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Author: United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Women in Construction/ Trades Training Program

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

The United Way Southern Dallas Thrives initiative partners with local organizations, including Dallas College and Hilti North America, to provide high-quality workforce training to women in North Texas.

The training focuses on high-growth industries, including Industrial Maintenance, Advanced Manufacturing, HVAC, Logistics, Masonry, and other Construction related trades.

Benefits

  • Earn industry certifications related to industry of programming like OSHA 10/OSHA 30
  • Nationally recognized certification from Center for Construction Education and Research
  • Supportive Services
  • Completion Stipend

Requirements

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Must have two forms of ID (social security card and state-issued ID)
  • Must be able to work in a team environment
  • Must be able to train for at least 6 weeks (dependent on trade program)
  • Must be a Dallas County resident
  • Criminal backgrounds accepted

Home Visiting and Support

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

Sign Up

Contact one of our Texas Home Visiting partners to sign up:

ChildCareGroup – Born Learning Parent Engagement Program
Parent educators model positive parenting skills and teach parents about child development, milestones and activities to encourage growth

Dallas Independent School District HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters)
A three-year school readiness and parent involvement program that includes both learning and play

Metrocare – Flourishing Family
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher.

Lumin Education
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher

What’s available?

  • Free in-home visits from a nurse, a volunteer, a trained professional or an experienced parent
  • Home visitors answer questions, offer advice, provide support and teach parents how to prepare children for kindergarten

Who’s eligible?

  • Families in Dallas and Collin counties
  • Soon-to-be parents and those with children under 5

About the Program

The Texas Home Visiting program is funded by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services with matching funds from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. The program enjoys the support of ChildCareGroup, Dallas ISD HIPPY, Family Compass and Lumin Education.

For more information, please contact Nailah Johnson, THVP Director at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Free Tax Prep

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

Sign Up Now

In-person tax prep assistance: Available at seven Community Tax Centers across Dallas. Households that earned $64,000 or less are eligible for services that include current and previous year tax returns, non-resident returns and ITIN renewals. For site locations and hours of operation, text TAXCENTERS to 833-939-1387 or visit www.DallasTaxCenters.org. Available in English and Spanish.

Online tax prep help: Households with income less than $79,000 can access fully online, self-directed tax prep services that are not subject to fees or paid add-ons. Visit www.MyFreeTaxes.com. Available in English and Spanish.

New this year! Direct File is a new free, public and online tax filing tool created by the IRS. Direct File is available in English and Spanish and works if you take the standard deduction and claim common tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. It is designed for tech-savvy taxpayers that have internet access to support a video call, a working camera on a phone, tablet or computer, and a U.S. phone number that accepts texts or phone call. Click here to learn more.

Benefits

  • Completely free
  • Safe, secure and led by volunteers who are IRS-certified tax preparers
  • Saves you money. Clients save an average of $200 in tax preparation and filing fees, plus get an average refund of $2,400 by claiming all their eligible tax credits and refunds. Last year, United Way helped 12,500 North Texas families receive a total of $18.5 million in refunds.

What you’ll need

  • Photo ID
  • Social Security or ITIN cards for you, your spouse and dependents
  • All W2 and 1099 forms
  • Health insurance documents
  • Checking/savings account number
  • Last year’s tax return

Sign Up for Free Children’s Books

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

Sign Up

To sign up for Once Upon a Month, visit the Ferst Readers website.

What’s included?

  • One free, age-appropriate children’s book every month for a year
  • Parent guides in English and Spanish

Who’s eligible?

  • Children from birth to age 5
  • Children living in Dallas County
  • English and Spanish readers

Our Partners

Once Upon a Month™ was created by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy and The Boone Family Foundation. The program enjoys support from these key partners: Communities Foundation of Texas, Department of Family and Protective Services—Prevention and Early Intervention, Dallas Independent School District, Hudson Foundation and Hillcrest Foundation.

Financial Advice, Education and Tools

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

Financial Guidance

Connect with a qualified financial coach who can help you set and meet your financial goals for this year and beyond.

Contact one of our partner agencies to get started:

  • Catholic Charities Dallas: Financial coaching and education, HUD counseling and more
  • Metrocrest Services: Teaches individuals how to pay off debt, increase savings, improve credit and achieve personal financial goals
  • The Senior Source: Financial assistance and education, help with frauds and scam, and more
  • The Wilkinson Center: Financial coaching and financial services
  • WiNGS Dallas: Financial education, individualized financial coaching, credit-building, benefit screening and more

Financial Education

Learn more about personal finance, planning for your financial future, buying a home and more.

These organizations offer a variety of financial education classes and resources:

Money Management

Access resources that make it easier to manage your finances and build savings:

  • Albert: Financial advisory platform to track finances and get personalized recommendations
  • Digit: Automated savings tool that identifies small amounts of money that can moved from checking to emergency savings
  • ImmigrationHelp.org: Helps Dreamers and other low-income immigrants live and work in the United States by allowing them to prepare their immigration paperwork online for free and connecting them with essential financial services
  • Leap Fund: Helps Americans navigate “benefits cliffs,” which are situations where workers become ineligible for public benefits due to an increase in wages or hours worked
  • Let’s Get Set: Supports hardworking parents and families to secure and deploy their maximum tax benefits and create a path to enhanced financial stability

Debt Management

Explore these online tools that empower you to deal with debt so you can work toward financial security:

  • EarnUp: Automates loan payments and identifies earning opportunities while helping you save funds when possible
  • LendStreet: Debt consolidation service to avoid bankruptcy and create a path to paying off debt
  • Resolve: Customized advice for managing debt, including debt relief plans and connections to reputable debt counseling services
  • SoloSuit: Automated software that helps you respond to debt lawsuits
  • Summer: Helps student loan borrowers save on their loans by identifying and enrolling them in the best repayment and forgiveness programs
  • UpSolve: Provides free legal assistance, forms, and education to those with unmanageable debt

Home Ownership

These North Texas housing counseling agencies provide support and resources for people looking to purchase a home and are approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:

Other Homebuying Resources

  • Home Lending Pal: Guides prospective homeowners through the homebuying and borrowing process while helping to shield them from predatory lenders

Auto and Life Insurance

Enroll in free or affordable auto or life insurance:

  • Avibra: Provides free $15,000 in life insurance and access to additional affordable financial, insurance and wellness benefits
  • EverydayLife: Enables everyday people to purchase life insurance simply and affordably
  • Sigo Seguros: Enables Latinx, immigrant and low-income populations to purchase affordable auto insurance via a bilingual mobile platform

Parent Education Resources

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

Our Dallas County HOPES partners offer free parent education, home visiting, support services and connections to local resources for parents with children up to age 5.

Sign Up

Sign up through one of our partner agencies below:

Abide Women’s Health Services
Email: info@abidewomen.org
Offers healthcare and complimentary services that are easily accessible, holistic, evidence based and free from judgment.

AVANCE-North Texas
Alejanda Alfaro
Email: alejandra.alfaro@avance-dallas.org
Phone: 214-897-9907
Provides parent-child education programs and individualized case management to eligible families based on a needs assessment.

Help Me Grow
Email: lhasley@ccgroup.org
Connects parents to community resources through parent navigators who deliver individualized assistance.

Family Care Connection
Jessica Thomas
Email: jthomas@familycareconnection.org
Phone: 972-298-3366
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher.

Flourishing Family
Email: karen.caldwell@metrocareservices.org
A free nurse home visiting program that teaches parents how to nurture the whole family and encourage children’s health and wellbeing.

Lumin Education
Email: molly.sandoval@lumineducation.org
Phone: 214-824-8950 ext. 237
Offers home visiting for children from birth to three years, empowering parents to become their children’s first teacher.

About the Program

Dallas County HOPES (Healthy Outcomes through Early Prevention and Support) is funded by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and supported by Abide Women’s Health Services, Avance North Texas, ChildCareGroup, Family Care Connection, Lumin Education, and Metrocare Services.

For more information, please contact Latasha Splane, HOPES Director at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

Financial Assistance for Healthcare Coverage

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

Apply Now

Open enrollment has ended for 2024 health insurance plans. However, you may be eligible to apply for insurance if you have had a life changing event, which includes loss of employee-sponsored coverage. To apply for health insurance and financial assistance, contact the United Way Healthcare Navigators program.

You can also contact our partner organizations to apply for coverage and financial assistance:

What is available?

  • Three months of financial assistance
  • Help with comparing health plans, understanding benefits and choosing the right plan for you

Who is eligible?

  • Individuals and families under 350% of the federal poverty level ($38,640 for individuals, $52,260 for a family of two, $65,880 for a family of three)
  • North Texans living in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties
  • U.S. citizens
  • Immigrants lawfully present in the U.S.
  • People with pre-existing health conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is a federal law enacted in 2010. It requires all U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance or pay a penalty. The ACA established the Health Insurance Marketplace, an internet-based system, to enable the public to shop for qualified health plans. The Marketplace is the only way to apply for financial assistance (tax credits) to reduce monthly premiums.

When can I apply for health insurance?

Outside the open enrollment period, you may only get health insurance if you have a life changing event, which includes loss of employee-sponsored coverage. Contact a healthcare navigator to see if you qualify.

How can I get additional resources and financial support?

Dallas County residents can receive additional financial assistance, resources and emergency assistance through Community Council of Greater Dallas. Contact them at www.ccadvance.org or at (214) 871-5065.

About the North Texas Healthcare Coverage Collaborative

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas partnered with the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council and the Dallas County Enroll North Texas ACA Coalition to launch the North Texas Healthcare Coverage Collaborative. The innovative collaboration seeks to address the growing number of uninsured North Texans, as a result of COVD-19, by providing financial assistance to ensure they can maintain healthcare insurance coverage.

Communities Foundation of Texas’ W.W. Caruth, Jr. Fund, Medical City Healthcare, and Methodist Health System generously contributed seed funding of $200,000, $100,000 and $25,000, respectively, for this initiative.

Enroll in Health Insurance

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

With the support of our certified Healthcare Navigators, it’s easy to find the right health insurance for you and your family. A Navigator can help you:

  • Compare health plans
  • Understand your benefits options
  • Select the best qualified health plan for your needs
  • Apply for subsidies to lower your monthly premiums
  • Transition from CHIP/Medicaid to the Marketplace

Enroll in Health Care, Medicaid or CHIP

Open enrollment has ended for 2024, but you may still be eligible to enroll in healthcare coverage if you have had a qualifying life event. Our certified Healthcare Navigators are here to help you enroll in CHIP/Medicaid, SNAP or the Healthy Texas Woman Program.

Contact us today for free assistance. To get started, call 214-978-0042 or 214-978-0043, or fill out the form on the right.

By submitting this request, you are giving a Healthcare Navigator consent to contact you and discuss your health insurance options, and if needed, receive FREE application assistance.

Coverage Area

Our Healthcare Navigators program covers a 16-county region and includes Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties.

About the North Texas Consortium

We are a group of local community organizations dedicated to increasing health insurance coverage in North Texas. Led by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, the Consortium maintains a network of Healthcare Navigators who assist our neighbors in signing up for health insurance coverage.

Our Partners

Learn more about our partners and their services below.

For more information, visit healthcare.gov.

The project described was supported by Funding Opportunity Number CA-NAV-21-001 from the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services. The contents provided are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS or any of its agencies. 10/21