Community Services Advisory Council

The Snohomish County Community Services Advisory Council (CSAC) was established by the County Council in 1986, per Snohomish County Code (SCC) 2.420. This advisory council exists due to Snohomish County Human Services Department's designation as a Community Action Agency (CAA).

Community Action Agency

CAAs are nonprofit and public organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. The CSAC is a broadly representative body advising the Snohomish County County Executive, County Council, and the Human Services Department on poverty related issues, including ways to reduce or eliminate the causes of poverty to meet the needs of individuals and families who are of low income in Snohomish County.

CSAC Mission

The advisory council's mission is to make Snohomish County more responsive to the needs and interests of the poor by mobilizing both government and non-governmental resources, and creating greater institutional sensitivity through education and advocacy.

Function & Purpose of CSAC

The purpose of the advisory council is to engage the Snohomish County community in assessing local needs and working to address the causes of poverty through education and advocacy efforts. Furthermore, the CSAC reviews Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding applications and makes recommendations based on appropriateness and effectiveness of proposed projects in addressing priority needs of low-income residents in Snohomish County.

Council Structure

 The CSBG program must be administered through a community-selected tripartite board. This tripartite board governance is a feature unique to CAAs and is a critical element in differentiating CAAs from other community-based organizations. The tripartite board governance also helps to empower those who have direct experience of the barriers to economic security to participate directly in the development of effective alternatives.

The advisory council makes efforts to have each County Council legislative district represented through membership and shall consist of the following:

  • A minimum of 12 members, but not more than 24
  • At least one-third of the members representative of low-income individuals and families, living in the county district served
  • At least one-third of elected public officials currently holding office or their representatives, or appointive public officials if there are not enough elected officials available
  • The balance drawn from the private sector including businesses, nonprofits, faith-based groups, charities, and civic organizations, or other major groups and interests in the community served

To read more about the CSAC, please review the CSAC bylaws (PDF). 


CSAC meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday of each month from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00p.m., and are open to the public. Meetings are located in the Robert J. Drewel Building (Administration Building East), Room 6A04, sixth floor at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, in Everett.

Additional Information

To be considered for membership on the CSAC, or for further information, please email Tanya Baniak