OACAA Briefing: The latest news from OACAA and Ohio's CAAs

July 2026

Photo: Collage of photos from the 2026 OACAA Annual Summer Conference held in Dayton last week. Thank you to all who attended, sponsored, and supported this event!

Message from the Executive Director: A Seat at The Table: Why Community Action's Voice Matters

One of the highlights of this year's OACAA Summer Conference was welcoming both major candidates for Governor of Ohio, Dr. Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy, to speak with Ohio's Community Action Network.

As a nonpartisan organization, OACAA does not endorse candidates or political parties. We do, however, believe deeply in the importance of educating policymakers about Community Action and ensuring they understand the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio's families. >>> READ FULL BLOG

OACAA Welcomes New Staff Member

OACAA is pleased to welcome Sam Craighead as our new Training Manager, a new position created to strengthen one of the Association’s core commitments to our members: providing high-quality training, professional development, and technical assistance to Ohio’s Community Action Network.

>>> READ FULL BLOG

2025

OACAA Annual Report Released

We're excited to share the 2025 Annual Report, showcasing the collective impact of Ohio's Community Action Network. More than a collection of statistics, it highlights the stories, partnerships, and outcomes that are making a difference in communities across the state.

>>> READ ANNUAL REPORT

Upcoming Events

2026 Community Action Leadership Series

The Community Action Leadership Training series is back again this year! The series is available free of charge to OACAA members in good standing and is suitable for aspiring, emerging, and experienced leaders across Ohio. Topics include understanding yourself and others, incorporating changes, building capacity, and leading performance.

LEARN MORE & APPLY

NETWORK NEWS & SUCCESSES

As homelessness falls nationwide, one Ohio community is responding to increased need

(Source: WOUB Public Media; Original story by Erin Gottsacker [The Ohio Newsroom]; Photo Source: Nick Swartsell, WVXU)

PERRY COUNTY, Ohio (The Ohio Newsroom) — Homelessness across the country dropped by 3% last year, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

But in Ohio, the trend is moving in the opposite direction: homelessness here increased by more than 3% in 2025.

The rise is playing out in places like southeast Ohio’s Perry County.

“A lot of people who are surviving on a limited income just do not have enough funds to pay rent and utilities and then survive,” said Clarissa Reynolds, a resource navigator with Hocking Athens Perry Community Action and a member of the Perry Housing Coalition. >>> READ ARTICLE

Community Action Wayne Medina wins latest 100+ Women Who Care grant

(Source: Cleveland.com; Photo Source: Mary Jane Brewer)

MEDINA, Ohio -- Community Action Wayne Medina is the recipient of this quarter’s charitable donation from 100+ Women Who Care.

The group met July 21 at the Western Reserve Community Room to learn about and support charitable groups in Medina County.

Board member Cathy Posner announced that the group is now 244 women strong and has donated more than $598,000 over a span of more than 10 years to a variety of charitable groups.

>>>READ MORE

Hancock County Microtransit System Set to Launch in Early 2027

(Source: WKTN)

Hancock County’s new microtransit system will be a reality in early 2027.

The HHWP Community Action Commission said it was all because businesses, local government, nonprofits, and philanthropy came together around a shared vision.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, City of Findlay, Hancock County Commissioners, Findlay Tall Timbers Industrial Park, and the Blanchard Valley Port Authority are the founding partners for the initiative.

>>>READ MORE

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