Community Action Programs were born in the mid-sixties in an era of unrest and during a time in our national history when many social economic changes were taking place. The United States had just entered a war-era and the poor of this nation were beginning to have their voices heard on the national level.

Former President Johnson signed into law the Economic Opportunity act of 1964 and through authority of this act, the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) was formed under the Executive Office of the President. Most Community action efforts began in 1965, usually under the control of local Area Planning and Development Commissions. Later, most agencies formed into separate non-profit Community Action Agencies.

From 1964 until the Economic Opportunity Act was amended in 1967, the early programs were aggressive in approach and very little control was given to local public bodies. The Amended Act of 1967 gave more local control of Community Action efforts to local governments around the country and a much greater cooperative effort on behalf of the poor evolved. In 1973, former President Nixon determined that OEO had little value and put in place a national director and other vehicles to "dismantle" OEO. This effort failed, but in 1974 the OEO was changed to the Community Services Administration (CSA) with emphasis toward true services to the poor and near poor. N 1981, President Reagan dissolved the Community Services Administration and funds were authorized under the community Services Block Grant. This allowed funds to go directly to the states where these funds were then duly allocated to each county governmental entity who had the choice of either operating their own Community Services Block Grant programs or delegating those responsibilities to a designated non-profit entity.

Overview, Inc. began operations as a non-profit organization on October 1, 1983; operating within the boundaries of the Oconee APDC. At that time, the annual funding level for the Community Services Block Grant was $175, 225. In addition, Overview was awarded funds to operate the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Weatherization programs, as well as, the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.

Since 1983, Overview has accepted additional funding for the Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, Adult Day Rehabilitation, Homemaker Aid, Non-emergency Medical Transportation, Emergency Food Distribution, Energy Counseling, Housing Preservation, Community Food and Nutrition, Family Resettlement and SSI Advocacy, Unregulated Child Care Training and Adult Education in GED preparation and computer literacy training.