Office of Community Services outlines FY26 CSBG State Plan requirements in webinar

Officials from the Office of Community Services (OCS) delivered a recorded webinar providing detailed guidance on preparing and submitting the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) State Plan, emphasizing a Sept. 1, 2025 submission deadline and the documents states must include.

Renee Brooks, Program Specialist with the Division of Community Assistance, said, “All federal fiscal year 2026 State Plans are due by September 1, 2025,” and reviewed required attachments including the CSBG Eligible Entity List, the SF-424M cover form and Sections 1–15 of the State Plan.

Why it matters: The State Plan is OCS’s mechanism to confirm a state’s eligibility for CSBG funding and to document how a state will allocate and oversee grant funds intended to reduce poverty and support low-income families and communities. Verna P. Best, Program Operations Branch Chief, framed the work as accountability and stewardship, saying, “CSBG plays a vital role in reducing poverty, revitalizing communities, and empowering low-income individuals and families to become fully self-sufficient.”

Key requirements and deadlines - Submission and review: Brooks said OCS will review plans promptly and aims to provide feedback within roughly 10 business days after state submission. States should submit no later than Sept. 1, 2025; states with previously accepted two-year plans expiring Sept. 30, 2026 must either submit revisions or notify OCS by Nov. 3, 2025 if no revision is needed. - Required documents: States must include the CSBG Eligible Entity List (which pre-populates items 5.1, 7.2 and 10.2), the SF-424M (which must match the authorized official information in Item 1.2 and the designation letter), and Sections 1–15 of the State Plan. - Distribution timing and allocation: The State Plan must demonstrate planned allocations sending not less than 90% of funds to eligible entities. Brooks noted states must plan to distribute allocated funds to eligible entities within 30 calendar days following the federal award.

Programmatic standards and monitoring - Organizational standards and ROMA: OCS reiterated that organizational standards exist (developed via an OCS-funded cooperative agreement) and recommended states consider IM 138 when describing implementation and assessment procedures. Navetta said states must describe their Results-Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) system or other performance systems and must secure a community action plan and community needs assessment from each eligible entity. - Monitoring and corrective action: Mitchell Navetta, Program Specialist, reviewed Section 10 monitoring expectations, including a full on-site review of each entity at least once every three years as required under Section 678B(a) and procedures for corrective action, redesignation, and de-designation.

Income eligibility and program linkages - Threshold options: Presenters explained Section 12 permits states to set income eligibility at no greater than 125% of the federal poverty level (FPL) per Section 673; a 200% FPL option remains possible only if authorized by Congressional action. Navetta advised states to include flexible language in plans to avoid future amendments if federal guidance changes. - Coordination: Section 9 should describe linkages with other programs (for example, WIOA). Presenters clarified CSBG’s role as a required one-stop partner when states use CSBG for employment and training activities and noted the optional Combined State Plan Partner status when applicable.

Administrative assurances and certifications - Sections 14–15: Presenters walked through assurances required under Section 676B (use of funds, eligible entity coordination, emergency services, tripartite board compliance) and Federal Certifications in Section 15 (lobbying, debarment, drug-free workplace, environmental tobacco smoke), each to be certified by the authorized official.

Practical steps and next technical sessions - OLDC access: Presenters advised granting OLDC (On-Line Data Collection) access to at least two staff (plan preparer and authorized official) and provided troubleshooting contacts, including program specialists, the Policy/Data/Evaluation branch, and the GrantSolutions helpdesk. - Follow-up webinars: The presenters said two deeper-dive webinars are scheduled for July 31 and Aug. 4 (3–4 p.m. Eastern) to cover Sections 1–7 and Sections 8–15 in more detail.

Quotes and context “CSBG plays a vital role in reducing poverty,” Verna Best said, urging states to apply the PEAAK framework (Performance, Evaluation, Accountability, Availability and Knowledge) to strengthen plans.

The session included interactive polling and repeated reminders that accurate entity lists, correct UEIs and alignment between the SF-424M and the designation letter are essential to avoid submission problems.

What the transcript does not specify: The record of this webinar does not include the calendar date on which this particular recorded session took place; the slides and recording will be posted per presenters’ remarks.

Next steps: States should review the action transmittal identifying Group A and Group B submission requirements, confirm their Eligible Entity List and authorized official information, draft Section responses with supporting documentation (designation letter, UEIs, monitoring schedules), and plan to participate in the July 31 and Aug. 4 deeper-dive webinars.