About the CAAB

The Community Action Advisory Board (CAAB) is comprised of at least fifteen members representing a cross section of the community. Board membership includes low-income advocates, elected officials, and the general community.

Board Responsibilities: The advisory board advocates on behalf of people who are low-income at the state and federal levels to ensure services are available and equitable. Part of this work includes working with county staff to conducts a triennial needs assessment to inform funding recommendations addressing essential human needs and promoting self-sufficiency through services provided by community-based organizations.

Meetings: The CAAB currently meets at 1 pm on the fourth Monday of odd-numbered months at the Center for Community Health, Room C210B, 1601 E Fourth Plain Boulevard, Vancouver, and other times as needed. See sidebar for attending meeting virtually.

Composition: The CAAB is a tripartite board as described in the Community Services Block Grant Act, to include 1/3 elected officials, at least 1/3 low-income advocates and 1/3 community representatives. To ensure representation throughout Clark County, the board is comprised of one member of each category from each of the designated county council districts. The board also makes available At Large positions for individuals or groups who consider their interests underrepresented on the board.

• Elected officials are defined as any person elected to a position through a county held general election including city councils, county council, school boards, port commissions, fire districts, etc. An official who is elected by countywide vote may hold any open elected position of the board.
• Low-income advocates are defined as any person who is nominated by a group who is low-income such as tenants of a low-income housing complex or an agency that predominantly serves people who are low-income such as Council for the Homeless, Share, NAMI, etc.
• Community representatives are defined as members of business, industry, labor, religious, law enforcement, education, or other major groups and interests in the community served.
• At large members are individuals or groups that serves people who are low-income who consider the Advisory Board to be underrepresenting their interests and have petitioned the Advisory Board for a seat on the Board.

For additional information about the Community Action Advisory Board, email CommunityAction@clark.wa.gov.