By promoting self-sufficiency, not dependency, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) manage more than $5.6 billion in public and private resources annually, serving more than 9.3 million low-income persons; staff, funded by the Community Services Block Grant, go into the community and to other government sources to bring in not only leveraged funds but also hundreds of thousands of local volunteers.

Some of the greatest assets of CAAs are:

• Flexibility - The Community Services Block Grant, which supplies CAA funding, is unique; it is flexible, and it primarily funds local, community-specific projects. By supplementing government programs' "one-size-fits-all" programming, a community can provide its members the right mix of assistance, encouragement, and incentives to become self-sufficient.
• Immediacy - CAAs are located in the areas of greatest need, managed and staffed by community residents and often are open far into the evening. Therefore, when a family or an individual faces a crisis, their CAA is able to respond quickly with targeted forms of assistance appropriate to the situation. Swift, direct action can often help to avoid the long-term consequence of costly dependency.
• Coordination - A bedrock principle of Community Action is that resources of all kinds need to be integrated so they can be used in combination to solve community and individual problems.

Programs and Services

Children and Youth
Head Start, Literacy Programs, Dropout Prevention, After School Enrichment and Tutoring, Teen Centers, Recreation and Sports Programs, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC), Well-Baby Clinics, Summer Enrichment Programs, Summer Food Programs, Child Care Food Programs, Pregnancy Prevention, Character Education, Substance Abuse Education, Prevention & Counseling, Summer Youth Employment Programs, College Counseling and Placement.

Support for the Working Poor
Child Care, Adult Education, GED Preparation, Job Training and On-The-Job Support, Job Search Assistance, Job Placement, Job Creation, Small Business Development, Loan Funds, Senior Community Service Employment, Displaced Homemaker Programs, Budget Counseling, Internet Training and Access.

Support for People in Crisis
Homeless Shelters & Drop-In Centers, Utility Deposits, Eviction Prevention, Domestic Violence Programs & Shelters, Transitional Housing, Food Pantries Energy Crisis Assistance & Shelter, Emergency Food Baskets, Emergency Clothing, Supplies, and Services - including Medical & Legal Volunteer Help.

Support for the Elderly
Meals on Wheels, In-Home Care Programs, Senior Centers, Senior Day Care, Foster Grandparents, Congregate Meals, Medical Transportation, Volunteer Chore Services.

Strengthening Families
Comprehensive Family Development Support, Nutrition Education, Parenting Education, Community Gardens and Canneries, Food Stamps, Health Clinics, Weatherization Assistance, Energy Assistance, Rental Assistance, Home Ownership Programs, Community Centers, Individual Development Accounts.

Strengthening Communities
Low-Income Housing Development, Economic Development and Support for New Business Ventures, Mobilization of Community-Wide Safety and Crime Prevention Initiatives, Consumer Education and Fraud Prevention, Community Reinvestment Act Partnerships, Support for Groups Working on Neighborhood Improvements, Support for Dialogue and Planning among all Sectors of the Community.