New Orleans Neighborhoods Partnership Network

August 26th 2010

Head Start supports Jefferson Children's Advocacy Center

In July, JeffCAP Head Start graciously donated more than $470 to the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center, (JPAC) during the Head Start teacher orientation.

The Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to assist victims of child abuse. It was established in November 1991 and is a full member of the National Children’s Alliance in Washington, D.C.

The Jefferson Parish Head Start program is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Head Start’s goal is to provide comprehensive child-care services to at least 90 percent of disadvantaged and low-income pre-school children at no charge to participants. This “center-based” program spends six hours in a classroom learning environment at all nine centers throughout Jefferson Parish. Head Start provides comprehensive health, education, nutrition, parent involvement, school readiness and social services.

Thank you Head Start for supporting JPAC’s efforts in assisting the victims of child abuse.

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August 18th 2010

YLC's College Admissions Project Ramps-Up Recruitment Efforts in Advance of School Year

YLC’s College Admissions Project Ramps-Up Recruitment Efforts in Advance of School Year

Contact:
Dan Forman
President
Young Leadership Council
Ph: (504) 585-1500
Email:

Skipper Bond
Ph: (504) 897-0462
Email:

www.collegeadmissionsproject.org

New Orleans, LA – August 13, 2010 – In advance of the new school year, the College Admissions Project (C.A.P.), a volunteer project of the Young Leadership Council (YLC) dedicated to assisting local public high school students get into college, recently ramped up recruitment efforts around the City for new volunteers.

This year, C.A.P. is helping more local high school seniors than ever before, and is working to finalize commitments from its 2010-2011 partner schools. The organization hopes to recruit 200 guides to match with 200 students, C.A.P.‘s most ambitious recruitment effort to date.

C.A.P. began in 2007 and focuses on bridging the gap in college admissions between low-income students and their peers by pairing a young professional, or “Guide,” one-on-one with a student who wants help applying to college. Guides meet with students from the fall through graduation, helping students navigate the college admissions process and assisting with everything from applications, essays and interviews, to FASFA, financial aid and scholarships. C.A.P. provides Guides with support through training sessions, meetings and a comprehensive Guide Manual.

“C.A.P. has worked with nearly 200 students in schools across Orleans and Jefferson parishes,” says Dan Forman, YLC board president. “This is an accomplishment we are very proud of and could not be possible without the dedication of our volunteer project leaders and Guides.

Last year alone, C.A.P. worked with four Orleans Parish public schools and matched volunteers with 80 students, 50% of whom applied to college and, of those, 100% were accepted.

According to C.A.P. Co-Project Leaders Ed Freydel and Nayita Wilson, C.A.P.‘s volunteer time commitment is flexible, requiring that volunteers meet regularly with their students from fall through graduation, but allowing Guides to choose their own meeting times and locations, depending on the student’s and guide’s schedules.

Freydel said, “So far, we have had great success in recruitment efforts; we are about 30% of the way to reaching our goal and still going strong. The volunteerism movement and the network of young professionals in this city who want to get involved and give back to the local community are astounding. We encourage anyone looking for a meaningful, flexible and rewarding volunteer opportunity to learn more about C.A.P.”

As the beginning of the school year approaches, C.A.P. offers various ways to participate and learn more about the organization and its mission:

- New Guide Training sessions are open to anyone interested in getting involved with C.A.P. and will take place at the Young Leadership Council offices located at 1840 Euterpe St. (click here for map)

– Thursdays – August 19 and August 26 at 6 p.m. – Saturdays – August 14 and August 28 at 10 a.m.

- Contact C.A.P. via email at or visit the C.A.P. website at http://www.collegeadmissionsproject.org
The College Admissions Project
A project of the Young Leadership Council, The College Admissions Project (C.A.P.) began during the 2007-2008 school year as a volunteer effort working to lessen the gap in college admissions between upper and lower income students. C.A.P. volunteers provide direct support to New Orleans and Jefferson Parish public high school students (most of whom are first generation college applicants) through the often-overwhelming college admissions process.
Young Leadership Council
The Young Leadership Council (YLC) is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization created to develop leadership through community projects. Through volunteer-created community projects, the YLC recruits and retains young professionals to New Orleans and has a positive impact on the quality of life in the region. The oldest, independent YPO (young professionals’ organization) in the country, the YLC has raised more than $25 million to support community projects in and around the New Orleans area since 1986. The YLC has more than 1,300 member-volunteers, and is led by a 25-member board of directors and four staff members. Each community initiative is led by one or more volunteer project leaders.

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August 16th 2010

JeffCAP Head Start Parent Orientations

Head Start parents and guardians are encouraged to attend the upcoming parent orientations. During the orientations, families will develop a deeper understanding of Head Start and the many special opportunities that are available through the program because the focus will be on the roles families will play at Head Start.

• Terrytown-Gretna Head Start
August 16, 2010
10AM
2315 Park Place, Gretna, 70056

• Grand Isle Head Start
August 13, 2010
11AM
The Community Center
3811 Hwy 1, Grand Isle, 70358

• Lafitte Head Start
August 20, 2010
10AM
4977 City Park Drive, Lafitte, 70067

• Bridge City Head Start
August 18, 2010
5PM-7PM
Avondale Community Center
4008 U.S. Hwy. 90
Avondale, 70094

• Westbank Head Start
August 17, 2010
TBA
1425 Walkertown Way
Marrero, 70072

• Causeway, Kenner, Clay & 31st Street Head Start
August 19, 2010
5PM-7:30PM
Joseph Yenni Building
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd.
2nd Floor Council Chambers
Jefferson, 70123

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June 29th 2010

Gulf Oil Spill Q&As

Q-1: Is a taxpayer required to include in gross income payments the taxpayer receives for lost business income, lost wages, or lost profits?

A-1: Yes. The law requires that a taxpayer include in gross income payments the taxpayer receives for lost business income, lost wages, or lost profits. For information on whether estimated tax payments may be required, see Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax.

A self-employed individual who receives a payment that represents compensation for lost income of the individual’s trade or business should include the amount of the payment in net earnings from self-employment for purposes of the self-employment tax. For more information about reporting self-employment income and paying self-employment tax, see Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C or C-EZ).

Generally, a payment to an individual to compensate for lost wages will not be wages for purposes of the social security tax and Medicare tax because it is not an actual payment for employment within the meaning of the law. These payments will also generally not be subject to income tax withholding, unless backup withholding applies. See A-2, below, for a discussion of backup withholding. However, if the payment is made by an employer to its own employees, or by a third party to employees of another employer in satisfaction of an obligation of that employer to its employees, the payment may be subject to social security tax, Medicare tax, and income tax withholding.

Q-2: Are payments that are made to an individual for lost business income, lost wages, or lost profits required to be reported to the IRS by the person making the payment?

A-2: Generally yes. A person making payments to an individual for lost business income, lost wages, or lost profits must report the payments to the IRS on a Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, if the payments aggregate $600 or more. Generally, these payments are subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28 percent if the individual fails to furnish the individual’s taxpayer identification number to the payor at or before the time of payment.

A payment that is treated as a payment of wages is subject to reporting on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and to the same social security tax, Medicare tax, and income tax withholding rules that apply to regular wage payments made by an employer to an employee. For more information about withholding from employees’ wages, see Publication 15, (Circular E) Employer’s Tax Guide.

Under current law, a person making payments to a corporation for lost business income or lost profits is not required to report those payments to the IRS. However, a person who makes payments to a partnership, limited liability company or other non-corporate entity for lost business income or lost profits generally is required to report those payments to the IRS in the same manner as for payments to individuals, and the payments are subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28 percent if the entity fails to furnish its employer identification number to the payor at or before the time of payment.

Q-3: Is a taxpayer required to include in gross income payments the taxpayer receives for property damage or destruction?

A-3: A taxpayer is not required to include in gross income payments the taxpayer receives for property damage or destruction if the payments do not exceed the taxpayer’s adjusted basis in the damaged or destroyed property. If the payments for property damage or destruction exceed the taxpayer’s adjusted basis in the damaged or destroyed property, the taxpayer will realize gain for federal income tax purposes. If the damage or destruction is an “involuntary conversion,” the taxpayer may defer the tax on any gain if the taxpayer purchases qualifying replacement property that costs at least as much as the payments received for the damaged or destroyed property. (Tax is deferred until the qualifying replacement property is later sold.) An involuntary conversion occurs when a taxpayer’s property is destroyed, stolen, condemned, or disposed of under the threat of condemnation and the taxpayer receives other property or money in payment, such as a condemnation award or insurance. See Publication 544, Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets. A person making payments for property damage or destruction is not required to file information returns with the IRS reporting the payments.

Q-4: Can a taxpayer claim a casualty loss deduction if payments the taxpayer receives for property that has been damaged or destroyed are less than the taxpayer’s adjusted basis in the property?

A-4: A taxpayer may be able to claim a casualty loss deduction if the payments (including insurance proceeds or payments for damages) the taxpayer receives, or reasonably expects to receive, are less than the taxpayer’s adjusted basis in the property. See A-5, below, for a discussion of how to compute the possible deduction.

Q-5: How does a taxpayer determine the amount the taxpayer may claim as a casualty loss deduction?

A-5: With respect to personal-use property, the taxpayer generally may claim as a casualty loss deduction the lesser of (1) the difference between the fair market value of the property immediately before and after the casualty; or (2) the adjusted basis of the property. The amount of the deduction is reduced by any insurance proceeds or other payments the taxpayer receives or reasonably expects to receive. An individual taxpayer must reduce the amount claimed for each casualty loss deduction for personal-use property by $100, and reduce the total amount of casualty loss deductions claimed for personal-use property for one taxable year by 10 percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.

With respect to business or income-producing property that is partially destroyed, the taxpayer generally may claim as a casualty loss deduction the lesser of (1) the difference between the fair market value of the property immediately before and after the casualty; or (2) the adjusted basis of the property. The amount of the deduction is reduced by any insurance proceeds or other payments the taxpayer receives or reasonably expects to receive. However, if business or income-producing property is completely destroyed and its adjusted basis exceeds its fair market value, the taxpayer may claim a casualty loss deduction equal to the adjusted basis of the property, reduced by payments the taxpayer receives or reasonably expects to receive for the property (including insurance proceeds or payments for damages).

Q-6: How does a taxpayer establish the decrease in the fair market value of the property after a casualty?

A-6: A taxpayer may use either an appraisal or the cost to repair or clean up the property to determine the decrease in fair market value of the property after a casualty.

Q-7: How does a taxpayer report a casualty loss deduction on the tax return?

A-7: A taxpayer claims a casualty loss deduction on the tax return for the year in which the casualty occurred. An individual taxpayer claims a casualty loss deduction for personal-use property by reporting the amount of the loss on Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts, and claiming an itemized deduction on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, of the taxpayer’s return. A taxpayer claims a casualty loss deduction for business or income-producing property on Section B of Form 4684, and on Form 4797, Sales of Business Property, if required. For more information on casualty losses, see Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts, and Publication 584, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook.

Q-8: Is an individual required to include in gross income payments the individual receives for personal physical injuries or physical sickness, or for emotional distress that is attributable to personal physical injuries or physical sickness?

A-8: No. An individual generally is not required to include in gross income payments the individual receives on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness. Personal physical injuries include observable bodily harm such as bruises, cuts, swelling, and bleeding. Likewise, an individual is not required to include in gross income payments the individual receives for emotional distress that is attributable to personal physical injuries or physical sickness. Payments for personal physical injuries or physical sickness, or emotional distress attributable to personal physical injury or physical sickness, are not required to be reported on an information return filed with the IRS by the person making the payment.

Q-9: Is an individual required to include in gross income payments the individual receives for emotional distress (or symptoms of emotional distress such as insomnia, headaches, or stomach disorders) that is not attributable to personal physical injuries or physical sickness?

A-9: Yes. The law requires an individual to include in gross income payments the individual receives for emotional distress (or symptoms of emotional distress such as insomnia, headaches, or stomach disorders) that is not attributable to personal physical injuries or physical sickness. However, an individual excludes from gross income payments for emotional distress up to the amount of medical care expenses the individual paid related to the emotional distress if the individual did not deduct the expenses in a prior taxable year.

Q-10: Are payments made to an individual for emotional distress that is not attributable to personal physical injuries or physical sickness required to be reported to the IRS by the person making the payment?

A-10: Yes. A person making a payment to an individual for emotional distress that is not attributable to personal physical injuries or physical sickness must report the payment to the IRS on a Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, if it is $600 or more. If the individual does not furnish the individual’s taxpayer identification number to the payor, the payor must backup withhold on the payment at a rate of 28 percent.

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May 14th 2010

Lafitte center recruits new membership

Recently, the Lafitte Senior Center welcomed the following new members: Loretta LaFrance, Eileen Calegan, Cheryl Thompson, Jack Thompson, Dale Lindsey and Marion Bourg.

The Lafitte Senior Center is also a RSVP volunteer station, which is a part of the national Senior Corps retired/senior volunteer program associated with AmeriCorps. To become a RSVP volunteer in Lafitte, contact the center at Dorothy Wiseman, center supervisor at 504-689-4403 and Amber Martinez, RSVP clerk at 504-736-6165 and email at .

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May 13th 2010

Lafitte Senior Center: Volunteer of the Month

For the month of May, the Lafitte Senior Center has named Jules Caulfield as the center’s volunteer of the month. The center’s staff said Caulfield’s extra efforts are greatly appreciated by every member. Congratulations Jules for a job well done!
Lafitte Senior Center is also a RSVP volunteer station, which is a part of the national Senior Corps retired/senior volunteer program associated with AmeriCorps. To become a RSVP volunteer in Lafitte, contact the center at Dorothy Wiseman, center supervisor at 504-689-4403 and Amber Martinez, RSVP clerk at 504-736-6165 and email at .

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JeffCAP-The Parish of Jefferson

JEFFCAP offers programs ranging from Head Start to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Visit http://www.jeffparish.net, click on parish departments to learn more about us.

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Jefferson Parish Head Start success stories

Jefferson Parish Head Start is proud of three former students who are recent high school graduates. Click “News” to read how our Head Start program prepared them for educational success!

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Job opportunities: AlliedBarton Security Services

AlliedBarton Security is immediately seeking an Operations Manager for the Louisiana market and local security officers. Contact Kendra Shapley at 504-648-3726.

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September 23rd

Five Years of Post-Katrina School Reform

National and local educational researchers as well as local practitioners are encouraged to attend.

If you’d like to join our mailing list, you can sign up here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEEzR294Sy1UQXd0b21meExPcXlJR3c6MA

You can also join the facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=340392924282

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October 20th

2010 Senior Expo

JeffCAP: 2010 Hurricane Expo in Kenner, LA

JeffCAP: 2010 Hurricane Expo in Kenner, LA

JeffCAP: 2010 Hurricane Expo in Kenner, LA