Lancaster Shelter for Abused Women
630 Rockland Street
PO Box 599 or PO Box 359
Lancaster, PA 17608
info@caplanc.org

Agency Goals
The goals of the Community Action Program are fourfold. First, CAP is to be an organization which mobilizes resources, both public and private, ro deal with the causes of poverty, not merely it's effects. It is not the Community Action Program's role to simply provide financial assistance to the poor, but to enable the poor to become self-sufficient.

Second, the Community Action Program is to be a program which provides services, assistance and other acitivities of sufficient size and scope to give the promise of progress to the elimination of poverty. This may happen at an individual, family or neighborhood level and is accomplished through the development of employment opportunities, the improvement of human performance, productivity and motivation and the bettering of conditions under which low income families live, learn and work.

Third, Community Action seeks to strengthen the community's capabilities for planning and coordinating federal, state and private sector resources related to the elimination of poverty. CAP seeks to work in partnership with elected officials, other non-profits, governmental agencies, community groups churches and the private sector to accomplish it's mission.

Finally, Community Action is to be developed, conducted and administered with the "maximum feasible participation of the poor". Participation means both the training and employment of the poor in service delivery jobs as well as their participation on policy making groups, including the CAP Board of Directors. Through this participation, it is believed that low income persons can encourage their involvement in other community policy making groups, including elective offices.

Agency Accomplishments
In Lancaster County, CAP served as the organization which initiated such projects as Head Start, the Shelter for Abused Women, the Housing Development Corporation, legal services for the poor and the Welsh Mountain Medical Center. CAP also established the first rural human services transportation system. CAP worked with the Governor of Pennsylvania to encourage the County government to establish the first County Housing Authority. CAP also started the first home weatherization service for low income families when energy prices rose beyond the ability of low income families to afford them.

Board of Directors
The CAP Board of Directors is comprised of one third representatives of elected and appointed officials and one third representatives of the poor and organization representing the poor. The remaining third is compromised of representatives of other community interest groups.

Volunteer Opportunities
CAP uses hundreds of volunteers in various capacities, from classroom volunteers in our child care and Head Start programs to legal advocates for victims of domestic violence. If you would like to become involved as a volunteer in any of CAP's programs, please contact us by phone at 299.7301 or by e-mail at info@caplanc.org