Helping Celebrate Abilities History The Handicapped Children's Association of Southern New York, Inc. has served people with disabilities and their families since 1947. HCA is a New York State Cerebral Palsy Association affiliate and a United Way Member Agency. Mission Develop, establish, and maintain multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment services for developmentally and physically disabled persons and their families. Plan and implement individualized programs designed to increase to the greatest possible degree the individual's physical, social, intellectual, and emotional abilities. Enable developmentally disabled persons to remain in the community, develop to their fullest potential, and become independent functional members of society. Vision To provide integration opportunities for local people with disabilities in a dignified, respectful manner. To provide an environment where activities, services and support are based on the dreams, interests, preferences, strengths, and capabilities of the individual -- where a person with a disability is treated as a person.

ACE was created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as part of a national network of federally funded Community Action Agencies (CAA’s) to administer various programs on the community level that assist people of low-income out-of-poverty conditions. Incorporated in 1965, ACE began with a budget of $430,000 as a grantee for the federal Head Start Program maintaining fiscal and administrative responsibility for services in Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna, and Wayne Counties. ACE is a Community Action Agency authorized to administer funds received from federal, state, local, or private funding entities to assess, design, operate, finance, and oversee anti-poverty programs. ACE is intended to promote self-sufficiency and depends heavily on volunteer work, especially from the low-income community. ACE's mission statement is to empower people with the skills needed to become self-sufficient and enhance their lives through education, training, life skills, and support services. Over the past 50 years, ACE has developed a broad range of additional programs and services that promote school readiness for children and families and helps families struggling with the effects of poverty. These programs range from employment, education, income management, transportation, workforce initiatives, veterans support services, weatherization, crisis and emergency food assistance, to parenting support, childcare, and early learning programs. ACE is here to Help People Prosper!

Using the ancient liturgy as our well-spring, we form our priests in the traditions of the Church to serve at the altar and in the parish so that the fullness of Christ might enter the emptiness of the world.

The Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Greater Capital Region (CEO) is an “umbrella” agency that provides the overall leadership, policy guidance, coordination, and support necessary to successfully deliver a wide range of services. The programs at CEO are designed to empower individuals and families to build self-sufficiency in all life areas and rise out of poverty. CEO works in partnership with the individuals, families, and the larger community to improve the quality of life for all community members by addressing their social, emotional, economic and educational needs.