The functions of a community action agency shall, subject to the provisions of sections 17b-885 to 17b-895, inclusive, and the approval of the Commissioner of Social Services, include, but not be limited to:

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(1) Planning systematically for and evaluating the program, including actions to develop information as to the problems and causes of poverty in the community, to determine how much and how effectively assistance is being provided to deal with those problems and causes, and to establish priorities among projects, activities, and areas as needed for the best and most efficient use of resources;

(2) Encouraging agencies engaged in activities related to the community action program to plan for, secure and administer assistance available under sections 17b-885 to 17b-895, inclusive, or from other sources on a common or cooperative basis; providing planning or technical assistance to those agencies; and generally, in cooperation with community agencies and officials, undertaking actions to improve existing efforts to attack poverty, such as improving day to day communications, closing the service gaps, focusing resources on the most needy, and providing additional opportunities to low-income individuals for regular employment or participation in the programs or activities for which those community action agencies and officials are responsible;

(3) Initiating and sponsoring projects responsive to needs of the poor which are not otherwise being met, with particular emphasis on providing central or common services that can be drawn upon by a variety of related programs, developing new approaches or new types of services that can be incorporated into other programs, and filling gaps pending the expansion or modification of those programs; providing technical assistance and other support needed to enable the poor and neighborhood groups to secure on their own behalf available assistance from public and private sources; and

(4) Joining with and encouraging business, labor and other private groups and organizations to undertake, together with public officials and agencies, activities in support of the community action program which will result in the additional use of private resources and capabilities, with a view to such things as developing new employment opportunities, stimulating investment that will have a measurable impact in reducing poverty among residents of areas of concentrated poverty, and providing methods by which residents of those areas can work with private groups, firms and institutions in seeking solutions to problems of common concern.