Community Action Agencies are local private and public non-profit organizations that carry out the Community Action Program, which was founded by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty by empowering the poor as part of the War on Poverty.

CAAs are intended to promote self-sufficiency, and they depend heavily on volunteer work, especially from the low-income community.

Head Start is a federal program promoting school readiness for children from low-income families. It offers comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to children aged birth to five. The program fosters cognitive, social, and emotional development by providing a supportive learning environment.

Head Start also emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher, encouraging family engagement. Services are tailored to each child and family’s ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.

Early Head Start is a federal program supporting the development of infants and toddlers from low-income families. It provides comprehensive services, including early education, health, nutrition, and family support, to children from birth to age three and pregnant women. The program aims to enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Early Head Start emphasizes the critical role of parents, offering parenting education and encouraging strong family involvement.

Services are customized to respect each family’s cultural and linguistic background.

We help eligible households avoid service disconnections through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), offering bill payment assistance, crisis intervention, and energy advocacy.

Assistance is available during Winter and Summer programs, with priority given to the most needy. Payments can take up to 30 days, with crisis payments processed within 24 hours.

Applications are accepted during these programs and depend on fund availability.

We provide emergency supplemental food donated by the USDA to vulnerable households in need. The Emergency Food Assistance Program helps low-income households in Hot Springs and Garland County access nutritious foods to combat hunger. Food is distributed at 2228 Albert Pike Road in Hot Springs every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Available items include canned meats, vegetables, fruits, fruit juices, peanut butter, apple sauce, rice, pasta, and soups. To receive food, you must be a resident of Garland County