A key strategy outlined in the Economic Mobility MCH state action plan is to increase access to income supports, such as tax credits. Colorado is an increasingly expensive place to live, and many Colorado families have trouble meeting basic needs. Expanded tax credits support economic mobility and are associated with reduced child and household poverty, increased food security, and fewer adverse childhood events. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed in March 2021 represented a significant opportunity to connect eligible Colorado families to an expanded the federal Child Tax Credit of up to $3,600 per child, potentially lifting up to 40 percent of children out of poverty. ARPA also expanded the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. In addition, there are several state tax credits that can boost Coloradans’ tax refunds, especially for low-income families.

In 2021, Gary Community Ventures’ transferred leadership of their longstanding tax credit promotion campaign GetAhead Colorado to CDPHE. Since then, MCH has coordinated technical assistance, messaging and materials to promote tax credit claims through existing public health and partner networks. These partners include Bright By Text, food and housing assistance programs, care coordination programs, local public health agencies, Colorado’s insurance marketplace, the Colorado Benefits Management System, and nearly all state agencies. MCH has also been partnering with Code for America and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and AmeriCorps for tax expertise and resources. MCH also funds and collaborates closely with Mile High United Way and free tax filing assistance sites throughout the state to connect more Coloradans to free tax help through call center and in-person tax assistance. This tax season, AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps volunteer teams working at two of the states’ free tax sites led to over $7 million in additional tax credit claims.

In January 2022, the program launched a tax credit outreach campaign for GetAhead Colorado. The campaign included statewide radio, texting, television interviews, social media advertising and campaign websites in English and Spanish, as well as a comprehensive partner toolkit, with materials in multiple languages.

MCH staff have been invited to present on the project nationally by the Catalyst Center, American Public Human Services Association and Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, as well as the Colorado State Board of Health. The AmeriCorps partnership was highlighted in a White House fact sheet and at a White House tax outreach workshop for states. During the 2022 legislative session, Colorado state bill SB22-182 was passed to establish the Economic Mobility Program in statute and allocate an additional $4 million in American Rescue Plan recovery funds over the next two years to support tax credit outreach.

MCH data and evaluation staff collaborated with MCH program staff to develop an evaluation plan to measure progress and select additional measures to better understand poverty and tax filing in Colorado. For more detail, refer to the Economic Mobility priority annual report and plan for the coming year.