The Community Action Agency is a 501c3 charitable nonprofit organization that receives both state and local grants. Our organization is just one Community Action Agency in a network of the federally established Community Action Partnership. The Community Action Partnership began in 1964 when President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the War on Poverty. His strategy within this war was to create partnerships between local citizens, community organizations, local government officials, as well as state and national leaders.
Community Action Agencies were then created to serve as a crucial link between the federal government and the local communities. CAAs are asked to develop their own missions, short-term strategies, and long-term goals to address the specific causes and conditions of poverty they observe in their own communities.
Throughout the various administrations that have led our nation since President Johnson, Community Action Agencies have remained a vital part of anti-poverty efforts. In 1981, during President Reagan’s administration, the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program was created. 90% of this grant goes directly to the local CAAs to develop and implement programs in their communities.
Today, there are over 1,000 CAAs across the nation that we partner with to reduce the causes and conditions of poverty.
Over the years, the Community Action Partnership has evolved to include programs for child and elder care, education, job training, weatherization assistance, and much more. It serves 99 percent of counties in the United States.