E-Newsletter: August 2021

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency

Get to Know the Community Action Board Members

This month Community Action continues our series of articles profiling Montgomery County Community Action Board members.

Myriam Paul has served on the Montgomery County Community Action Board (CAB) as a representative of the low-income community since 2018. Ms. Paul currently serves as the Secretary of the Board and previously served as an at-large member of the Executive Committee. This past year, Ms. Paul was nominated to serve as the Board’s representative to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board and she is actively engaged in planning the Community Advocacy Institute (CAI). In FY2019, Ms. Paul served on the County Council Grants Group. In her professional life, Myriam is a highly experienced Research Administrator. What I have learned from participating on the CAB is that we help carry the voice of the community. The effort, care, and sensibility we put into the work that we do, help in accomplishing the CAB mission to move the county residents out of poverty to self-sufficiency. Community empowerment is power, and that power has proven time and again that it can move mountains. – Myriam Paul

Lisa Conlon has served as the Montgomery County Board of Education representative in the public sector of the Community Action Board since 2006. Ms. Conlon, a lifelong resident of Montgomery County, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from McGill University and a Master of Social Work degree from Catholic University. Ms. Conlon is a licensed social worker with experience in the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Services; Family Services, Inc., in Gaithersburg (a subsidiary of Sheppard Pratt); and with Montgomery County Public Schools. She is currently the Social Services Specialist for the County’s Head Start/Pre-Kindergarten program.  One thing I have learned serving on the CAB is that our work is never done; changes always come and new challenges arise. Also, I have learned that together we can succeed in making change. Advocacy work is a community endeavor! We have to always be awake and strategize; government officials change, and budgetary priorities change. – Lisa Conlon

Nominated by the People’s Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Dr. Jeffery M. Johnson has served in the private nonprofit sector of the Community Action Board since 2019. Dr. Johnson currently serves as an at-large member of the Executive Committee. Dr. Johnson is President and CEO of the National Partnership for Community Leadership (NPCL). The mission of NPCL is to empower low-income parents with a focus on reducing father absence. Dr. Johnson serves as President of the Men’s Fellowship Ministry at the People’s Community Baptist Church.  What I have learned on the Community Action Board is that many dedicated people serve on the Board. The latter is committed to improving the lives of children and families in need in Montgomery County. I am particularly interested in how the board advocates for universal broadband access, among other things, and focuses on the education of early-age children through Head Start. The Board does make a difference, and I'm proud to represent our church in addressing the varying needs of the County's low-income residents. – Dr. Jeffery Johnson Look for more CAB member profiles in the coming months!

Make a Difference in Your Community – Apply to Serve on the Community Action Board!

The County Executive is now accepting applications for seven vacancies on the Community Action Board (CAB).  Three current low-income representatives on the CAB are eligible to reapply.  There are four vacancies in the private/nonprofit sector without incumbents.  Private/nonprofit representatives must be nominated by an organization and submit a letter from that organization with their application. 

The CAB is the governing body for the Community Action Agency and, along with the Head Start Parents Policy Council, for the County’s Head Start program.  The Board advocates for policies and programs that help lower-income residents move towards self-sufficiency, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, food and nutrition programs, work supports, early childhood education, and affordable housing.  The Board also plans and facilitates the Community Advocacy Institute, a free advocacy training program for lower-income residents. 

Apply online HERE by September 3 and submit nomination letters and resumes to Leah.Goldfine@montgomerycountymd.gov

Community Action in the Field

Community Action was represented at live, outdoor events this month. On August 21 at Wheaton Regional Park, Community Action was at the Right Start event, hosted by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services African American Health Program, Babies Born Healthy, and Early Childhood Services. Executive Director Sharon Strauss said, "We had a good amount of interest in VITA (the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program), Head Start, TESS and the CAI (Community Advocacy Institute)." Sharon is pictured with a child care provider who collected information to share with the families she serves.

Staff and volunteers representing the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center participated in the Long Branch area's National Night Out event on August 3, hosted by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation, on the grounds of the Long Branch Recreation Center. The community event featured community engagement with the Montgomery County Police Department, the City of Takoma Park, Montgomery County DHHS, and more. Below, TESS representatives Claudia Werner and Monica Goldberg are pictured with community members.

VITA's Monthly Tax Tips for Students Working Summer Jobs

IRS Tax Tip 2021-108, July 27, 2021 During the summer many students focus on making money from a summer job. They may want to gain work experience, earn some spending money or help pay for college. Here are some facts all student workers should know about summer jobs and taxes. Not all the money they earn will make it to their pocket because employers must withhold taxes from their paycheck. New employees: Employees – including those who are students – normally have taxes withheld from their paychecks by their employer. When anyone gets a new job, they need to fill out a Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, and submit it to their employer. Employers use this form to calculate how much federal income tax to withhold from the new employee's pay. The Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov can help a taxpayer fill out this form. Self-employment: Students who take on jobs like baby-sitting, lawn care or gig economy work are generally self-employed. Money earned from self-employment is taxable, and these workers may be responsible for paying taxes directly to the IRS. One way they can do this is by making estimated tax payments during the year. Tip income: Students who earn tips as part of their summer income should know tip income is taxable. They should keep a daily log to accurately report tips. They must report cash tips to their employer for any month that totals $20 or more. Payroll taxes: This tax pays for benefits under the Social Security system. While students may earn too little from their summer job to owe income tax, employers usually must still withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes from their pay. If a student is self-employed, Social Security and Medicare taxes may still be due and are generally paid by the student. Reserve Officers' Training Corps pay: If a student is in an ROTC program, and receives pay for activities such as summer advanced camp, it is taxable. Other allowances the student may receive – like food and lodging – may not be taxable. The Armed Forces' Tax Guide on IRS.gov provides details.

Montgomery County 
Community Action Agency
1401 Rockville Pike, 3rd Floor
Rockville, MD 20852
240-777-1697 (main)

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Community Action Partner Spotlight:  More Small Programs Making a Big Difference

This month we continue to highlight the FY21 accomplishments of a few contractors that receive from Montgomery County either a small, targeted amount of funding, or in-kind support.

African Communities Together provides immigration legal services to African immigrants residing in Montgomery County. In FY21, after delays in their contract, ACT provided direct legal services to nine Montgomery County African immigrants, including screening of asylum cases, naturalization, and a representation for a removal of conditions. ACT has a heavy outreach effort, including at a church where they connected with over 80 Ethiopian members.

The East Montgomery Emergency Assistance Network (EMEAN) has a contract for operational space that is overseen by contract monitors in the Montgomery County Community Action Agency. EMEAN provides monetary assistance to residents in the East County area. Like many businesses, the pandemic hit EMEAN hard in FY21. Since March 2020, they have been operational solely by the Executive Director, with no further support from volunteers. EMEAN is known for their senior volunteers, a demographic that has been deeply impacted by the pandemic. In FY21, a total of $27,295 was distributed to 27 eligible families for housing, utilities, and prescription assistance. As part of Montgomery County’s Emergency Assistance Coalition, EMEAN receives referrals from DHHS, other nonprofits, and individuals.

Community Action also oversees the Colesville Council of Community Congregations (C-4) contract for operating space, which is in the same building as EMEAN (14015 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring). C-4’s community programs include the Clothes Closet, the Baby Closet, the Holiday Toy Closet, and the School Supply Program. Due to the pandemic, C-4 also saw a reduction in volunteers and has changed to working by appointment. In FY21, the Baby Closet served 273 families, of which 55 were new to the program.

Thank you to these and all our contract partners for their valuable services to our community.

Learn About the Child Tax Credit on CASHBACK

Working closely with colleagues at the Montgomery County Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS), Community Action has developed a new webpage on the CASHBACK website dedicated to the Child Tax Credit (CTC).  Utilizing information from the Get It Back Campaign, the page includes answers to many common questions about the CTC.  Outreach flyers in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, and Vietnamese are available for download. 

Head Start Registration

MCPS is registering three-year-old and four-year-old children for Pre-kindergarten/Head Start for the 2021-2022 school year. The registration process is online and no in-person contact is required.  Parents can begin their registration online by completing a survey or call 240-740-4530. Informational videos to help parents navigate the registration process remotely are available in English, Spanish, and Amharic.

Resources:

CASHBACK webpage on the Advance Child Tax Credit

Covid-19 Rent Relief, Phase 3

Covid-19 Economic Impact Payment and American Rescue Plan Act information

CFPB Your Money, Your Goals

CFPB Financial Education Tools in Multiple Languages

Montgomery County COVID-19 information website

Montgomery County COVID-19 Vaccine Site

Montgomery County COVID-19 hotline in English: 240-777-1755, and in Spanish: 301-270-8432

Asian American Health Initiative's COVID-19 Resource Guide

Latino Health Initiative Covid-19 Information

African American Health Program Covid-19 Resources

Food assistance information during the emergency

Montgomery County Public Schools Meals Distribution Sites

Information from Protecting Immigrant Families about immigrant eligibility for public programs.

Unemployment Insurance 

Office of Home Energy Programs – Utilities assistance

WSSC water & sewer bill assistance in English and Spanish. Call Center Advisors: 301-206-4001.

Family violence prevention 

Diaper distribution

The Community Action Agency is part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Affairs.