Community Services

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The DeKalb County Community Services Department (DCCS) has been DeKalb County’s official anti-poverty agency since 1984.  Our mission is to help low-income families achieve and maintain their highest level of self-sufficiency by providing a variety of programs.  We are a member of the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA) and the Community Action Partnership. 

DCCS is the Community Action Agency (CAA) designated to serve DeKalb County’s low-income families.  CAA’s are created by their local governments as public or private entities and have two primary purposes: to provide essential anti-poverty programs, and to advocate for the needs of the poor in their communities. 

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is our main funding source.  Locally, the CSBG is governed by the CSBG Administrative Board that consists of individuals from the public and private sectors as well as the low-income population. 

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity distributes the CSBG to the counties in Illinois.  Other funding sources Community Services receives include the DeKalb County Senior Tax Levy funds, FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program, State of Illinois Homeless Prevention Program, and other miscellaneous local, state and federal funding. Direct client assistance programs DCCS offers are Emergency Intervention, Family Stability and Support, CSBG Scholarship, Information Referral and Coordination, and Revolving Small Business Loan. 

Also, DCCS networks with various social service agencies, community groups, and businesses in the County to better serve the poverty population in DeKalb County.  Please contact us with any questions, comments and concerns you may have so we can better serve the low-income citizens of DeKalb County.