The Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLHSA) in Pontiac, Michigan makes special efforts to inform program participants about the EIC and CTC through its Weatherization Program. All clients who express interest in the Weatherization Program receive a brochure about the tax credits and the agency's free tax preparation services.  In addition, customers attending Home Buyer or Financial Education workshops hear a brief presentation about the EIC and CTC as well as free tax preparation services.  Staff is also available to meet with clients individually to provide more information.  In 2006, OLHSA operated one of four VITA sites coordinated by the local tax credit coalition whose members include the IRS, the Accounting Aid Society, Lighthouse Community Development Organization and many other nonprofit agencies serving Oakland and Livingston counties.  The four VITA sites filed a total of 621 tax returns that provided residents $237,777 in federal refunds.  Contact: Susan Mosqueda, OLHSA, (248) 209-2790 or susanm@olhsa.org  

Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, part of the Greater Trenton EITC and Asset Building Coalition, worked with the local board of social services to provide mandatory training for all 160 caseworkers working with different public benefit programs in the county to learn about the EIC.  Six 45-minute sessions presented an overview of the tax credits, the importance of free tax preparation, and marketing and outreach strategies to encourage clients to claim the credits and use VITA sites.  Caseworkers received a resource folder, flyers and business card sized information cards for distribution to clients. Contact: Tarry Truitt, Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, (609) 844-1008 or ttruitt@merceralliance.org

The Brooklyn Hospital Center's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program has two locations in New York. Tax credit information is consistently incorporated into efforts to promote the WIC program. In addition to posting flyers in English and Spanish during tax time, envelope stuffers and a list of VITA sites are distributed to WIC participants when general information about the WIC program is provided. Tax credit information is made available during events such as health fairs and PTA meetings and information is also shared with social workers and other organizations that provide services. Throughout the year the two offices serve more than 5,000 people.  Contact: Maureen C. Bowen, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, WIC Department, (718) 250-6520.

Since 2004, the Community Foundation of East Central Florida (CFECF), along with the United Way of Volusia and Flagler Counties and the Center for Business Excellence, has promoted asset development through the “Campaign for Working Families.” CFECF established five VITA sites to encourage residents of Volusia and Flagler counties to claim the EIC and CTC.  As part of an initiative to reach out to farm workers CFECF advertised the tax credits and the VITA sites at the local Farm workers Association office, where low-income workers cash their paychecks each Friday.  CFECF also worked through Protestant and Catholic churches to reach farm workers since they are viewed as trustworthy institutions.  In addition to filing tax returns, some VITA sites also completed ITIN applications.  In 2006, the CFECF VITA sites filed a total of 1,172 returns and helped residents claim $693,943 worth of EIC refunds.  Contact: Nita Schmellick, CFECF, (386) 734-4075, nitas@cfecf.org

Since Child Care Connections (CCC), a resource and referral agency in Raeford, NC, is located near Fort Bragg, it makes special efforts to promote the EIC and CTC to military families.  CCC works with Heritage Village, a residential neighborhood for military workers, to distribute EIC and CTC information at special events held at the neighborhood’s community center that reach about 800 residents.  Tax credit information and referrals to free tax filing assistance are also provided at CCC outreach events such as maternity fairs and business expos and tax credit information is included year-round in parent packets that are mailed in response to requests for information about child care services. Contact: Shakera Graham, CCC, (910) 904-6688 x 13, parents@childcareconnections.org

The Extra Credit Orlando Outreach Campaign in Florida took advantage of the city’s unique public transportation system, which features televisions on board city buses.  The Orlando Chamber of Commerce produced 30-second, bi-lingual ads about the EIC and CTC.  These clips were played on Transit TV, an on-board broadcast that is watched by bus riders, 70 percent of whom earn $35,000 or less.  The Campaign estimates that during the 2006 tax season the ads were viewed as many as 1.8 million times.  Some local TV stations also agreed to broadcast the clips as free PSAs.  Contact: Maria Urbino, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, (407) 835-2442, maria.urbino@orlando.org  

Tax Help New Mexico, a statewide coalition of 20 nonprofit partners and 12 community colleges and universities, extended its tax preparation services at one of its Albuquerque VITA sites until midnight on the April filing deadline to help assist last minute taxpayers.  To make sure people knew about this service, three TV stations conducted live broadcasts from the site on the evening news and another news program made an announcement about the site’s extended hours.  This effort in conjunction with the coalition’s 40 other VITA sites refunded over $21 million to more than 26,500 residents.  Contact:  Diana Matier, THNM, (505) 224-5242