Public Policy Priorities

Our public policy priorities support the shared goal of the State’s 23 Community Action Agencies to help our vulnerable friends and neighbors who are living with low incomes – approximately 600,000 per year in virtually every city and town – to stabilize their lives and achieve economic mobility.

That goal, derived from the language of the federal law that created community action agencies more than 50 years ago, to be the nationwide mandated anti-poverty network, is pursued in part through advocacy for a variety of budget and legislative initiatives that, taken together, will strengthen individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities across the state…and make the economy work for everyone.

Through a broad-based education and advocacy effort, we look forward to working with allied organizations and legislators to affect change through four broad public policy goals:

Download our Top FY22 Public Policies Priorities Fact Sheet

Strengthening Critical Human Services Infrastructure

  • Address inequality, promote opportunity and end poverty by supporting Community Action Agencies (line item 7002-0025)
  • Commission to Address Inequality, Create Opportunity, and End Poverty (HD3821/SD1032)

Strengthening Families through Affordable and Accessible Early Education and Care

  • Support Early Education Teacher Salary Line Item
  • Support Parent Fee Fund
  • Support Budget Stabilization Reserve
  • Support Head Start Line Item
  • Support for programs that help connect families with early education and care (Child Care Resource and Referral Access Management in Early Education)

Bridging the Wage Gap

Creating a Foundation for Economic Opportunity

  • Contingency Fuel Assistance Fund for FY21 Supplemental Budget
  • Add State Fuel Assistance Line Item for FY22

Please return to this page for regular updates as the legislative and budget processed unfold at the state house.