The Allegheny County Department of Human Services – Office of Community Services sponsors the 21st Century Community Learning Center program to increase children’s school attendance and academic performance and to decrease disciplinary referrals.

Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services created Access Points to build a network of faith-based and community organizations that would significantly expand resident access to information about employment and training opportunities, as well as community services to address basic needs.

Project Discovery assists low-income and potential first generation youth in accessing and preparing for post-secondary education opportunities.

The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector has published recommended actions to strengthen governance, transparency, and accountability among charitable organizations including 501(c)(3) agencies.

HOPE Community Services, Inc. acquired properties under two Federal programs to strengthen the agency’s delivery of homeless assistance services, and to provide suitable housing to a recipient of homeless assistance services.

The Community Action Commission sponsors Across Ages as an intergenerational mentoring program working to increase the protective factors for high risk youth in order to prevent, reduce, or delay the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and the problems associated with such use.

The Regional Economic Community Action Program established Addiction Services that combines residential and outpatient treatment services to people suffering from alcoholism and substance abuse. Assistance is offered with recovery and involvement in services to promote self-sufficiency.

Blue Ridge Community Action (BRCA) developed the Adult Day/Health Services Center to help older adults maintain individual dignity, self-worth and a productive life.

The Assets Alliance is a capacity-building resource to help organizations expand the number of individuals and families participating in Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and asset-building opportunities.

The Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. has 16 Affiliate Corporations that provide shelter services to homeless clients, established commercial complexes and completed numerous housing and neighborhood revitalization projects.  The Delaware County Construction Corporation serves as a for-profit division of the agency.  The construction company is fully licensed and insured to provide both commercial and residential construction services, specializing in ADA modifications/retrofits.

Three Rivers Community Action, Inc. develops safe, decent and affordable rental and ownership housing in Southeastern Minnesota using a community-based collaborative approach to project planning and financing.

The Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee created the Affordable Medicine Options for Seniors Program to help elderly and disabled residents of Knox County, Tennessee to get assistance they need from Medicare and other prescription drug coverage.

CTE has managed the Alternative Incarceration Center for over 15 years because a person’s involvement with the criminal justice system may have an adverse impact on that person and their families ability to achieve and/or maintain self-sufficiency.

State CAP Association Annual Reports help broaden the understanding of Community Action and attract attention to poverty issues and solutions. 

The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley was a leading force with an advocacy campaign to gain broad community support for passage of a local ordinance for licensing of rental apartments.

Springfield Partners for Community Action uses the Appreciative Inquiry Process for strategic planning that builds upon an organization’s underlying strengths and values to create a vision for the future building on what worked best in the past.

The Community Action Agency serving Marion and Polk Counties sponsors the ARCHES Project, which provides multiple housing programs and serves as a centralized referral and drop-in day center for people who are experiencing homelessness.

Assessment of an agency’s strengths and areas for improvement is a key element of ROMA National Goal #5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.

The Institute for Social and Economic Development has compiled A Guide for Community Action Agency Executive Leadership that outlines a framework to promote Family Economic Security and provides best practice profiles from CAA’s across the U.S.

Garrett County Community Action Committee works in partnership with the Garrett County Board of Education to support teachers, children and families in achieving school readiness.

The Administration for Children & Families provides access to a Benchmarking Tool that can be used to strengthen CAA’s and other faith- and community-based organizations.

NeighborhoodImpact developed the Bill Healy Family Housing Center to promote self-sufficiency for low-income families by providing affordable housing and supportive services.

The Office of Community Services/Virginia Department of Social Services has developed a training presentation to help Community Action Agency board members learn about and effectively fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

Bergen County Community Action Partnership sponsors Bridges to Success to provide former welfare recipients with access to credit and transportation, as well as other services that can help remove barriers to work and self-sufficiency.

CAP Services has established a broad range of community and economic development efforts to help low-income individuals increase their self-sufficiency and to benefit the communities in which they live.

Annual Reports help broaden understanding and support for Community Action and attract attention to poverty issues and solutions.

The New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA) has established a Best Practices Clearinghouse of actual documents and related resources used by Community Action Agencies for management and operational purposes.

CAA Best Practice and Award Programs and CAA Success Stories help gain recognition of the positive results of Community Action, assist CAA’s in identifying initiatives that could be replicated, and serve as motivation for additional support and involvement with CAA efforts. 

Effective governance is an element of National Goal 5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.  CSBG Information Memorandum 82 emphasizes that CAA boards are ultimately responsible for assuring that an agencies continue to assess and respond to the causes and conditions of poverty in their community, achieve anticipated family and community outcomes, and remain administratively and fiscally sound.

Community Action Kentucky has developed a Board Training Presentation to help Community Action Agency board members learn about and effectively fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

The Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity established a Media Services Department to market program services and to promote community awareness of Community Action.

State CAP Association Training and Capacity Building activities help strengthen and expand CAA governance, management, and program activities through (a) increased awareness of emerging trends and anti-poverty strategies, (b) skill building, (c) information exchange, and (d) access to materials and resources.

The Office of Community Services has developed information about the roles and responsibilities of tripartite boards as required by statute, along with suggestions on how State CSBG authorities, State community action associations, and local agency officials can help assure that boards function effectively.

CAA videos broaden the understanding of Community Action, attract attention to poverty issues and solutions, and help build greater support for CAAs.

Fayette County Community Action Agency has developed a Campus of Services as a community development initiative to promote integrated human services in combination with affordable housing.

Community Action Southwest created CAPWorks (Community Action Program Works) to serve as the foundation for individual and/or family autonomy.

The Human Development Commission established Cass River Enterprises to generate revenue for the agency while addressing needs of the general public, as well as enhancing the local economy and improving the lives of area residents.

Total Action Against Poverty (TAP) established a Center for Employment Training to provide education and skill training needed to enhance an individual's marketability to enter today's workforce.

The Fayette County Community Action Agency’s uses a Centralized Employee Performance Review Process with an emphasis on coaching and continuous feedback in order to foster staff growth and to maximize productivity.

The Community Action Partnership offers the Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) program for Community Action leaders dedicated to creating more opportunities for their agency and to enhancing their leadership skills.

Circles™ has been developed to serve as a national model by the Move the Mountain Leadership Center.  South Central Community Action Programs became involved with the initiative as a way to effectively engage the community to end poverty. The initiative builds intentional relationships across class lines bringing a broader networking spectrum and new skill sets to families living in poverty while providing more meaning and a greater understanding of community systems and barriers to families living in the middle class. Together these families work to eliminate poverty and help the community grow and thrive.

The Community Action Agency serving Marion and Polk Counties established the Community Action Drug Prevention Network to create safer communities through environmental strategies and policy changes that will reduce the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by youth and adults over time.

The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley promotes asset building as an essential mechanism to help low- to moderate-income families move toward self-sufficiency.  Protecting those assets, though, is an important part of the strategy, so advocacy against predatory lending practices is undertaken as part of the agency’s Community Action Financial Services division.

CAPLAW provides expert legal assistance nationwide for Community Action Agencies.

The Missouri Association for Community Action developed the Community Action Poverty Simulation to help raise awareness about different aspects of poverty that can lead to discussion about the potential for change in local communities.

The Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council offers services through the Community Dental Clinic that is committed to relieving suffering, restoring human dignity, and promoting self-sufficiency by providing basic dental care to people in the community who have no other resources available.

Pittsylvania County Community Action coordinates the Community Health Program to increase awareness about the symptoms and risks of unsafe behaviors.

The Fayette County Community Action Agency established Community Medical Services to provide quality, affordable health care to all local residents.

Needs assessment studies are one component of the Results Oriented Management and Accountability cycle.  This process is a key feature of an agency’s planning and evaluation process that relates to ROMA National Goal #5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.

Needs assessment studies are one component of the Results Oriented Management and Accountability cycle.  This process is a key feature of an agency’s planning and evaluation process that relates to ROMA National Goal #5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.

Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. promotes the involvement of low-income residents through community organizing focusing on housing and immigrant issues.

The Social Development Commission formerly sponsored the Community Partners Program that worked with residents and community groups to organize activities to reduce crime, substance abuse, and violence in their neighborhoods.

The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley promotes community building though leadership with community revitalization initiatives that will provide the foundation for a decent quality of life for all residents of the Lehigh Valley region.

The private, non-profit Community Action Commission provides leadership for a Community Revitalization Project to initiate comprehensive redevelopment services for residents of the South Allison Hill neighborhood.

The Community Action Partnership of Mercer County coordinates the Weed and Seed Program to combat crime and promote community revitalization.

Westchester Community Opportunity Program established the Community School Initiative to improve the academic, emotional, and social awareness of middle school youth.

The mission of CHIP of Virginia is to improve young children’s heath and promote wellness and self-sufficiency in low-income families, through partnerships with local communities.

The Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project developed the Coronado Infant Center to enable teen mothers to learn parenting skills and to stay enrolled in school.

The Division of State Assistance within the Office of Community Services publishes regulations and notices related to the Community Services Block Grant Program through Information Memoranda that are distributed to CSBG program administrators.

CTE, Inc. has established the CTE Academy to offer after-school enrichment that will help students increase their academic achievement, cultural awareness, and technological skills.

The Connecticut Association for Community Action has developed a Data Bridge Project as a comprehensive, integrated system for collection and management of client data that will result in cost-effective and improved delivery of human services.  Note – This system will be available without license fees to the whole Community Action network and other social service providers.

The Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. established the Donations Warehouse as a resource for homeless families leaving shelters, fire victims and victims of domestic abuse who are in the process of reestablishing housing.

Comprehensive Community Action Program provides case management programs through the Doric Center.

Northwest CAA administers the Downpayment Assistance Program (1) to promote homeownership among low-income and moderate-income families and (2) to promote job opportunities through economic growth in the county's manufacturing sector.

Community Action Duluth created the Duluth Blueprint to End Poverty Initiative as a Call to Action to generate community involvement and support to build economic prosperity and hope for every citizen of Duluth.

Total Action Against Poverty (TAP) has developed the Dumas Center for Artistic & Cultural Development as a collaborative of non-profit organizations dedicated to providing area citizens of all races and socio-economic backgrounds – especially youth – with opportunities to gain life enriching appreciation and to develop talent in the visual, cultural, performing and historic arts.  It is also a central element in revitalization efforts of a formerly vibrant African-American community.

Community Action operates an Early Head Start classroom at a women’s correctional facility to serve as a positive link between the parent, the caregiver and the EHS staff leading to greater growth for the child and parent.

The Valley Opportunity Council’s Educational Opportunity Center provides families and individuals the educational tools necessary to succeed.

The Greater Erie Community Action Committee sponsors the Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound Programs to help low-income students succeed in high school and enter college in order to participate more fully in America's economic and social life.

The National Association for State Community Services Programs supports a focus on Effective CAA Board Governance to help increase board involvement, management and accountability.

Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program sponsors the Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity Program to provide elderly persons with the benefits of independent living with the support of their family environment.

Comprehensive Community Action Program uses an Electronic Newsletter to build broad-based awareness and support for agency initiatives and related issues of concern.

Blue Avocado is a nonprofit online magazine for community nonprofits.

Resources to support disaster planning are featured along with tools from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that can be used by Community Action Agencies and others to develop effective Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief plans.

Mountain Projects, Inc. promotes family self-sufficiency through the agency’s Employment Training and Intake Services involving case management and support services that will lead to sustained employment.

The Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo created the Employment Triage Program to empower ex-offenders into becoming employable.

The Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency includes Energy Education for Kids on the agency’s web site to help youth, as well as adult clients, understand and take actions to promote energy conservation.

Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Inc. (SHARE) has developed the EDGES Program to assist youth ages 14-21 with workforce readiness through improved educational and skills attainment.

The Tri-City Community Action Program has provided leadership in regional efforts to promote Equitable Development that involves reducing social and economic disparities among individuals, social groups, neighborhoods, and local jurisdictions within a metropolitan area.

The Massachusetts Association for Community Action has published a Resource Guide on Establishing Effective Workforce Development Programs to help Community Action Agencies and others in their efforts to assist individuals in moving toward self-sufficiency.

The Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County developed Fair Housing of Sonoma County to provide information and referrals for landlords and tenants in the areas of housing discrimination and landlord-tenant relationships, law and practices.

The Union-Snyder Community Action Agency established the Families Learning Together Program as a family literacy and self-sufficiency initiative for adults with basic education needs and at least one child in third grade or under.

Big Five Community Services sponsors the Family Caregiver Support Program to provide information and services for persons caring for a family member or loved one with a disability or special health care need.

The Community Action Program of Lancaster established the Family Center to help low-income families work toward self-sufficiency and to assist with parenting skills.

Community Action Southwest promotes community building and advocacy through the formation of Family Councils that gather and disburse information about issues of concern to residents.

The Department of Human Rights, Division of Community Action Agencies administers Iowa’s Statewide Family Development and Self-Sufficiency Program that provides developmental services to families who are at risk of long-term welfare dependency.

Wider Opportunities for Women created the Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Project (FESS) to serve as a common framework—economic self-sufficiency—to design, implement, and advocate for programs and policies that move low-income families toward economic independence.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has established the Family Economic Success approach to help families increase their income, stabilize their financial lives, and acquire assets and build wealth.

The Social Development Commission established the Family Friends Program that involves older adult volunteers helping homeless families move toward self-sufficiency.

The Central Vermont Community Action Council developed the Family Housing Partnership Program to help families at-risk of becoming homeless remain securely housed.

Total Action Against Poverty, Inc. has established Fatherhood and Families to help young men under the age 30 become positively involved in the lives of their children.

Financial literacy education is a key element of ROMA National Goal 1: Low-Income People Become More Self-Sufficient.

The Administration for Children & Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, provides information to help Federal grantee agencies understand and comply with the requirement to have financial management systems that provide for timely, accurate, current and complete disclosure of financial information while providing for oversight and protection of Federal funds.

The Office of Community Services/Virginia Department of Social Services has developed a training presentation to help Community Action Agency board members learn about and effectively fulfill their financial oversight roles and responsibilities.

Northeast Kingdom Community Action provides its program managers with real time access to fiscal information as a mechanism to fulfill their role with fiscal oversight.

Total Action Against Poverty, Inc. established For Males Only to provide family life and abstinence education to young men ages 10-18 to assist in the mission to reduce teen pregnancy in Roanoke City.

Prevention of mortgage foreclosure promotes ROMA National Goal #1: Low-Income People Become More Self-Sufficient by assisting low-income families to maintain home ownership.

The Community Action Partnership of Kern has developed a Framework for Economic Self-Sufficiency to support strategic planning by CAA’s with the primary purpose of cohesively fighting the causes of poverty.

The Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. is part of the Free to Grow national demonstration program that brings together broad-based community partners to support locally tailored, integrated approaches to strengthening families and communities.  Free to Grow is implemented through Head Start and works to enhance protective factors and decrease risk factors in both the family and the community to serve as a buffer against substance abuse and child abuse.

Expansion of an agency's financial resources is a key element of ROMA National Goal #5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.

The Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County established Giffen House to provide affordable transitional housing and support services for single mothers with children and single women.

Expansion of an agency's financial resources is a key element of ROMA National Goal #5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.

Community Action of Southern Indiana coordinates the Grassroots Prevention Coalition to reduce youth alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse.

The Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County administers the HCA Emergency Financial Assistance Fund to provide one-time emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness.

Regional Economic Community Action Program administered the Heating Oil Purchasing Initiative Program (HOPI), which provided discounted pricing for heating oil to families at 80% or lower of the State median income (i.e. $47,808 for a family of 4 in 2002).

Gaston Community Action established the Highland Charter Public School to serve as a family friendly school that enhances the learning community, expands educational choice, and increases learning opportunities for all children.

Bridgestar provides a Hiring Toolkit for no charge to help nonprofit organizations develop and implement an effective hiring process for senior management positions.

Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority established the Hispanic Mentoring Program to help students succeed in school and reach their potential to live successful adult lives.

Springfield Partners for Community Action established the Home Furnishings Program to help homeless families make the transition into permanent housing.

The Oakland-Livingston Human Service Agency established the Home Injury Control Program for Older Adults to help the elderly and disabled adults avoid preventable injuries by maintaining a comfortable and safe living environment.

Deep Fork Community Action Partnership has produced a series of Homebuyer Education and Financial Literacy videos to help families increase their knowledge about important steps to follow in purchasing a home and actions that can be taken to enhance their financial stability.

The Commission on Economic Opportunity established a transitional housing program to help homeless veterans address their personal problems while developing the necessary skills to be self-sufficient and productive members of society.

The Greater Erie Community Action Committee administers the HomePLUS Program to assist public housing residents maintain their quality of life in a safe and affordable independent home setting.

Garrett County Community Action Committee has developed extensive affordable housing ventures, as well as community and commercial facilities, to improve the quality of life for County residents. GCCAC is also supporting small local towns in creating and implementing strategies for revitalizing business districts and neighborhoods.

TREHAB established Housing Development Services to offer a continuum of programs that provide affordable, decent, safe and innovative housing for low-moderate income people.

New Opportunities, Inc. established the Immigrant Advocacy Center to assist the growing population of immigrants with their efforts to gain legal status or citizenship.

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties (formerly Lincoln Action Program) established the Incentive Program to help motivate and reward families participating in self-sufficiency activities.

Red Rock Area Community Action Program offers the Indianola Key Card Program to provide access to recreation, entertainment and cultural events to persons who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

The Joint Coalition on Health is a group of committed individuals and organizations working collaboratively as catalysts for change and advocates for the underserved to improve the health and well-being of everyone in North Central Massachusetts.

West CAP has established JumpStart to enable low-income families to purchase cars that will meet their need for transportation to employment or employment training.

Springfield Partners for Community Action sponsors KIDS DAY as a day of entertainment, educational information and fun experiences for preschool and school-aged children and their families.  Proceeds from the event support the Champions of Character and Springfield Partners' Scholarship Programs.

Community Action Southwest established the Kindergarten Club to increase school readiness and school success for children entering kindergarten.

The Salt Lake Community Action Program coordinates the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program to help parties involved in eviction proceedings in settling their dispute cooperatively prior to appearing before a judge.

Blue Valley Community Action's Lease-to-Own housing program enables families to rent a new home with the option to purchase after a compliance period.
 

Involvement with legislative and advocacy initiatives helps expand the base of resources and opportunities that are vital for building healthy, thriving communities and for assisting low-income families in moving toward self-sufficiency. 

Community Action Opportunities established the Life Works Program to help low-income individuals and families develop the skills and income they need to rise above federal poverty guidelines.

Penn State University has developed a Living Wage Estimator that helps reflect poverty rates among the working poor for use with public policymaking and planning, as well as advocacy initiatives.

Efforts to promote living wage job opportunities combined with efforts to help families meet basic living expenses such as food, housing, childcare, transportation, and health care are vital toward achievement of ROMA National Goal #2: The Conditions in Which Low-Income Live are Improved.

Community Action of Southeast Iowa has developed the Medication Assistance Program to help persons with chronic health conditions gain access to prescription drugs that they otherwise could not afford.

The Missouri Association for Community Action has developed a three-level membership structure to build broad-based involvement and support toward accomplishment of the Association’s purpose and mission.

The Monticello Area Community Action Agency has developed Men Who Cook! to promote community support and awareness of the agency’s efforts and to raise funds for program support.

Mentoring is an element of ROMA National Goal 1: Low-Income People Become More Self-Sufficient as reflected in benefits to mentors, in addition to a growing number of studies that have revealed significant associations between youth’s involvement in mentoring relationships and positive developmental outcomes.

Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services created the Michigan Economic Growth Authority Partnership (MEGA-P) as a collaborative effort to promote regional economic development.

The Montgomery County Community Action Development Commission established the Micro-Enterprise Resource Center to provide entrepreneurial training to individuals interested in starting or expanding a business.

The Social Development Commission is the lead agency for the Milwaukee Asset Building Coalition that helps residents achieve financial independence.

Southern New Hampshire Services offers Multi-Cultural Services to assist individuals as they acclimate to life in the United States, as well as to empower them to function more independently and achieve greater success in overcoming the socioeconomic, language, and cultural barriers they face.

The Mutual Self-Help Housing Program expands affordable homeownership opportunities and also helps develop bonds of community and provides children with positive aspirations for their future.

Westmoreland Community Action developed the Neighborhood Revitalization Program to acquire and rehabilitate older housing stock to rebuild distressed neighborhoods and to expand the availability of safe, decent and affordable housing through the agency’s Homebuyer Resource Center.

State CAP Association Newsletters broaden the understanding of Community Action, attract attention to poverty issues and solutions, and foster communication throughout the Community Action Network. 

The Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program (NESDCAP) established the Northeast South Dakota Economic Corporation (NESDEC) as a sister organization to stimulate economic opportunities through loans, technical assistance and partnerships.

The Fayette County Community Action Agency serves as a site for the Nurse-Family Partnership to help low-income first-time mothers achieve positive outcomes for themselves, their baby, and their family.

LKLP Community Action Council uses an On-Line Needs Assessment Survey as a method to gain information for use in developing priorities and strategies as part of the agency’s annual planning process.

One Vision One Life works to reduce crime and violence by reaching out and providing opportunities for a better way of life.

Opening Doors seeks to mitigate the impact of risk factors on healthy birth weights; remove obstacles to family stability; and support the success of parents and the health and well-being of their babies.

Central Nebraska Community Services assists low- and moderate-income homeowners obtain resources for housing rehabilitation.

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska created several parenting programs aimed toward preventing abuse and strengthening families.

Penquis Community Action Program sponsors the Parents Are Teachers, Too program to provide information, encouragement and support to first-time parents and teen parents in order to help them give their children the best possible start.

The Community Action Agency serving Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale Counties works closely with various partners on the Partnership Park Neighborhood Revitalization Project to increase the standard of living for neighborhood residents.

Community Action, Inc. developed a Partnership Tracking Tool to document the types of relationships that are established by the agency with outside groups and organizations.

The Community Action Partnership (Partnership) sponsors the Pathways to Excellence initiative to build the capacity of Community Action Agencies through learning and continuous improvement.

The Office of Human Affairs established the Peninsula Community Development Corporation to help low and moderate income families become first-time homebuyers by building and rehabilitating quality affordable and energy efficient houses in their neighborhood.

People, Inc. developed People Incorporated Financial Services to provide training, technical assistance and business loans to new and existing small businesses.  A tourism development loan fund is managed for the Ninth District Development Financing Incorporated.

Strengthening an agency’s planning and evaluation capacities is a key element of ROMA National Goal #5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.

Poverty reports and related materials help attract attention to poverty issues and to help educate the public and inform decision-makers.

Five CAAs in Oklahoma operate the Prescription Assistance Service program to help eligible individuals obtain free or discounted prescription medications directly from the manufacturer.

Tompkins Community Action created the Primary School Family Support Program to promote educational success for young children.

The Tri-City Community Action Program developed the Pro Bono Legal Project to provide free legal information, advice, and representation for low-income community residents.

The Welfare Reform Liaison Project Community Action Agency provides Product Distribution and Self-Sufficiency Job Training to help low-income individuals and families move toward self-sufficiency.

The Virginia Community Action Partnership has developed recognized standards of competence for Community Action Agency fiscal staff through a program of professional registration and continuing education.

Mid-Iowa Community Action established Project Home Mission to promote partnerships with area churches throughout Central Iowa to help low-income families become self-sufficient through both Project Home Mission and the Family Development and Self-Sufficiency Program.

Total Action Against Poverty established Project Recovery as a dropout retrieval program to foster completion of high school or participation in remedial alternative education, job-related learning and/or employment.

The Community Action Program of Lancaster County operates the PROMISE Program to help strengthen parenting skills among Head Start families with an emphasis on reducing drug and alcohol abuse.

The Harvard Family Research Project strives to promote more effective educational practices, programs, and policies for disadvantaged children and youth.

The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley regularly conducts research on poverty-related issues to promote public awareness that will lead to subsequent policy and programmatic responses.

Approximately fifteen percent of all Community Action Agencies are public entities.  Virtual CAP has often received requests for information on public CAAs.  As a start, a state-by-state listing has been created to help identify and promote sharing among public CAAs.

The Fayette County Community Action Agency established a Quality Review Process as a mechanism to promote continuous improvement in all aspects of the agency.

People Incorporated developed the Reading for Jobs Program to provide at-risk youth with individualized instruction to improve academic performance and to promote job readiness through pre-employment skills training.

The Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) has established the ReHarvest Center to provide training and employment opportunities for low-income individuals in deconstruction/construction trades and to offer a resale center for used building materials.

People, Inc. established the Resource Mothers Program to help pregnant teens make the transition to parenthood.

BoardSource is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations by strengthening their boards of directors.

The Alliance for Nonprofit Management has published extensive information on risk management for nonprofits.

The National Association for State Community Services Programs maintains the ROMA Web Site that contains information concerning Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA), a performance-based initiative designed to preserve the anti-poverty focus of community action and to promote greater effectiveness among state and local agencies receiving Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds.

The Community Action Partnership has issued the Rooting Out Poverty Report to serve as the bedrock of a national campaign with suggested strategies for local action to promote a more just, more economically stable, more future focused national policy that helps people and communities reach their full potential.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has developed Rural Family Economic Success to help rural families increase their income, stabilize their financial lives, and acquire assets and build wealth.

Multnomah County Office of School and Community Partnerships conducted an extensive community planning process to promote an integrated service delivery system to meet the needs of youth and their families.

The United Community Action Network created the Second Chance Renter’s Rehabilitation and Advocacy Program to help low-income persons understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants and to teach them the skills they need to become excellent tenants.

The Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project is a partner agency with the Second Chances Program that helps non-violent felony and misdemeanor offenders become gainfully employed and socially stable.

Audubon Area Community Services established the Serious and Violent Offenders Program to promote successful re-entry and reduced recidivism among youth offenders at higher risk of re-offending.

Lake Community Action Agency established the SHAPEDOWN Program to promote health and wellness among low-income children and their families.

The Community Action Partnership of Mercer County developed the Silent Partners Program as a method to build a pool of funds to resolve family needs that cannot be addressed by other resources.

CAP Services developed the Skills Enhancement Program that promotes increased family self-sufficiency by supporting career advancement through training and education opportunities.  State and federal funding has enabled expansion of the program to eleven other CAAs in Wisconsin.

Human Resources Agency of New Britain, Inc. supports the Special Education Parents Council as an advocacy and peer support group to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs.

The North Dakota Community Action Partnership established a Statewide Needs Assessment study to help Community Action Agencies evaluate the needs of and services for low-income individuals and families.

Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) established the Story County Dental Clinic to make oral health care accessible for uninsured and underinsured area residents.

As stated by the SPIN Project, a strategic communications plan has the power to transform an organization: both in terms of your credibility and status in your community, and in terms of the way you work together as a team to achieve your mission and vision for your community.

Strengthening an agency’s strategic planning capacity is a key element of ROMA National Goal #5: Agencies Increase Their Capacity to Achieve Results.

The National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, & Families developed a City Platform for Strengthening Families and Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth as a way to ask mayors and other city leaders to place the needs of children, youth, and families high on their city’s agenda…and then to keep them there.

The Greater Erie Community Action Committee carries out extensive Substance Abuse Prevention activities to assist in the reduction of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use, abuse and addiction and associated consequences.

Effective succession planning is a necessity to ensure stability of an agency during a period of leadership transition.  It also provides an opportunity for strategic thinking regarding future agency priorities and needs.

OIC of Clark County developed the SUREHIRE Employment Services Program to assist job seekers with employment search and to offer applicant pre-screening services for area employers.

The Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico developed the Teen Parent Program for pregnant and parenting teens that are committed to improving the well-being of themselves and their children.

Teen pregnancy prevention is an element of ROMA National Goal 1: Low-Income People Become More Self-Sufficient as a result of evidence reflecting the consequences for teen mothers, as well as the children of teen mothers.

The Commission on Economic Opportunity established Teen Tracks to help increase access to college among low-income high school students.

Springfield Partners for Community Action developed the Telephone Reassurance Program to help seniors and homebound/isolated adults maintain independent living.

Kitsap Community Resources (KCR) sponsors The Parenting Place to develop strong and healthy families and to promote and enrich parental development and nurturing of children.

Southern New Hampshire Services sponsors the Thresholds and Decisions Program to help reduce recidivism by helping offenders improve their decision making abilities, set goals, solve problems and build self-esteem.

The Office of Economic Opportunity/Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning has developed a training manual to help Community Action Agency board members learn about and effectively fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

OIC of Clark County developed the TEAM Program (Training, Evaluation, and Mentoring) to help TANF participants make the transition from welfare-to-work.

People, Inc. provides Transitional Housing including temporary shelter and self-sufficiency activities for up to 24-months for families who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.

The Pikes Peak Community Action Agency established the Transition to Independence Program to increase the capacity of low-income individuals and families to become self-sufficient.

Clackamas County Social Services established the Transportation Reaching People Program to provide seniors and persons with disabilities with transportation to medical, social services appointments, personal business, shopping, and food box sit

The Fayette County Community Action Agency developed a unified organizational structure in order to create integrated agency services and to maximize efforts dedicated to accomplishing the agency’s mission.

Westchester Community Opportunity Program sponsors Victims Assistance Services to provide free comprehensive clinical and support services to all crime victims, to provide educational activities to prevent victimization and re-victimization, and to raise the awareness of government, law enforcement, health care providers, schools, the criminal justice system and the community-at-large about the unique needs and strengths of crime victims.

The Virginia CASH Campaign (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) was created to help low- and moderate-income workers move toward greater self-sufficiency (a) by receiving the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that can supplement earnings and (b) through financial literacy and other asset-building activities.

Clackamas County Social Services established the Volunteer Connection Program to help mobilize people of all ages and resources to find creative solutions to community problems.

Tri-County Action Program established the Volunteer Driver Program to provide safe, dependable, affordable and courteous transportation services to people who have no other means of transportation.

The Skagit County Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Lawyer Program provides free legal assistance in civil matters (not criminal) to eligible low-income residents of Skagit County.

WeCanEndHunger.org provides an in-depth look at innovative food and nutrition programs and projects developed by anti-hunger organizations in Virginia and around the United States.

Western Dairyland Community Action Agency operates the Western Dairyland Business Center to assist individuals with development or expansion of their own business.  The agency has also established Inventor and Entrepreneur Clubs to in Buffalo, Trempealeau and Jackson Counties to assist individuals trying to move new products to market and the Wisconsin Common Market as an e-commerce web site to assist Wisconsin businesses to sell their products online.

The Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. developed and continues to host the Worcester Community Connections Coalition to build neighborhood-based networks that support leadership development and parent advocacy in community planning activities and efforts to coordinate services.

The Community Services Consortium (CSC) provides employment, education and training services to support job readiness, placement, retention and advancement.

The Wyandanch Center is a neighborhood revitalization project of a blighted downtown area.  Space will be created for commercial, retail and residential uses, and will help redefine the identity of the community.

The Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership established Young Men in Development as a mentoring program for youth ages 8-18 to provide the N.E.E.D. for the next generation (Nourishment, Encouragement, Education, Direction).

The Social Development Commission established the Youth Development Program to promote gang prevention, help at-risk youth, and stop alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse among youth.

Piedmont Community Actions (PCA) conducts the South Carolina Youth Leadership Program (SCYLP) to prepare junior high students with leadership skills for becoming productive achievers and future adult learners in the community.

The Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project used the Youth Reality Store simulation for a number of years to help low-income youth recognize the different paths their lives might take and the importance of making responsible decisions and setting goals in order to reach their full potential.  That activity has been replaced by the agency’s IDA and EITC/VITA Programs.  The Reality Store is available through the Cooperative Extension Service in many states.

The People’s Regional Opportunity Program sponsors the Youth Resiliency Project to create opportunities for youth to discover their resiliency, develop skills and take meaningful action in their lives and communities.

Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) offers a Youth Service Learning Program to reduce substance abuse and to build youth leadership abilities.

People, Inc. has developed a range of youth workforce development initiatives to promote completion of high school, post-secondary training and employment readiness.