Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies
Who Are We?
Ohio's Community Action Agencies (CAA) are independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations operating at the local level to address a diverse range of needs for low-income households. For over six decades, CAAs have provided the necessary resources to assist individuals in transitioning from poverty to self-sufficiency by ensuring that solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of their communities. Ohio's CAA network comprises 48 private, non-profit agencies, established through the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Last year, Ohio's CAAs provided services to over 500,000 Ohioans across 1188 counties. Each CAA is governed by local leadership to target their community's needs. CAAs provide job training, GED preparation, and vocational education. They offer various services to address poverty, including income management, credit counseling, entrepreneurial development, domestic violence assistance, family development, parenting classes, food pantries, emergency shelters, low-income housing, and community revitalization.
How Can We Help You?
Many CAAs work with local employers and industries to create opportunities for a strong workforce and support Ohioans in gaining and sustaining self·sufficiency. Agencies target a variety of areas to support households beyond workforce initiatives, including early childhood development. housing, food security, medical and dental services, family support, and civic involvement.
Agencies vary in their offerings, but there may be similar programming across the state based on the community's specific needs. Services can include partnerships with local businesses to provide job training and certifications, assistance with purchasing necessary equipment for employees (e.g., steel toed boots or other items required for the job but not provided by the employer), and support for transportation needs (e.g., vehicle repairs or public transportation assistance). Several agencies across Ohio participate in job readiness training, like summer youth programs. Participants gain work experience and receive support to build resumes, search for jobs, and gain interview skills.
CAAs can also provide valuable assistance in retaining employees if their employer becomes aware of a hardship that on employee is experiencing and refers them to their local CAA. Kathryn Clausen, Communications Director, Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, soys, ''Many CMs across the state offer utility assistance to households, enabling them to maintain their primary heat source (e.g., HEAP, PIPP+, etc.). Additionally, several CMs administer rental assistance programs, supportive housing, homebuyerassistance, home repairs, financial literacy and counseling, tax filing programs, vehicle repair programs, and a wide range of other services."
Ohio employers may not be aware of their local CAA or consider how they could serve as another resource to assist in attracting and retaining a strong workforce. Many of Ohio's CAAs partner with local businesses to support workforce needs through formal memorandums of understanding (MOUs), engagement with local Chambers of Commerce, community work groups, and other initiatives. Given their statewide presence, there is a local CM that can provide surrounding companies and their employees with many different types of support. Visit the website to find your local CAA.