Central Sierra Connect

Purpose of the Organization:

Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency (A-TCAA), as a public organization and human service agency was formed by a joint powers agreement between the counties of Amador and Tuolumne in 1981, with the purpose to improve the lives of residents in this foothill region of California. A-TCAA has worked closely with Amador and Tuolumne County residents, as well as three adjacent counties to design and implement critically needed services. As a human service organization, A-TCAA is an excellent, cost-effective and efficient rural model agency that a provides an umbrella of "safety net" services under one agency, including high quality programs such as the: five-county food bank, homeless shelters and housing resource services, Head Start preschools, family learning centers and community centers, drug/alcohol prevention programs, home weatherization/utility bill assistance, lifeline emergency assistance and tax assistance, and in the Information and Assistance (I&A) Network Project which addresses the digital divide with a 3 county information and referral website and 21 neighborhood information centers designed to assist residents with accessing services along with the new Central Sierra Connect project to bring broadband access to our 5 county region. . A-TCAA's mission is to help individuals in Amador and Tuolumne Counties toward self-sufficiency; support local residents in becoming involved and contributing members of our communities; promote family and other supportive environments so that children, youth and elders can achieve their maximum potential; and finally; to form partnerships and coalitions within the community to meet these needs. The agency's board of directors, which meets bi-monthly, consists of 18 members, equal parts private sector, public sector, and low-income representatives of each county. It is important to note that two County Board of Supervisors from Amador and Tuolumne counties participate currently on A-TCAA's Board.