training sessions were conducted in the first quarter of
1978. Periodic meetings with the Director and Deputy
Director and supervisors were started in 1977, and are
continuing in 1978. The meetings provide a forum for
discussing problems anyone may have concerning Agency
policy and management practices; also the meetings provide
an opportunity for restatement and clarification of the
responsibilities of the supervisor.

Several new initiatives were begun in 1977 on monitoring,
review and evaluation efforts with respect to the functioning
of programs the Agency administers:

--

Major evaluations of CSA's national

emphasis programs, such as community food

and nutrition, rural housing, and State Economic Opportunity offices were begun.

A guidance manual on how to meet the CSA
standards of program effectiveness has been
published and sent to all grantees.

A plan has been established so that all
Community Action Agencies will be the subject
of a Type III evaluation on a rotating
basis.

Regional Offices will provide a

regular program of training for grantees. CSA
auditors will do a training and technical assis-
tance session for auditors who serve Community
Action Agencies. CSA regional offices will also
conduct Training and Technical Assistance for
Community Action Agency boards, Executive Directors
and selected staff members. These sessions will
stress the responsibilities and duties these in-
dividuals have and various management models that
have been successful in the past. There will also
be training sessions conducted by the regional
offices in property management, personnel manage-
ment and accounting systems. The effort will
extend throughout 1978.

The agency is conducting an extensive study of its
Regional Offices. The new system will
reduce the clerical work imposed

25-260 (Pt. 7) O 78 10

1979 Request

on field representatives so that they can
spend more time in the field with grantees.
These changes will be implemented in 1978.

Prior to the issuance of the Committee's Report,
CSA had already placed a high priority on its
monitoring efforts by reorganizing the formerly
separate Inspection, Audit, Human Rights, and
General Counsel Division into one office to
serve as the enforcement arm of the Agency.
This office, the Office of Legal Affairs and
General Counsel is now headed by a Presidentially
appointed Assistant Director who has been de-
legated the responsibility for insuring that
CSA law and regulations are scrupulously followed
by CSA employees and grantees. The new office
will receive substantial increases in staffing
in order to carry out its mandate

Managerial and administrative improvements in the operation of CSA programs described above will continue as the major thrust in 1979.

The increased request in 1979 of $617,000 consists of salaries and benefits costs associated with full-year utilization of permanent employees hired during 1978 under the reorganization plan plus within-grade and career ladder promotions. This is offset partially by a reduction of 22 positions not required after completion of the reorganization. The reduction of the permanent position ceiling of 1,037 down to 1,015 in 1979 consists of 12 positions associated with the phase down of community economic development program and 10 overhead positions not required in the reorganization.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1978.

ACTION

WITNESSES

SAM BROWN, DIRECTOR

MARY E. KING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR

JOHN R. LEWIS, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR DOMESTIC AND ANTI-POVERTY OPERATIONS

MARGE TABANKIN, DIRECTOR FOR VISTA/EDUCATION PROGRAMS

EMERSON MARKHAM, BUDGET DIRECTOR

MARY LEYLAND, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

HELEN KELLEY, DIRECTOR FOR OLDER AMERICANS PROGRAMS

Mr. FLOOD. We now have ACTION.

The presentation will be made by Sam Brown. I see here, Mr. Brown, we have a copy of a statement from you.

Mr. BROWN. Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to submit that statement for the record and make informal comments which amplify parts of it and truncate part of it..

Mr. FLOOD. We shall insert that statement in the record. [The statement and biographical sketch follow:]

STATEMENT OF SAM BROWN

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE

February 16, 1978

Mr. Chairman and Members:

I am pleased to appear before you again at the end of an active year.

Our requests in the budget submission for Fiscal
Year 1979 reflect changes and important improvements
in the work of ACTION's staff and tens of thousands
Some of those changes are already under-

of volunteers.

way and others will be permitted in this budget.

The year has been one of progress for ACTION and for its component programs. We are just completing our plans for reorganization. Our reorganization effort has produced several significant results. We have recently appointed eight Regional Directors who reflect the Administration's goals and have the capacity and sensitivity to implement those goals in the communities which they will serve. Of the eight, three are black, one Hispanic, and four are women. In keeping with the President's commitment, no employee will lose a job because of this reorganization. As a consequence, implementation of our plan will take a little longer,

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but we believe it's worth it. The reorganization will also strengthen our national program offices in VISTA and the Older American Programs. Most importantly and what makes this reorganization different than most others in the Federal Government it shifts the authority to run programs another step closer to the communities where those programs exist. Program approval will be moved out of the regional offices and into the state offices where community people will have better access to ACTION staff.

We have streamlined our accounting practices, cutting fiscal coding requirements by nearly half. We have automated the process of matching volunteers with assignments around the world and throughout our own country. Perhaps, most encouraging, the number of inquiries from would-be volunteers is up significantly.

I know that you will understand the significance

of these things I consider accomplishments.

Although

a year ago I probably would not have thought, for example, of fiscal coding cuts as major undertaking, it is probably these and other administrative changes that make me now certain that ACTION is an agency on the move and certain that the program directions I have come to discuss with you represent realistic plans.

ACTION has

a mission. The agency and its programs for Peace Corps, VISTA, Older Americans, and our urban and rural programs,