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United Way of Ventura County — ‘Giving our children the smiles they deserve’ and more news

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February 2021 E-Newsletter
Dear Friends,
February is National Children’s Dental Health month. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease and unmet need of children in California. More than 50% of California’s kindergartners have a history of dental decay. Nearly 25% of California’s children, ages 0-11, have never been to a dentist. When children don’t get the care they need, there are costs to taxpayers and families – the cost of emergency room visits for preventable dental problems and missed school days resulting in a loss of attendance-based school district funding.
Through the Building Healthy Smiles Initiative, United Way and its partners work to reduce dental disease in Ventura County through education, care coordination, and advocacy. Our goal is to eliminate untreated tooth decay for children in Ventura County. Pre-pandemic, over 2,500 children received oral health assessments in 2019 alone.
A few things to consider this February:
  • The American Association of Pediatric Dentists recommends that parents establish a dental home for their child by their first tooth or first birthday.
  • Avoid sugary drinks and stick to good old-fashioned water. Water helps to rinse away any sugar or particles that can lead to cavities. Many municipal water sources also contain fluoride, which is recommended by the American Dental Association and U.S. Surgeons General, among others, as an efficient way to prevent tooth decay.
And please consider making a donation. While this initiative has been disrupted for nearly a year, your support will help us to continue to sustain it through 2021 and beyond.
In service,
Eric Harrison
President & CEO
United Way of Ventura County
Give.
To make the greatest difference, direct your contribution to the Community Impact Fund, which supports the focus areas of Education, Income, and Health. Thank you for supporting us and your community!
Advocate.
You can make change happen with your voice. United Way needs people who are passionate about education, income, and health to make some noise. To stay informed, visit vcunitedway.org/advocate. To become involved in our advocacy work, email info@vcunitedway.org
Volunteer.
Get involved in your community! Find a volunteer opportunity today.
Save the Date! United to End Homelessness Symposium – April 9th
AmeriCorps VIP Fellow Spotlight:
Francesca DeMatto
AmeriCorps VIP Fellow Francesca DeMatto is serving with United Way’s Volunteer Ventura County (VVC) Center where she is working on capacity building, corporate volunteer engagement, and special projects.
Francesca reflects on her experience to date as a VIP Fellow, “It has been the perfect experience upon graduating to put my skill set into practice and learn the ins-and-outs of community outreach and engagement. Through my time with United Way’s VVC Center, I have managed to organize two volunteer events, as well as arrange a successful Holiday Basket drive that resulted in more than 30 Welcome Home kits provided to families recently housed through our Landlord Engagement Program. All in the midst of a pandemic! I am excited to continue my time at United Way serving the community and looking forward to moving on in 5 months, applying my professional skills and experience gained with another organization.”
As the Supervising Organization for the AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) in Ventura County, UWVC is responsible for training and placing AmeriCorps members with community organizations throughout Ventura County. A VIP Fellow serves at a local non-profit for 11 months (September – July) with the objective of building and enhancing the organization’s ability to leverage volunteers in their service delivery or operations. VIP Fellows qualify for a living stipend, free health care, and an education award upon completion of service. It is a great way to serve our community while developing professional skills and networks.
To learn more about being a participating site or a VIP Fellow, please contact Susan Englund at 805.485.6288, x226, or susan.englund@vcunitedway.org.
United to End Homelessness Welcome Home Holiday Basket Drive
Holiday campaign exceeds goal by providing 34 baskets filled with essential household supplies and holiday cheer for our recently housed neighbors.
United Way led a Holiday Basket drive to support the families and individuals housed through our United to End Homelessness Landlord Engagement Program. Thanks to the overwhelming response and support of the community, we met the goal of obtaining 34 baskets.
One recently housed household shared their story and expressed their gratitude:
“Many thanks to everyone at the United Way of Ventura County for providing the crucial services and programs that are helping change lives for the better. The Landlord Engagement Program was a crucial part of my rental application process. Some past credit issues going back 9 years ago were haunting me as I applied for housing. I would like to give a special thanks to United Way housing locator Sanaz Shirazi for engaging at the most crucial point in my rental application process. By opening up communication and bridging the gap, a successful outcome was reached. She really made the difference and, without her help, I wouldn’t be where I am living today. At the time of move in, Sanaz gave me a basket of household products that I will use throughout my new home.”
A special thank you to our corporate partners, Cummins and Procter & Gamble, and community partners, Move In Project/Lift Up Your Voice, Orchard Church, and Unitarian Universalist Church.
To learn more about providing a Welcome Home Basket for a recently housed neighbor, contact AmeriCorps VIP Fellow Francesca DeMatto at francesca.dematto@vcunitedway.org.
For more information or to learn more about the Landlord Engagement Program, contact program manager, Amy Duganne at 805.485.6288, x228 or amy.duganne@vcunitedway.org.
To make a donation, visit igfn.us/form/hEGFmg.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Free tax preparation and filing services continue through April 30.
Throughout February to April 30, 2021, trained VITA volunteer tax preparers will help working families and individuals file their state and federal tax return and access the tax credits to which they are eligible. Households earning up to $57,000 in 2020 are eligible to use the free services.
Due to COVID-19, taxes will only be prepared using either a Virtual or Drop-off process. There will be NO face-to-face appointments with a tax preparation volunteer, as all sites remain closed.
Tax preparers will assist eligible filers to access the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for low- to moderate-income working families and individuals. The EITC can help you reduce your tax liability and, in many cases, save you money. To qualify for the EITC, you must have worked at least part of 2020 and meet certain income requirements.
The California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) is a refundable California state credit created by the governor and legislature in 2015 as a way to help low-income working families. The CalEITC is designed to be a supplement to the federal EITC, which has been around for decades. Eligible families and individuals just need to file their tax return in order to claim CalEITC and federal EITC. Last year, California established a Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) for working parents with children under age 6 who qualify for CalEITC.
Together, these state and federal credits can put hundreds or even thousands of dollars back into the pockets of individuals and families.
New this year, eligible workers with an ITIN and income under $30,000 may now claim the CalEITC. Self-employed workers with 1099 forms and cash earnings also qualify.
LIVE United! Volunteer and Make
a Difference Today!
Interested in volunteering in 2021? United Way’s Volunteer Ventura County (VVC) center is a great resource to connect with volunteer opportunities. VVC partners with more than 250 community organizations in Ventura County that post their needs for folks to view and respond to. There are a variety of causes and opportunities to connect with – from helping with COVID-19 rapid response, to youth, veterans, families, and more!
Current featured volunteer opportunities include:
To learn more and register, visit volunteerventuracounty.org or
contact Francesca DeMatto at francesca.dematto@vcunitedway.org or Susan Englund at susan.englund@vcunitedway.org.
Covered California Enrollment Extended!
The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced a special enrollment period allowing Americans the opportunity to purchase health insurance during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, anyone needing coverage may purchase through Covered California until May 15, 2021. Both federal and state financial assistance to reduce the cost of health insurance is available for eligible consumers.
For help with the enrollment or renewal process, or if you have questions regarding health coverage options, contact our Covered California certified enrollment counselor, Catherine Pedrosa at catherine.pedrosa@vcunitedway.org or 805.485.6288, x270.
Please note: As a result of social distancing requirements, there are no walk-in appointments available. All appointments will be by phone only.
Mentors Needed for Women United Education Award Recipients
Women United is seeking potential mentors in professional positions who would like to guide a single mom who is pursuing a college education to reach her career goals. This year, five new recipients of the Women United Education Award are looking to work with mentors who will guide, encourage, and support them in their professional journeys. The career goals of the students looking to be matched are in the following fields:
  • Accounting and Finance
  • College Counseling
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Law
Serving as a mentor is a unique and rewarding experience. Your leadership skills will be enhanced and the guidance you provide will positively impact the life of a single mother pursuing her higher education and career goals. This opportunity will provide a valuable experience for both the mentor and mentee.
Proficiency in the listed fields is not a requirement to serve as a mentor. Anyone who has professional experience in a business environment and is willing to share their knowledge with a mentee is encouraged to become a mentor.
To learn more, contact Susan Englund at susan.englund@vcunitedway.org.
TEXT TO GIVE!
Did you know that United Way of Ventura County has gone mobile? Make a $10 donation to the United Way’s Community Impact Fund using your cellphone. Your donation counts! Simply text the keyword UWVC to 91999. Standard message & data rates apply.
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United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We have one life. To live better, we must LIVE UNITED®.