Montgomery County Community Action Agency

 

May is Community Action Month!

To celebrate Community Action Month, the Montgomery County CAA has developed several projects to honor our volunteers, partners, and Community Advocacy Institute graduates virtually. Please follow the links below to learn more.

Honoring CAA Volunteers

The agency's dedicated VITA and TESS volunteers ensure that these programs continue to meet the needs of the community.  The following videos and presentations were created to honor our amazing volunteers.

• TESS staff thank you video and slideshow for volunteers
• VITA staff thank you video and slideshow for volunteers
• Community Action Board thank you video for volunteers

2020 Henry L. Dixon, Jr. Award Winners

Each year, the Community Action Board honors innovative programs that have been developed by CAA partner organizations.  These programs support the CAA's mission of helping people move towards self-sufficiency.  This year, the Board honored two programs.  Please click on these links to learn about these outstanding programs.

• The Crossroads Community Food Network's Microenterprise Training Program and Takoma Park Silver Spring Community Kitchen  
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Adult Literacy Program

Community Advocacy Institute Virtual Graduation

The Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) is an eight-month advocacy training program for lower-income County residents.  Participants attend monthly workshops on a wide variety of topics, including working with elected officials, storytelling, research, key community advocacy issues, and how to develop testimony and letters of support.  Participants also complete an advocacy project - testifying before County Council or submitting written testimony.

This year, 14 participants graduated from the CAI.  The graduates will join the 52 members of the CAI alumni group who graduated from the first three years of the program.  

A virtual graduation ceremony was held on May 19 to honor this year's graduates.  The program included remarks from County Executive Marc Elirch, County Councilmembers, DHHS leadership, and members of the Community Action Board.  

• CAI graduation program
• 2019-2020 CAI slideshow

• CAI virtual graduation ceremony video

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING AGENCY PROGRAMS

 

• VITA: Free tax appointments through the CAA Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program are cancelled until further notice.  Please visit the CASHBACK website for the latest information on VITA Partnership sites throughout the County.  
• TESS: Following Montgomery County guidance, the TESS Community Action Center is closed for walk-in services.  Community members seeking public benefits and private resources will continue to be served remotely by staff members via telephone and email. Please call 240-773-8260 for more information.  
• Head Start: While the MCPS Head Start/Pre-K office remains closed, parents and guardians may now register their children online for the 2020-2021 school year by completing an initial questionnaire HERE.  An automatic message with the required enrollment forms will be sent and parents and guardians may then complete the application remotely by submitting documents to a secure drop-box, or by mailing documents. Those who do not have access to email or a computer may call 240-740-5999 for assistance. Please check the Head Start/Pre-K website for the latest updates.  

• For the latest information about COVID-19/Coronavirus in Montgomery County, please visit the County's official website. 
• Information about DHHS Emergency Services may be​ found HERE in English and Spanish.
• The Maryland Department of Health has translated COVID-19 FAQs into numerous languages HERE.

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The mission of the Montgomery County Community Action Agency (CAA) is to reduce poverty and increase self-sufficiency among county residents through services, partnerships and advocacy.  The CAA, the County’s federally-designated anti-poverty agency, is part of Montgomery’s County Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Affairs, and a member of the National Community Action Partnership and the Maryland Community Action Partnership.
 

Community Action E-newsletter

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​Community Action E-Newsletter

Maryland Community Action Partnership