History

As part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was signed into law on August 20, 1964.

During the 1980’s, Central Arkansas Development Council began to focus toward the development of programs that would promote self-sufficiency by working with the family as a unit and linking agency programs together to provide a coordinated approach to services.

CADC is the largest Community Action Agency in Arkansas, serving 12 counties and assisting more than 20,000 low-income individuals and families annually. CADC implements a philosophy of self-help through a decentralized, county-based structure and a process that provides innovative, practical and timely programs. 

To be continued....

During the 1970’s the agency began to develop new programs, including Senior Adult Centers, CETA Job Training, Community Food and Nutrition, Transportation, Family Planning, Energy Assistance, Weatherization, Alcohol Abuse and Housing Assistance.

The 1990’s saw an emphasis on the consumer and the agency began to be more responsive to its various communities and their unique needs. The size of the Board was reduced to 15. An Employee Scholarship Program was implemented and an Internal Training Program component was created for the development of trained staff sensitive to the needs of CADC’s customers.

In 2017, CADC became the first agency in Arkansas to have a Certified Community Professional when Ms. Lavel Neal earned her certification. In 2017, the State asked CADC to take over the LIHEAP Program in the South West Arkansas counties of Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, and Sevier. In 2018, CADC became the Community Action Agency for these seven counties, which brings the CADC service area to 19 counties,