The Financial Literacy program is an AmeriCorps*VISTA project designed to help low-income families set and reach their financial goals. Through a combination of financial training, consumer awareness and individual financial counseling, participants are introduced to basic banking concepts, credit repair and long-term achievement of goals such as purchasing a home, opening a business or financing an education.
Skagit County Community Action Agency, in cooperation with BECU, is pleased to offer two great free financial workshops in December.
Dec 1st Credit Reports/Score Workshop – “You Have a Right to Know”. Free. Westview Elementary in Burlington, WA 6-8pm
Dec 8th Banks & Credit Unions – “Questions About Savings and Checking”. Free. Westview Elementary in Burlington, WA 6-8pm
English and Spanish. Open to the public.
For more information and to register: (360) 416-7585 ext 266 or email Fred
Monday, November 16, 2009
Workplace Literacy
This innovative fee-for-service program was created to meet the diverse needs of Skagit County companies and their employees. To this end, Workplace Literacy partners directly with local businesses, providing classes customized for the company and also for the students. The program offers classes in Spanish as a Second Language, English as a Second Language, or a combination English/Spanish class wherein students learn from both their instructor and from one another. The goals of this program include increased worker satisfaction and retention, increased productivity, and improving participating businesses' ability to adapt to change. Past local partners include: Skagit Gardens Wholesale of Mount Vernon, Tomco Marine Group of La Conner, SeaBear Smokehouse of Anacortes, Janicki Industries of Sedro-Woolley, and Washington Alder of Mount Vernon.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Success Story
Betzy came to Skagit Valley from Texas with her boyfriend and three year old daughter as an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. She was persuaded to reside in the United States with promises from her partner that she would become a citizen.
Betzy was referred by the WIC program at the Department of Health in August, 2004 to Community Action for placement in our Transitional Housing Program. She moved into an apartment with her partner and child, yet was still living with the secret of domestic violence, and was unsure how to escape. After a year and a half of living in a violent situation, Betzy left her partner. Mary, a certified family development specialist at SCCAA, helped her find an apartment. During this time, Betzy discovered she was pregnant, and chose to leave the Community Action program in order to work on her relationship with her partner.
In early 2008, Betzy called Mary from Texas. She had left Skagit County to care for her ill grandmother and mother in Texas, requesting permission from her partner to do so. He allowed her to go, but first coerced her into writing a letter signifying her abandonment of her children. While in Texas, he took all of their money and the children and moved, leaving her stranded. With Mary’s encouragement and assistance in identifying resources in Texas, Betzy was able to return to Skagit County.
Back in Skagit County, Betzy entered the domestic violence shelter. She worked closely with Mary, who not only helped her with housing issues and locating her partner and children, but referred her to additional programs through SCCAA, including the Volunteer Lawyer Program. They were able to help Betzy receive custody of her children. Betzy worked with the staff of the domestic violence shelter and received her US citizenship. She established work credentials and obtained employment cleaning offices, and found permanent housing.
SCCAA invested approximately $12,748 in rental subsidies and case management, $846 for homeless childcare, and $7,260 in pro-bono legal assistance. The personal investment of a caring Family Development Specialist, coupled with finances and pro-bono legal services moved Betzy on the path to self-sufficiency. The total investment over 4 years was $20,846 or $5,211 annually.
Betzy was referred by the WIC program at the Department of Health in August, 2004 to Community Action for placement in our Transitional Housing Program. She moved into an apartment with her partner and child, yet was still living with the secret of domestic violence, and was unsure how to escape. After a year and a half of living in a violent situation, Betzy left her partner. Mary, a certified family development specialist at SCCAA, helped her find an apartment. During this time, Betzy discovered she was pregnant, and chose to leave the Community Action program in order to work on her relationship with her partner.
In early 2008, Betzy called Mary from Texas. She had left Skagit County to care for her ill grandmother and mother in Texas, requesting permission from her partner to do so. He allowed her to go, but first coerced her into writing a letter signifying her abandonment of her children. While in Texas, he took all of their money and the children and moved, leaving her stranded. With Mary’s encouragement and assistance in identifying resources in Texas, Betzy was able to return to Skagit County.
Back in Skagit County, Betzy entered the domestic violence shelter. She worked closely with Mary, who not only helped her with housing issues and locating her partner and children, but referred her to additional programs through SCCAA, including the Volunteer Lawyer Program. They were able to help Betzy receive custody of her children. Betzy worked with the staff of the domestic violence shelter and received her US citizenship. She established work credentials and obtained employment cleaning offices, and found permanent housing.
SCCAA invested approximately $12,748 in rental subsidies and case management, $846 for homeless childcare, and $7,260 in pro-bono legal assistance. The personal investment of a caring Family Development Specialist, coupled with finances and pro-bono legal services moved Betzy on the path to self-sufficiency. The total investment over 4 years was $20,846 or $5,211 annually.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Betzy’s annual salary: $17,280
which pays 15% federal tax rate.
(Return to the community: $2,592 annually)
Spendable income of $2,400 pays 8.8% sales tax
(Return to the community: $211 annually)
Value of services no longer in use: $5,211 annually
Total annual return to community: $8,014
Total Annual ROI: 1.5 to 1
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