"What comes out of these services isn’t just benefitting the families we help and the Yolo County economy"

YOLO COUNTY, CA (MPG) -  Every year, the Yolo County Children’s Alliance partners with organizations like Empower Yolo, RISE Inc., and Students in VITA at UC Davis, to become trained and certified in VITA, Voluntary Income Tax Assistance. Through VITA, our staff and partners are able to assist underserved communities, particularly non-English speaking communities, with tax preparation and filing. 

For most communities that YCCA and partners serve, English is a second language and tax preparation, and filing may be a challenging and daunting process. By working together with organizations like Empower Yolo, RISE Inc., and Students of VITA, we are able to offer assistance to individuals in Spanish, Russian, and Farsi, maintaining a web of resources through trusted organizations.

“This year will be different. A lot of families and individuals have been put into uncertain circumstances when it comes to filing their taxes, receiving refunds, or paying taxes owed from this past year. Imagine being a mother or father, whose first language isn’t English, and navigating the IRS processes to ensure you get back the most money you can for your children and family,” said Josie Enriquez, Program Director for Empower Yolo. “What comes out of these services isn’t just benefitting the families we help and the Yolo County economy; these services also lead to more client referrals for other resources an individual may need, for instance, medical insurance application assistance, or signing up to receive CalFresh. Through our partnership with YCCA and with the support of Yolo County, we are able to help so many more individuals during these uncertain times.”

Due to the COVID-19 climate, YCCA staff will be hosting virtual tax preparation assistance and limited in-person assistance for those who may not have access to internet or communications technology. Yolo County community members who would like to set an appointment or need more information can call our West Sacramento Family Resource Center at 916-572-0560. 

In addition to the West Sacramento FRC, Empower Yolo in Woodland, RISE Inc., in Esparto and Winters, and Students in VITA at UC Davis are offering VITA as well.  To see information on all locations, download the flyer in English, Spanish, Russian, and Farsi HERE & share on social media!