STRATEGIES FOR OUTREACH IN NATIVE AND

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STRATEGIES FOR OUTREACH IN NATIVE AND SW BORDER
COMMUNITIES
EITC FUNDERS NETWORK Washington, DC March 3,
2006 Ana Marie Argilagos Annie E. Casey
Foundation aargilagos_at_aecf.org
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The Annie E. Casey Foundation

• Our mission is to build better futures for
  those most vulnerable families which are least
  likely to succeed without help
• Connecting families building strong communities
• Data-based advocacy (Kids Count)
• Fostering public policies human service reforms

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Why Work in the SW Border Indian Country?

• Rapidly increasing young populations
• High rates of working poor traditional
  anti-poverty strategies are not working
• As funders, take advantage of role of convener,
  connector catalyst bringing stakeholders to
  table around common interests increase
  attention to challenges leverage opportunities
• Border is bellwether for nation families in
  borderlands share similar socio-economic status
  as gateway cities

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Confused?

• Which term do you use Latino or Hispanic?
• There is no easy answer
• Usually interchangeable, but geography matters
• Native American, American Indian, AI/AN and
  what about Hawaii?
• We tend to use Native Community feel includes
  all groupings

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Native Families A Primer on Demographics

• Currently 562 recognized tribes in the US 229
  are in Alaskavary greatly in size
• Census 2000 reports 4.1 million AI/AN in the US
• 64 of all AI/AN reside in urban/suburban areas
• Highest poverty rates 1 in 4 lives below poverty
  line
• 3 states with largest populations CA, OK AZ
• Places with largest proportions AK, OK, NM
• 3 cities NYC, LA and Phoenix

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How we Worked to Create Momentum?

• Started with the data
• Nationally it is estimated that between 18-25 of
  eligible tax payers are not claiming itin Indian
  Country the Border it is probably higher
• Followed by community consultations
• Reconnaissance, consultation, outreach,
  relationship building

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Many Families Dont Receive the Full Value of
Refundable Credits
Top Indian Country Zip Codes for Rapid Refunds
Among EITC Filers
Reservation EITC EITC
RAL Pine Ridge (SD) 844 55 78 Red
Lake (MN) 576 61 76 Rosebud (SD)
125 66 74 Mescalero (NM)
573 48 74 Gila River (AZ)
743 46 74 Blackfeet (MT) 1,532 59 74 BO
RDER TOWNS ARE OFTEN EVEN HIGHER!!!
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The Rational How Does it Benefit Native
Communities?

• New capital stimulates tribal economiesserves as
  an economic engine
• Reluctance to talk about wealth in financial
  terms, but individual asset building strengthens
  families
• Allows families to accumulate down payments for
  homes much faster increase capital for small
  businesses
• Linking to public benefits
• Reduce leakage to Border towns, pawn shops,
  trading posts, car dealers, mobile home dealers,
  check cashing services

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What out Work in Native Communities Looks Like
Today

• Partners
• National Urban Indian Family Coalition
• Native Financial Education Coalition
• First Nations Development Institute
• OWEESTA
• National Congress of American Indians
• National American Indian Housing Council
• Tribal colleges communities colleges (Tax Help
  NM)
• Center for Social Development
• Regional Intermediaries
• Boys Girls Clubs
• IRS hud

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Resources You Can Use

• EITC Workbook
• Building Native Communities
• A Guide to Claiming the EITC
• Instructor Guide and Training
• Tribal Leaders Guide
• Learn more about upcoming EITC resources at
  www.oweesta.org/eitc
• Native Financial Education Coalition

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EITC Outreach Toolkit Covers

• Overview of EITC
• Explains economic impact to community
• Resources available from IRS and others
• How to set up free tax prep sites
• Linking EITC to asset building
• Public service announcements
• Paycheck and W-2 stuffers
• Sample press releases
• Website

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Tribal Leaders Guide

• Many of the same materials
• Specifically targeted for elected officials

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Promoting the Three As

• Promote AWARENESS Dont let millions of EITC
  dollars go unclaimed!
• Increase ACCESS to free tax preparation sites
• Find or create alternatives to predatory
  providers
• Provide financial education about building
  preserving ASSETS
• Help families use refunds to improve their
  financial standings

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Lessons Learned in Indian Country

• In urban areas, use NUIFC member centers
• RELATIONSHIPS are critical gain trust by 1st
  working via national or regional intermediaries
  they are more used to outsiders
• Work with the largest employers usually BIA,
  Tribal college or the Tribe itself
• Self-employment is BIG! Have a plan
• Have at least 1 site which offers year round
  services youll be there if there are problems

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SW Border Families A Primer on Demographics

• 32 Border Counties includes 6.5 million people of
  which 1.8 million are children
• Border child poverty (37) is twice the national
  rate (there are ½ a million poor kids)
• 80 of Latino children live in families where
  parents
• work they are also more likely to live in two
  parent families graphic example of working poor
• High School drop out rates 3x higher than
  non-Latino Whites

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Borderlands Population
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Our Work in the SW Border

• Our Partners
• U-S Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (local
  community foundations)
• Over 60 CBOs in 11 counties
• Champions Elected Officials, United Ways
• Community Colleges
• ASU is our research partners
• Latino Financial Issues Program
• IRS

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Our Work in the SW Border

• Using Data to Generate Excitement
• Latino Financial Preferences Behavior Survey
• In 2005 collected 4,800 surveys (in 2004
  established baseline with 2,500)
• A bilingual instrument, administered by local CBO
  partners
• Mean Adjusted Gross Income 11,480

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Factoids

• Working poor, cash strapped families are spending
  an increasing amount of funds on family
  educational attainment (school expenses)
• Calls into question access to a bank account as
  a success indicator for FES. Although 67 to
  72 own bank accounts (technically banked), 48
  use money orders to pay bills (possible reasons
  include lack of trust, too many fees, learned
  behavior)
• High informal borrowing saving 50 of Border
  Tax filers have borrowed from or lent to family
  members in emergency

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Factoids

• Preparing Latinos as financial consumers 92 of
  Border Tax filers have never heard of IDAs
• 19 to 30 send remittances to family members not
  living with them
• Border Filers want to know more about (in order
  of importance) Homeownership, IDAs, Auto Loans,
  Child Savings Accounts, Microbusinesses and
  Credit Cards

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Lessons Learned in the SW Border

• Bilingual is not enough! Bi-cultural
• RELATIONSHIPS are also critical
• Strong strong CBO infrastructure places where
  people already going for help (or just to talk).
  Work with CBOs where it fits mission
• Use promotoras mobile preparers take services
  to the people
• For new immigrants, kids are often conduits
• Ditto on self-employment year-round sites

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Families are using Refunds to Build Savings, Buy
Homes, Start Businesses
Individual Development Accounts
Home Ownership Programs
Financial Institutions Savings
Financial Literacy/Credit Repair
Micro Enterprise Workforce
The Hook Free or low cost Tax Preparation