CSBG funding is used to support professionals in the local community action agencies (CAAs) who design and then implement programs and projects to lessen poverty by meeting needs identified by their community leadership. While some CSBG funding is also used for direct assistance to program participants, the primary purpose of this funding is for integrated, ‘one-stop’ interventions to reduce poverty and make people more self-sufficient.

Since 1998, CSBG also supports local and state leaders in the implementation and maintenance of information systems that provide performance measurement along with the technology and training needed for “Results Oriented Management Assessment” (ROMA).

ROMA is a management information tool for adjusting program operations or budgets. It is not an evaluation, which involves tracking long-term results and the use of control groups. Comprehensive evaluations are necessary, but expensive, and therefore infrequently undertaken. ROMA is not the only management assessment tool CAAs and states need. Fiscal/financial management must be evaluated using tested audit tools for government programs and additional audit tools for non-profit corporation management.

A major strength of CSBG is that it permits localities to set priorities for their CAA and provides resources to fill ‘holes’ in the mix of services needed to meet local need. One CAA may have preventive health care and screening as a major goal because of community needs, while another may have creation of community facilities and services for youth and/or neighborhood crime reduction as its major use for CSBG. Both meet one or more national CSBG goals but need very different ROMA measures to gauge success. One road does not lead all to ROMA.

Resources:

• ROMA Web site
• NASCSP ROMA information and reports