CSET Newsletter - February 2016

COMMUNITY VOICE

VOLUME 18

COMMUNITY VOICES

Volume 1

FROM MARY ALICE ESCARSEGA-FECHNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CSET’s Board of Directors recently approved our goals for 2016, which focus on expanding the training expertise of our Sequoia Community Corps, exploring innovative new programs, seeking new ventures that support our long term sustainability and much more. These goals will move us towards our mission of inspiring youth, families and communities to achieve self-reliance through innovative pathways and collaboration.

In 2016, we look forward to the completion of two important community projects- CSET’s new office in Pixley and the Home Garden Community Park. The Pixley office is a partnership with Family HealthCare Network and will be located next to the Pixley Community Foundation. This new office will provide important community and wellness services for Pixley area residents. The Home Garden Community Park will provide residents with their first community park and a safe place for families and neighbors to come together and enjoy some green space in their community.

Inside this issue John Muir Graduates

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On behalf of our board and staff, we are grateful for the opportunity we have to positively impact the lives of Tulare County residents. Thank you for your support and partnership in helping us achieve our goals.

— Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING CHANGING LIVES

Inside This Issue

CSET’s Supportive Housing Program (SHP) combines affordable housing with services that help individuals and families facing complex challenges involving Youth@Work Recruiting 2 homelessness and disability as a result of physical and/or mental illness. The program’s success continues to grow each year and the letter featured below VITA Program Begins 3 is merely one example of the way the SHP enables Tulare County residents 3 Urban Forestry Project to live dignified and productive lives.

4 Drought Resource Center “Dear Supportive Housing Staff and Supervisors, Hello, I want to seriously thank you for everything you guys do. During one of the life skills class, I got information that changed my life. I now am being treated for depression. Before I woke up with tears and cried like a baby every morning. Now I wake up normal. Eventually, I’m confident enough to say that with more treatment, I’ll wake up smiling.

My boys now get to see me laughing and when their eyes meet mine they see a smile on my face. This program is changing lives! I know for a fact it saved my life! I really can’t say enough to get you to understand how thankful I am. Thank you!”

Energy Assistance

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More information about the SHP can be found online by visiting www.cset.org/supportive-housing-program.

February 2016

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ENERGY ASSISTANCE STILL AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS Tulare County residents struggling to cover the cost of their household’s home energy bill are encouraged to apply for financial assistance through CSET’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides aid to low-income community members to manage their immediate heating and/or cooling needs.

The goal of LIHEAP is to assist residents experiencing financial difficulty a chance to catch up or get ahead on their home energy bills, thereby preventing them from suffering a disconnection or service termination from their utility company. According to a study released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, low-income households can spend as high as 16.4 percent of their income on residential energy services, while an average household spends just 7.2 percent. For that reason, the study stressed the need for greater access to available options for low-income households to reduce energy costs.

Applicants who qualify for the program receive financial assistance once per program year for electricity, gas or propane services. For more information, please call the toll free energy assistance line at 1-844-224-1316 or visit us online at www.cset.org and select “Energy Assistance” under the Services tab for Individuals & Families.

YOUTH@WORK RECRUITING The Youth Development Department (YDD) is currently recruiting eligible participants between the ages of 18 and 21 for the Youth@Work Program. The program, funded by the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County, is designed to coach youth participants on the skills needed to successfully navigate into the world of work through leadership training, field trips, mentors and paid work experience that aims to improve their marketability to future employers.

The Youth@Work Program empowers participants by providing them with the necessary tools, motivation and support young adults need to succeed and prosper in today's workforce. The hope of the Youth@Work Program is to develop young people into productive members of society by helping them discover their long-term goals and a career pathway that enables them to improve their quality of life.

Do you know a young person who'd be a great candidate to join Youth@Work? If so, please refer them to one of the following YDD staff members: Visalia: Alejandra Torres/Rosie Vasquez - (559) 713-5000 Tulare: Ashley Richardson/Eliseo Maldonado - (559) 684-1987 Porterville: Gabriella Vargas - (559) 788-1400 Cutler-Orosi: Marianela Fraga - (559) 528-1095 For more information, please visit Youth@Work online at www.cset.org and select “Youth Employment” under the Services tab For Youth.

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VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM KICKS OFF Tax season is upon us and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is up and running in the communities of Visalia, Porterville, Tulare and Cutler-Orosi. VITA is an IRS program designed to help low and moderate-income taxpayers complete their annual tax returns at no cost. The program kicked off its first Saturday of filing returns on February 6th and will continue to offer the free service to Tulare County residents throughout tax season. Almost 800 tax returns were prepared by volunteers in the first three Saturdays of the 2016 operation and waiting lines continue to circle each VITA location!

This year is especially exciting for the VITA Program because of the first ever California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). This tax credit will boost income for nearly 600,000 eligible families in the state of California, including over 15,000 families in Tulare County alone! CalEITC offers working families a chance to get ahead on unpaid bills, delayed car repairs, education costs and beyond. Help us spread the word about this valuable tax credit. More information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit can be found online at www.CalEITC4Me.org.

Tax preparation services continue every Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at all four sites.

Mobile services are also available to residents unable to reach a VITA location. For more information and a listing of locations, please visit the VITA Program online at www.CSET.org/VITA. The last day to take advantage of this offer is Saturday, April 9th.

URBAN FORESTRY READIES FOR EARTH DAY CELEBRATION Sequoia Community Corpsmembers in the Urban Forestry program have been gearing up for the city of Visalia’s 2016 Earth Day Celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2016. The Urban Forestry crew has been busy removing invasive plant species, installing irrigation, and mulching the Earth Day project area located along St. John’s Parkway between Ben Maddox Way and Lovers Lane.

The city has chosen to focus this year’s event on sustainability, conservation, and energy efficiency. Volunteers at the celebration, with the help of corps members and in coordination with the Urban Tree Foundation, will be planting oak trees along the project area in an effort to restore the native valley oak riparian corridor.

“We always endeavor to have a project ready for planting by volunteers on Earth Day because engaging local residents is vital,” said Nathan Higgins, Urban Forestry Program Director. “In close partnership with the Urban Tree Foundation, we are planting trees, building parks or otherwise beautifying and greening local communities full-time, year round. ” CSET’s Urban Forestry program engages corps members in environmental stewardship and conservation. Along with the planting of 500-1000 trees per year, the program gives young adults an opportunity to learn leadership skills, develop a work ethic and a passion for the community.

“Our corpsmembers take special pride in providing these tangible benefits to the places they live,” added Higgins. “Every day is Earth Day for us. It’s what we do.”

Corps member mulching the project area

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DROUGHT RESOURCE CENTER STATS The Drought Resource Center in East Porterville continues to offer services to Tulare County residents suffering from the devastating effects of the drought. The office is open to the public six days a week and provides drought relief resources such as emergency bottled water distribution and household tank applications.

A look at the numbers:

Visalia CSET

312 NW 3rd Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 Tel. 559.732.4194

Visalia Employment Connection 4025 W. Noble Ave. # B Visalia, CA 93277-1631 Tel. 559.713.5000

Office Visits 700

Tulare Family Resource Center 304 E. Tulare Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 Tel. 559.684.1987

628

600 461

500

487 410

400 300 200

Porterville Employment Connection 1063 W. Henderson Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.788.1400

100

Nov-15

Dec-15

Jan-16

Feb-16

Incoming/Outgoing Calls 288

340

Nov-15

Earlimart CSET 114 N. Front St. Earlimart, CA 93219 Tel. 661.849.2960

Dec-15 Jan-16 Feb-16

422

421

Cases of Water Given 1690

1800 1600

1482

1634

1400

1250

1200

Orosi CSET 12691 Ave. 408 Orosi, CA 93615 Tel. 559.528.6108 CSET Senior Services 1.800.321.2462 Cutler-Orosi, Earlimart, Exeter, Goshen, Lindsay, Porterville, & Woodlake

1000 800 600 400 200 Nov-15

Dec-15

Jan-16

Feb-16

For more information on the Drought Resource Center, please visit www.cset.org/droughtresources.

Community Voice is published quarterly by Community Services Employment Training.

Unless otherwise noted, articles are written by CSET staff.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an email to jeff.forbes@cset.org.

February 2016

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