Our Mission:
The Community Services Program provides guidance, oversight, and funding to local designated eligible entities to provide services that address the causes and conditions of poverty and have a measurable impact on low-income individuals’ health and self-sufficiency.
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The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is a federally funded block grant in the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services. The CSBG Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.) provides funds to states and tribal entities to support services for individuals and families with low incomes that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities. In Wyoming these funds are received and managed through the Community Services Program, located within the Wyoming Department of Health’s Public Health Division’s Rural and Frontier Health Section.
Each year Wyoming receives approximately $3.7 million in CSBG statutory formula funding through the federal CSBG Act. In turn, Wyoming allocates 90% of the total award to local designated entities based upon a county poverty index rating scale. Local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are designated by the state and may be local governments, nonprofit agencies, or a hybrid of the two. Designated CAAs are local entities who support low-income individuals and families in their progress toward greater self-sufficiency by providing services that address employment, education, income and asset building services, housing, nutrition, emergency services, and/or healthcare. Local services are based on community needs assessments conducted every three years.
Federal Fiscal Year 2025: CSBG Entities
CSBG Grantee Resources
Community Services Program Policies
OCS & WY CSP Guidance
OCS Annual Report Instruction Manual – Module 1
OCS Annual Report Instruction Manual – Module 2
OCS Annual Report Instruction Manual – Module 3
OCS Annual Report Instruction Manual – Module 4
OCS Information Memoranda (IM)
Wyoming CSBG Eligible Entity Guidance Manual (Under Construction)
Organizational Standards Resources
Wyoming CSBG State Plan and State Goals
Capstone & Internship Opportunities
Community Services Program Practicum & Capstone Opportunities
The Community Services Program (CSP) is situated in the Rural and Frontier Health Unit of the Wyoming Department of Health. CSP is designated as the state administrative office for the Community Services Block Grant.
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is a federally funded block grant in the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services. The CSBG Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.) provides funds to states and tribal entities to support services and programs for individuals and families with low incomes that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty.
Each year Wyoming receives approximately $3.7 million in CSBG funding (statutorily formulated) through the federal CSBG Act. In turn, Wyoming CSP allocates 90% of the total award to 12 designated eligible entities (EEs) based on a county poverty index rating scale. EEs are located in the communities they serve and may be local governments or nonprofit agencies. EEs provide services that address employment, education, income and asset-building, housing, nutrition, emergency services, and healthcare to progress low-income individuals and families toward greater self-sufficiency. EEs determine services based on community needs assessments conducted every three years and partnerships with other community resource centers.
Wyoming CSP is able to host students seeking practicum and capstone opportunities for their master’s degree from the Colorado School of Public Health and the University of Colorado Denver Public Administration/Public Policy.
What to Consider When Selecting CSP As a Capstone/Practicum Site:
1. Students are encouraged to view the CSP Capstone Projects and Internship Duties prior to contacting CSP.
2. Several projects are available to choose from and may be adapted to suit the applicant’s interests and skills.
3. Students may also propose a project to the CSP Program Manager and Contractor.
4. Work may be remote, requiring limited travel to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Expectations will be discussed prior to placement.
5. Capstone students should be prepared to devote 16 – 20 hours per week to their work.
6. Capstones and practicums with the Wyoming CSP will be unpaid. Depending on funding, a stipend may be available, and travel may be reimbursed, but it is not guaranteed.
7. Students are encouraged to contact their college about possible scholarships for work in the rural health sector. For example, CSPH Rural Health and RMPHTC Student Leaders in PH Scholarships.
8. Submissions will be considered on a rolling basis as they are submitted.
9. This posting will expire when all needed projects are complete.
Students should apply by sending their resume and a letter of interest with their preferred or proposed project and preliminary project timeline to the CSP Program Manager, Heather Ross, and Contractor, Cecilia Bedard, at the following email addresses: heather.ross1@wyo.gov, and Cecilia.bedard@wyo.gov.
Partners and Resources
This website is supported by Grant Number 93.569 from the Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Neither the ACF nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ACF and the OCS.