Registration Now Open!

Registration Now Open for the 2013 CAPLAW National Training Conference!

Join us for the 2013 CAPLAW National Training Conference in our hometown of Boston from June 19 - 21. This year's conference will once again feature an expert faculty of attorneys, accountants, government officials and nonprofit managers who will be ready to answer your questions and give you the tools you need to resolve the legal, financial and management challenges you encounter every day.

An Emphasis on Team Building

Boards, CEOs, CFOs, and other members of senior staff must work together effectively to build and maintain stable, healthy organizations. We encourage you to bring team members from your organization's senior staff to explore new ways to move forward in challenging times and to build sustainable organizations.

• Register for the 2013 conference
• View the conference schedule and workshop descriptions

Register for a Free Upcoming Webinar

The Exemplary CAAs’ Toolbox: New CAPLAW Resources for Success 

How can I find the right attorney to work with our CAA? How can our organization adopt policies and procedures to make sure we meet compliance and ethical standards? How can we create an effective procurement policy? Where can I learn more about immigrant eligibility for public benefits? Join us for the free upcoming webinar The Exemplary CAAs’ Toolbox: New CAPLAW Resources for Success where we will walk through recently released CAPLAW training resources that will answer these questions and provide vital insight on building a well-governed and effective Community Action Agency.

Participants will get an in-depth look at new CAPLAW resources including:

• New Exemplary Legal Policies and Practices Guidebook;
• New Introduction to Procurement interactive training module;
• New Pro Bono Referrals and Serving Diverse Populations resource sections;
• Newly redesigned www.caplaw.org;
• And new model policies and procedures.

When: November 13, 2012, 2 -3 p.m. Eastern time
Presenters: Eleanor Evans, Esq., Allison Ma’luf, Esq., and Cara Loffredo, CAPLAW
Format: Webinar
Fee: Free!

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/221311302

New Resource Launched

CAPLAW is excited to announce a variety of new resources and training opportunities now available at caplaw.org! Read the lasted issue of the CAPLAW Update newsletter, test your knowledge with newly developed training modules, and view webinars On Demand!

New Resource Sections Available
Stop by the newly redesigned caplaw.org and check out the new resource sections, Pro Bono Referrals and Serving Diverse Populations!

New Training Module: Introduction to Procurement for Community Action Agencies
Introducing CAPLAW's new interactive training module, Introduction to Procurement for CAAs! The module contains 12 chapters on topics ranging from the guiding principle of procurement to creating your own procurement policy and procedure. The module also contains quizzes throughout to test your knowledge on the information you just learned. You can also download module attachments referred to throughout the module.

Fall 2012 CAPLAW Update Newsletter
Read the latest issue of the CAPLAW Update newsletter, a continuing series of reports on current legal and financial issues of interest to Community Action Agencies.

New Model Policies Available
CAPLAW has added to its library of model policies for your organization to use. Topics ranging from Head Start to Conflicts of Interest, to Information technology. 

CAPLAW Launches Redesigned Website

We are excited to bring you the newly redesigned CAPLAW website! The site features a new, user-friendly interface that is designed to make it easy for Community Action professionals to find the information they need. CAPLAW members will also have access to member exclusive resources and training opportunities!


We would love to hear your feedback! Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey so we may continue improving the site. Take the survey!

New Resource: Social Media Model Policy

View the new social media policy and other policies that Community Action Agencies may use as a starting place to create their own policies.

Other model policies include:

• Model Head Start Conflict Resolution Policies
• Information Technology Resources Policy  
• Conflict of Interest Policies
• Sample Volunteering by Employees Policy

View All CAPLAW Model Policies >

State Association Networking During National Conference

Join colleagues for a new networking opportunity for State Associations during the CAPLAW National Training Conference on Thursday, June 7th from 7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
  
Learn more about the conference!

• Registration Information
• Workshop Descriptions
• Hotel Information

New Resource! CSBG Monitoring Map for CAAs

New! Monitoring Map for CAAs: A Guide For Navigating The CSBG Review Process 

This free toolkit represents a collaborative effort between the Community Action Partnership (Partnership) and CAPLAW to provide timely training and technical assistance (T/TA) material about the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) monitoring process that will directly impact a CAA’s ability to consistently provide vital services for the low-income community while maintaining a productive relationship with its state CSBG office.

Learn more and view the guide >>

Developing Information: 2012 CAPLAW National Conference

New 2012 National Training Conference information is now available on CAPLAW.org. This year's conference will once again feature an expert faculty of attorneys, accountants, government officials and nonprofit managers who will be ready to answer your questions and give you the tools you need to resolve the legal, financial and management challenges you encounter every day.


Join us for the 2012 National Training Conference in beautiful San Diego from June 5 - 7, 2012.
 
View the developing workshop schedule!

New "Top-Notch CAAs" Publication Now Available

Introducing the newest CAPLAW publication, Tools for Top-Notch CAAs: A Practical Approach to Governance and Financial Excellence. The toolkit is intended to assist boards and management in their collaborative efforts to build well-governed and effective CAAs. Learn more and download the toolkit for free!
 
The toolkit includes case scenarios and examples to help you understand and apply the principles discussed. And, many of the sections provide sample documents that CAAs can use as a starting point for developing their own policies.
 
The toolkit addresses how to:

• Conduct and maintain minutes for board meetings;
• Build financial capacity through hiring of skilled financial staff and effective audits;
• Prepare organization-wide budgets;
• Get the most out of financial statements;
• Address conflicts of interest; and
• Draft and implement effective whistleblower policies.

Members: free of charge
Non-members: free of charge
  
Learn more and downloand the toolkit!

 

NEW! Training Module for Public CAAs Launched

Introducing CAPLAW's new interactive training module, Purely for Public CAAs! The module contains 11 chapters on topics tailored specifically for public CAAs. Topics range from governing law to the tripartite board to maximizing and leveraging resources.

The module also provides first-hand insight from Public CAA directors and employees and contains quizzes throughout to test your knowledge on the information you just learned.

Learn more about the module, and other CAPLAW training resources for Community Action Agencies by visiting the CAPLAW Tools and Resources library.



New Fall 2011 CAPLAW Update Newsletter

The latest edition of the CAPLAW Update newsletter is now available!

View the complete Fall 2011 CAPLAW Update Newsletter or select an article:

Evaluating Cost-Saving Workforce Options in Leaner Times View Article >>

CAPLAW Conference Prepares CAAs for Future Challenges View Article >>

Real Estate Donation Q&A View Article >>

CAPLAW Promotes Team-Based Approach to Financial Leadership View Article >>

Oral Complaints: Casual Workplace Banter or Properly Filed Wage and Hour Claim? View Article >>

Employer Liability for USERRA and Other Discrimination Claims Expanded View Article >>

Nonprofits Beware: Your Employees’ Blogs, Facebook Posts and Twitter Tweets May Be Protected by the National Labor Relations Act View Article >>

2011 OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement Issued View Article >

CAPLAW e-News Bulletin, September 29, 2011

Read the latest issue of the CAPLAW e-News Bulletin!

In this issue:

• Tips for Managing Unauthorized Overtime
• Setting Executive Compensation
• Are Employers Required to Provide Temporary Employees with Retirement Benefits?
• UPDATE on How to Properly Handle an Employee’s Negative Social Media Comments
• Another Online Resource to Add to Your Legal Library

Stay connected with the legal and financial issues affecting Community Action Agencies. CAPLAW's E-News Bulletin is a continuing series of resources and information on current legal and financial topics of interest to CAAs and professionals working with CAAs.

CAPLAW e-News Bulletin, September 12, 2011

Stay connected with the legal and financial issues affecting Community Action Agencies. CAPLAW's E-News Bulletin is a continuing series of resources and information on current legal and financial topics of interest to CAAs and professionals working with CAAs.

View the complete September 12, 2011 issue.

Jean Block Stresses the Need for a Diverse Development Plan

Today’s funding climate requires all nonprofits to diversify their revenue, and community action agencies are no different! During today's Beyond the Basics webinar, Jean Block, of Jean Block Consulting, LLC, stressed to CAAs the need to diversify revenue sources by create a development plan. Jean shared tips how to get started on building a diversified development plan, the various types of fundraising and income generation you should include in your plan and the keys to success for a variety of fundraising applications.

Miss today's webinar?  You can view archived recordings and materials of all Beyond the Basics webinars anytime on the CAPLAW website.

Keys to Cost Effective Controls and Clean Audits – the COSO Internal Control Integrated Framework

On Wednesday, July 27th Kay Sohl of Kay Sohl Consulting, discussed the COSO internal control framework and how Community Action Agencies can use this framework to develop more cost effective controls and streamline the audit process. The webinar explored new strategies to address the risks which emerge during periods of budget cutbacks and cash flow problems.

This webinar and other sessions in the Beyond the Basics webinar series are available for viewing anytime on the CAPLAW wesite.

The next webinar in the Beyond the Basics webinar series will be Strategic Resource Development: Fundraising and Revenue Creation Plans on August 17 , 2011, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. eastern time.

FREE! Beyond the Basics Webinar Series

Is your community action agency ready to move beyond rote understanding of legal and fiscal compliance issues, and to become a stronger, smarter, more strategic organization—one ready for the new reality of CSBG funding constraints and competition? If so, join CAPLAW and its partners for the FREE webinar series, Beyond the Basics: Strategic Approaches to Organization-wide Compliance, Risk Management, and Resource Development.

Learn more about the series!

Upcoming Webinar:
Purposeful Planning: How to Focus Board & Staff Efforts to Guide Your CAA to Success
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Register Now!

Updated! CAPLAW Lobbying and Advocacy Q&A

View helpful lobbying and political activity resources for CAAs like the CAPLAW Lobbying and Advocacy Q&A and the recent CAPLAW audio conference, Lobbying Legally & Effectively.

Self Assessment Tools for CAAs

CAPLAW has compiled the following list of self-assessment tools to assist CAAs in evaluating and improving various aspects of their organizations. The list is organized by topic and includes a description of each tool. View the Self Assessment Tools!

Self Assessment Topics Include:

• Organization Overall
• Board and Governance
• Executive Directors
• Financial Management
• Fundraising
• Head Start
• Legal Compliance
• State-Specific Resources

NEW! CAPLAW Interactive Training Tool

Introduction to CSBG interactive module

The module enables CAA staff and boards to learn about CSBG either at their desks or in a group training session, such as a board meeting.  The module contains 10 chapters on topics ranging from the history of the CSBG program to the tripartite board requirements to funding reduction and termination. View the Introduction to CSBG training module!

New! CAPLAW Attorney Network Webpage

The CAPLAW Attorney Network connects attorneys from across the county in dealing with Community Action Agency legal issues, enabling legal professionals working with CAAs to share information, provide informal peer-to-peer assistance, and benefit from other legal experts’ input.
View Attorney Network Resources!