COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INC
Helping People. Changing Lives
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The lack of available and affordable high-quality child care and early learning options, housing, mental health care, and memory care services are problematic in San Luis Obispo County. The goal of eliminating chronic homelessness in the county continues to be elusive. CAPSLO also provides reproductive services for low-income individuals, healthy living classes at local high schools, support for teen parents and families in crisis, and home weatherization and disability adaptations for those who could not otherwise afford these services.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Regional Head Start, Early Head Start Partnership Programs
Child Care Resource Connection (CCRC) connects families to quality childcare providers and subsidized childcare programs; assists childcare providers to offset the costs of children's meals; trains persons to start childcare businesses; and maintains a toy and resource lending library. Head Start and Early Head Start offer comprehensive services to low-income families of children 0-5, to address their emotional, social, health, and nutritional needs. Our goal is to provide children a successful beginning, leading to a better future, and help parents move toward self-sufficiency. Migrant and Seasonal Head Start provides agricultural families with full-day childcare and child/family development services. State Child Development Programs offer learning environments to foster healthy child development and school readiness. State Migrant, State Preschool and State General Child Care programs provide early childhood education, childcare, nutrition and health services for children 0-5 years, as well as parent support & development services.
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start/Migrant and Seasonal Early Head Start, and Migrant Early Head Start
The MSHS and MSEHS programs provide low-income migrant and seasonal farmworker families with programs that in FY 2017-2018 served 2,146 children from pre-natal stages to five years of age. The high-quality, comprehensive child development programs operate in the nine California counties of Fresno, Kern, Monterey, Orange, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Full-day services are provided in center-based and family child care options that operate five days per week for seven-eight months during peak agricultural periods. Community Action Partnership of Madera County, CAPSLO’s delegate agency, provided 519 of the children services in Fresno County during FY 2017-2018.
The Migrant Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships operate in Fresno, Kern, Monterey, Orange, San Benito, San Joaquin, and Santa Barbara counties, enabling CAPSLO to meet the unique needs of 464 migrant, at-risk children and pregnant women who work in the agricultural fields throughout the seven- county service area. Community Action Partnership of Madera County, a delegate agency, provided 30 of the children services in Fresno County.
State Child Development Programs
The program provides high-quality, full-day and part-day child care for approximately 1,487 children, birth through five years of age, in six counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Joaquin, San Diego, Kern and Fresno. Families pay a fee for child care services provided based on their income and an established sliding scale.
Child Care Resource Connection (CCRC) Alternative Payment and Resource and Referral Programs
CAPSLO’s CCRC helps parents and community members find child care through the Resource and Referral Network. The Alternative Payment Program provides eligible parents/caretakers with financial assistance to offset child care costs to allow their pursuit of job training/employment, or further education. The program served 1,428 children in 863 families during FY 2017-2018. CCRC also offers training and licensing assistance to those who want to become child care providers and maintains a Toy and Resource Library, which is open to the public, and connects families with state and local agencies dedicated to creating a safe environment for all children.
Child Care Food Program
The program provide healthy meals to children eligible to participate in the Child Care Food Program administered by the California Department of Education. Approximately 1,190,866 meals were served in FY 2017-2018 to children; 535,934 of those were to children enrolled in San Luis Obispo County through the CCRC program. The remaining meals were served to center-based children in San Luis Obispo County and in outlying service areas extending from Orange County in the south to San Joaquin County in the north.
Health and Prevention Services Programs
The programs provide reproductive health medical services, education and advocacy. Health Division programs focus on prevention: age appropriate health education for high-school students, positive youth development, free to low-cost reproductive health care services including teen peer clinics, menopausal services, health screening and education clinics for seniors, and the removal of gang and anti-social tattoos. Youth Programs include classroom presentations, one-on-one nutrition coaching, and fitness activities. Related to obesity prevention in the belief that teens deserve the opportunity to learn how to take care of themselves and to be positive role models for peers and family. Youth Programs work in partnership with schools and other community organizations to help teens build healthy lifestyles and nurture their resilience.
Two health clinics, located in San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande, in FY 2017-2018 served 6,169 unduplicated clients, youth programs served 3,022 clients, the adult wellness program served 280 clients, and the tattoo removal program served 176 clients.
Housing Support, Sheltering, and Veterans Services Programs
In FY 2017-2018 through the Case Management program, case managers worked with 276 individuals to stabilize income and/or obtain permanent housing or housing support. The program also provides intensive case management for chronically homeless individuals transitioning from life on the street.
Homeless Services shelter, feeds, and offers an array of services to homeless and those facing a housing crisis throughout San Luis Obispo County, with the goal of helping individuals achieve stability and self- sufficiency. Volunteers, an integral part of the program, provide overnight supervision, prepare and serve meals, and help with fundraising. A total of 25,777 shelter nights were provided through Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter, and overflow program operated by Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless, a safe parking program operated seven days per week and a seasonal warming station. A total of 57,386 breakfasts and dinners were provided. In collaboration with the Friends of Prado Day Center, People’s Kitchen and the Ministerial Association, CAPSLO operated Prado Day Center in San Luis Obispo and provides 18,228 breakfasts , as well as 21,849 lunches through People’s Kitchen. Additional services include day sheltering, laundry services, and access to social services for approximately 82 individuals daily. The new comprehensive 40 Prado Homeless Services Center opened October 2018 and is the only full service facility in San Luis Obispo County. It is open 24 hours per day/365 days per year and houses all homeless services under one roof, including medical and mental health care, job training, recuperative care, a Head Start program, counseling for dual diagnosed clients, and reproductive services.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families conducts outreach and provides eligible Veteran Families who are either homeless or very low-income with case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits to either remain in or secure permanent housing on a sustainable basis.
Energy Conservation Programs
The Energy Conservation Programs offer free energy saving home improvements and minor home repairs to qualified lower-income households.
In FY 2017-2018, programs funded by PG&E and SoCal Gas provided over 2,533 households with basic weatherization services in San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Monterey counties. The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program assisted 210 households with weatherization services, heating and cooling, and water heater replacements. These programs cut monthly bills by up to 40 percent through the installation of weather-stripping, insulation, efficient lighting and other qualified households with payment of their utilities. Minor repairs, including handicap access, were performed for 598 households through funding provided by the Area Agency on Aging and the Community Development Block Grant’s Home Repair Programs.
Family and Community Support Services
The Direct Services program assists families to meet basic needs to achieve a stable, safe home environment and sustain self-sufficiency. A range of services are provided to minimize family stressors, ensure child safety, and support family well-being. A total of 656 clients were served by the program.
Services Affirming Family Empowerment (SAFE) is a community-based, school-linked program designed to bring services to children and families. Family Advocates provide prevention and intervention assistance and facilitate meetings with families and providers in order to develop a plan to find solutions to problems the family may be facing. In FY 2017-2018, a total of 302 families were served by the SAFE programs.
Adult Day Services offers a licensed, social model day care program in northern San Luis Obispo County that accommodates 17 to 20 adults daily. The program provides a safe and stimulating environment for frail elderly adults who may have significant memory loss or dementia. The center operates five days per week and is designed to meet the needs of working families. A full, hot lunch is served daily and paid staff and volunteers provide care and activities for the participants.
General Fund
The General Fund accommodates a number of small programs that foster community awareness and has unrestricted activities which support other programs of the Agency.
Where we work
Awards
Pathways to Excellence Award 2016
National Community Action Partnership
Hands on Heroes (2 staff) 2020
First 5 San Luis Obispo County
Congressional Women of the Year 2020
Congressman Salud Carbajal
Lyndon Baines Johnson Leadership Award 2022
National Community Action Partnership
Lois Carson Leadership Award 2022
CALCAPA
Affiliations & memberships
National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association 2020
National Association For the Education of Young Children 2020
Pacific Association for the Education of Young Children 2020
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association 2020
National Coalition for Sexual Health 2020
California QRIS Consortium 2020
California Alternative Payment Association 2020
California School-Age Consortium 2020
Healthy Teen Network 2020
California Food Program Roundtable 2020
Association of Nationally Certified Roma Implementers 2020
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of clients who report general satisfaction with their services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Social and economic status, Ethnic and racial groups, Age groups, Family relationships, Health
Related Program
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start/Migrant and Seasonal Early Head Start, and Migrant Early Head Start
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
I value the program service I received. 97% Program services were helpful. 97% Staff were caring. 97% Staff met my needs 94% I was helped in a timely manner. 97% I will use program services again. 94%
Number of customers reporting satisfaction with program
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Age groups, Ethnic and racial groups, Health, Family relationships
Related Program
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start/Migrant and Seasonal Early Head Start, and Migrant Early Head Start
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
91% of clients reported feeling "better able to meet your or your family's needs in the past year as a result of CAPSLO services?"
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
CAPSLO seeks to eliminate the causes and perpetuation of poverty by empowering low-income individuals and families to achieve stability and self-sufficiency through a wide array of community-based collaborations and programs. CAPSLO's goal is to provide crisis intervention, education, and support to disadvantaged individuals and families. By focusing on connecting individuals and families to community resources and services and through collaborative partnerships and comprehensive programs, CAPSLO offers programs across geographic, demographic, and lifespan spectrums. CAPSLO assists low-income families with children ages 0-5, including farmworker families; families in crisis; the elderly and disabled; veterans; teens and teen parents; families of those with memory issues, such as dementia; adults with antisocial tattoos; homeless individuals and families, dual diagnosed homeless individuals, and homeless individuals who need a safe place to recuperate from hospitalizations; and those needing a residential detox program.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Established in 1965 as a private, nonprofit, public benefit corporation, CAPSLO is one of 1,100 community action agencies nationwide. The agency's mission is about helping individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency and breaking the cycle of poverty through a multitude of collaborations and programs. For example, we work closely with the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County and distribute food and other basic needs directly to families, and even more so during the pandemic.
Our Health and Prevention Division and Child, Youth and Family Services Division programs address health, mental health, well-being, and quality education from preschool to adulthood. For example, the Teen Academic Parenting Program supports pregnant and parenting teens in completing high school and pursuing college or a suitable training program. The Teen Wellness Program offers training to schools and organizations on culturally sensitive and competent LGBTQ practices, and integrates inclusivity in all evidence-based sexual health and health education curricula and strategies delivered to students. Our Energy Services Division provides weatherization, minor home repair, and utility assistance to the low-income, seniors, and the disabled. The agency has a strategic planning goal around living wages and works with employment training agencies so that our clients can acquire meaningful, compensated work. Our Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program has an employment program tailored specifically for its veteran clients.
The agency recently established a DEI task force to support a workplace that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for employees and empower staff of various backgrounds to connect, belong, learn, and grow together. It's workgroups are productive and book club well attended.
CAPSLO's 35 programs use specific goals and outcomes and a plethora of community partners to offer client-centered, strength-based, wrap-around services and case management.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
CAPSLO, San Luis Obispo County's federally-designated community action agency, receives over 225 grant awards and government and corporate contracts annually, valued at over $100 million. Each year the agency provides services to over 30,000 individuals across the lifespan in 11 California counties, providing a range of services that help low-income individuals achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency.
CAPSLO has a dedicated, compassionate, culturally competent, well-trained staff; 70% speak Spanish. This is evidenced by numerous local and national awards bestowed on our CEO, Deputy Director, child care managers, and others. Staff retention speaks to commitment and capacity to achieve to our mission of empowering clients and participants to become self-sufficient: 20% (213) have been with the agency for 5-10 years; 25% (269) for 11-20 years; 12% (131) for 21-39 years; and 6% (6) for 40 years or more. Additionally, 23% (280) staff are over the age of 60, which speaks to considerable experience in their program or service area.
CAPSLO has a record of coordinating community services with governmental, non-profit, faith-based, foundation, and corporate partners. The agency is meticulous in completing required program activities, meeting or exceeding outcomes, and passing all audits and local, state, and federal reviews with no findings. CAPSLO has decades of experience, a strong network of committed partners, and has taken the lead in pioneering innovative projects. By combining case management, evidence-based strategies, and best practices, CAPSLO assists families in achieving financial stability, educational success, stable mental health, physical well-being, and permanent housing. The agency produces an unduplicated count annually.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
CAPSLO's tripartite Board of Directors crafts the agency's Strategic Plan based on a biennial community needs assessments. The 2018-2022 Strategic Plan calls for increased Board member advocacy regarding homelessness and child care, as well as expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care. The Strategic Plan is informed by a biennial comprehensive community assessment, which identifies need priorities of our target populations.
The agency has passed all audits and reviews with no findings for over two decades.
In 2016, CAPSLO’s 50th year of operation, the agency garnered an Award for Excellence from the National Community Action Partnership for its gold standard practices in leadership and governance; strategic planning; client, partner, and stakeholder focus; measurement and performance management; human resources; organizational processes; and agency results. The agency's Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Program has received the Program of Excellence designation.
CAPSLO uses the Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) process, a management approach that builds accountable results into the agency's daily operations. CAPSLO has one Certified Community Action Professional and three Certified ROMA Implementers on staff.
The agency has administered a balanced, mission-driven performance management newly this year. We look forward to perfecting this measurement tool to enhance accountability and continuous program and agency improvement.
The agency has been recognized for its innovative programs, including but not limited to SLO-HUB, which addresses the complex needs of dual-diagnosed individuals; the Recuperative Care Program for homeless individuals released from local hospitals; Teen Monologues, a teen-driven theatrical performance focused on adolescent sexual health and decision-making; and a Supporting Father Involvement national research project.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY INC
Board of directorsas of 03/03/2023
Ms Dee Lacey
Lacey Livestock
Term: 2019 - 2023
Carlos Sosa
Low Income Representative
Chuck Cesena
Public representative
Gary Jordan
Low income representative
Sandee Mange
Low Income Representative
Margie Perez-Sesser
Private Representative
Anneka Scranton
Private representative
Erica A. Stewart
Public representative
Lan Dariz
City of Arroyo Grande
Marianne Reiss
Public representative
Diane Limon
Low income representative
Lan George
Low income representative
Lisa Sperow
Private representative
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/01/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.