Montgomery County Community Action Agency

1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 320, Rockville, MD

​240-777-1697

 

Community Action Programs

• VITA: The agency's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is the County's only year-round free tax assistance program, offering free tax help for eligible County households. Tax season appointments will be available January 20 - April 9, 2026. Please check the CASHBACK website for the latest information.

• TESS: The Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center is a walk-in site where staff link residents with critical resources. Please call 240-773-8260 or check the TESS website for more information. 

• Navigation: The agency's team of Navigators are highly trained in a wide variety of services and programs, working to address the needs of the entire household using a Two- Generation/whole family approach model. Navigators, based at various sites throughout the County, provide application assistance, guidance, and assistance in finding community resources. Please check the Navigation page for more information. 

• Head Start: The Community Action Board is the governing body for the County's Head Start program, along with the Head Start Parents Policy Council. Registration is still open for Head Start/PreK for the 2025 - 2026 school year. If you are new to MCPS, please create an account. If you are already a MCPS parent, please log into the ParentVUE site. For those who do not have a computer or need assistance, in-person registration assistance is available. ​Please visit the Head Start page for more information.

• Contract Monitoring: Currently, the Community Action Agency monitors contracts and grants at 24 organizations. Learn more on our Nonprofit Partners page.

• Community Action Board: The Board is the governing body for the agency and the Head Start program, meeting throughout the year to review agency programs and engage in extensive advocacy work. Learn more on the Community Action Board page.

• ​Community Advocacy Institute: Created by the Community Action Board in 2016, the CAI is a free eight-month advocacy training program for community members with modest incomes. 

• NEW! Cluster Projects: As part of the Department of Health and Human Services' recent reorganization process, the Community Action Agency transitioned from the Office of Community Affairs to the Division of Children, Youth, and Families. This move included the addition of the Cluster Projects to the Community Action team. In partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools, the Cluster Projects connect children and families at specific schools with critical services. Learn more: Kennedy Cluster, Watkins Mill Cluster, and Paint Branch - Springbrook Cluster.

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Montgomery County Community Action Agency is to advance social and economic mobility among communities and neighbors through services, partnerships, and advocacy using an equity lens.
*Approved by the Community Action Board on September 22, 2020