Center for Policy Analysis and Community Change

The Center for Policy Analysis and Community Change (CPACC) was created at WORD in 2000 to facilitate research, policy development and organizing strategies relevant to the women and families who participate in WORD’s programs.

CPACC works to create community awareness of women’s issues in our community. The Center staff also develops policy initiatives, and participates in collaborative efforts which increase access to economic resources, social recognition, and political influence by all women.

CPACC is currently:

• participating as an active member of Montana Women Vote (MWV), a collation of ten women’s organizations in Montana, for which WORD acts as the fiscal sponsor.
• designing community-based and participatory research to gather information on the priority issues and concerns of low-income women in Missoula

The future includes a feasibility study for a community based women’s center on Missoula’s north side.

Through Montana Women Vote, WORD is involved in citizen education, leadership training, and voter registration. We want to increase women’s participation at all levels of the democratic process. We also contribute to the development of a womens’ legislative agenda for each biennial state legislative session.