Agency History
Lakeshore CAP began life on Washington Island as Washington Island Community Service Council in 1966, shortly after legislation to develop agencies was put in place. Local community members worked to develop a new Community Center, and to achieve funding and satisfy HUD requirements that the Center have a full-time management entity, some politically astute summer residents asked for designation of a new "CAP", a Community Action Program. No standards existed relative to size of an agency in those early years, and the Island was successful. Shortly thereafter, changes in the law required that no agency could be formed without a population base of 150,000 persons.
The agency worked to develop programming which assisted islanders only, during which time the agency developed CETA and PSE programs to provide employment and job skill development to local youth and adults, formed the first weatherization program in Door County, assisted in the development and operation of the Community Center, was partially responsible for equipping the dental and doctor offices, ran youth recreation programs, took youth on field trips, assisted the school in operation of the first Kindergarten, and a myriad of other miscellaneous activities such as recruiting Cub and Boy Scout leaders, prepared community land use plans, conducted fund raising for community programs, and assisted in the successful recruitment and placement of a replacement physician in the community. Throughout this time, the agency also assisted low income persons directly with fuel assistance, food programming and advocacy with county and state service providers.
The agency saw a significant change of direction in 1980-81 when the Reagan administration elected to end the Community Services Administration, the agency previously responsible for funding Community Action Agencies, and replaced it instead with the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Wisconsin promptly enacted a formula providing agencies a Pro Rata share of the total allocation based on the number of low income persons served by each agency, with the result that Washington Island CAP (as the agency was known by this time), which had received $50,000 annually to serve Washington Island, now received a figure of $17,000 to serve all of Door County. State officials met with the Board and indicated that while they did not expect the agency to expand to all of Door County with the reduced sum, they would only provide additional dollars to them if the Board (and staff) chose to expand to increase the population served.
The Board of Directors elected to attempt an expansion, and authorized staff to begin program development work in the larger area of Door and Kewaunee County. While this was successful in a matter of one year, the agency still only achieved a total allocation of approximately $37,000 to serve the two counties. Services on Washington Island continued, but it was apparent that they could not continue as they had in past years. The Town was requested to provide funds to support maintenance costs for the building, and some program activities were spun off to other groups.
Services were also limited as a result of the many special purpose organizations which existed in Door County, and the limited availability of funds to support new initiatives. Further expansion to provide a larger base was recommended to the Board of Directors, and their support was given. The name of the agency was changed to Lakeshore CAP, Inc., at this time to reflect the larger service area.
In 1986, expansion was achieved in Manitowoc County, marking another significant turning point for the agency. This brought the first "contract for service" opportunities, and the beginnings of a more focused youth-at-risk initiative. It also marked the first achievement of United Way funding for the agency with the Victim-Offender Mediation Program a short while later. Services were expanded to Sheboygan County in 1990, making the agency a four-county service provider. Lakeshore CAP also is currently conducting a limited amount of work in Calumet County.
The staff is currently comprised of 20 full-time staff and 17 part-time staff. In addition, the agency relies heavily on volunteers to support some of the program activities, and records in excess of 150 additional persons who volunteer time with the agency each year as board members, advisory committee members, volunteer assistants, mediators, food pantry workers, mentors, and program assistants in some capacity. Programs and activities are varied throughout the service area, depending upon needs identified, the capacity to raise funds, and the ability to provide sufficient staff time to conduct the initiative.
The Lakeshore CAP Board of Directors is comprised of 1/3 elected officials, 1/3 low income persons, and 1/3 members of the private sector. One representative of each of the three sectors is elected from Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan counties. An additional three members, one from each sector, are drawn from throughout the service area of the agency.
The agency maintains offices in Sturgeon Bay, Algoma, Manitowoc and Sheboygan. The agency no longer has any affiliation with the Washington Island Community Center, and currently provides very limited services in that community.
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