Financial Wellness Partnership Update
January 2022
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United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona circulates this monthly newsletter focused on financial wellness topics. In this edition, learn the latest about our December meeting, our November trauma-informed workshop, Pima FastTrack, and more. |
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As we move into 2022, we wanted to take a moment to look back and reflect on Financial Wellness work from the past year. 2021 marked a restart for our Financial Wellness Partnership and efforts to build a stronger foundation for collective impact work around economic mobility. Here are some highlights from our year:
- Engaged more than 40 partner organizations and local government through Partnership meetings, trainings, and workshops.
- Held 7 network meetings, which offered presentations about two-gen strategies, integrated service delivery models, outreach and participant recruitment, and programs from Take Charge America Institute, Goodwill of Southern AZ, and Pima FastTrack.
- Hosted 3 special sessions: the Eviction Prevention Case Study in Collaboration, with staff from the City of Tucson, Pima County, and Community Investment Corporation in April; an overview of the Health Currents Social Determinant of Health pilot program in August; and a Trauma-Informed Economic Empowerment workshop with the Domestic Violence Law Clinic in November.
- With the support of our two focus teams, developed a central financial wellness resource list, a shared referral form for pilot, a financial wellness policy stakeholder list, and a partner pulse survey.
Thank you for joining us for these conversations and efforts! We feel incredibly fortunate to work with such dedicated, innovative, and inspirational partners. In 2022, we look forward to continuing to collaborate - and specifically, to build out work around policy education and engagement, deepen our work with financial coaching, and integrate financial wellness with other programs and sectors.
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Network Meeting - December 2021 |
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Our December Network Meeting brought together 40 attendees for conversations around workforce development, training, and collaboration. The meeting included a great presentation from Julie Hecimovich and Veronica Lopez about Pima Community College’s new Pima FastTrack program (more info below) and reflections from Ken Briggs, retiring Associate Vice President of Community Development. Ken shared reflections about innovation, behavioral economics, and questions for us to keep considering as we continue our work. To start the meeting, we also checked in with partners about community needs and resources through a partner pulse survey:
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14 partners responded to the first question about community inquiries, with almost two thirds reporting that information about emergency aid for rent, utilities, groceries, and basic needs has been their top request. Many also report requests related to stability programs – training, education, and financial coaching opportunities. Benefits enrollment assistance and COVID-19 resources were offered as options but received no votes. 15 partners responded to the second question about the issue they find most concerning, as a practitioner or community worker. Caregiving issues were the top concern, followed by employment, affordable housing, and cost of living.
Additional notes from partners:
- Caregiver workforce is simultaneously a pay issue and employee shortage issue!
- The high cost of rent for a family of 4 is the biggest issue.
- The impact of COVID relates to our work to help individuals get family-sustaining wages.
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Join us for our next network meeting - Thursday, February 17, 1-2:30pm. Email Lisa Floran (lfloran@unitedwaytucson.org) to receive the link.
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Trauma-Informed Economic Empowerment Workshop |
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On November 16th, the Financial Wellness Partnership hosted Mireya Obregon from the Domestic Violence Law Clinic at the University of Arizona for a session about trauma, financial behavior, and economic justice. About 40 individuals from 22 organizations joined the conversation - and as one participant said at the end, "Thank you for this session - it was the best webinar I've been to in 2 years!"
So many of us work with people one-on-one, but acknowledging the other systems and policies that affect financial wellness is also incredibly important. This session was a great opportunity to discuss how we can improve our work with individuals but also put energy toward improving and rebuilding systems, structures, and environments to be more person-centered and accessible. Much thanks to everyone who tuned in and contributed their reflections!
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Interested in learning more about what was offered in the session?
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Event Recording: Catch up on the full two hour session with this youtube video.
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Additional Resources: a list of resources and references related to the presentation, compiled by the DVLC staff
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Trauma-informed Economic Empowerment slides: definitions, concepts, and key takeaways shared by our facilitator during the session are available - to access, email lfloran@unitedwaytucson.org
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New Education and Training Opportunity: Pima FastTrack |
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PimaFastTrack is a new way to go to college - it’s built for adult learners who want to quickly get industry-recognized skills. Through PimaFastTrack, people can work full-time, raise a family, and learn today's in-demand skills for a new career. The PimaFastTrack team recently presented to our Financial Wellness Partnership, but they will also be hosting additional information sessions (available in-person and remote) in 2022 – potential enrollees, case managers, or community partners are all welcome. If you would like to learn more about the programs, speak with a navigator, set up an info session, or make a referral, it’s best to start with an email to pcc-csnavigator@pima.edu or by calling 520-206-5100.
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More information about PimaFastTrack, including available programs, costs, and how to get additional information, can be found on their website or via this flyer.
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Transitions in Community Development and Financial Wellness |
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At the end of December, we celebrated the retirement of one of our favorite people: Ken Briggs, who has led our Community Development, Financial Wellness, and VITA Team at United Way of Tucson for the past 8 years! Words cannot express how much Ken has given back to this community, both during his tenure at United Way and his time in Tucson. Ken was especially instrumental in growing our VITA program into the largest tax preparer in the state of Arizona, helping individuals and families across the state connect with critical financial resources to help them stay housed, safe, healthy, and stable. We are sad to see him go but wish him the best on these next steps! We are also excited to welcome Liz Cozzi as our new Associate Vice President of Community Development. Liz has been with United Way of Tucson for the past three years, most recently as Senior Director of the ELDER Alliance. She brings a solid understanding of United Way, deep connections in the community, and a varied career in health and social services.
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Financial Wellness Resources for Southern Arizona |
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United Way Tucson Financial Wellness Resource List: Find programmatic and 1:1 opportunities for financial coaching/education, tax assistance, workforce development, and more on this list developed by United Way of Tucson and Southern AZ partners. You are also welcome to email Lisa if you want to talk through ideas or recommendations about what might be a good fit: lfloran@unitedwaytucson.org
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Special selections this month from Ken Briggs - the Briggs Bibliography!
Books:
Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein
Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much, by Eldar Shafir and Sendhil Mullainathan
Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter, by Cass Sunstein and Reid Hastie (this is good for anyone who participates in teams or committees)
Websites:
ideas42 https://www.ideas42.org/ (founded by Mullainathan and Shafir, I think) They have some good stuff on policy as well and for organizations. If you Google behavioral economics you will also find other groups doing interesting research in this area.
YouTube:
There are some great YouTubes of lectures, interviews, and presentations by Thaler, Sunstein, Shafir, Mullainathan, and Ariely. Some short, some long.
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Funding Opportunity – ARPA Funds: The City of Tucson opened a new community partner grant application for ARPA funds – applications due 1/19/22. Read more about their funding priorities and how to attend the informational workshops scheduled for 12/16 at 4pm and 12/21 at 10am at the link.
Funding Opportunity - Building a Downtown for Everyone: DTP's Social Justice Committee will review and award grants up to $2,000 to programs presented in Downtown Tucson that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and reach communities not traditionally served by DTP.
Professional Development: Viable Insights recently shared a strategic planning and continuous quality improvement resource that they have made free for our partners – you can access it here via the coupon code FWP21.
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Additional Information
Eviction Prevention Resources - The Tucson Pima EPP portal for rental and utility assistance is still open, working with a network of 10+ nonprofits to distribute relief funds from the City of Tucson and Pima County. Tenants are encouraged to sign up for the waitlist in order to be considered.
2-1-1 Eviction Assistance App - Answer a series of questions in approximately two minutes and receive detailed, individual, step-by-step guidance to about housing assistance and resources
AZ Eviction Help - Information about eviction processes, tenant rights, and resources for rental assistance, utility assistance, legal assistance compiled by the Arizona Bar Association
*New* Arizona Homeowner Assistance Fund: The HAF program provides help for homeowners who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 after January 21st, 2020. Homeowners can use HAF funds for the purpose of preventing the following: homeowner mortgage delinquencies, homeowner mortgage defaults, homeowner mortgage foreclosures, homeowner loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship.
AHCCCS Vaccine Navigators - The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), in partnership with Crisis Response Network, announces a new COVID-19 appointment and transportation navigation program for Medicaid members. Now, Medicaid members who need assistance scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, as well as transportation to and from that appointment, can call 1-844-542-8201, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.
Vaccine Ambassadorship Toolkit: This toolkit from TPCH provides advocate resources related to accurate vaccine education and trauma-informed discussions about the vaccines with people experiencing homelessness.
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The Financial Wellness Partnership seeks to improve the financial wellness of individuals and families by increasing accessibility to effective services, resources, and opportunities, and by influencing policy to
develop equitable, people-centered systems that support financial wellness.
If you have questions or suggestions for future newsletters, please contact Lisa Floran, Senior Director of Financial Wellness Initiatives at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona: lfloran@unitedwaytucson.org
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