INDIANA- Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are local, private and public non-profit organizations that promote self-sufficiency and work to reduce the causes and conditions of poverty. They help individuals and families with aging, financial literacy, food insecurity, early education, healthcare and mental health support.
There are 22 designated CAAs in Indiana to serve income-eligible Hoosiers in all 92 counties:
- Area Five Agency on Aging & Community Services – Logansport
- Area IV Agency on Aging & Community Action Programs, Inc. – Lafayette
- Brightpoint (Formerly Community Action of Northeast Indiana) – Fort Wayne
- Community Action of Greater Indianapolis – Indianapolis
- Community Action of Southern Indiana – Jeffersonville
- Community Action Program of Evansville and Vanderburgh County – Evansville
- Community Action Program of Western Indiana – Covington
- Community & Family Services, Inc. – Portland
- Dubois-Pike-Warrick Economic Opportunity Committee Inc. d/b/a TRI-CAP – Jasper
- Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation – Mitchell
- Human Services, Inc. – Columbus
- Interlocal Community Action Program – New Castle
- JobSource CAP – Anderson
- Lincoln Hills Development Corporation – Tell City
- Northwest Indiana Community Action Corporation – Crown Point
- North Central Community Action Agencies – Michigan City
- Ohio Valley Opportunities, Inc. – Madison
- PACE Community Action Agency– Vincennes
- REAL Services, Inc. – South Bend
- South Central Community Action Program – Bloomington
- Southeastern Indiana Economic Opportunity Corporation – Aurora
- Western Indiana Community Action Agency – Terre Haute
To find the CAA serving your county, click HERE. Each Friday in May, we’ve highlighted CAAs who are helping Hoosiers thrive in communities around the state. This week, we’re focusing on a few who provide healthcare and mental health service and support.
National statistics reflect a rising number of individuals affected by mental illness. Several Indiana CAAs provide essential low-cost accessible healthcare and mental health services. This “clinical front door” allows these agencies to also assess other needs for the individual and their family that can be addressed through other programs.
Through innovative programs and collaborative efforts, Indiana’s community action agencies aim to ensure community well-being and resilience.Below are four Indiana CAAs leading in these healthcare-based efforts.
Area IV Agency on Aging & Community Action Programs, Inc.
Area IV Agency on Aging & Community Action Programs serves Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren, and White counties. Collaborating with Mental Health America, it secures grants from Indiana Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA) for mental health and aging programs and services. Notably, Area IV has a program that addresses the unique mental health conditions experienced by individuals over the age of 60. With Mental Health America, Area IV provides the free Let’s Talk program facilitated by Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, supporting emotional well-being and goal setting for participants.
Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation (HUEDC)
HUEDC offers Serenity Now Mental Health Services focusing on inner strength empowerment. They provide counseling for individuals, couples, families, and marriages in a nurturing and comfortable atmosphere. This program accepts clients from southwest Indiana, not just within the HUEDC service area.
TRI-CAP Family Planning Clinic
TRI-CAP serves low-income populations in Dubois, Pike, and Warrick counties, offering accessible reproductive health services. Their dedicated staff provides private and confidential services for around 1000 clients monthly on a sliding fee scale. They involve community volunteers in a healthcare advisory committee to improve service delivery. Clinic locations include Jasper in DuBois County, and Evansville in Vanderburgh County.
Pace Community Action Agency
Pace Community Action Agency partners with mental health providers in four counties, offering referrals for services including evaluations and therapy. Pace’s mental health coordinator engages with families to create personalized plans, highlighting the significance of family support for positive outcomes. Pace also operates Health Connection, providing family planning services on a sliding fee scale. Many qualify for free services. Health Connection also offers wellness examinations and accepts patients by appointment or walk-in at their five locations, or virtually via telehealth.
