E-Newsletter: December 2022

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency

Head Start Students Seeking Coats; Donor Gifts SmarTrip Cards

Thirty-three Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten families benefited from a generous donation this month. An anonymous Montgomery County resident reached out to County Council President Evan Glass to coordinate the donation of SmarTrip cards valued at $300 each, for a total gift of nearly $10,000. SmarTrip cards are usable on Ride-On, Metro bus or Metro train. The gifts were sorely needed and arrived on the heels of a Community Action Board discussion regarding Head Start families' needs for transportation to health care appointments. 

Pictured above with Council President Glass are, on the left, Nichelle Owens, Director of Early Childhood, Title I and Recovery Funds, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and Verna Washington, Supervisor, Pre-kindergarten/Head Start Unit, MCPS, on the right.

Meanwhile, the annual coat drive for Head Start and Pre-kindergarten students continues. New coats are needed for boys and girls, sizes 4T, 5, 6, 6x, 7 and 8. All sizes needed and especially sizes 5 and 6 for boys and girls and size 8 for boys. Coats and gift card or donations by check may be dropped off at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Room 141, Rockville, MD, 20852. Coats can also be ordered online and delivered to the Rocking Horse Road Center. For more information, please call Lisa Conlon at 240-740-4530. Thank you very much! Head Start/Pre-K registration fliers are available for download in English, Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, Korean,  Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese.   Fliers in English and Spanish direct parents and guardians to one link if they are new to MCPS, and another if they already have a child attending MCPS. Do you have questions about Head Start? Check out the Common Questions online.

Community Advocacy Institute Updates

The Community Advocacy Institute held a workshop on December 3 called “Exploring the Issues.” The session, the second in the 2022 – 2023 season, was facilitated by Board member Erika Conner and featured several exceptional presenters discussing a range of important topics. Guests included Jennifer Grinnell from EveryMind (mental health); Anthony Featherstone from WorkSource Montgomery (workforce development); Sarah Selim Milad from Just Neighbors (immigration legal issues); Beth Driggers from  the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (affordable housing and homelessness); and Melissa Rock from Maryland Family Network (leading a successful advocacy campaign). The workshop concluded with small group discussions led by CAI Ambassadors, which focused on how the program is going for participants so far.

In other CAI news, current CAI participant Terence Hill, was recently featured in an AARP article about older adults who experienced and overcame homelessness. Mr. Hill, also a member of the County’s Interagency Commission on Homelessness, is now a strong advocate for others experiencing homelessness in our community. Congratulations, Terence!

Community Action Participates in Minority Legislative Breakfast

On December 8, Community Action Board Chair Dr. Jeffery Johnson (pictured at left) and Community Action Executive Director Sharon Strauss, joined Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Department of Environmental Protection colleagues for the Minority Legislative Breakfast.

The annual event was sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, the Asian American Political Alliance, and the African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County. Read the Joint Legislative Priorities for Minority Communities in Montgomery County. Pictured to the right are Senator Chris Van Hollen; Arlee Wallace, Manager of the African American Health Program; and Sharon Strauss, Executive Director of Community Action. Both AAHP and Community Action are within the Office of Community Affairs, DHHS.

Welcome to Monica Rivera-Goldberg

The Community Action Agency (CAA) welcomes Monica Rivera-Goldberg as the  Program Manager II for the agency's new navigation team. Monica steps into the role with exceptional experience, most recently serving as the coordinator for our CARES-funded navigators. Monica brings an expert knowledge of the community and services delivered by our department and its partners, with deep experience gained by working with TESS and navigators, as well as through joining colleagues in coordinating and addressing human service needs during emergency events and during recovery. For more information on the DHHS navigation practice, check out Monica's video on the Community Action website.

TESS Seniors' Coffee Hour & Recent Outreach Events

The Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center has been busy serving the community, including participating in several recent outreach events and hosting a coffee hour for twelve Long Branch area seniors who enjoyed playing games, telling stores, dancing, getting gifts, singing and laughing. Many thanks to Pazit Aviv in DHHS Aging and Disability Services for helping to make the coffee hour a success.

In November, the DHHS African American Health Program (AAHP) hosted an information session, where TESS Community Services Aide Birtucan Assres and Navigator Ameha Dessie, pictured at right, collected contact information to follow-up with twenty-five participants. The AAHP event included food tasting, health screening, and a nutrition class. Also in November, Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER) and the Maple Tree Community Group organized a community picnic in Takoma Park, including City of Takoma Park  officials, state delegates, and nonprofit organizations. Birtucan and Ameha shared resources about TESS and DHHS programs and services and met over fifty participants, including several who were provided with information on housing, SNAP, childcare, and other services. The organizers provided Ethiopian food, coffee, dancing, and fun activities for all!

Spread the Word about Tax Credits and Free Tax Filing with VITA!

Thousands of families in Montgomery County who are eligible for thousands of dollars by claiming the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) don't receive their funds because they don't file their tax returns.   Maryland’s EITC has expanded, and most people who receive Maryland’s EITC also receive Montgomery’s matching Working Families Income Supplement--even if they file with an ITIN, or if they are single or seniors. FREE TAX HELP IS AVAILABLE! Community Action's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program  is offering FREE income tax preparation to Montgomery County residents with household incomes of $60,000 or less. IRS-certified preparers will assist residents to claim refunds and credits for the 2022 tax year by appointment, beginning January 23, 2023.  Appointments will be in Gaithersburg, Rockville, Silver Spring and Wheaton, and online. Scheduling begins on January 9 through montgomerycountymd.gov/cashback or by calling 240-777-1123.  To request fliers--available soon in English, Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, French, Korean, Vietnamese--about ALL free tax partners serving Montgomery residents, or to volunteer with Community Action’s VITA, please email VITA@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov or call 240-777-1123.

Give Back: Volunteer with VITA!

Community Action VITA is recruiting volunteers to become IRS-certified VITA tax preparers, schedulers, greeters, interpreters, quality reviewers, and site coordinators during the tax season (January – mid-April). 

The program has a particular need at this time for schedulers who can assist clients in need of a free tax appointment, and for bilingual volunteers who are fluent in English and Spanish or another language.

Receive free training (in person or virtual) and have the option of volunteering in Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, or Wheaton.

High school students may receive SSL hours by volunteering as greeters or schedulers. For more information, visit montgomerycountymd.gov/CASHBACK, call 240-777-1123, or send email to VITA@montgomerycountymd.gov 

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

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Check out the Community Action Agency’s combined FY20 and FY21 annual report!

Community Action Partner Spotlight: End of 2022 News

As Montgomery County’s Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) is halfway through, contract monitors have begun program and monitoring visits. As Community Action continues to deliver services in the new hybrid way, our monitors work with contract partners to arrange virtual or in- person visits and/or reviews for contracts. Staff are particularly focused on reviews of contracts that started early in the fiscal year (July and August) to meet contract deadlines.

FY23 budget modifications for contract terms that started in July or August are due to contract monitors by late March. Monitors in turn need to review and submit budget modifications to their colleagues in the DHHS Contract Management Team by April 15. For budget modification due dates for all off-cycle contracts—with terms other than July to June—contact your contract monitor.

The County Executive hosted a series of Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget forums, concluding on December 14 in Bethesda. The County Executive’s FY24 budget will be released on March 15, 2023. The County Council reviews, amends, and releases the final budget in May.

The Montgomery County Office of Grants Management (OGM) has its portal up and running. It will be soliciting feedback from the nonprofit community on how Community Grants process should be reformed in FY24. Organizations should monitor the OGM grants application platform at https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org for opportunities to provide this feedback and to apply for other County grants opportunities. Feedback will be used to shape the FY24 Community Grants process and timeline.

As the calendar year 2022 comes to an end, Community Action’s contract monitors would like to thank you for the work you have done on behalf of Montgomery County. We wish you happy holidays and the very best for the new year!

VITA's Monthly Tax Tips: For Newlyweds

Have you changed your name through marriage? Names on tax returns must match what the Social Security Administration has on file.

Address change? Both the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service need to know.

Getting married also impacts tax withholding from paychecks, and decisions need to be made regarding whether you want to file joint or separate tax returns.

And remember, even if you wed on December 31, in the eyes of the IRS, your status is "married" for the whole year. 

For links and information that address all of the above, go to: Don’t let a tax mistake ruin newlywed bliss, IRS Tax Tip 2022-188.

Green Tips: My Green Montgomery & SharePower Solar Co-op!

My Green Montgomery shares tips from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that can save you money! “For every degree, multiply by three,” says Larissa Johnson, the Residential Energy Program Manager, in the Energy, Climate, & Compliance Division of the DEP. For every degree you set your thermostat above 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, and below 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, you increase your heating and cooling bill by three percent. So, if you set your heat to 71 degrees, that’s a nine percent increase in your heating bill!

Explore My Green Montgomery for Projects and Incentives that cover everything from transit and recycling to renewable energy and gardening, reducing food waste, and choosing cleaning products and appliances that are less harmful to the Earth.

Have you heard about the SharePower solar co-op at Paddington Square? All Maryland Pepco customers can sign up to switch the source of their electricity to solar, without needing to add panels to their own roof.

Income-qualified Montgomery County residents can now register to save up to $400 a year on their Pepco bills through SharePower Community Solar at Paddington Square. Community solar subscriptions allow you to receive the benefits of solar energy without the hassle of installing solar panels on your roof. SharePower subscriptions leverage solar electricity generated in your community to decrease local fossil fuel emissions, create local clean energy jobs, and make clean energy affordable. To help build a greener Maryland, sign up today by calling (202) 505-3051!    Learn more at SharePower.Groundswell.org or click on the attached flier, in Spanish and English.

Resources:

NEW: The Montgomery County Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center has a new Get Help page.

NEW: How to protect SNAP benefits from fraud: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Fraud - Maryland Department of Human Services

NEW: How to lower your energy costs and much more! My Green Montgomery

NEW: Winter Storm Information Portal

WorkSource Montgomery Community Assets Map

Food assistance resources and programs (in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean)

Food Assistance Resource Map - https://mocofoodcouncil.org/map/

Diaper distribution

The Montgomery County Family Justice Center helps people in domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse situations. 

Montgomery County Family Violence Awareness and Prevention 

The Montgomery County Crisis Center specializes in serving people with behavioral health (mental health) crises. Information about the Crisis Center and other crisis intervention services:

Ride-On Reimagined is campaign to assess the bus network for significant changes. Go to the link to see opportunities for Public Forums and Community Engagement events. Ride On Reimagined - Montgomery County Division of Transit Services (montgomerycountymd.gov). 

Montgomery County flooding website: Information on frequently flooded roads, steps residents can take to prepare for potential flooding, and the availability of flood insurance to all properties in the County. 

Alert Montgomery: Sign up to receive accurate and immediate notifications about emergencies that may affect your home, workplace, child's school, or any other Montgomery County locations. Alerts can be sent via text, email, or voice message.

OEMHS website: Tips on preparing for severe storms. 

Monkeypox information from Montgomery County, including vaccine access, frequently asked questions, and more.

Montgomery County COVID-19 information: Vaccines for adults and children ages six months and up.

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

CASHBACK – VITA Services and tax credit information

Free Financial Counseling: Financial Empowerment Center at WorkSource Montgomery.

Rent Relief Round 4: Frequently Asked Questions in English, Korean, Spanish, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Amharic.

Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund: Assistance with mortgage payments or other housing costs due to COVID-19 related financial hardships. MHAF application assistance: Latino Economic Development Corporation and Housing Initiatives Partnership.

Ban the Box, or the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Law, assists in the successful reintegration of people with criminal records into the workforce by removing barriers to employment and housing. Find out more from the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights.

CFPB Your Money, Your Goals

CFPB Financial Education Tools in Multiple Languages

Protecting Immigrant Families: 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.

Water bill assistance flier in English and Spanish

Asian American Health Initiative

Latino Health Initiative

African American Health Program

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