To achieve measurable, lasting change, United Ways identify and build on community strengths and assets, help individuals and groups with specific community interests find ways to contribute their time and talents, support direct-service programs and community-change efforts, and advocate for public policy changes.
All of this is done in collaboration with diverse partners. Depending on the issue and how the community chooses to address it, United Ways work with schools, government agencies, businesses, organized labor, financial institutions, community development corporations, voluntary and neighborhood associations, the faith community, and others.
Because of the unique conditions in diverse communities, the issues United Ways address are determined locally. Challenges ranging from addiction and domestic violence to obesity and race relations are on the agenda for various United Ways.
Although priorities for United Way action are set locally, common themes include:
- Helping children & youth achieve their potential
- Promoting financial stability and independence
- Improving people's health
Here are just three examples of how United Ways and their partners have engaged communities to change conditions in ways that improved lives.
To enroll children in low-income families in health insurance, a United Way joined with the Chamber of Commerce, state university medical center, physicians, public schools and human service providers.This partnership:
- Developed a health insurance outreach and public awareness campaign aimed at parents of young children in low-income families.
- Advocated for state government to adopt rules that make it easier for parents to enroll their children in state health insurance programs.
Because of this partnership:
- 240 organizations in the area sponsored health insurance enrollment events.
- State government adopted new rules that make it easier for parents to enroll their children in state health insurance programs.
- The Medical Center now provides work space, staff assistance in enrollment, and data on uninsured families.
- Five local school districts distribute health insurance outreach materials to the parents of all students.
- Outreach workers are now providing direct enrollment assistance to families.
Most important:
- The percentage of eligible children in this community who are enrolled in health insurance has risen from 21% in 1999 to 91% in 2004; 2,692 uninsured children have been directly helped to receive coverage.
To address high dropout rates, a United Way joined with the local school district, law enforcement agencies, social service providers, public schools, and the juvenile justice system.
This partnership:
- Identified the root cause of the dropout problem: truancy.
- Developed a coordinated package of services for truant students.
- Mobilized financial and other resources to support community dropout-reduction strategies.
Because of this partnership:
- The school district instituted new truancy policies and procedures.
- State agencies now provide all truant students with services that remove barriers to school attendance.
Most important:
- The school district dropout rate in this community has fallen sharply, from 10% in 1999 to 3.5% in 2004.
To improve the dental health of school-aged children, a United Way joined with the local school district, public health department, a university and area dentists.
This partnership:
- Recruited dental students from the university to provide dental services.
- Advocated for changes in state laws to make it easer for dentists to care for uninsured or underinsured children.
Because of this partnership:
- A mobile dental office visits every school in the school system to evaluate the dental needs of children.
- A permanent dental site was established in a high school where any child in the district can go to get cavities filled and other work done.
Most important:
- Dental service records indicate that 100% (1150 of 1150) of children in the district without dental insurance or with the state coverage received preventive dental care.
Supporting local United Way efforts are several national programs that marshal the resources of the United Way system to address selected issues at the national level. These are Early Childhood, including the Born Learning campaign to support early learning; 2-1-1, the 3-digit phone number to give help and receive help; Assets for Family Success; Crisis Preparedness & Response; and Emergency Food & Shelter.
