The Community Voice - June 2020

JUNE 2020

VOL. 28

THE COMMUNITY VOICE A Quarterly Newsletter by Community Services Employment Training

WE REMAIN OPEN & AVAILABLE TO YOU!

IN THIS ISSUE A Message From Our Executive Director Meal Deliveries For Local Senior Citizens Serving Families During A Time Of Need Virtual Job Support During COVID-19 Rental & Mortgage Assistance Program Free Drop Off Tax Preparation Services A Thank You Message To Local Donors A CSET Alumni Success Story

Corpsmember Breanna Bolanos packaging senior meals.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the most vulnerable individuals and families in our community and how we do business. CSET has been providing safety net services to those most in need. I would like to recognize all of our staff, partners, and funders for their extraordinary support and dedication to the community. The articles featured are some examples of how CSET is adapting and responding to the urgent needs of our community.”

- CSET Executive Director Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner

MORE THAN 27,000 MEALS DELIVERED TO TULARE COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS Following the temporary closure of our senior centers due to COVID-19, the Senior Services team and the Sequoia Community Corps joined forces to deliver more than 27,000 meals to 1,250 local senior citizens. Equipped with proper safety gear, the teams work together to unload the shipment of meals, assemble food bags, and deliver senior meals throughout the county.

Along with the meals, senior citizens receive a range of information on nutritional education, proper recycling techniques, and ways to complete the U.S. Census 2020. Thank you to our partners for their continuous support in serving Tulare County senior citizens: Meals on Wheels of America, Alta Healthcare District, Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency, Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging, Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, FoodLink Tulare County, Porterville Area Coordinating Council, Lindsay Hospital District, and the U.S. Census Bureau.

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ASSISTING TULARE COUNTY FAMILIES IN A TIME OF NEED

Sr. Program Specialist Jesse Ruvalcaba facilitating a virtual parenting session.

The Family Resource Centers (FRC) in Tulare and Earlimart provide a range of services to help strengthen families in Tulare County. Services include family health and wellness, nutrition awareness, parenting education, and additional wraparound services. In response to COVID-19, FRCs remain open by appointment only and staff provide continuous case management services to families through virtual check-ins. FRC staff offer parenting sessions to families through video conference or telephone calls. More than 100 individual parenting sessions have been conducted virtually, providing families with support and resources needed during these unsettling times.

PROVIDING VIRTUAL JOB ASSISTANCE IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19 Given the increase of workforce challenges as a result of COVID-19, the Tulare County Employment Connection (EC) centers in Porterville, Visalia, and Tulare affiliate remain open for urgent needs, such as providing access to technology to apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits. Although group orientations and in-person workshops have been suspended in compliance with social distancing measures, EC staff are implementing virtual approaches to assist customers with supportive services and employment opportunities; 46 customers have been assisted with direct placements and/or a work based training opportunity. Additionally, online job announcements through Job Connect Live average 3,500 views per week with the support of numerous business partners who present their job opportunities live on Employment Connection's Facebook page.

Business Resource Specialist Monica Andrade presenting during a weekly Job Connect Live session.

RENTAL & MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO THOSE IMPACTED BY COVID-19 CSET’s Housing Services is providing special rental and mortgage assistance to those directly impacted by COVID-19. The assistance is for those who do not meet eligibility criteria for public assistance benefits through HHSA programs or other rental and/or mortgage assistance programs. To apply, Housing Services has created an eligibility questionnaire for potential applicants, available only online. All eligible applicants can apply at www.cset.org/housing-services. More information about the application process is available at this site.

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FREE DROP-OFF TAX PREPARATION SERVICES IN VISALIA & PORTERVILLE With the federal income tax filing due date extended to July 15, 2020, VITA extended its free tax preparation services to Tulare County residents with household incomes less than $54,000. Approximately more than 2,700 tax returns have been filed.

VITA Tax Preparer Marcus Watkins assists a customer at a tax drop-off site. Tax preparation drop off services will be provided at the following locations (please call or visit the website for updated information as days and times will vary per location):

VISALIA CSET Main Office 312 N.W. 3rd Avenue PORTERVILLE Employment Connection 1063 W. Henderson Avenue

An appointment is not required through VITA’s drop-off service, which ends June 19. In compliance with social distancing measures, customers are informed about the filing process and contacted by phone to review and obtain permission to e-file their taxes. Tax preparers also inform taxpayers of any eligible federal and state cash-back tax credits, such as the expanded California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC).

Once the tax return has been e-filed and accepted, customers are notified to pick up their tax return documents.

Customers must bring all tax documentation to the drop-off site by June 19. More information about the required documents is available at www.cset.org/vita or (559) 741-4640.

DONORS GENEROUSLY GIVE TO HELP FEED LOCAL SENIOR CITIZENS In the wake of COVID-19, CSET’s Senior Services has received an increase of donations and an abundance of support from local businesses, churches, and individual donors to help feed local senior citizens. Thank you to our generous donors for their support and contributions to CSET’s Senior Meals. With your support, we were able to quickly respond to the changing needs of our community and help bring meals and supplies to Tulare County Senior Citizens! Thank you to the following for your generous contributions: Hand 2 Love Nail Salon, West Coast Believers, Save Mart, Smart & Final, Panera, Strings Italian Cafe, local churches, individual and anonymous donors.

CSET also appreciates the anonymous donor who provided lunch for its Senior Services team in May.

On April 7th, Hand 2 Love donated more than 6,000 pairs of latex gloves and a gift of $560 to support CSET’s Senior Services.

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GIVING BACK & HELPING OTHERS AS CSET ONCE HELPED HER During Community Action Month in May, CSET featured several success stories and highlights of CSET alumni.

In over four decades, CSET has helped thousands of people improve their lives and achieve self-reliance.

Below is one of the many remarkable success stories featured.

"Never Give Up! Trust the people that are trying to help you succeed in life! Always believe in your dreams because they do come true! Thank you CSET for all you did for me and my family over 20 years ago!"

- Lorraine Filomeno

Lorraine began her journey at CSET in 2002, when she was referred to the Welfare-to-Work program. Working with job developer Joy Graves, Lorraine interviewed with Continental Labor & Staffing Resources and received an on-the-job training contract. After 3 months in the program, they hired Lorraine as a permanent full-time employee with benefits. Before participating in the program, Lorraine recalled feeling discouraged about her lack of work experience. With the positive influence of her job developer, Lorraine worked through her discouragement and gained confidence.

After 12 years with Continental Labor & Staffing Resources, Lorraine had developed skills she felt could be used to help others, leading her to apply for a Senior Program Specialist position in CSET’s Welfare-to-Work program. She saw this as a chance to give back and help others as CSET had helped her. Her experience and enthusiasm brought her full circle when she was selected for the job. Five years later, she continues to serve customers of the Tulare Employment Connection Affiliate as a Senior Program Specialist for the NextStep program.

View more stories at www.cset.org/client-success-stories.

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 Tulare Family Resource Center & Employment Connection Affiliate 304 E. Tulare Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 Tel. 559.684.1987 Porterville Employment Connection 1063 W. Henderson Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.788.1400 Earlimart CSET 114 N. Front St. Earlimart, CA 93219 Tel. 661.849.2960 Orosi CSET 12691 Ave. 408 Orosi, CA 93615 Tel. 559.528.6108 Pixley CSET 927 Center St. Pixley, CA 93256 Tel. 559.575.0098 CSET Senior Services 1.800.321.2462 Cutler-Orosi, Earlimart, Exeter, Farmersville, Goshen, Lindsay, Porterville, & Woodlake

CSET inspires youth, families, and communities to achieve self-reliance through innovative pathways and collaboration.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Community Voice newsletter, send an email to: csetmarketing@cset.org Discover more information about CSET’s programs and services at: www.cset.org Follow us on social media for the latest updates:

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