Tax donations help keep local kids safe

LACASA’s Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Council wants to remind area residents that they can help in the fight against child abuse this tax season by adding a simple checkmark to Form 4642 on Michigan 2016 state income tax returns.

Donations made by local residents to the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) result in dollars coming directly back to support programs aimed at protecting children in Livingston County.

“All new tax check-off contributions made to the Children’s Trust Fund will be returned to the communities that made the contributions” said Michael Foley, Executive Director of the Children’s Trust Fund.

“The Trust Fund has always provided community grants that exceed the local tax check-off amounts.  Now, with this new plan, we will increase those grants, dollar for dollar, with the new contributions in Livingston County,” Foley said. “We are confident that this plan will be an incentive for tax payers throughout Michigan to support child abuse prevention efforts in their communities.”

LACASA’s CAP Council is the designated CTF local council for Livingston County. CTF is the only statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Each year, CTF provides grant funding for programs run by local councils across the state as well as additional grants, including funding for LACASA’s Healthy Families home visiting program.

“We know how important it is to people that their donations are returned to their community and are used wisely. Checking a box on your taxes is a very simple way to donate and now you will know your donation will remain in your own community.” said CAP Council Coordinator Holly Naylor. “Contributions can be as little as five dollars, and every dollar makes a difference.”

In 2016, LACASA’s CAP Council was promoted to a Tier III Local Council, which is CTF’s highest level of funding. The CAP Council will now receive $20,000 every year from CTF for child abuse prevention efforts in Livingston County.

These prevention efforts include community events such as trainings and conferences including the evidence-based Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention workshop; infant safety education classes for new parents; and shaken baby syndrome awareness programs for middle and high school students. The council also hosts annual child abuse awareness programs including Pinwheels for Prevention, the CAP Kids’ Fair and a Community Baby Shower for new and expectant parents.

All 2016 donations are deductible on next year’s federal tax returns, said Naylor.

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The Livingston Post is the only locally owned, all-digital information and opinion site in Livingston County, Mich. It was launched by award-winning journalists who were laid off from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus by Gannett Co. Inc. in 2009.