Community Action Agency of South Alabama


About Us

What Is Community Action

Community Action Agencies are private non-profit or public organizations that were created by the federal government in 1964 to combat poverty in geographically designated areas. Status as a Community Action Agency is the result of an explicit designation by local or state government. A Community Action Agency has a tripartite board structure that is designated to promote the participation of the entire community in the reduction or elimination of poverty. Community Action Agencies seek to involve the community including elected public officials, private sector representatives and especially low-income residents, in assessing local needs and attacking the causes and conditions of poverty.

A Community Action Agency:

  • has received designation as a Community Action Agency either from the local government under the provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, or from the state under the Community Services Block Grant Act of 1981, as amended;


  • is recognized as an eligible entity as defined in the CSBG Act and can receive funding from the state under the Community Services Block Grant;


  • has a governing board consisting of at least one-third democratically selected representatives;


  • low-income people, one-third local public officials or their designees, and the remainder representatives of business, industry, labor, religious, social welfare, and other private groups in the community; and;


  • belongs to a national network of similar agencies, the majority of which received their initial designation, federal recognition and funding under the amended Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.;

    • Our History

    Little River Community Action Program (CAP), incorporated on June 23, 1965, was aptly named because the Little River wound its way along the southern part of Monroe County, the northeastern tip of Baldwin, and northwestern corner of Escambia. Little River CAP was funded to operate Neighborhood Referral Centers and a food distribution program in the three-county service area. The Agency received a grant to provide a centralized administrative staff (located in Daphne, AL) and services to carry out all projects funded under it.

    Due to requirements of the Alabama Regional Planning Commission; Monroe County was spun off to another Community Action Agency which resulted in our name changing to Community Action Agency of Baldwin and Escambia Counties. Clarke County was welcomed into the Agency's family in 1986; in February 1989 came Conecuh County. In 1994, Monroe County returned home.,

    Contact Information

    Our Central Office contact information is listed below. See our Out Reach Office or Head Start Center pages for their contact information.

    • Community Action of South Alabama
      26640 Pollard Road
      Daphne, Alabama 36526
    • Phone (251) 626-2646
      Fax (251) 626-2630