michigan 2-1-1 dhs earned income tax credit demonstration project january – may, 2008
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Michigan 2-1-1
DHS Earned Income Tax Credit Demonstration Project
January – May, 2008
Michigan 2-1-1 connects people with information and resourcesto build healthy, safe communities
Get Help Give Help
Michigan 2-1-1 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 2-1-1 dialing code.
% 2-1-1 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 2-1-1 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 Project2-1-1or 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 2-1-1 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 2-1-1
2007 EITC refund data not yet available
2006 average EITC refund is $1,057
If just 80% of 2-1-1 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…
2-1-1 is the front door to
health & human services
2-1-1 gives voice to the demand
for services so that a community
can speak as one
Additional resources:
http://www.uwmich.org/211/tabid/60/Default.aspx
- MI 2-1-1 Business Plan & other materials
www.airs.org
• - Standards, certification & training information
www.211.org
• - National status of 2-1-1, legislative updates & more
Questions??
Please contact:
Sherry Miller, Director
Michigan 2-1-1
Michigan Association of United Ways
517.371.4360
www.uwmich.org