Empowering Antelope Valley: Antelope Valley Partners for Health
May 28, 2025
In the heart of the Antelope Valley, a dedicated team at the Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) is changing lives through community-based services that span from prenatal care to free tax preparation. AVPH is a health and wellness agency with a focus on providing resources, connecting individuals with vital services, and supporting families in their day-to-day lives.
“From food insecurity programs to case management, we help connect people to the resources they need,” said Tiara Sigaran, AVPH’s Director of Community Impact. “Whether it’s through our partnership with food pantries or offering free tax preparation services, our role is to bridge the gap and ensure that people know where to turn for support.”
AVPH’s partnership with Golden State Opportunity as a Community Connect Program partner has been a key factor in expanding the organization’s ability to reach even more individuals struggling to make ends meet.
“We’ve been with GSO for a long time, and over the last three years, we started offering Volunteer Income Tax Assistance services,” said Sigaran. “This was a major shift for AVPH, and it’s really allowed us to better educate our community on things like tax credits and financial education. With GSO’s support, we’ve been able to grow these services and make a significant impact.”
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant program is an IRS program that supports free tax preparation service for low- to moderate-income people, persons with disabilities, the elderly and anyone else who qualifies based on income.
The impact is evident in how the community has responded to AVPH’s outreach. To Antelope Valley, AVPH is a necessity.
“This free tax preparation service made a positive impact for me,” said a returning client, who got her taxes done at AVPH through the VITA program. “It is nice to know that services like this one are offered to our community. They are well-prepared individuals who are glad to help out. I hope they continue to provide these services to our community.”
The organization’s journey into becoming a full-service VITA site, according to Sigaran, was accelerated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “During COVID, we received numerous calls from people who didn’t know where to go for help,” she said. “It pushed us to become IRS-certified to help community members file their taxes and claim the money that was theirs. We transitioned from a remote setup with two volunteers to expanding our services significantly.”
One of the most powerful aspects of AVPH’s work is the trust they have built over the past 25 years.
“Trust is everything,” Sigaran emphasizes. “If people trust you, they will come to you for help. We’ve worked hard to build that trust, and our community knows that when we say we’ll follow up, we will. It’s about ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect, no matter what they need.”
This trust has also led to increased volunteerism. Their first year as a VITA site, AVPH began with just two dedicated volunteers. As of the 2025 season, they had grown to 13 certified volunteers.
“When you help someone, that impact doesn’t just affect them—it can have a ripple effect, helping others around them too,” said Sigaran.