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Tempe Community Council updates Threads, Open Horizons, Triple P and VITA programs
Summary
TCC reported steady increases in use of direct-service programs: Threads teen clothing closets, Open Horizons for pregnant and parenting teens, Teen Triple P parenting supports, and the VITA tax-preparation site. The agency cited volunteer recruitment successes and partner-funded transportation and training supports.
Tempe Community Council staff updated the City Council on direct-service programs that provide material help and case support to Tempe residents, reporting higher use and volunteer participation across multiple programs.
Ann Lynn D. Domenico, who supervises TCC’s client-facing services, said Threads — a teen clothes closet serving Tempe middle- and high-school students — is being visited more than 4,000 times per school year and has increased student visits, items distributed and volunteer hours over the last three school years. Threads operates three locations and, after a volunteer staffing shortage at the start of the school year, is now fully staffed after a recruitment and media campaign.
Open Horizons, a program supporting pregnant and parenting teens since 1989, provides childcare and transportation supports; TCC said it received a State Farm grant to fund transportation for two school years and coordinated rides through the Tempe Union High School District’s contract with HopSkipDrive for limited needs.
TCC also reported delivery of Teen Triple P, an evidence-based parenting program for parents of 12- to 17-year-olds, and said offerings include virtual discussion groups and seminars with an accredited practitioner and collaboration with Tempe Union High School District and the Tempe Coalition.
On tax assistance, TCC said its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site prepared returns free for low-income, limited-English, disabled and senior residents; for the 2024 tax season VITA set a yearly goal of 1,000 returns, staffed primarily by 38 trained volunteers, about half of whom were ASU students. The site is based at Gracie’s Village and provides a community resource advisor to connect clients with additional services.
Council members thanked staff and volunteers and asked clarifying questions about program operations and partnerships.
