The 2001 Maryland EIC Campaign

Each year, Maryland Committee for Children convenes a partnership of organizations -- non-profit, government, and business organizations -- for the purpose of disseminating information about the EIC to low-income families throughout Maryland. Each of these organizations works to disseminate EIC information to their constituents, customers, and employees through the avenues that exist within their organizations. EIC outreach is needed every year because the eligible population changes as people move in and out of employment and underemployment and as people move into Maryland. Some years ago, economists estimated that each year as many as 20% of those eligible for the EIC fail to claim it. Many social service providers now feel that this estimate is quite low.

For the 2001 EIC Campaign, Maryland Committee for Children will coordinate and support the various components of the statewide Campaign, which are:
	community outreach, and in some cases, tax-preparation assistance, through the partner organizations;
	use of the United Way's toll-free information and referral line, First Call for Help (FCFH). The FCFH number appears on all our English-language outreach material. FCFH staffers are trained to do initial screening of callers and to refer callers to VITA sites. VITA is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, run by the IRS, which provides free tax preparation assistance at sites throughout the state;
	collaboration with all local Department of Social Services (DSS) offices to provide EIC information to their clients making the transition from welfare to work;
	outreach materials: posters, flyers, and envelope stuffers, in English, Spanish, and other languages;
	outreach to employers through the four regional associations of human resource directors. The EIC Campaign is working with human resource directors to get EIC reminders enclosed in workers' W2 envelopes;
	bus posters in Baltimore, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County;
	media outreach, including a working partnership with the Maryland Comptroller's Office and IRS to promote awareness of the state and federal EIC; and
	outreach to new partners.

There are now about 140 partners in the Maryland EIC Campaign. Each partner makes a unique and important contribution to this effort.

To join the EIC Campaign, contact the Public Policy Department, Maryland Committee for Children, 410-752-7588 or email us at mcc@mdchildcare.org.

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