E-Newsletter: January 2026

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency

Results-Oriented Management & Accountability Training

On January 8th, the Community Action Agency's program managers trained with Alex Dupree, the Regional Projects Coordinator of the Maryland Community Action Partnership (MCAP), on Results-Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA). While the Community Action Agency's Executive Director, Shantá Johnson, and Navigation Manager, Monica Goldberg, are ROMA-certified, for some managers the training was an introduction to ROMA principles. Borne from federal evaluation requirements for Community Services Block Grant recipients such as the agency, ROMA guides program purpose, outcomes, and goals. ROMA training provides a living framework to strengthen services, storytelling, and results in the community.

The MCAP training followed managers' strengths assessments to enhance teamwork, led by Melissa Spence of Adamah Consulting. Pictured above on training day are, left to right, Melissa E. Ferguson, Contracts and Grants; Tarcila Lopes-Burkhardt, Watkins Mill Cluster Project; Monica Goldberg, Navigation and the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center; Leah Goldfine, liaison to the Community Action Board; Jenny Santos, Kennedy Cluster Project; Maureen Larenas, TESS Community Action Center; Shantá Johnson, Executive Director; and Danielle Alvarado-Davis, Paint Branch-Springbrook Cluster Project. 

EITC Awareness Day Rescheduled: February 6th

The Community Action Agency, in partnership with the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), the Equity Center, and Montgomery County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, invites community members to the County's EITC Awareness Day/VITA Kick-Off event on February 6th from 11 AM – 1 PM at USG. The event is rescheduled from January 30th due to the heavy impact of Winter Storm Fern.

EITC Awareness Day celebrates the substantial impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, which is often considered the most effective anti-poverty tool available. The program will also highlight VITA free tax fling programs in the County.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will include a resource fair from 11 AM – 1 PM, with numerous County agencies and non-profit organizations participating. A formal program at 12 PM will include remarks from elected officials and County leaders. RSVP for the event.

VITA Tax Season Opens

The Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax help to eligible County residents. The tax season runs through mid-April at sites in Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, or Wheaton. The appointment schedule is posted on CASHBACK. Flyers are available in English, Spanish, and French--with more languages coming soon!

In inclement weather, please note that VITA appointments are canceled when Montgomery County Public Schools are closed. 

Questions? Call 240-777-1123 or send email to VITA@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Mid-year Data from the Cluster Projects

Earlier this month, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) programs under the umbrella of Child and Adolescent School and Community-Based Services (CASCBS), including the Cluster Projects, reported on program data to date this Fiscal Year. The Cluster Projects—serving Kennedy, Paint Branch-Springbrook, and the Watkins Mill areas—recently joined the Community Action Agency. Cluster Projects coordinate with school-based Linkages to Learning and Bridge to Wellness programs to ensure that families have access to the services they need to thrive.

From July through December 2025, Cluster Projects staff received 220 referrals and served 260 households totaling 965 people. Cluster Projects staff offered over 480 care coordination and behavioral health navigation services. Participating families accomplished over 5,150 activities and 1,500 service plan tasks with Cluster Projects team assistance, including 54 behavioral health referrals. Participating families also submitted over 240 requests for financial assistance.

Families can be served by Cluster Project teams for one-time requests or multiple service needs for up to six months. Once families accomplish the tasks in their Service Plans, they can return for assistance from the Cluster Projects after one year.

On January 13th, the Kennedy Cluster Project team participated in a Steering Committee kick-off meeting with Glen Haven Elementary School, a Community School, focused on strategies for strengthening partnerships between school families and community organizations. On January 14th, the Kennedy Cluster Project team also participated in a food market distribution at Twinbrook Elementary School to meet the community and provide information on Cluster Project services. 

Updates on Community Action Board’s Advocacy

January has been a busy month for the Community Action Board’s advocacy efforts. In addition to the start of the Maryland Legislative Session, the Board engaged in advocacy at the County level. On January 13th, Board Chair DaVida Rowley (pictured above) testified on behalf of the Board in support of the County Council’s Promoting Community Trust - Immigrant Protections Act. This bill would codify numerous protections for immigrants in the County, supporting many of the residents served by the Community Action Agency.

Later that week, Rachel Bonas, a Head Start Parents Policy Council representative on the Board (pictured below), testified at the Board of Education budget hearing on behalf of both groups. The joint testimony focused on early care and education and highlighted the County’s new birth to five Head Start model. The testimony also expressed opposition to the elimination of ten Pupil Personnel Workers, who regularly partner with the Cluster Projects, which recently joined the Community Action Agency.

Next month, the Community Action Board will participate in the Maryland Community Action Partnership’s Advocacy Day in Annapolis, meeting with legislators and advocating for state-level priorities.

Head Start Registration

There are some spots available in Prekindergarten/Head Start for children who turned 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. Flyers direct families to one link if they are new to MCPS, and another if they already have a child attending MCPS. Flyers in English, Spanish, French, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Vietnamese are posted on: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/OCA/CommunityAction/HeadStart.html.

Coming soon! Registration for Fall 2026 begins on March 2. Please check our website for more details: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/dtecps/earlychildhood/prek/

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

Applications are accepted online via www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org or 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.

For information about the new Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Montgomery County, visit the Community Action Agency website.

Remembering Community Advocacy Institute Graduate Ahmad (Michael) Shehadeh

The Community Action Board was saddened to learn of the passing of Ahmad (Michael) Shehadeh on December 19, 2025. Ahmad was a 2022 Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) graduate. He was an active CAI participant and a strong community advocate for ensuring access to services for seniors and people with disabilities in the County. Ahmad battled Parkinson’s Disease for many years and used his experience to help others.

Ahmad earned an MBA from the University of Illinois, where he served as President of the Student Government Association and was a member of the University’s soccer team. He worked at the Internal Revenue Service and later co-founded an institution dedicated to teaching English in Saudi Arabia. The Community Action Board extends its condolences to Ahmad’s family and friends.

DHHS Employees Donate to Area Food Bank

Last month, the Takoma-East Silver Spring (TESS) Community Action Center was one of several sites for employees of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to donate nonperishable food for families in need. From all DHHS collection points, over 1,420 pounds of food was donated to Manna Food Center. 

Montgomery County 
Community Action Agency
1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 320
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 240-777-1697

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Grants Available from Montgomery County

The Office of Grants Management is the place to find grants available from Montgomery County. Current grant programs are open to local nonprofits facing federal funding cuts and qualified organizations providing direct services that support economic growth and revitalization strategies and services across the County’s commercial corridors. For more information, go to: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ogm/. 

Tax Tip: Watch for Audit "Red Flags"

The agency's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) team shares the following "red flags" that catch the attention of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Extra scrutiny can lead to requests for corrections, or even a full audits of tax returns. Check your returns carefully for these errors. 

• Failing to report all income sources, including from investments and the "gig economy" (such as delivery or driver-for-hire jobs). IRS computers compare records and quickly learn what's left off a tax return.
• Claiming excessive business deductions and expenses. Keep business and personal records separate to avoid errors, such as claiming a vehicle is 100% for business use. 
• Disproportionately large charitable deductions compared to your income. File Form 8283 for noncash donations over $500.
• Hobby activities mislabeled as business. Hobby losses are often investigated by the IRS.
• Claiming home office deductions improperly. To qualify, a home office must be a dedicated space with no personal use.
• Cryptocurrency and day trading are increasingly targeted by the IRS. Report gains and losses from each transaction.
• Math errors and inconsistencies. Check your math carefully and use exact numbers (no rounding). First-time errors may result in an IRS letter requesting corrections. Multiple errors can draw additional attention. 

Green Tip: Climate Action Plan Updates; Be Salt Wise

2025 Accomplishments towards the Montgomery County Climate Action Plan: Join the MCPS Student Climate Action Council in celebrating the progress that County residents and the Department of Environmental Protection made in 2025 towards the County’s Climate Action Plan. Watch the below video for updates on batteries and small electronics recycling, food scraps recycling, monitoring the water quality of our streams, mitigating flood risks, and so much more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewmleUAWe20.

Winter Storm Fern presented a reminder of the importance of using salt wisely to melt ice on sidewalks and driveways. Remember, only twelve ounces of salt is needed for up to ten sidewalk squares. For more tips, check out the "Salt Wise" webpage from the Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission: https://www.wsscwater.com/saltwise.

Resources

REMINDER: Sign up for Alert Montgomery notifications about emergencies in Montgomery County--including severe weather events! Alerts can be sent via text, email, or voice message.

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

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. Non-emergency Montgomery County hate bias incident reporting tool.

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.

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

Health Care and Resources:

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 up 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.

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

Montgomery County Minority Health Initiatives and Programs:

African American Health Program

Asian American Health Initiative

Latino Health Initiative

Safety and Emergency Preparedness:

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.

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/

Food and Household items:

Montgomery County Food Council: Food Assistance Resource Map (available in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean).

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.

Assistance with pet food: The Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center may be able to help you with pet food so you can keep your pet at home, and out of the over-crowded shelter: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/. 

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.

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

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.

Unemployment Insurance.

Resources for federal workers.

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.

Utilities:

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.

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