About Our Agency Less than two years after the enactment of federal authorizing legislations, in 1966 a group of local citizens organized the Clallam-Jefferson Community Action Council. These insightful men and women well recognized the unmistakable signs of poverty lurking in the shadows of the majestic Olympic mountains: Poor health. Hunger. High unemployment. Homelessness. These and other needs gained more definition with the completion of a comprehensive needs assessment conducted by six local individuals who had themselves been victims of poverty. But what this survey revealed was not merely a need for the basic life-sustaining food and shelter services, but also for a desire for assistance in changing lives and personal circumstances through education and job training opportunities. In short, it became clear that, given needed support, people wanted to become independent of the need for financial assistance from public sources. The non-profit corporation organized in 1964 rapidly gained the notice and respect of governmental offices and private human services organizations. In an effort to be responsive to the needs of the communities of the Peninsula, the agency has established more than 100 distinct services and today employs nearly 350 professionals working at more than a dozen different locations. In the spring of 2000, the corporate name was changed to Olympic Community Action Programs.