In late August, National Community Action Partnership (NCAP) held its Annual Convention in Detroit, Michigan. Foundations for Families team members were in attendance, and it was an incredible gathering of community action programs from across the county. We enjoyed meeting new programs and saying hello to those of you we’ve been working with for many years!
The Annual Convention offered a great depth of content, training, and networking opportunities. The value of community action programs as a vital community resource was reflected many times in conference presentations and sessions. Here, we offer some highlights of what we heard at the conference.
Uncertainty is given, and response is crucial. While the future of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) may be uncertain, there was a clear focus on the evolution and continuity of community action programs. One session in particular, Policy Plot Twist!: Navigating a Changing Landscape, provided a comprehensive look at how the circumstances and funding of community action has changed under the current federal administration. Presenters spoke about unknowns with budget allocations and timelines and also stressed the importance of preparedness through activities like scenario planning. Many tools were highlighted, including a Scenario Planning Toolkit to help programs respond to the unique landscape they face.
Community action agencies operate many different programs; some face the potential for greater cuts than others. For example, while CSBG, LIHEAP, and others face some of the most challenging budget prospects, programs like Head Start remain level funded in the most recent version of the federal budget. We have a long history working with Head Start programs, many of which are community action agencies, and thus attended the Head Start Town Hall. Moderators discussed the status of Head Start and the importance of continuing to advocate for children and families so that funding remains available to meet their needs.
Common threads around compliance, data, and staffing resonated through conference sessions. The NCAP Annual Convention offered eight tracks of workshops designed to meet attendees’ needs. In sessions across tracks, we noticed some common themes. Compliance was highlighted from the perspectives of responsiveness to funding requirements, mitigating risk, and oversight. There was a tie in to staffing, with sessions discussing the multi-generational workforce, development of young professionals, and building a pipeline of leaders. Further, the importance of collecting and using data was stressed many times in conference session. Data is not only required for reporting and compliance, but for advocacy, continuous improvement, and quality programming.
Advocacy and communication resources are available. Conference attendees learned about new resources available in the Communities in Action Together Media Toolkit, produced by the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF). The toolkit showcases a variety of resources to help elevate the focus on community action and its importance to communities. Included are talking points, letter templates, and social media tips, as well as guidance on “words to use” and graphics. NCAF is also offering assistance with press advisories and preparing for meetings with members of Congress.
As for what’s next – one of our takeaways from the conference is that community action agencies continue to plan and look forward. In January 2026, NCAP will host the 2026 Management & Leadership Training Conference in Orlando, Florida. We plan to attend and hope to see you there!
Foundations for Families offers a variety of consulting services to state and community-based organizations, including community action programs and Head Start. If your agency needs assistance understanding or meeting the needs of your community, we may be able to help. Please reach out and we would be glad to discuss your program’s needs.
Thank you.
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