Web Architect/Web Administrator/Graphics Designer -
Connie Jones
© 2009 - 2010 - Muskegon - Oceana Community Action Partnership, Inc.
All rights reserved.

Community Action Agencies were created by the federal government in 1964 to combat poverty at a local level. This was in response to President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Povery" and CAA's are funded through the Economic Opportunity Act. In order to carry out the mission of helping those who have historically been "unable to participate in Americam life", Community Action Agencies have a tripartite board structure that is designed to promote the participation of the entire community in the reduction or elimination of poverty. The three parts of the board include public sector officials, private sector officials, and especially low-income residents.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan created Community Service Block Grants that funneled funding directly to the state. In this way, the states could decide what their biggest priorities were, and could administer the funds wtihout having a number of federal departments involved.

In Michigan, there are currently 83 agencies that consider themselves Community Action Agencies. Many of them have budgets that have diverse funding sources, and only use CSBG funding as a portion of their overall budget. MOCAP is currently working to diversifying our budget to a greater extent, and hopes to expand services and programs in the near future.  We are truly committed to eliminating the causes of poverty.  We understand that they are many. We also understand that the only way to eliminate poverty is to eliminate its causes.

The Promise of Community Action