About Us Employment Services We Provide Giving & Volunteering Latest News & Media Contact Us Resources About Us History The nationwide Community Action network was created with the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act (EOA) of 1964 as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” The ambitious purpose of this statute was to eliminate the causes and consequences of poverty in the United States. The act established a federal Office of Economic Opportunity and created organizations called Community Action Agencies that would develop strategies to solve local issues of poverty. Originally the Licking Economic Action Development Study, now just LEADS, was formed in 1965 and incorporated in 1966 with the purpose of assisting economically disadvantaged residents of Licking County. LEADS Head Start services have expanded to include Delaware and Union Counties, and most recently an affordable housing project in Knox County. Over the years, LEADS goal has been to focus on the needs of entire families and communities by providing services and tools that contribute to their upward mobility. LEADS is proud to be a part of the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, and the Community Action Partnership, a national association that represents the interests of the nearly 1,000 CAAs across the country, all devoted to ending poverty and empowering people to better their lives. Today, LEADS is recognized as a leader among community action agencies for its innovative ways of meeting needs. LEADS Administrative Office | 159 Wilson Street, Newark, Ohio 43055 | (740) 349-8606 LEADS Community Service Centers For Utility Assistance: Call 1-833-232-1751 LEADS Service Center 160 Wilson Street Newark, Ohio 43055 Phone: (740) 345-3133 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Services Provided: Pataskala Service Center 12536 Adams Lane SW Pataskala, Ohio 43062 Phone: (740) 927-9861 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday / Wednesday / Friday Services Provided: Buckeye Lake Service Center 41 First Street Buckeye Lake, Ohio 43008 Phone: (740) 928-4481 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday & Thursday by appointment only Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday & Thursday (Food Pantry) Services Provided: Utica Service Center 308 North Main Street Utica, Ohio 43080 Phone: (740) 892-4192 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday (Headstart) Hours: 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm Thursday (Food Pantry) Services Provided: Newark Head Start Center 986 East Main St. Newark, Ohio 43055 Phone: (740) 345-1745 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Services Provided: Delaware Head Start Center 607 Sunbury Rd Delaware, Ohio 43015 Phone: (740) 363-8810 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Services Provided: Buckeye Lake Head Start Center 5312 Walnut Road NE Buckeye Lake, Ohio 43008 Phone: (740) 928-1123 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Services Provided: Marysville Head Start Center 111 Morey Drive Marysville, Ohio 43040 Phone: (937) 642-1230 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Services Provided: © 2021 LEADS Community Action Agency - All Rights Reserved