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Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate

Amy Qualliotine joined the Center in 2012 and focuses on family economic security, education, and employment outreach efforts. Before joining NWLC, she spent two years teaching incredibly brilliant 4th grade students in rural Louisiana as a Teach For America corps member. She has interned at the Center for Strategic International Studies, the Mortara Center for International Studies, and for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. Amy graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and will forever "Bleed Hoya Blue". 

My Take

Answers to the Family Tax Credits Questions You Didn’t Even Know You Had

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: March 05, 2013 at 04:42 pm

This post is the third in a series of weekly posts containing tax information and filing tips. Check back next week for our next post, or click here to read past posts.

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Some Tax Preparers Are Too Good To Be True – 7 Tips to Avoid Scams

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: February 25, 2013 at 06:00 pm

7 Tips to Avoid Tax Scams This post is the second in a series of weekly posts containing tax information and filing tips. Check back next week for our next post, or click here to read past posts.

We’ve all seen it – the person on the corner dressed as some patriotic character spinning around a “HUGE TAX REFUND” sign. Since it’s the taxpayer (YOU) that is ultimately responsible for all the information on your tax return, promises of huge tax refunds are sometimes too good to be true. Here are some tips to help you avoid scams.  

  1. IRS representatives do not initiate taxpayer communication by going go door-to-door or sending emails. If someone knocks on your door or sends you an email claiming to be a helpful representative from the IRS, do not give them your Social Security Number or any private financial information.  
  2. You must provide proof of eligibility for any tax credits you are going to claim. Some preparers claim that if you pay them a fee, they will get you these credits without proof – they can’t.
  3. The Economic Recovery Credit Program, Making Work Pay, and the Recovery Rebate Credit are EXPIRED programs – anyone that says they will get you these credits is trying to pull a fast one.
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The One Time I Heard “That Job is for Girls” – and Liked It

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: February 01, 2013 at 04:11 pm

Since today is Hillary Clinton’s last day as Madam Secretary, I couldn’t help but remember this precious moment of empowerment she helped inspire.

4th Grade Government Art!

4th Grade Government Art!

This time last year I was teaching 4th grade Writing and Social Studies in rural Louisiana, and we were knee deep in the Government Unit. We spent a lot of time going over the role of each of the three branches (in addition to singing the Schoolhouse Rock Constitution song on an almost hourly basis).

At the end of the lessons about the Executive Branch we had a discussion about which position you would want to have when you’re older. Most went with President. But Derreck, who could always be counted on for entertainment, slammed his hand on his desk and announced that he would be Secretary of State because then he could go to Poland whenever he wants (do not ask me where he got Poland from).

Well, Aja did not like his answer. She stood up and proudly proclaimed, “You can’t be Secretary of State because that job is for GIRLS.”

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High School Moms, Episode 5: “Make You or Break You”

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: September 14, 2012 at 04:38 pm
Larissa
Larissa

“It’s never a waste of money to invest in someone’s human potential.” Those are the words of Brandy Chance, a Social Studies teacher at the Florence Crittenton School for pregnant and parenting teens in Colorado. She knows firsthand just how much potential is in the young women that attend FloCrit. If only more schools invested in that potential instead of discriminating against pregnant and parenting students. According to NWLC’s report, 64% of states lack anti-discrimination laws, regulations, or guidelines that would protect these students. 

On this week’s episode of High School Moms, we met two incredibly strong young moms who are wise beyond their teenage years. First we met 16-year-old Larissa. She has a 1-year-old son and gave birth to her second son during the episode. Much of the show focused on Larissa’s delivery. She went into labor sooner than expected and to say she was overwhelmed would be an understatement. Through tears, Larissa expressed her fear that she wasn’t prepared to have another baby. I was incredibly impressed by her maturity throughout the episode. She obviously has spent a lot of time reflecting on her situation and noted that “having a baby at a young age can either make you or it breaks you.” She is determined not to let it break her and the support she receives from the staff at Florence Crittenton will certainly help make that a reality.

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High School Moms, Week 3: Biological Injustice

Posted by Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate | Posted on: August 31, 2012 at 03:07 pm
Kaylynn
Kaylynn

This week on High School Moms we met two more young women enrolled at the Florence Crittenton School for pregnant and parenting students in Denver, CO.  First we met Kaylynn who is struggling with her relationship with her mother, her son’s behavioral issues, her weight, her grades at school, and making financial ends meet – needless to say, it’s a lot for a 17-year-old mom to handle.   We also met Alyah, the daughter of a teen mom, who at 16 is nine months pregnant and understandably scared to death of the reality of giving birth. 

The greatest contrast between Kaylynn and Alyah has to do with the men, or lack thereof, in their lives.  Kaylynn didn’t provide us with many details, but it was obvious that the father of her son is not involved and that his absence contributes to a lot of her struggles.  Alyah on the other hand has a very supportive boyfriend – the 16-year old father of her soon-to-be born son.  Alyah told us that when she broke the news of her pregnancy, he hugged her and reassured her that everything would be okay.

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