notice of rescission of endorsement is received by certified mail by the office of community assistance at the same address. A copy of the notice of rescission of endorsement shall be provided by such chief elected official to the nonprofit agency or organization seeking designation as a community action agency.

(B) A designated community action agency shall be determined to have provided a range of services and opportunities having a measurable and potentially major impact on the causes of poverty in the community or those areas of the community where poverty is a particularly acute problem based on the extent to which its program activities, conducted in compliance with fiscal and programmatic guidelines as set forth in these rules, meet the goals and objectives delineated in its annual program plan as approved by the office of community assistance.

(C) As part of its annual program plan and budget submission each designated community action agency shall submit to the office of community assistance a board roster along with certification that the composition of the board meets the following requirements:

(1) The board consists of not fewer than fifteen nor more than thirty-three members;

(2) One-third of the members of the board are elected public officials, currently holding office, or their representatives, except that if the number of elected officials reasonably available and willing to serve is less than one-third of the membership of the board, membership on the board of appointive public officials may be counted in meeting such one-third requirement;

(3) At least one-third of the members are persons chosen in accordance with democratic selection procedures adequate to assure that they are representative of the poor in the service area; and

(4) The remainder of the members are officials or members of business, industry, labor, religious, welfare, education, or other major groups and interests in the community.

(D) Each designated community action agency shall submit to the office of community assistance along with its annual program plan and budget, a certification that a copy of the program plan and budget was made available to the chief elected officials of the municipal corporations and counties within the service area at least ten days prior to submission of the plan and budget to the office of community assistance.

(E) Each designated community action agency shall submit to the office of community assistance as part of its annual program plan and budget, assurances that it will comply with the prohibitions against discrimination and political activity, as provided for in the Community Services Block Grant Act. In addition to any other procedures available to secure compliance with such assurances, written complaints of non-compliance with these provisions by a designated community action agency may be filed by letter to the office of community assistance at the following address: "Office of Community Assistance, Ohio Development Services Agency, P.O. Box 1001, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1001." Any and all such complaints shall be forwarded by the office of community assistance to the agencies or tribunals having jurisdiction to investigate such complaints. Adjudications by such agencies or tribunals shall be considered in determining whether C.S.B.G. providers are in compliance with the prohibitions against discrimination and political activity as provided in the Community Services Block Grant Act.

(F) Each designated community action agency shall be subject to audit to determine compliance with fiscal and program requirements as set forth in these rules and as amplified and revised from time to time by federal bulletins which shall be automatically forwarded without charge to designated community action agencies, and upon request to any citizen who requests copies by writing to the office of community assistance at the following address: "Office of Community Assistance, Ohio Development Services Agency, P.O. Box 1001, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1001."

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 122.68(E)
Amplifies: 122.68
Five Year Review Date: 9/2/2021

Rule 122:5-2-03 | CSBG 122.5.2.03.

• Effective: December 28, 2020
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

This rule was filed with the Legislative Service Commission in PDF format and is presented here as filed.
View Rule Text

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 122.68
Amplifies: 122.68
Five Year Review Date: 9/2/2021
Prior Effective Dates: 4/9/2020 (Emer.)

Rule 122:5-2-04 | Community action agency annual evaluation.

• Effective: September 2, 2016
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Each board of directors of designated community action agencies shall annually conduct a self-evaluation of its policies and programs, using forms provided by the office of community assistance, according to the following criteria:

(1) Progress towards meeting the community action agency's goals and objectives as stated in its approved annual program plan;

(2) The impact of its activities upon the needs of low-income clients and the community;

(3) The appropriateness of its goals in carrying out the community action agency's mission; and

(4) The appropriateness of its objectives and strategies in meeting the community action agency's goals.

(B) The results of the evaluation, and recommendations for improved administration of the community action agencies, shall be submitted annually within sixty days of the program starting date, in the form of a report to the office of community assistance at the following address: "Office of Community Assistance, Ohio Development Services Agency, P.O. Box 1001, Columbus, Ohio 43216-1001."

(C) Local governments, social services' organizations, businesses and low-income persons shall be involved in the local evaluation process to provide broad community participation. Evidence of such participation shall be included in the community action agency's annual self-evaluation report.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 122.68(E)
Amplifies: 122.68, 122.69, 122.70
Five Year Review Date: 9/2/2021
Prior Effective Dates: 1/1/1985