Home >> CAA Contact Information About Ohio's Community Action Agencies CommunityAction Agencies were first incorporated with the advent of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. They are locally controlled private nonprofit organizations whose purpose is to reduce poverty and to help low-income people become self-sufficient. There are over 1,100 community action agencies in the United States. Currently, there are fifty-two (52) CAA's in Ohio, with every county receiving services. During the last program year, they administered $523,407,248 of resources aimed at alleviating the problems of poverty in Ohio's Communities. Nationally, Ohio ranks second in the amount of resources developed by its community action network. The panel of evaluators selected by The John Glenn Institute developed a criteria with which to judge the nominated programs. They assigned points in each of these weighted categories: documented outcomes (40%), innovation (25%), reputability (20%) and collaboration (15%). Using this formula, the Panel selected both awardees and honorable mentions in each of the six ROMA categories. The Best Practices Awards competition is the first collaborative effort between a major university and a statewide association of Community Action Agencies. The program is likely to serve as a model for other states. OACAA and The John Glenn Institute asked Ohio CAA Executive Directors and Board Chairs to nominate programs within their agencies that produced measurable results for the people and communities they serve. The Best Practices Award Project summary provides excellent descriptions of innovative CAA programs. Service Description Information/Referral Job Counseling Job Placement On the Job Training Employment Generating Projects Skills Training Other Projects Community Organization/Advocacy Service Description Information/Referral Cash/Loan Assistance Emergency HEAP Other Emergency Energy Support Crisis Intervention Case Management Mobilizing Goods, Services, Cash Other Emergency Services Homeless Assistance Community Organization Service Description Information/Referral Counseling Public Education Head Start Day Care ABE/GED Other Education Projects Community Organization Service Description Information/Referral Surplus Food Commodities Food Pantries Hot Meals Gardening/Canning Nutrition Education WIC Other Nutrition Projects Statewide Planning and Coordination Community Organization Service Description Information/Referral Financial Counseling Income Tax Counseling Credit Unions Weatherization Energy Conservation Workshops Other Projects Community Organization Service Description Information/Referral Community Needs Assessment Family/Individual Counseling Transportation Elderly Projects Neighborhood/Community Development Summer Youth Recreation Other Linkages Projects Statewide Planning and Coordination Community Organization/Advocacy Service Description Information/Referral Housing Counseling/Loan Assistance Other Housing Counseling Home Repair/Rehab Rent/Mortgage Assistance Other Housing Projects Statewide Planning and Coordination Community Organization/Advocacy Service Description Case Management Counseling Cash Advance Child Care Service Description Medical Transportation Medical or Dental Screening Immunizations Prevention of Alcohol/Drug Abuse Treatment of Alcohol/Drug Use Pregnancy Related Care Family Planning Services Rural Health Programs Other Primary Health Care Other Health Programs Service Description Miscellaneous
On January 25, 2002 The Ohio State University's John Glenn Institute for Public Policy and Public Service (The Glenn Institute) and the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA), awarded 17 Ohio Community Action Agencies (CAAs) with 22 Best Practices Awards. The Glenn Institute and OACAA developed the Best Practices Awards to honor innovative and effective Community Action Agency programs that measurably meet the needs of their clients, their families and their communities by helping low income people become more self-sufficient. Using an outcomes-based evaluation system known as ROMA-Results Oriented Management Accountability, the Best Practices Awards serve as a showcase for innovative Community Action Agency efforts that make a measurable and life-changing difference.