HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01252005 - PR1 e
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra •.'
FROM: William B. Walker, M.D., Director Costa
s
Contra Costa Health Services County
DATE: January 25, 2005 cou� � �'�'t
SUBJECT: INNOVATIONS IN HUMAN SERVICES AWARD TO THE FAMILY ECONOMIC
SECURITY PARTNERSHIP
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation:
Present Innovations in Human Services Award to the Contra Costa Family Economic Security Partnership.
Background:
Contra Costa's Family Economic Security Partnership is sponsored by the Employment&Human Services
Department, Contra Costa Health Services,United Way of the Bay Area,First 5 Contra Costa,the Internal
Revenue Service and RichmondWORKS/City of Richmond. The Partnership is a public,private and non-profit
collaboration designed to increase the income and build the assets of Contra Costa's low-income families and
individuals.
In 2003 these organizations launched Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa to provide free tax preparation
assistance to low-income families and individuals in our county. Thanks to the 13 community organizations,
churches and public agencies that operated Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites last year and the 150
volunteers who prepared the returns, 1,296 taxpayers received free tax'help and claimed over$1.3 million in tax
refunds and credits.
In recognition of these accomplishments,the National Association of County Human Services Administrators
selected Contra Costa's Family Economic Security Partnership to receive its"Innovations in Human Services
Award.,"
This award recognizes programs that have distinguished themselves in promoting and strengthening networks
of county and community human services to support the self-sufficiency of low-income populations and protect
children, families and elderly.
The award will be accepted by Lloyd Madden,Workforce Services Specialist from the Employment&Human
Services Department who will describe briefly the Family Economic Security Partnership's plans for the 2005
Earn It! Keep It! Save It! campaign.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT x Yes No SIGNATURE: fa
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
f APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(
ACTION OF E(0)ID ON � L.�-C.trJ APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED V O ER
VOTE OF SUPERVISOR
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT 1 I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
AYES: NOES: CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTEDi j i i a A ji[A/%44-,.w
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Contact Person: Mary Foran,5-5010 JOH EETEN,CL OF THE OARD OF
SU ISORS ND 64UNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: Health Services Department Admin.(20 Allen St.,Martinez) If
DE TY
Plans for 2005
There will be 12 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA sites in 2005 —four in each region
of the county. Over 170 volunteers will participate. Sites will be operated by the City of
Richmond,Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa, St. Anthony's Catholic Church,
Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond,Acorn,Monument Futures,,
Catholic Charities of the East Bay,Bay Point Works and at three Workforce Development One
Stops.
The goals for 2005 are to prepare 1,500 returns and secure$1.5 million in refunds and credits for
Contra Costa's families earning less than$36,000 last year.
According to IRS estimates, at least$15 million in Earned Income Tax credits went unclaimed in
Contra Costa County in the 2002 tax year,with$11 million of that coming from the cities where
the VITA sites are located. These and other tax credits and refunds can provide much needed
assistance to the over 30,000 families in Contra Costa that earn less than 185%of the federal
poverty level and are struggling to survive.
Our Marketing and Outreach workgroup has designed posters and flyers to let the public know
about the locations and times when the VITA sites are open. We will be distributing 1,500
posters-and 90,000 flyers in English and Spanish. Last year more than 65%of filers learned
about the free tax services from the posters and flyers or by word of mouth.
The Family Economic Security Partnership looks forward to another year of success in helping
Contra Costa's families become more economically secure.
Fiscal Impact
None
INNOVATIONS IN HUMAN SERVICES AWARD TO THE FAMILY
ECONOMIC SECURITY PARTNERSHIP
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