TACA Newsletter

Newsletter Spring 2017

Knoxville-Knox CAC VITA Reaches Out

To The Underserved

Pictured: Clients with interpreter having tax return prepared by
20-year VITA volunteer Sylvia Woods.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) began as a Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) program in Tax Filing Year 2000. In this first year CAC prepared 80 tax returns with three volunteers and some staff support who were scheduled for two 4-hour days per week. In filing year 2015, CAC VITA prepared 2,696 tax returns, with $1.5 million in EITC credits and, based on national averages for tax preparation, saved agency clients over $674,000 in tax preparation fees.

Currently CAC VITA has 28 volunteers, along with six South College School of Business Interns, all IRS trained and certified, preparing tax returns. Both the hours and locations have expanded to include one satellite VITA site at the CAC East Neighborhood Center and one "extension" site at Cokesbury United Methodist Church in West Knoxville.

Consistent with the Community Action Promise to "care about the entire community," CAC sought out partnerships to serve underserved populations to also provide tax preparation for the deaf and the international communities. Special days were set up with appointments and interpreters supplied by the various organizations and tax preparation provided by the CAC VITA volunteers. With the help of the interpreters, CAC VITA was able to explain tax laws, help the clients understand the tax returns and caution them on various tax fraud scams. The look of understanding and appreciation on the faces of the clients served told the value of these efforts.

VITA Site Coordinator, Terry Reed, makes targeted outreach to difficult to reach populations. He presents the benefits of using VITA for tax preparation, gives an overview of the various CAC programs, and provides information on financial literacy and fraud awareness.

TACA Joins DHS In Welcoming New Commissioner

Pictured: DHS Commissioner Danielle Barnes

The Tennessee Association of Community Action welcomes to the to the Community Action Network Commissioner Danielle Whitworth Barnes. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced Barnes as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services effective February 6th.

Commissioner Barnes is returning to lead the agency where she started her state government career in 2004, replacing Commissioner Raquel Hatter, who left to return to the private sector.

Barnes joined the Tennessee Department of Human Resources in 2007 as assistant general counsel, director of the Equal Employment Opportunities Division and legislative director, and has experience in all types of employment matters and state and federal employment laws. She previously served as the legislative coordinator and assistant general counsel for DHS and worked for a private law firm in Nashville and Memphis.

One of Barnes' greatest accomplishments has been co-authoring and implementing the 2012 Tennessee Excellence, Accountability and Management (TEAM) Act, an overhaul of Tennessee's antiquated civil service employment practices.

DHS administers the Community Services Block Program through Tennesse's Community Action Agencies and is a major sponsor of the TACA Annual Training Conference. This year's conference be held May 1 - 3, 2017, at the Chattanoogan Hotel in Chattanooga.

New CASA Volunteers Sworn In To Advocate For Children

Pictured: The Honorable L. Thomas Austin with CASA Volunteers,

including SETHRA Executive Director, Nancy Sutherland

and Margaret-Ann Clemmer, SETHRA-CASA Program Manager.

On February 3, 2017, the Hon. L. Thomas Austin swore in volunteers as SETHRA-CASA Volunteers-court appointed special advocates for abused and neglected children.

Family and friends gathered in the Sequatchie County Courthouse to watch the volunteers take an oath promising to advocate for the best interest of the child.

The newly appointed SETHRA-CASA volunteers are dedicated community members who have been trained and will advocate for foster children in the county's juvenile dependency court system. As officers of the court, they ensure that the children's needs are recognized and best interest are considered both in the courtroom and in the community.

SETHRA-CASA volunteers are asked to meet with the child regularly and are authorized to interview people in the child's life such as social workers, attorneys and teachers. They attend court hearings with the child and report their findings to the judge.

The SETHRA-CASA volunteer advocates ensure that the court and child welfare systems remain focused on the specific needs of the individual children, so that their needs, including their need for safety and permanency are addressed expeditiously. Once an advocate is assigned to a case, they pledge to stay with each child until the case is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. The advocate is often the only consistent adult presence in the child's life.

Due to the limited number of volunteer advocates, judges assign CASA volunteers to their most difficult and complex cases: those with prior maltreatment or contact with child welfare, cases of extreme neglect, physical or sexual abuse and those where children have a great level of risk.

SETHRA-CASA serves Bledsoe, Grundy, Marion and Sequatchie counties. With the number of children in these communities waiting for a SETHRA-CASA volunteer, many more advocates are still needed. There are no prerequisites for becoming an advocate other than being at least 21 years of age, clearing an extensive background screening and successfully completing 30 hours of training.

The SETHRA-CASA Program is a member of the National CASA Association, a network of more than 900 CASA programs serving children in 49 states and Washington DC.

Margaret-Ann Clemmer is the SETHRA-CASA Program Manager and can be contacted for more information at 423.949.2191 or

m [email protected]. SETHRA, a Community Action Agency and Human Resource Agency, has been addressing the needs of families, individuals and communities of Southeast Tennessee since 1965.

TACA Visits Capitol Hill

Pictured: TACA Agency Executive Directors and Senior Staff with Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (standing behind chair).

Soon after the Tennessee General Assesmbly reconvened, TACA agency executive directors and senior staff visited key legislators to thank them for past support, discuss the impact of Communiy Action and share successes.

Pictured:

Top left - TACA President Tim Jaynes presents TACA Annual Report to Senator Bo Watson, Finance Committee Chair.

Top right - Group exphasizes statewide impact of Community Action to Speaker Beth Harwell. Bottom left - Community Action champion Senator Ken Yager, Chair, State and Local Gov't Committee, relaxes among friends.

Bottom right - House Leader Rep. Glen Casada shares a laugh with executive directors.

Pictured:

Top left - Tim Jaynes, TACA President and Executive Director UETHDA with Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally.

Top right - Group with Rep. Ryan Williams, Finance, Ways and Means.

Bottom left - after a productive meeting, group takes time out for a photo with Speaker Beth Harwell.

Bottom right - a quick handshake between Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Luke Collins, Executive Director UCHRA.

Local Agency Plays Host For Training

Pictured: Accountable Case Manager Class Participants in discussion.

The Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee recently hosted agencies from across Tennessee for the "Accountable Case Manager" training led by Frederick Richmond, of The Center for Applied Management Practices, Inc. The two day training focused on the principles and practices of effective case management and service delivery as conducted in Community Action Agencies with an emphasis on performance and accountability.

Agency staff including case managers and direct service workers across the various programs offered by the CAC as well as the other attending agencies were introduced to the most current tools that support evidence-based practices and address the duel mission of stability and self-sufficiency.

The two-day training provided theory, interactive group activities and the opportunity to "role play" and practice motivational interviewing techniques. Ranging from "Seven Activities for Effective Case Management" which acknowledges the foundational influence of ROMA to a hands-on practicum of working with clients, the training covered all aspects of client management and the importance of data collection and analysis as part of the responsibilities of front line staff. Case managers also role played to practice listening and communication techniques coming from an asset based and collaborative approach that actively engages the family in identifying problems, resources and a solid plan to move forward. Participants also practiced analyzing outcome scales and the outcome matrix to assess client progress as they move toward stability and the path to self-sufficiency.

"One of the best outcomes of the day was the opportunity for small and large group discussions where attendees could share and evaluate ideas and best practices," said Barbara Kelly, CAC Executive Director.

Marvin Cox Named To National Task Force

Pictured: Marvin Cox, Metropolitan Action Commission with Jana Hall,

Tennessee Justice Center

Marvin Cox, Community Services Director, Metro Action Commission, has been named to the NASCSP (National Association of Community Services Programs) DATA Task Force. NASCSP is convening the CSBG DATA (Data, Analysis, and Technical Assistance) Task force to assist the Office of Community Services (OCS) and NASCSP in understanding and addressing the CSBG Network's data needs and the use of data for analysis and continual improvement of results.

The CSBG DATA Task Force will serve as a consultative body focused on the transition from the CSBG IS Survey to the CSBG Annual Report, as well as onoing assistance in the implementation of the CSBG Annual Report.

Cox, a Nationally Certified ROMA Trainer, has 25 years of Community Action experience. He is pictured here with community partner Jana Hall, Senior Outreach and Enrollment, Tennessee Justice Center, who at the invitation of Cox, presented for the Outcome Advisors' group at the quarterly meeting in February.

Tennessee Outcome Advisors' Quartery Meeting


NCRI Candidates, NCRTs and ROMA Master Trainer at Phase II Classroom Session at Knoxville-Knox County CAC, February 9th.

ROMA NEXT GENERATION

TACA is coordinating the Nationally Certified ROMA Implementer Program for Tennessee Agencies. NCRIs are charged with providing information at his/her own agency to further develop understanding of what needs to be done to fully implement ROMA. Training for the NCRI assures the individual has a deep understanding of the full ROMA Cycle. NCRIs will complete Tennessee's ROMA Team, which is comprised of Nationally Certified ROMA Trainers throughout the state. Tennessee's cohort is part of the nation's NCRI pilot; helping to shape the future of the NCRI Program. After completing all four phases of the certification process, the candidates will be awarded NCRI Certification at the TACA Annual Training Conference in May.

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