About IACAA
Our Mission
The Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA) is a membership organization that provides a unified voice and support to the poverty-fighting network of Community Action Agencies.
The Promise of Community Action
Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live.
We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
Who We Are
The Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA) strengthens the fight against poverty by providing essential training, technical assistance, and advocacy to support Community Action Agencies (CAAs) throughout Illinois. Since its inception, IACAA has played a vital role in supporting the organizations and agencies that provide direct poverty relief and community development.
Our Roots
IACAA’s origins are deeply connected to the historic war on poverty. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s vision of a Great Society laid the foundation for the Economic Opportunity Act, which established the nationwide Community Action Network. This network aimed to ensure equal opportunity and economic justice for all Americans. In 1971, IACAA was founded as part of this network to coordinate and support the efforts of Illinois’ Community Action Agencies, helping them tackle poverty and uplift vulnerable individuals and families through direct services.
What We Do
Training and Professional Development
IACAA provides comprehensive training programs designed to equip local anti-poverty agency staff with the skills and knowledge needed to address the root causes of poverty.
Technical Assistance
We offer expert guidance and support to Community Action Agencies, helping them improve their operational efficiency, secure funding, and navigate complex regulatory environments. Our goal is to ensure that CAAs are well-equipped to manage their programs and make them as impactful as possible.
Advocacy and Public Policy
IACAA advocates for policies supporting poverty relief and economic equity at the state and federal levels. By engaging with policymakers and stakeholders, we help shape the anti-poverty initiatives that allow CAAs to deliver essential services to Illinois residents in need. Our advocacy efforts aim to create lasting systemic change.
At IACAA, our focus is on enhancing the capacity of Community Action Agencies throughout Illinois, ensuring they have the training, technical assistance, and advocacy necessary to carry out their poverty relief efforts effectively. While we do not provide direct services to individuals or families, we work behind the scenes to strengthen the agencies that do.
Our Impact: Supporting Community Development Initiatives
Although IACAA does not offer direct services, our work enables Community Action Agencies across Illinois to engage in transformative community development initiatives. From housing assistance to employment training and early childhood education to healthcare access, these agencies provide critical services that improve the quality of life for low-income individuals and families. By offering support through training and technical assistance, we ensure these agencies can continue innovating and finding effective solutions to poverty-related challenges.
A Statewide Network, a Collective Effort
IACAA is proud to be part of a vast network of over thirty Community Action Agencies serving every county in Illinois. CAAs are the driving force behind poverty relief efforts in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Together, we work to share best practices, collaborate on community development strategies, and advocate for the well-being of all Illinois residents.
Looking to the Future: Strengthening the Fight Against Poverty
As the world changes around us, fighting poverty becomes more complex. Climate change, technological advances that alter workplaces, growing income inequality, declining population in rural areas, and many other trends affect lower-income households. IACAA and its member CAAs commit to understanding how these trends impact poverty in Illinois and adjusting our approach to reducing socioeconomic inequality.