Financial Wellness Partnership Update
April 2022
United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona circulates this monthly newsletter focused on financial wellness topics. In this edition, learn about our upcoming network meeting, ongoing work from our focus teams, the VITA Filing Finale, and more.
Updates and Research
Join us at our next Financial Wellness Partnership Meeting
Thursday 4/21, 1-2:30pm
 
This session will include two presentations --
 
Case Study - Navigator Models to Support Job Placement: Madeline Guyott, Community Health Worker for the Direct Care Workforce Resource at United Way of Tucson, will share lessons learned from two years of an effort aimed to increase direct care worker hires through 1:1 assistance. We look forward to a great discussion on challenges, opportunities, and recommendations around implementing navigator programs to support workforce efforts.


Findings and Reflection - University of Arizona Basic Needs Survey: UArizona Basic Needs Coalition members will briefly review key insights from their Spring 2021 Basic Needs Survey and report preliminary themes from Fall 2021 student focus groups related to student success. Time will be reserved at the end of the presentation to discuss current resources and to solicit group feedback on strategies to improve meeting student basic needs on campus.
 
Network meetings are designed to build awareness, trust, and capacity among local partners offering financial wellness resources. All interested individuals are welcome to Zoom in and join! Email Lisa Floran (lfloran@unitedwaytucson.org) to receive the link.
Public Policy Team Updates
At their March meeting, the Public Policy group hosted presentations from Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV) about using the Request to Speak system to engage on state policy and Healthcare Rising about a new ballot initiative to reduce the burden of medical debt on low-income individuals and families - resources related to each below.

Over the past few months, the group has also helped develop a document that can be used to educate partners, stakeholders, and community members about the scope of financial wellness work and opportunities for impact. Check out the paper, Moving Southern Arizona Toward Financial Wellness, to learn more about the five Financial Wellness categories of Basic Needs and Income, Emergency Savings, Wealth-building Opportunities, Financial Skills, and Community Engagement.
Policy Team Resources and Opportunities of Note


The Public Policy group will next meet on Wednesday 4/13 at 1:30pm - contact Lisa if you'd like to receive the meeting link.
Financial Education and Coaching Team Updates
We kicked off a new focus group in March, with staff from 10 organizations that offer financial education, coaching, social work, and other supportive services joining the conversation. In the meeting, participants shared what they are most interested in pursuing as a collective. Group consensus emerged around two main ideas: 1) Discussing financial education/coaching issues and brainstorming solutions; and 2) Connecting financial education/connection efforts to employment, workforce, and workforce development. Upcoming meetings will focus on those topics. We look forward to sharing more about this team's work as it gets going!
Interested in joining an upcoming meeting with the Financial Education/Coaching team? Contact Lisa (lfloran@unitedwaytucson.org) to receive the link, notes, and meeting agendas.
What is Financial Wellness at United Way?
The Connecting Tucson with Jamie podcast recently hosted members of the United Way team. In the episode, hear Senior Director of Financial Wellness Initiatives, Lisa Floran, and Vice President of Philanthropy, Jeff Petrovic, speak about what brought them to United Way, collective impact efforts, how different initiatives fit into our Financial Wellness framework, and opportunities to get involved. Give it a listen if you want to learn more about United Way's vision for financial wellness!
Learn more about our organization, philosophy, and financial wellness efforts: Check out Connecting Tucson with Jamie Episode 34 - United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona - Serving the Community
VITA Tax Filing Finale Event - Monday 4/18
Through United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, households earning up to $73,000 annually can access free, quality tax preparation from IRS-certified preparers. Last-minute assistance will be available at our Tax Day Filing Finale - Monday, April 18th from 10am-10pm at the Truly Nolen Training Facility (near Broadway/Rosemont - 432 S Williams Blvd., BLDG 436 Lobby). The event will include on-site tax preparation and Do-It-Yourself stations with assistance available.
Learn more about the Filing Finale and other ongoing VITA resources: 2022 VITA Webpage
Resource Corner
Woman peeks over a book in a library surrounded by books
Financial Wellness Resources for Southern Arizona
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

United Way Tucson Financial Wellness Volunteer Opportunities: Want to lend your time as a volunteer with a financial wellness program? See our list of opportunities to volunteer as a financial mentor, workshop facilitator, ESL teacher, and more.
Video Content from Million Stories Media
United Way of Tucson has teamed up with the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship to share valuable content focused on financial wellness. Million Stories, a project of the Singleton Foundation, is on a mission to make community members more financially competent. This month’s featured video comes from the Adulting with Richard Sherman series, where NFL player Richard Sherman shares his experiences and gives advice on how to avoid making the same mistakes he did. The Having an Emergency Fund video would fit well in a unit dealing with budgeting or savings, especially for younger audiences.

Reading List
Other Opportunities
2022 Forum on Nonprofit Effectiveness - Service and Volunteerism to Build a Stronger Arizona, Tuesday 4/20: The annual forum returns to an in-person event at the YWCA. During this interactive in-person convening, attendees will connect with fellow nonprofit professionals and sector leaders, leaving the forum with fresh ideas and tools.

Funding Opportunity - Economic & Workforce Development and Special Event Grants: The City of Tucson is accepting applications from Tucson-serving nonprofit organization intending to fund a workforce development or special event between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.Applications due 4/15/22.

Job Opportunity - United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona: Open positions include Senior Program Manager for ELDER Alliance and Senior Program Manager for the Family Support Alliance.

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.
Additional Information

What Tenants Need to Know During COVID-19 – Robust list including rental assistance, eviction protection/moratorium, and legal assistance resources compiled by Pima County.

  • *NEW* Note on LIHEAP: Pima County Community Action Agency staff are currently accepting referrals to screen for Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds. Staff and case managers are encouraged to pass along applicant names and phone or email contact information to CAAReferrals@pima.gov .

Eviction Prevention Resources - The Tucson Pima EPP portal for rental and utility assistance is still open, working with a network of 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.

*NEW* Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)- The ACP is an FCC benefit (formerly Emergency Broadband Benefit) that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they require for work, healthcare and to stay connected. The ACP provides eligible low-income households a credit up to $30 a month toward the cost of Internet service ($75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands). Participants in the program can apply the ACP credit toward the cost of participating plans from a variety of Internet service providers, as well as mobile services.

  • Locally, Comcast is one participating provider. Households that choose plans that cost $30/month or less will essentially receive their service for free - learn more about Comcast's program here

Pima County Housing Search - Searchable database of affordable rental housing, supported by Pima County

AZ Eviction Help - Information about eviction processes, tenant rights, and resources for rental assistance, utility assistance, legal assistance compiled by the Arizona Bar Association

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.

Order Free COVID-19 Tests: Go to COVIDTests.gov, to order four tests per household. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days and will begin shipping later this month.

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.

AZDHS COVID-19 Website – Latest updates, closure and re-opening announcements, and data dashboard
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.

View past newsletters and learn more about our programs here: United Way 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