Section 8-107 - Duties of community action agency. - Maryland Statutes

§ 8-107. Duties of community action agency.
 

(a)  Program plan.- A community action agency shall plan systematically for an effective community action program, and in doing so shall: 

(1) evaluate information on the causes and problems of poverty in the community; 

(2) assess the use and impact of current financial assistance; and 

(3) establish priorities among projects, activities, and target areas to achieve the best and most efficient use of resources. 

(b)  Encouraging and assisting subsidiary bodies.- A community action agency shall: 

(1) encourage subsidiary boards, councils, and agencies engaged in projects related to a community action program to plan for, secure, and administer available financial assistance on a cooperative basis; and 

(2) provide technical and organizational assistance to the subsidiary boards, councils, and agencies. 

(c)  Supplementing local anti-poverty efforts.- A community action agency shall actively supplement local efforts to combat poverty by: 

(1) focusing resources on the most needy; 

(2) providing employment opportunities for low-income persons; 

(3) closing service gaps; and 

(4) enabling low-income persons to participate in community action programs and projects. 

(d)  Community projects.- A community action agency shall initiate and sponsor community projects to help meet the needs of low-income persons with particular emphasis on: 

(1) establishing a pool of resources to serve a variety of community action programs; 

(2) developing versatile approaches and services; and 

(3) implementing stopgap measures pending the expansion or modification of community action programs. 

(e)  Encouraging resident participation.- A community action agency shall: 

(1) establish procedures for community residents to: 

(i) influence the character of their community action programs; and 

(ii) participate regularly in implementing those programs; and 

(2) provide the necessary technical and advisory support to enable low-income persons and community groups to secure public and private financial assistance for themselves. 

(f)  Supporting community action programs.- A community action agency shall join with and encourage business, labor, and other private or public officials and organizations to support community action programs that: 

(1) use private resources and capabilities for new employment opportunities; 

(2) stimulate investments that measurably reduce poverty in areas of concentrated poverty; and 

(3) provide residents in those areas with methods to work with private organizations, firms, and institutions to seek solutions to problems of common concern. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 83B, § 12-101(h); 2005, ch. 26, § 2.]