Michigan DHS Earned Income Tax Credit Demonstration Project January – May, 2008

Michigan connects people with information and resources to build healthy, safe communities

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Michigan builds stronger communities day to day and in times of emergency by: promoting self reliance in reaching community resources fostering civic engagement providing real-time information on health and human service needs, met and unmet, in the community.

What is 2-1-1? The national telephone number for access to health & human services and volunteer opportunities Powered by a comprehensive database of available local services Makes a critical connection between individuals and families seeking services and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies

2-1-1 provides…..  Easy-to-remember number – landline, wireless and VOIP  Up-to-date resource database  Online searchable databases  24X7X365 availability  Interpreter Services available  Confidential  Accountibility

April 2008 * Coverage is being defined as population with landline telephone access to dialing code. % Population Covered* by State

Professional I&R staff answering phone 24/7, free, serve special needs Quality, comprehensive data base Coordinated services with local health and human service agencies National Standards

2008 Projects in Process – will take coverage to 80%+

Recent Interest…

Using Data Monthly / Quarterly Data Reports – Data collected on every call – used for: Grantwriting Documentation of need Service delivery decisions Funding decisions Planning

Earned Income Tax Credit Project 2-1-1or toll-free access to free tax assistance preparation sites throughout Michigan 8,028 EITC referrals for February through May 474 free tax preparation sites 57 Call Specialists trained & tested on EITC, CTC Publicizing EITC, pre-screening for eligibility, referring tax volunteers, collecting data

Tax Sites in Databases

Number of Tax Assistance Callers

EITC Callers by Gender

Unmet needs* * Unmet needs are recorded when a caller cannot be referred. Reasons for unmet needs range from a service being full or unavailable to having no transportation to access the service to being ineligible for the program.

Number of Tax Site Volunteer Inquiries

Potential EITC refunds captured by using EITC refund data not yet available 2006 average EITC refund is $1,057 If just 80% of callers pre-screened and referred to free tax assistance sites completed filings, then $6,788,477 in EITC refunds would enter the Michigan economy

An organized way to care… is the front door to health & human services gives voice to the demand for services so that a community can speak as one

Additional resources: - MI Business Plan & other materials - Standards, certification & training information - National status of 2-1-1, legislative updates & more

Questions?? Please contact: Sherry Miller, Director Michigan Michigan Association of United Ways