During a time in which our nation is in a state of transition, so is Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Inc.(CAGI) Over the past nine months, our agency has initiated a system of organizational change. An interim Executive Director was named and a search committee of the Board of Directors worked to find a permanent leader. Agency staff also began an analysis of CAGI programs and management structure to improve the internal workings of the agency with the aim to better serve our clients in the four counties under our jurisdiction. Therefore, CAGI is in an incubator stage of fundamental change. Consequently, and with the help of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, our Energy Assistance Program experienced the best winter season efficiency and production in its history. More than 34,000 families have received assistance to date. The Boone County Child Development Academy has increased its client base and its license to include infants and toddlers.

Beginning January, 2008, a new permanent administration at CAGI emerged to set a new direction for the organization. As with infusion of new leadership in any organization, agency wide analysis became the prelude to positive change. The CAGI board has engaged in developing a new strategic plan and management has begun to analyze and develop new policies and procedures for every department including Energy Assistance, Weatherization, Home Repair, Section 8, Foster Grandparent, Transitional Housing, Senior Housing, Child Care, Fiscal Integrity and Maintenance. These efforts are designed to improve the long term focus of CAGI, improve its day-to-day operational efficiency and improve service to our clients.

The new direction of CAGI also includes a change in focus to provide services to our clients through collaboration with our stakeholders. By working in concert with others, CAGI as well as its partners can collectively bring our individual strengths to the delivery of services without carrying the heavy burden of weathering all the expenses. This model is much more efficient and brings ancillary benefits to our clients. One such benefit is the creation of new ideas that may not be generated within one organization.

The Greater Indianapolis Community including Boone, Hamilton and Hendricks Counties have received the “New CAGI” very well. We are developing new partners and are bringing other entities into our discussions about CAGI’s future.

However, CAGI’s primary focus is currently on strengthening its internal operations to improve efficiency and insure that service delivery to our clients is our number one concern.