History Flashcards

Community Action Agencies trace their philosophical roots partly to which earlier progressive-era movement that established neighborhood centers to assist urban poor?

Answer: The Settlement House Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Settlement houses like Hull House (founded 1889 by Jane Addams) pioneered the community-based, resident-engaged approach that CAAs later embodied.

The Nixon administration's 1973 effort to dismantle the OEO included appointing which controversial director who actively worked to shut down the agency?

Answer: Howard Phillips

Howard Phillips was appointed OEO director in 1973 with the explicit goal of dismantling it, though courts temporarily blocked some of his actions.

Which 1960s urban crisis event, along with similar disturbances in other cities, amplified calls for increased community action funding and accelerated CAA expansion?

Answer: The Newark and Detroit riots of 1967

The 1967 urban rebellions in Newark and Detroit, among others, led to the Kerner Commission report and intensified federal investment in anti-poverty programs.

The Hatch Act restrictions relevant to CAAs historically prevented staff from:

Answer: Using federal funds for partisan political activities or campaigns

The Hatch Act prohibits use of federal funds for partisan political activity, a critical compliance requirement for CAAs receiving federal CSBG dollars.

The Ford Foundation's 'Gray Areas' program in the early 1960s served as a precursor to community action by:

Answer: Testing community-based, comprehensive approaches to urban poverty before federal legislation

The Gray Areas program funded comprehensive urban poverty initiatives in cities like Oakland and New Haven, providing a model that informed the Economic Opportunity Act.

Community Action Agencies are legally designated as which type of organization that allows them to receive tax-deductible donations?

Answer: 501(c)(3) public charities

CAAs are typically organized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, enabling tax-deductible donations and eligibility for a broad range of grants.

The CSBG network's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 demonstrated CAAs' historical role as:

Answer: First responders and long-term recovery agents at the community level

CAAs served as critical community anchors during Katrina recovery, providing emergency services, case management, and long-term rebuilding assistance to displaced residents.