Why Are Community Action Agencies Uniques?

Unlike most poverty-related organizations that focus on a specific area of need such as job training, health care, housing, etc., CAAs focus on the MULTIPLE NEEDS of the family.
Community Action recognizes that low income families face many barriers to self-sufficiency, including the lack of education, lack of marketable job skills, lack of transportation, lack of adequate child care, lack of adequate housing, availability of medical care, substance abuse, domestic abuse, child abuse, and mental health issues, The most effective method of combating poverty to assist families to address all of the barriers facing them.

CAAs develop PARTNERSHIPS with other community organizations.
Community Action Agencies understand that only through partnerships with other community resources can effective services be delivered. No one agency can expect to address every need facing a family. Through collaborative partnerships with other service providers, a coordinated approach for the family can be designed.

CAAs involve LOW INCOME CLIENTS in the agency operations.
Low income individuals deserve to have their voice heard and to be involved in program decisions that will affect their families. One third of the membership of the Board of Directors of every Community Action Agency must, by law, be elected by low income citizens within the service area. Low income clients participate in advisory groups and task forces of the agency to insure that they will have input into the policies and procedures of the agency. In addition, many employees of Community Action Agency were formerly clients receiving services from the agency.

CAAs administer a FULL RANGE OF COORDINATED PROGRAMS designed to have a measurable impact on poverty.
Community Action Agencies administer a wide variety of programming intended to address the multiple needs of the low income population. Although most Community Action Agencies provide Head Start™ preschool education, energy assistance, and home energy conservation; each agency is charged with the responsibility to identify the unique factors within their communities that contribute poverty and to deliver services that will ameliorate or eliminate those causes.