E-Newsletter: May 2024

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency

MCAP Conference Honors 60 Years of Community Action!

At the annual conference of the Maryland Community Action Partnership (MCAP) earlier this month, several Community Action Agency staff members presented, hosted, and attended workshops to hone their skills. Conference attendees also enjoyed networking with Community Action Agency colleagues from across Maryland, Delaware, and District of Columbia. 

Shantá Johnson, Executive Director of Community Action, presented a two-part session on "Making Space and Building Connections through Cultural Humility Framework." Eduardo Mendes, Program Specialist II with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program presented on "The Positive Impact of Launching or Expanding VITA in Your Community." (Ms. Johnson is pictured at right in the above photo and Mr. Mendes is on the left.) Community Action Board Chair Dr. Jeffery Johnson also led a workshop, entitled “Responsible Fatherhood and Co-Parenting: An Approach To Enhance Child Well-Being.” Other staff hosted various workshops by introducing presenters, helping with audio-visual (AV) needs, and participant evaluations and questions. 

Longtime Community Action Program Manager Aizat Oladapo said this year's MCAP conference in Ocean City was one of the best conferences she has attended. Ms. Oladapo (to the left of Ms. Johnson in the above photo) and Marwan Abdelmoniem, Administrative Specialist for Head Start (to the left of Ms. Oladapo) both hosted nearly all the sessions they attended. Ms. Oladapo attended sessions on Results-Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) and serving families with multigenerational needs ("2-Gen"). Ms. Oladapo and several colleagues also noted helpful workshops on "Building Bridges Across Multigenerational Teams" by Frank Eastham of LEAD4TRANSFORMATION. Ms. Oladapo also highlighted sessions on data reporting for the Community Services Block Grant and "A Formula to Reduce Stress in the Workplace " by Larissa Johnson, founder of Formula for Fun.

Several Community Action staff members stated that Ms. Ashley "Ash" Esposito at the Vision & Value Awards Breakfast was the most impactful speaker at the conference. Ms. Oladapo stated, "Ms. Esposito held the audience spellbound as she shared her story of how she became an advocate for a system she grew up in herself. She battled physical abuse as a child and ended up in the foster care system where she started her advocacy journey. She had a learning disability that was found out way later in her life. She loved art and that was her way of expressing herself and she found this a means of therapy. She is now an elected school board member, the director of Baltimore Renters United, as well as a wife, mother, artist, and community weaver."

Also at the Awards Breakfast, Community Action Board Chair Dr. Jeffery Johnson was honored with the 2024 Community Action Vision & Value Award for a Volunteer. Program Manager Monica Rivera-Goldberg, who oversees the agency’s Navigation Team, was honored in the Individual category. Congratulations to both Dr. Johnson and Ms. Goldberg!

The MCAP conference also celebrated the 60th anniversary of Community Action at the national level. In August 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act, which created Community Action Agencies to address the nation's "War on Poverty." Today, Community Action Agencies serve 99% of US counties. In Montgomery County, Head Start began in 1965, the Community Action Committee was established in 1966, and in 1968, the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center began serving the Long Branch community at the border of Silver Spring and Takoma Park, Maryland.

Head Start Party in the Park this Saturday, June 1!

On Saturday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Head Start will partner with the Housing opportunities Commission (HOC) Fatherhood Initiative to host a party and resource fair in Wheaton Regional Park. Last year’s event was tremendously successful with 500 attendees! Families can register for Head Start and Pre-kindergarten, participate in a wide range of activities, and learn about resources in the community. Representatives from HOC, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Parks, the Department of Recreation, and many non-profit partners will be on site. The event will be held at Wheaton Regional Park, 2000 Shorefield Road, Silver Spring 20902. Fliers for the 2024 Party in the Park are available in English and Spanish.

Fourteen Graduate from Community Advocacy Institute 

On May 21^st, the Community Action Board hosted a ceremony for this year’s graduates of the Community Advocacy Institute (CAI), the board’s free advocacy training program.

Board Chair Dr. Jeffery Johnson led the ceremony. Joining in the celebration were County Executive Marc Elrich; County Councilmember Natali Fani-González; and pictured at right, County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke and State Delegate Greg Wims, shown with CAI graduate Kelli Hudson. Betty Lam, Chief of the Office of Community Affairs, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and Shantá Johnson, Executive Director of the Community Action Agency, also participated in the celebration, along with board leaders and members of the CAI Planning Committee. Pictured below, left to right, are Ms. Shantá Johnson, Dr. Jeffery Johnson, and Ms. Betty Lam.

The CAI is a bilingual (English and Spanish) eight-month training program for lower-income County residents. The Community Action Board created the CAI in 2016 and continues to plan the program and facilitate all workshops. Workshop topics include how to work with elected officials, storytelling, research, letter-writing, developing testimony, public speaking, and key advocacy issues. Including the fourteen graduates in 2024, there are now 140 CAI graduates. Many CAI alumni are serving on County advisory groups, nonprofit boards, and participating in a variety of advocacy and community activities.  During the ceremony, each graduate shared their personal statement, noting what the CAI means to them and their plans for future advocacy. The personal statements were also printed in the graduation program.

At right, former CAB members Myriam Paul and Valerie Chatfield-Smith celebrate with CAI graduate Maria Enriquez. Below, several current and former Community Action Board members attended with County Executive Marc Elrich (third from right).

VITA Honors Volunteers and Celebrates Another Successful Tax Season

On May 2^nd, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program celebrated and thanked sixty-five volunteers who served throughout the January – April tax season as tax preparers, schedulers, greeters, and interpreters. Together, the team of committed volunteers served 3,008 hours, helping the VITA program provide free tax help to 2,246 Montgomery County households. This year, VITA connected residents with nearly $3 million in Earned Income Tax Credits and the County’s Working Families Income Supplement, along with $864,207 in Child Tax Credits. This year, the total free tax impact of Community Action’s VITA program is $8.6 million.

Congratulations to the VITA team!

VITA Post-Season Begins June 17th

Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is the County’s only year-round VITA site. Free tax assistance for new and amended 2021, 2022, and 2023 federal and state returns will begin on June 17 and continue through October 24. Appointments will be available to Montgomery County residents with a combined household income of $64,000 or less.

The VITA program will hold virtual appointments on Mondays from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. In-person appointments will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 320, from 11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. A Certified Acceptance Agent will be available to assist with Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) applications on Wednesdays.

Appointment scheduling will open on June 3. Call 240-777-1123 or book appointments online though the CASHBACK website. The post-season flier is available in English and Spanish and will soon be available in French, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Community Action Partner Spotlight: IMPACT Silver Spring’s 25-year Celebration

Community Action staff joined in celebrating IMPACT Silver Spring’s 25^th anniversary. A County Council Proclamation marking the milestone was presented by Councilmembers Will Jawando and Kate Stewart, and a Proclamation from the State of Maryland was also presented.

Several awards were given to honorees. The Montgomery investment Cooperative was celebrated for supporting 23 small businesses and distributing out $77,000 in small loans. Victor Henriquez was honored for founding and volunteering with IMPACT’s youth sports program. Luz Chavez Gonzales, a youth organizer at United We Dream, was honored for her advocacy for social justice, being a mentor, and leading cross-movement initiatives. The advocacy efforts of the Community Builders at Spring Parc Apartments and the Park Montgomery Residents Council-Executive Committee were celebrated for their contributions to positive changes in their community. Dr. Tasnuva Khan was honored for Social Justice, Health Equity, and Environmental sustainability advocacy.

Pictured above at the IMPACT Silver Spring anniversary event are, left to right, Community Action staff members Birtucan Assres, Monica Rivera-Goldberg, Aizat Oladapo, Program Manager; Maria Quiroga, Ameha Dessie, Gabriela Salazar and her daughter, and Victoria Hall.

TESS Assists Newcomers at Takoma Park Event

On May 18th, Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center staff members Diana Preston and Maureen Larenas-Rivas attended a Newcomers Resource Fair at Takoma Park Middle School. Ms. Larenas is pictured above with representatives of the Ethiopian Community Center in Maryland, who also partnered in serving the newcomer community. The event served many families who speak Spanish, French, or Amharic at home.

The Montgomery County Newcomers Initiative is a joint effort
between Montgomery County Government, Montgomery County Public Schools, and community service providers.
Together as a network of service providers,  the Newcomers Initiative supports foreign-born individuals
and families who have recently arrived in the United States
through the provision of culturally and linguistically competent interdisciplinary services and supports. 

TESS representatives provided resources and shared information on Community Action Agency services with over fifty people at the event. Ms. Larenas added, "We were also able to connect and network with community partners." 

The Community Action Agency looks forward to more opportunities to be of service in partnership with the Newcomers Initiative. 

Celebrating Community Action Staff

May is Community Action Month! At Community Action's staff meetings, we celebrate each other's accomplishments and milestones. Pictured above are many colleagues gathered together earlier this month at the Rockville office. Below, several staff members of the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center attended a wellness event sponsored by the Montgomery County Office of Human Resources. 

Montgomery County 
Community Action Agency
1401 Rockville Pike, 3rd Floor
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 240-777-1697 

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VITA's Monthly Tax Tip: The IRS Independent Office of Appeals

The following is an excerpt from IRS Tax Tip 2024-47.

If a taxpayer disagrees with an IRS decision, they can ask the IRS Independent Office of Appeals to review their case. This office is separate from the rest of the IRS. Appeals officers review cases that taxpayers submitted, meet with the taxpayer informally and consider the taxpayer’s position and the IRS's position in a fair and unbiased manner.

To submit an appeal request, taxpayers mail their request in writing to the office that sent them the letter with their appeal rights. For information on filing a formal written protest or a small case request, taxpayers should review Publication 5, Your Appeal Rights and How To Prepare a Protest If You Disagree PDF. The IRS office that receives the request will consider the taxpayer's request and attempt to resolve the disputed tax issues. If that office can't resolve the taxpayer's issues, they will forward the case to Appeals for consideration.

Once the request is with Appeals, the Appeals officer contacts the taxpayer within 45 days by mail to schedule an informal conference to review the taxpayer's situation. The conference can be by phone, in person, or by video, according to the taxpayer’s preference. At the conference, the Appeals officer discusses with the taxpayer the law as it applies to the facts of the case, including court rulings on similar cases.

If a taxpayer hasn't heard about their appeal and it's been more than 120 days since they filed their request, taxpayers can ask for a status update by contacting the IRS office they worked with last.

Appeals officers review the facts, the law, the taxpayer's comments, and information the taxpayer and the IRS office presented before making a final decision. They will also explain to the taxpayer the reasons for the decision and their options. Generally, there are three outcomes of an appeal: 1) In favor of the IRS; 2) In the taxpayer’s favor, or 3) Compromise.

Interest continues to add up on any unpaid balance a taxpayer owes as Appeals reviews a case.

For more information, visit the IRS website on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Head Start:  Registration is for 2024 – 2025 is Open!

For children who will be four (4) years old on or before September 1, 2024, in low-income families who qualify, registration has begun for free pre-kindergarten and Head Start programs in the public schools. Go to www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and search “Head Start” for more details. 

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.

Applications are accepted online via https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and in-person at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The office phone number is 240-740-4530. 

• List of the documents needed to complete a Head Start application

Do you have questions about Head Start? Check out the Common Questions online.

Green Tip: Stormwater Superpowers 

Is there a rain garden, dry pond, or bioretention in your neighborhood? You may notice that heavy storms leave water sitting in these fixtures for a while. That's OK! These "stormwater superpowers" are filtering the water to keep our waterways clean. And they support beautiful native plants! 

Read more about stormwater fixtures on the Department of Environmental Protection's "My Green Montgomery" website.

Resources:

Help Is Within Reach:

For a mental health crisis and listening support, call 988.

The Montgomery County Crisis Center is available for call in, walk in, mobile outreach, community referrals, and substance use assessment and referrals (240-777-4000).

311 provides weekday assistance, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., for health and human services, housing, transportation, and food assistance (311 for local numbers, or 240-777-0311).

For medical emergencies, fires, reporting crimes, disaster response, and life-saving situations, call 911.                    

Office of Community Affairs, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services:

Past editions of Community Action’s monthly e-newsletter.

African American Health Program

Asian American Health Initiative

Latino Health Initiative

Health:

The DHHS Mobile Health Clinic travels around Montgomery County providing integrated medical, dental, behavioral health, and human services to underserved and vulnerable populations and communities. Residents of Montgomery County, with and without health insurance, are eligible. Visit the DHHS Mobile Health Clinic webpage for more information, including Frequenting Asked Questions.

Access HEARS, Inc. distributes free over-the-counter hearing aids for County residents who are ages 60 (+), have moderate to severe hearing loss, and incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. Find out more about how to access free hearing aids.

DHHS testing for sexually transmitted infections in Silver Spring and Germantown.

Pregnant women who meet the other Medicaid enrollment requirements except for citizenship may be eligible for full Medicaid coverage, including those who are undocumented or on visas. Contact the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

Resource Directories:

Get Help page, Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center, Montgomery County, MD. 

WorkSource Montgomery’s Community Assets Map.

Housing – Repairs, eviction prevention, evictions:

For low-income households, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has home repair loans that can assist with paying for radon abatement and other repairs.

Rebuilding Together Montgomery County – repairs, aging in place modifications to homes. 

Landlord-Tenant Affairs, Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Evictions office: 240-777-7130 

Montgomery County Renters Alliance – advocacy, education on tenants’ rights.

Safety and Emergency Preparedness:

Sign up for Alert Montgomery 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. Use above link or below QR code.

Four steps for Emergency Preparedness: 1) Stay informed. 2) Make a plan. 3) Make a kit. 4) Get involved. Check out the OEMHS website for emergency preparation guides, including special considerations for people with access and functional needs.

Montgomery County flooding website:  Information on frequently flooded roads, steps residents can take to prepare for potential flooding, and the availability of Flood Insurance. The Maryland Insurance Administration also has a flood insurance information page.

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. 

Food and Household items:

Montgomery County Food Council: Food Assistance Resource Map.

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

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

Greater DC Diaper Bank: Diaper distribution

Financial empowerment:

CASHBACK– VITA Services, tax credit information, and financial education resources.

Affordable Connectivity Program – For information about a $30/month on Internet connections or click on the fliers in English and Spanish. You can also call 301-908-4510 or toll-free 1-866-206-8467.

Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center: http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/fec. Phone: 240-454-5199. 

WorkSource Montgomery: https://worksourcemontgomery.com/. Service locations in Wheaton and Germantown.

What does it cost to live in Montgomery County, Maryland? The 2023 Self-Sufficiency Standard report is available and the Interactive Self-Sufficiency Standard. Another helpful tool is the Maryland Self-Sufficiency Standard Calculator for different family compositions throughout the state.

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection – A – Z Consumer Advice

My Green Montgomery: How to lower your energy costs and much more! https://mygreenmontgomery.org/projects/energy/

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.

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.

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