The Maryland Community Action Partnership (MCAP) is a nonprofit,association that advocates on behalf of Maryland's low-income families to ensure their voice is heard at the local,state and national levels. In addition MCAP supports the mission and activities of Community Action Agencies throughout the state.

The State Association is composed of 16 community action agencies 13 of which provide direct human services and three (3) are governmental agencies,together they work to lead families to self-sufficiency and independence of public programs.

The State Association provides technical assistance and training to the board of directors and staffs of these agencies,as well as,as to other nonprofit organizations with similar missions who may partner with community action agencies.

What are Community Action Agencies?

Community Action Agencies are nonprofit organizations created by the signing of President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. This Act embodies the philosophy that low-income individuals can best identify the problems their community face and also develop solutions that will resolve the issues.

On September 30,1981,the Economic Opportunity Act,along with its Community Services Administration expired. With this expiration,community services programs where moved to the Office of Community Services,Administration for Children and Families in the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Currently,1,100 community action agencies in the 50 states,the District of Columbia,Puerto Rico,the Virgin Islands and the Trust Territories provide direct human services to 95 percent of the nation's counties.

In Maryland,the partnership works toward fulfilling the promise of community action through the efforts of the 16 community action agencies by providing services throughout the state. In collaboration with elected public officials,representatives of the low-income community and members of the private sector/business community,the Maryland community action network represents over $99,460,384 in support to Maryland residents.