Increasing EITC participation and reducing select ACE factors among low-income families, families of color and single parent families in the Texas Panhandle. - Panhandle Community Services offers services and programs for individuals and families earning 0% to 200% of the current federal poverty guidelines who are living in 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Last year, 108 staff and hundreds of volunteers served 5,561 families (12,855 individuals). PCS is considered a top preforming agency by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, having met all the organizational standards five years in a row. Leadership has prior experience managing similar programs. The Panhandle population is approximately 440,000, with average poverty rates 15-25% higher than Texas and the U.S. In half the counties served by PCS, 1 in 2 single mothers have household income below 100% FPL. The median household income for most Panhandle residents is $38,000 to $45,000, significantly lower than U.S. income. One in three residents are Hispanic or Latinx, and they experience poverty at rates significantly higher than white residents (25% vs. 15%). Many families served by PCS are not highly educated – 25-35% of heads of household lack a high school diploma, compared to 20% in Texas. Wages are low due to the $7.25 minimum wage, especially in rural areas with few employment opportunities. And Texas is one of only four states with no state EITC law, meaning low-income working Texans miss out on an additional 5-50% EITC state rebate. The IRS estimates an additional 35,000 to 45,000 filers in the Panhandle could be eligible for EITC, meaning families in the region could be missing out on $100 million annually. Half of counties served by PCS have low EITC participation rates. The most important reasons to study, fund, and raise awareness for ACEs are to prevent family violence and reduce injury and harm to children. This work is integral to PCS’s mission. Combined data on a high prevalence of ACEs among Texans, high poverty rates, low education rates, and lower-than-average EITC participation – show children and families in the Panhandle experience a greater variety and frequency of ACEs than peers in Texas and the U.S. And while Texas ranked 18th for ACEs in a 2019 Health of Women and Children report, in many indicators it ranks 41-50. Project Goal: Reduce four ACE risk factors among five target groups in the Texas Panhandle, while improving EITC participation significantly among all target groups (~120,000 people) and measurably across the Panhandle (~470,000 population). Approach: PCS will use infrastructure from 13 rural Service Centers and hire four new staff – three EITC/ACE Outreach Workers and an EITC/ACE Project Coordinator. The RSVP program to recruit and train 25+ senior volunteers to prepare tax returns (using agency funds.) PCS will build on the strength of 35 existing partnerships across sectors to deliver ACE outreach and education, and boost referrals for target population participants. PCS will develop new relationships with employers for EITC outreach. Target populations include families experiencing poverty, single parent households, Hispanic and Latinx families, African-American families, families with a history of abuse, and parents who did not complete high school. PCS has the greatest reach and most experience with these groups. The ACE risk factors this project proposes to reduce are 1) experiencing poverty, 2) single parent households, 3) low-education parents, and 4) abuse (any form). A detailed logic model and work plan have been included with the proposal to show planned strategies and measurable outcomes. Key aspects of the project would be sustained, especially EITC outreach, education, and tax preparation services, amplified referrals and ACE education with partners. PCS would leverage nearly $100,000 of its own funds, and would secure additional funds from state, federal, local, and foundation partners.
