Public Policy & Advocacy
What We Stand For
CAFCA and Connecticut’s Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are committed to advocating for public policies that advance social justice and economic opportunity for all.
We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to realize their potential and fully participate in society, the economy, and their community.
The Promise of Community Action:
“Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”
CAFCA collaborates with local, state, and federal community partners to help address the causes and conditions of poverty. We advocate for and support the following :
Empowering Children to Reach their Potential
Providing support for both children and their families as a whole is key in helping to ensure positive and improved mental, social, emotional, educational, and developmental outcomes, and in reducing the achievement gap.
Access to high-quality, early childhood care and education programs like Head Start and school readiness is essential in helping to break the cycle of poverty .
Strengthening Connecticut’s Workforce for Today and Tomorrow
Employment and training programs and services are a driving force in enabling people reach their full potential, and to become economically self-sufficient.
Helping Working Families Build Assets
No family is free from poverty if financial ruin is just one missed paycheck or unexpected medical bill away.
Initiatives that help families build assets like financial counseling, a state earned income tax credit, and free income tax preparation set up families for future success.
Keeping Families Safe and Healthy
High energy costs can put families in crisis mode and threaten their ability to pay for other essential basic needs, forcing them to choose between heating their homes and things like food and medicine.
Programs and services like home heating assistance (through the CT Energy Assistance Program, or CEAP, and assistance with Matching Payment Plans), increasing home energy efficiency (through the Weatherization Assistance Program, or WAP), Meals on Wheels, food pantries, and more are crucial to keeping the people we serve safe and healthy.
Maintaining an Effective Poverty-Fighting Network
Serving every city and town in our state, Connecticut’s CAAs are foundational partners in the state’s Human Services Infrastructure (HSI), a customer-focused, multigenerational human services delivery system.
Through this approach, anyone can enter a CAA for any reason and get connected to programs, services, and resources to help meet their short and long-term needs—leading them on a path to economic independence.
Positions & Priorities
National Partners
Legislative Testimony
- Senate Bill 487: An Act Establishing the Infant and Toddler Early Care and Family Support Initiative - March 30, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 4:33 mark)
- Senate Bill 464: An Act Concerning the Failure to File for Certain Grand List Exemptions - March 25, 2022
- House Bill 5431: An Act Concerning Funding Received by the State Under the Federal American Rescue Plan Act - March 18, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:13 mark)
- House Bill 5403: An Act Establishing a Child Tax Credit Against the Personal Income Tax - March 15, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:33 mark)
- Senate Bill 383: An Act Increasing the Applicable Percentage of the Earned Income Tax Credit - March 15, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:33 mark)
- House Bill 5429: An Act Concerning Transit-Oriented Development - March 14, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 2:26 mark)
- House Bill 5342: An Act Concerning Membership of the Low-Income Energy Advisory Board - March 10, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 3:31 mark)
- House Bill 5315: An Act Establishing a Financial Wellness Trust Fund and Authorizing the Treasurer to Establish a Center for Financial Wellness - March 10, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 3:51 mark)
- Senate Bill 289: An Act Concerning Oversight and Funding of the Connecticut Fatherhood Initiative - March 8, 2022
- Senate Bill 29: An Act Concerning the Earned Income Tax Credit - March 3, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 5:15 mark)
- Senate Bill 168: An Act Establishing a Right to Housing - March 1, 2022
- Senate Bill 201: An Act Establishing The Healthy Housing Assistance Pilot Program - March 1, 2022
- House Bill 5040: An Act Concerning the Governor's Budget Recommendations for Human Services - March 1, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 4:18 mark)
- House Bill 5231: An Act Concerning Data Collection to Prevent Malnutrition among Senior Citizens - March 1, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 4:18 mark)
- Public Hearing on the Governor’s Proposed FY ’23 Budget Adjustments Issues Related to Human Services - February 23, 2022 (Watch our testimony at the 6:54 mark)
- Public Hearing on the Governor’s Proposed FY ’23 Budget Adjustments Issues Related to the Office of Early Childhood - February 17, 2022
- Public Hearing on the Governor’s Proposed FY ’23 Budget Adjustments Issues Related to Conservation & Development - February 15, 2022
- Informational Hearing on the Continuation of Emergency Declarations and Limited Executive Orders - February 8, 2022