NADC was initiated in 1965 when some concerned individuals organized so that they might more effectively confront the serious problems facing the area. In the fall of 1965 the organization was incorporated and officially recognized by the Office of Economic Opportunity as a Community Action Agency.
On March 1st of 1966 NADC officially began operation as a Community Action Agency.
NADC is governed by a thirty member board of directors. The board is composed of six members from each of the five counties (Fulton, Independence, Izard, Sharp and Stone). In accordance with the agency bylaws, 1/3 of the board members are taken from the public sector, 1/3 from the private sector, and 1/3 from the low income sector.
There are 16 Community Action Agencies in Arkansas that blanket the state and whose mission is to work with poor people to help them help themselves out of poverty.
Programs offered in the 5 county service area within NADC range from Head Start for children to the Aging Program for the elderly. Although each of these programs is structured to serve particular needs of the target population, they are also structured to function, not as individual components, but as a cooperative part of a whole. A steady flow of inter-agency communication and cooperation is essential for NADC to serve the purpose it was created for, to get people with a need together with people who have resources to fill that need, and to get people in our area together to help themselves and their communities.
The Aging Programs offers our senior citizens a wide variety of services. The socialization centers are located in Sidney, Ash Flat, Hardy, Brockwell, Cherokee Village and Mountain View. They offer a chance to have more than just a meal. Arts and crafts, games, quilting, musical activities and outside recreation provide an incentive to the participants to come to centers and enjoy themselves. Other program services include home delivered meals, transportation, chore services, information and referral.
Available to those living in Independence County, the ISPSF program provides financial assistance to single parents. The scholarship can be used to cover emergencies - barriers that often keep single parents from attending school or may cause them to drop out of school. Each participant is provided counseling and referrals in the program as they continue their college education.
