E-Newsletter: June 2025

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency

Celebrating the 5th Annual Head Start Party in the Park!

On June 7, the Community Action Agency along with our partners at HOC Fatherhood Initiative, MCPS and Priority Partners, hosted the fifth annual Head Start Party in the Park, featuring a special Fathers’ Day celebration.

The annual Head Start Party in the Park is a community support gathering that attracted over 500 participants, a host of volunteers and community partners sharing resources, services, and activities for children and families. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor of MCPS along with school board members and Community Action Board members attended the gathering.

Special activities included:

• Energy efficient bicycle demonstration that produces energy to make smoothies!
• Zumba Classes hosted by DHHS Latino Health Initiative
• Free haircuts for fathers and sons
• Montgomery County First Responders CPR demonstrations
• WETA’s children’s learning activities and book give away
• Raffle with door prizes provided by community partners
• Face painting and carousel rides

A highlight of this year’s gathering was a performance by a Salvadoran folk dance troupe featuring former Head Start parents and children. Thank you to all who participated!

Head Start: Free Pre-kindergarten for Low-income Families Who Qualify

Registration is open for Prekindergarten/Head Start in the 2025 - 2026 school year for children who will be four (4) years old on or before September 1, 2025, in low-income families who qualify. Free pre-kindergarten and Head Start programs are held in Montgomery County Public Schools. 

Go to www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and search “Head Start” for more details. 

Fliers direct families to one link if they are new to MCPS, and another if they already have a child attending MCPS. Fliers in English, Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Vietnamese are posted on: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/OCA/CommunityAction/HeadStart.html.

Applications are accepted:

• Online via www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
• 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.

Board Thanks Outgoing Leaders and Welcomes New Leadership Team

The Community Action Board celebrated its outgoing leaders and welcomed the incoming Executive Committee members at their June Board meeting. Claudia Simmons was thanked for her service as Vice Chair this year. Staff members and board members shared remarks and well-wishes for outgoing Board Chair, Dr. Jeffery Johnson, who will also be stepping down from the board after six years of service. Dr. Johnson is pictured above with Claudia Simmons (on the left) and Community Action Executive Director Shantá Johnson (on the right).

Dr. Johnson served as the Chair of the Board for three years, testifying for the board, leading meetings and special programs, participating in conferences, leading Community Advocacy Institute orientation sessions and graduations, and much, much more. Dr. Johnson was celebrated for his incredible commitment to Community Action and his leadership.

Executive Director Shantá Johnson also installed the new Executive Committee, which will lead the Board for the next year. The Executive Committee meets every month and can act on behalf of the full Board when urgent matters arise.

DaVida Rowley (pictured above left) will serve as Chair and Timothy Robinson (above right) will serve as Vice Chair. Claudia Simmons will serve as Secretary. Rachel Bonas, Beverly Coleman, Erika Conner, Denise Fredericks, Evelyn Okutu, and Mike Subin will serve as at-large Executive Committee members. 

Many thanks to Community Action Board members for their service!

Congressman Raskin Highlights the Community Advocacy Institute

The Community Action Board was honored to have the Community Advocacy Institute featured in a recent episode of Congressman Jamie Raskin’s Local Hero series. This interview series highlights individuals in our community who are making a real difference. For this episode, Congressman Raskin interviewed Community Action Board Chair Dr. Jeffery Johnson and CAI Ambassador Datrina Davis, both of whom discussed the program and its success over the last nine years. The interview can be viewed online HERE.

Recruitment for the 2025-2026 Community Advocacy Institute will begin in mid-July. A separate announcement will be shared with Community Action's distribution list when the application opens.

Free Tax Help Available During the Post-Tax Season

Community Action’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help through October 29, 2025 for prior year, amended, and current year state and federal returns. Appointments for County residents with household incomes of $67,000 or less are available in-person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 320, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Virtual appointments are available on Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Appointment scheduling is available online or by calling 240-777-1123. Please check the CASHBACK website for more information, including a list of documents needed for appointments.

Tax Tip: Summer Activities that May Impact Tax Returns

The following is an excerpt from: Tax Tip 2025-37.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers of several activities that frequently happen in the summer and could impact the next tax return, including:

• Name changes. Report name changes to the Social Security Administration as soon as possible. 
• Address changes. Notify the US Postal Service and the IRS using Form 8822. 
• Summer camp: Does it qualify for child and dependent care tax credits?
• Part-time work, such as seasonal work or side gigs, may affect tax returns.
• Home Improvements, including energy efficient upgrades. 

For the full tip sheet from the IRS, go to: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/summer-activities-that-could-impact-next-years-tax-return.

Survival Tips for Extremely Hot Temperatures

June is ending with a blast of hot weather, a stark reminder that high temperatures can quickly lead to dangerous health conditions. The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has tips for staying healthy during extreme heat waves, including: Drink plenty of water. If you don't have access to air conditioning at home, cool down in accessible spaces such as libraries, community centers, or shopping malls. Always check back seats of cars and vans for children and pets. Even with windows cracked, temperatures rise quickly in vehicles. Check on friends, family, and neighbors. Exercise and walk pets in early morning or evening hours when its cooler. Know the signs and treatments for: Heat cramps: Muscle pains or spasms. Cool down by removing clothing, drinking water, and getting into shade or air conditioning. Heat exhaustion: Heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, or fainting. Get into air conditioning, remove clothing, and/or take cool baths, drink water. Medical attention may be needed.   Heat Stroke: Extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees) taken orally; red, hot, and dry skin with no sweat; rapid, strong pulse; dizziness; confusion; or unconsciousness. Call 911 or take to hospital immediately and cool down as best you can. For more tips and information, visit the OEMHS webpage on Extreme Heat.

Upcoming E-news Editions

The next edition of the Community Action e-newsletter will be published in mid-August. The following edition will be released at the end of September. The Community Action Agency wishes all a peaceful and bountiful summer. Was this e-newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe to Community Action's monthly e-newsletter.

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

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Spotlight on Partners: Appreciation for FY2025 Services

Despite concerns weighing heavily on the Montgomery County residents we serve--including changes in government policies, immigration enforcement, and the rising cost of living--Community Action's nonprofit partners continue to work tirelessly to help people in need. Services provided through contracts and grants monitored by Community Action address immigration and identification, provide access to food, afterschool services, transportation for seniors, referrals for free health care, rental assistance, legal advice, and employment assistance.

Community Action's partners also provide indirect referrals through outreach events, communicating resources through electronic mass messaging and canvassing.

As we near the end of Fiscal Year 2025, the Community Action Agency would like to say a big thank you to our partners for all they do on behalf of Montgomery County. 

Links to Community Action's partners.

Contract Opportunities and Guidance, Department of Health and Human Services: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/DoingBuswDHHS.html  

Grant Opportunities, Office of Grants Management: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/ogm/]

Staff Profile: Trica Young

Question: What is your role in the Community Action Agency (CAA), and how long have you worked here?

Answer: I am a Navigator with the Community Action Agency.  I have been here with the County for 22 years and with CAA for 2 years. Fun fact, I served on the Community Action Board years ago. While I was on the board for several years I served as Vice President and President.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: As a Navigator I get to work in various communities assisting clients with applications, helping them navigate through any barriers to their access to resources, and linking them with various program assistance around the county. I love my job!  It's hard to articulate one aspect that I love the most so I will share a few. I love learning about new resources to assist my clients. I enjoy the collaboration with different people and organizations in hopes of aiding my clients with accessing different resources. Lastly, I find it super rewarding to work with a diverse group of clients and empower them to seek out programs to help them with better outcomes for their families and to work closer to becoming the best versions of themselves.

Q: In the community, where is your favorite place to be?

A: My favorite places to be in the community would be anywhere that has various cultural cuisines and outdoor concerts.

Resources

NEW: Across Maryland, there are many programs to help people quit smoking and using other tobacco/nicotine products.

REMINDER: Resources for federal workers and United in Service and Support Online Informational Series.

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

Montgomery County Minority Health Initiatives and Programs:

African American Health Program

Asian American Health Initiative

Latino Health Initiative

Resource Directories:

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

WorkSource Montgomery’s Community Assets Map.

Help Is Within Reach:
For a mental health crisis and listening support, call 988.

The Montgomery County Crisis Center: Call in, walk in, mobile outreach, community referrals, and substance use assessment and referrals (240-777-4000).

311: Weekday assistance, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., for health and human services, housing, transportation, and food assistance. Dial 311 from local phone numbers, or 240-777-0311.

Medical emergencies, fires, reporting crimes, disaster response, and life-saving situations: Call 911.

For non-emergencies, Montgomery County has a hate bias incident reporting tool. Or incidents can be called to 311 from local phone numbers, or 240-777-0311.

Maryland Office of the Attorney General's Hate Crimes Hotline: 1-866-481-8361 and online: https://nohomeforhate.md.gov/. Active incidents should be immediately reported to 911.

Health:

DHHS Mobile Health Clinic: 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 for services.

Access HEARS, Inc.  Free over-the-counter hearing aids for County residents who are ages 60 (+) and have moderate to severe hearing loss and incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. 

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. Contact the Healthy Babies: Pregnancy and Postpartum Care program of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Never Use Alone, Overdose Prevention Lifeline: 877-696-1996. Peer operators are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. https://neverusealone.com/

Housing – Repairs, eviction prevention, evictions:

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development  home repair loans for assistance with paying for radon abatement and other repairs.

Rebuilding Together Montgomery County: Repairs and modifications to homes for aging in place.

Landlord-Tenant Affairs - Evictions information from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

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

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

Limit on rent increases in Montgomery County.

Safety and Emergency Preparedness:

Sign up for Alert Montgomery notifications about emergencies in Montgomery County. Alerts can be sent via text, email, or voice message.

Standby Guardianship: https://www.peoples-law.org/standby-guardianship. Children’s guardianship protection, in case a parent/guardian is unable to care for their children.

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

Montgomery County Family Violence Awareness and Prevention.

Food and Household items:

Department of Health and Human Services Food Resources website (available in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean).

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

Greater DC Area Diaper Bank Nursery Project provides strollers, car seats, and a cloth diaper service.

Diaper distribution at Montgomery County hubs and other partners.

Financial empowerment:

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

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

WorkSource Montgomery locations in Wheaton, Germantown, and a Mobile Jobs Center.

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

Montgomery County Commission for Women seminars on financial planning, intimate partner violence, separation and divorce, human trafficking, and more.

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

Office of Home Energy Programs: Utilities assistance.

WSSC fliers in English and Spanish: Customer Assistance Program for water bill assistance, and a loan program for help with water or sewer pipe repairs or replacement. Learn how to spot a toilet leak and reduce your water bill!

Ban the Box: The Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Law assists in reintegration of people with criminal records into the workforce.

Unemployment Insurance.

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