CAP Agencies

Click on your agency’s name to find your agency’s needs assessment brochure

The Assessment for Community Solutions 2005

A Research Report from IN-CAA

In order to better serve the low income residents of Indiana, it is important that we maintain an up-to-date picture of who they are and what they need. To do this, the Indiana Community Action Association (IN-CAA) board and staff participated with the 24 Indiana Community Action Agencies in the first coordinated statewide needs assessment process.

Research was conducted in two parts:

We conducted background research using data that is available from federal, state, and local resources.

We designed, and the 24 community action agencies administered, a survey directly to clients who use services provided by the agencies. The survey was administered to a random sampling of the 180,705 households and 424,730 individuals served by Indiana Community Action Agencies in 2004. In total, 12,273 surveys were returned.

The findings and conclusions are helpful to the IN-CAA board and staff who want to better understand the needs of low- income Hoosiers, especially the needs of families with the lowest household incomes. In 2004, 75.1% of all households served by Community Action Agencies lived below 100% of the federal poverty level. IN-CAA is using the findings to strategically plan for solutions. We are exploring solutions that call for community action. IN-CAA is eager to share its findings with others who may wish to partner in providing services for low income residents of Indiana.

The community action survey respondents are a valid and reliable match for the state’s low- income population in terms of age, ethnicity, household composition, income, employment status, and geographic distribution. This makes it possible for any state-wide group to factor in the survey results when considering service for community programs and projects. When we all work together, options become solutions and everyone benefits.

To view key findings from the statewide assessment click here.

Each of the 24 community action agencies in Indiana has a key findings report from the 2005 assessment. To find the report for your community, click on the county in which you live. For more detailed information concerning poverty and The Assessment for Community Solutions 2005, contact the community action agency for your county.