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 55 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 our broad public policy goals:

Download our FY24 Public Policies Priorities Fact Sheet

Strengthening Critical Human Services Infrastructure

Strengthening Families through Affordable and Accessible Early Education and Care

  • Support Early Education Teacher Salaries (line item 3000-1042)
  • Support Access to Income-Eligible Child Care (line item 3000-4060)
  • Support Early Education & Care for the workforce (line item 3000-1046)
  • Support Head Start  (line item 3000-5000)
  • Support for programs that help connect families with early education and care (Child Care Resource and Referral Access Management in Early Education) (line item 3000-2000)

Bridging the Wage Gap

  • Increase the resources of free tax preparation (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance – VITA) sites run by CAAs and others (line item (1201-0100)
  • EITC: Increase to 50% of Federal Credit, Include ITIN Holders, Remove Family Cap
  • Establish a Robust Child and Family Tax Credit (CFTC)

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