What Is Community Services?

The Community Services Bureau is part of a national network of Community Action Agencies that were established by the 1964 War on Poverty to address the underlying conditions that cause poverty. In 2006, the Community Services Department was made a bureau of the Employment and Human Services Department. We have an annual budget of almost $30 million and we employ approximately 400 employees in 19 service locations across the county.

Our largest program is our Child Development program. Each year we combine federal Head Start and State Child Development funds to provide Early Childhood Education Services to over 2,000 children and their families.

Our other major program is the Community Action program. Through the Community Service Block Grant, we provide assistance with home energy costs, weatherization, and funding for community based organizations to assist low-income persons move out of poverty.