Mission
To promote economic self-sufficiency among low-income families and individuals of Stark County.
Agency Information
The Stark County Community Action Agency, is a 501C (3) non-profit organization incorporated in 1981, by federal government and Ohio designated anti-poverty agency for Stark County, Ohio. The SCCAA is a significant program provider of services, working with a commitment and creativity to promote self-sufficiency among low-income persons. The SCCAA carries out its mission through the provision of innovative, practical and timely programs. The SCCAA provides opportunities for approximately 20,000 individuals and families each year to improve their lives and contribute to the Stark County community. To summarize, it is SCCAA’s mission to assist Stark County’s low income residents to rebuild their hopes, dreams and dignity toward a better life for themselves and their families. To fulfill this mission, the staff of the Stark County Community Action Agency work diligently in support of the Stark County community.
What are Community Action Agencies (CAA)?
In the United States, Community Action Agencies (CAA) are local private and public non-profit organizations that carry out the Community Action Program (CAP), which was founded by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty by empowering the poor as part of the War on Poverty.
CAAs are intended to promote self-sufficiency, and they depend heavily on volunteer work, especially from the low-income community. The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is the agencies' core federal funding. Agencies also operate a variety of grants that come from federal, state and local sources. These grants vary widely among agencies, although most CAAs operate Head Start programs, which focus on early child development. Other programs frequently administered by Community Action Agencies include Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) utility grants and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funded through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Each CAA is governed by a board of directors consisting of at least one-third low-income community members, one-third public officials, and up to one-third private sector leaders.
Today, despite challenges, around 1,000 CAPs (and their CAAs) still operate today, engaged in a broad range of activities; typical activities include promoting citizen participation, providing utility bill assistance and home weatherization for low-income individuals, administration of Head Start pre-school programs, job training, operating food pantries, and coordinating community initiatives.