JCEO is a private, not-for-profit Community Action Agency that has been serving Clinton and Franklin Counties since 1966.

Through a comprehensive list of services, JCEO offers a helping hand to the working poor, the elderly, the sick, and the disadvantaged. Our legacy is defined by our staff and volunteers’ unwavering dedication to enhancing the lives of our neighbors, creating an environment where those in need actively engage in their pursuit for self-sufficiency.

Who we are

The Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties is one of more than a thousand Community Action Agencies across the United States that work to give individuals and families the services and resources they need to escape the cycle of poverty. Every year, we assist thousands of North Country residents in need through a wide variety of programs that are tailored to the specific needs of our region.

Our Mission Statement

JCEO is dedicated to providing resources and services that enhance people’s dignity and self-reliance.

Our Vision

Employ a broad range of dedicated, talented individuals to achieve our mission.
Serve as a county referral center for persons in need of financial and personal assistance.
Create an environment which promotes clients’ active role in their pursuit of self sufficiency.
Create innovative programs by forming partnerships and coordinating services.
Interact with, and advocate for the economically disadvantaged.
Assess program effectiveness to plan for the future.

Our Values

To excel in the provision of service that is respectful and highly responsive to people’s needs.
To encourage people’s active role in their pursuit of self-reliance.
To be fair, honest and trustworthy in all of our interactions.
To attract and retain a broad range of dedicated and talented staff and volunteers.
To encourage teamwork characterized by unity of purpose and innovation.
To create innovative programs by forming partnerships and coordinating services.
To prudently manage our resources so as to ensure the continuation of our mission.
To zealously safeguard confidentiality and human rights.

Our History

Joint Council for Economic Opportunity (JCEO) is a Community Action Agency that has been serving the North Country as a private not-for-profit since 1966. The agency was first established as Clinton County’s official anti-poverty agency, following the historic signing of the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) in 1964. Rooted in a commitment to enhancing people’s dignity and self-sufficiency, JCEO’s original mandate persists to this day as the guiding force behind its mission. While programs have changed throughout the years, reflecting the changing needs of the community, all of our programs are based on the mission to alleviate poverty through practical, timely, and innovative programs and services.

In 1998, JCEO successfully established the Head Start program in Franklin County, expanding our reach beyond Clinton County. In 2013, additional services, including food, transportation, and weatherization, moved to complement the Head Start initiative in Franklin County. Reflecting our broader service area, JCEO updated its name to the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties.

Today, JCEO serves residents through our two administrative offices, as well as through 12 Community Outreach Centers and 10 Head Start Centers. A Board of Directors, consisting of a maximum of eight members each from the private, public, and consumer sectors of the local community, governs our agency. Departments currently administered include Head Start, Early Head Start, Day Care, Food Services, Energy Services, Community Outreach, and Senior Outreach. Each of these departments has their own programs, including HEAP and SNAP application assistance, summer camp scholarships, the Mobile Market, holiday baskets, Back-to-School, Christmas Bureau, Health Insurance Counseling, the Backpack Program, and much more. Through decades of dedication and with the hard work of our incredible staff of employees and volunteers, JCEO continues to empower individuals and families, fostering lasting positive change within the communities it serves.