What Community Action Akron Summit does

Community Action Akron Summit is a private non-profit corporation headquartered at 55 East Mill Street in Akron, Ohio, founded in 1964 to deliver antipoverty services to income-eligible residents of Summit County. The organization operates five core programs: Head Start / Early Head Start (early childhood education across nine sites in Akron, Barberton, Macedonia, and Tallmadge serving children from birth to age five), the Home Energy Assistance Program including Summer and Winter Crisis components, the Akron Summit Earned Income Tax Credit Program (free tax preparation through IRS-certified volunteers since 2003), the Foster Grandparent Program, and Pathways HUB Community Action — a care-coordination network targeting at-risk pregnant women and high-risk individuals to reduce infant mortality.

The Pathways HUB network operates on the national Pathways Community HUB framework, in which community health workers complete a 21-pathway risk assessment for each enrollee and track progress through a centralized Care Coordination System (CCS). The HUB bills six Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (Buckeye Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, Molina Healthcare, CareSource, Humana Healthcare, Amerihealth Caritas Ohio) on transaction-based payment points tied to pathway completion, educational sessions, and checklists. The HUB received Level I Certification from the Pathways Community HUB Institute in 2022, placing it among 13 certified HUBs in Ohio, and partners with anchor health systems including Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Summa Health, Akron Children's Hospital, and AxessPointe Community Health Centers. Underlying technology is workflow and outcomes-tracking software purpose-built around the HUB framework; there is no disclosed AI/ML layer.

The organization's revenue is composed primarily of federal and state grants — including a $2,546,492 Community Services Block Grant for 2024-2025, HEAP/LIHEAP funds from the Ohio Department of Development, Head Start and Early Head Start federal program funds, and Ohio Commission on Minority Health support — plus foundation grants (Huntington-Akron Foundation, others), corporate donations, and Medicaid MCO billing. All services are delivered free of charge to participants, with eligibility tied to income thresholds of 100-175% of federal poverty guidelines depending on program.

Name

Community Action Akron Summit

Legal name

Akron Summit Community Action, Inc.

Website

https://ca-akron.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Community Action Akron Summit is a 1964-founded Ohio non-profit delivering Head Start, energy assistance, free tax preparation, and Pathways HUB care coordination to income-eligible Summit County residents across eleven program sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Anti-poverty programs
• Early childhood education
• Energy assistance programs
• Community health coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grants: Community Action Akron Summit operates primarily on federal and state funding including Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding of $2,546,492 for 2024-2025, HEAP/LIHEAP funds from Ohio Department of Development, and Head Start/Early Head Start federal program funds.
2. Medicaid Managed Care Organization Billing: The organization serves as a hub for care coordination and bills Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) for services rendered by Care Coordination Agencies. Payment points include completion of pathways, educational sessions, and checklists.
3. Foundation and Private Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations such as Huntington-Akron Foundation ($63,800 grant for Pathways HUB infrastructure) and Ohio Commission on Minority Health for expansion funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Action Akron Summit is a non-profit community action agency that delivers a coordinated portfolio of anti-poverty programs to income-eligible residents of Summit County, Ohio. Its core offerings include Head Start/Early Head Start early childhood education, the Pathways Community HUB care coordination network targeting at-risk pregnant women, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) for heating and cooling bill support, free EITC tax preparation, and the Foster Grandparent senior volunteer program. All services are provided free of charge to participants who meet income-eligibility thresholds.

Product overview

Community Action Akron Summit is a non-profit social services organization offering multiple community assistance programs. The organization operates as a coordinated portfolio of services targeting low-income residents of Summit County, Ohio. The core programs include: Head Start/Early Head Start (early childhood education), Pathways HUB Community Action (healthcare and social services care coordination), Home Energy Assistance Program (utility bill assistance), Akron Summit Earned Income Tax Credit Program (free tax preparation), and the Foster Grandparent Program (senior volunteer services). These programs work together to reduce poverty and promote self-sufficiency through integrated service delivery across education, health, energy assistance, and financial support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start / Early Head Start A federal early childhood education program providing high-quality center-based infant/toddler and preschool learning environments for children from birth to age 5 from low-income families, promoting school readiness through education, health, nutrition, and family services. Operated across nine Head Start CDC locations in Akron, Barberton, Macedonia, and Tallmadge.
• Pathways HUB Community Action A network of 10 Care Coordination Agencies employing Community Health Workers to conduct 21 Core Pathways risk assessments for at-risk populations - particularly pregnant women and African American women facing infant mortality disparities - and to coordinate health and social services through a centralized Care Coordination System. Includes the Addiction Help Line for substance and gambling treatment assessments.
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Utility assistance program funded by the Ohio Department of Development providing heating and cooling help to lower-income households (at or below 175% of federal poverty guidelines) threatened with utility shut-off or out of bulk fuel. Includes the HEAP Summer Crisis Program (electric bill assistance and air conditioners/fans) and the HEAP Winter Crisis Program (heating assistance).
• Akron Summit Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Program Free tax preparation and filing service for eligible Summit County residents, provided by IRS-certified volunteers at community and university sites including Kent State University and University of Akron, helping low-income working families claim the EITC and other tax credits.
• Foster Grandparent Program A volunteer program that connects low-income seniors aged 55 and older with children in educational settings, providing mentorship, intergenerational support, purposeful engagement, and a tax-free stipend to supplement senior income.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of babies born full term and normal birth weight through Pathways HUB
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch Hotspot Lending Program providing 1,000 hotspots to low-income public housing residents. CAAS contributed $120,000 through CSBG CARES grant for data communications while AMHA purchased devices.
• Akron Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathways HUB network, employing Community Health Workers to work with at-risk pregnant women and families.
• Child Guidance and Family SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathways HUB network, providing care coordination services through trained community health workers.
• Summa HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathways HUB network, employing community health workers to support women and families in the program.
• AxessPointe Community Health CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally qualified health center partner in Pathways HUB network, providing care coordination services.
• Minority Behavioral Health GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathways HUB network providing behavioral health integration in care coordination.
• Summit County Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathways HUB network and funding partner for infant mortality reduction initiatives.
• Cleveland Clinic Akron GeneralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pathways HUB network providing healthcare integration and care coordination.
• Family & Community Services Inc. (FCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare Coordination Agency partner in Pathways HUB network employing community health workers.
• Freedom Housing for WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare Coordination Agency partner in Pathways HUB network serving high-risk pregnant women.
• Pathways Community HUB InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational certification body providing Level I Certification to Pathways HUB Community Action in 2022. Provides standards and frameworks for evidence-based care coordination model.
• Kent State UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVITA tax preparation site for international students and non-resident returns requiring Form 1040-NR.
• University of AkronminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVITA tax preparation site for international students requiring Form 1040-NR returns.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• National Community Action Partnership: National industry association for Community Action Agencies. Sets standards, provides CSBG training, and convenes the 1,000+ CAAs that compete for the same federal funding streams CAAS relies on.

Direct peers

• Cuyahoga County Community Action Agency: Larger urban peer community action agency in Cuyahoga County running Head Start, energy assistance, and workforce programs. Comparable nonprofit social services model serving income-eligible populations in Ohio.
• Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency: Michigan-based Community Action Agency running a similar anti-poverty program portfolio including Head Start, HEAP, and Pathways Community HUB care coordination. Directly comparable operating model across state lines.
• Mahoning County Community Action Agency: Community action agency serving neighboring Mahoning County, Ohio with the same CSBG/HEAP/Head Start federal funding model and similar low-income client base. Operates an analogous portfolio of anti-poverty programs.
• Stark County Community Action Agency: Direct neighboring-county peer running the same federal anti-poverty program stack (Head Start, HEAP, CSBG) for low-income residents in Stark County, Ohio with comparable service mix and funding profile.
• Family & Community Services, Inc. Care Coordination Agency partner in CAAS's Pathways HUB network. Operates adjacent community services for low-income populations in Summit County and shares CHW staffing and Medicaid billing workflows.
• United Way of Summit County: Local Summit County nonprofit funder and service coordinator addressing similar low-income and ALICE population needs. Operates overlapping referral networks and co-funds community programs in the same geography.
• Goodwill Industries of Akron: Nonprofit social services operator in Summit County delivering workforce development, financial coaching, and case management to low-income residents. Overlaps with CAAS in financial self-sufficiency and Head Start-adjacent family services.

Regional players

• Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging: Cleveland-based nonprofit social services organization with similar care coordination, case management, and grant-funded service model serving older adults and families. Comparable nonprofit funding stack but geographically adjacent rather than overlapping.

Broad incumbents

• AxessPointe Community Health Centers: Federally qualified health center partner in Pathways HUB network. Operates broader clinical services while overlapping on care coordination and Medicaid billing for low-income Summit County residents.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/communityactionakronsummit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communityactionakronsummit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Action Akron Summit