The Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) is the statewide association of the 24 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in Massachusetts. CAAs were created 40 years ago under a federal mandate to combat poverty. Since their inception, CAAs have evolved into multi-service agencies which assist tens of thousands of individuals and families each year. MASSCAP's mission is to enhance the abilities of CAAs to assist low-income and working poor families and individuals across Massachusetts in their efforts to gain needed services and to attain economic self-sufficiency.