Our Mission
Our Legacy
JCEO’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Clinton and Franklin Counties, a testament to over five decades of unwavering commitment to community empowerment. First established in 1964, and operating as a private not-for-profit since 1966, JCEO has left an indelible mark on the lives of countless North Country residents. Through comprehensive services, JCEO has offered a helping hand to the working poor, the elderly, the sick, and the disadvantaged. Our legacy is defined by the dedication of our staff and volunteers to enhancing the lives of our neighbors, creating an environment where individuals actively engage in their pursuit for self-sufficiency.
Our Mission
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 private, not-for-profit Community Action Agency that has been serving the North Country since 1964. JCEO attained its private not-for-profit status in 1966, serving as Clinton County’s official anti-poverty agency, two years after the signing of the historic Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) of 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 24 member Board of Directors, consisting 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.