GO BACK TO MAIN PAGE
Public Policy Priorities
Our public policy priorities support the shared goal of the State’s 23 Community Action Agencies to help our vulnerable friends and neighbors who are living with low incomes – approximately 600,000 per year in virtually every city and town – to stabilize their lives and achieve economic mobility.
That goal, derived from the language of the federal law that created Community Action Agencies 60 years ago, to be the nationwide mandated anti-poverty network, is pursued in part through advocacy for a variety of budget and legislative initiatives that, taken together, will strengthen individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities across the state…and make the economy work for everyone.
Through a broad-based education and advocacy effort, we look forward to working with allied organizations and legislators to affect change through our broad public policy goals:
Creating a Foundation for Economic Opportunity
Address inequality, promote opportunity and end poverty by supporting Community Action Agencies (7004-xxxx formerly line item 7002-0025)
Strengthening Families through Affordable and Accessible Early Education and Care
Support Early Education Rate Reserve (line item 3000-1042)
Support for Income-Eligible Child Care (3000-4060) – Embed in Early Education Workforce Personal Child Care
Support for Head Start (line item 3000-5000)
Support for Child Care Resource Referral Access Management in Early Education Program (3000-2000)
Bridging the Wage Gap
Resources for free tax preparation (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance – VITA) sites run by CAAs and others (line item (1201-0100)
Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Include ITIN Holders, Remove the Dependent Cap