Mcalester Head Start

As one of over 1,000 Community Action Agencies in America, we work to empower low-income families, change people's lives for the better and improve the communities we serve. We are all dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

On August 20, 1964 the late President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Economic Opportunity Act that first created Community Action. Shortly after Haskell, Latimer and LeFlore Counties formed single county Community Action agencies and operated some small programs. In December 1968 the boards of Haskell, Latimer and LeFlore County Community Action agencies voted to merge into one agency and formed KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc.

The name was selected from the names of the two mountain ranges which traversed the area, the Kiamichi Mountains and the Sans Bois Mountains. Pittsburg County was added a few years later. KI BOIS Community Action’s first Executive Director was Jim Hall, Jr. When Mr. Hall retired in 1978, Joye Roye was named Interim Director during the advertisement period. The board then selected Carroll Huggins to replace Mr. Hall.
KI BOIS Community Action, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation 501 (c) 3 operating in Southeast Oklahoma. The agency was organized as a part of the national “War on Poverty.” Administered by a 30 member Board of Directors, the agency represents all segments of the community elected officials, minority groups, businesses, social services, low-income and foremost the clients served.

Today, 55 years later, KI BOIS Community Action is the major social service agency in Southeastern Oklahoma, with their programs touching every age, ethnic and gender group in our area of operation. From senior programs and public transportation to programs for the Developmentally Disabled (DD), case management, and veteran services, KI BOIS Community Action is and continues to be the leader in community development and social services delivery.

KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. continues to increase services provided by our various programs. The agency has developed new partnerships and expanded existing partnerships to meet the increased demand for services.

KI BOIS Community Action continues to be recognized as a community leader on a local, state and national level. We will continue to develop all of our programs to meet the increasing demand for services.