United Way Of Greater New Bedford Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO MOBILIZE PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCES TO CATALYZE CHANGE THAT STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITIES SERVED.

YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION PROGRAM - IN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF YOUTH VIOLENCE IN NEW BEDFORD, THE ORGANIZATION, WITH FUNDING FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND SUPPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT, SERVES AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD'S SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL YOUTH INITIATIVE (SSYI) AND ASSISTS IN OPERATING THE NEW BEDFORD'S SHANNON GRANT (NBS).SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL YOUTH INITIATIVE (SSYI) - SSYI IS AN INTERAGENCY STRATEGY FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE. IT IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON YOUNG MEN, AGES 17-24 IDENTIFIED BY LOCAL ENFORCEMENT AS THE "PROVEN RISK" INDIVIDUALS IN NEW BEDFORD ON THE BASIS THAT A DISPROPORTIONATELY SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS DRIVE THE MAJORITY OF VIOLENT CRIME IN COMMUNITIES.SSYI IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: STREET OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. NBS SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO STEER AT RISK YOUTH AGES 10-24 AWAY FROM GANGS AND PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE, BY INTERVENING WITH APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS BEFORE EARLY PROBLEM BEHAVIORS TURN INTO SERIOUS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND GANG INVOLVEMENT. NBS PROVIDES A RANGE OF PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES INCLUDING MANAGEMENT AND STREET OUTREACH AND INTERVENTION, POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATION, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND A COORDINATED LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE THROUGH TARGETED SUPPRESSION AND PROSECUTION.

COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM - THE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT THROUGH ITS ONLINE VOLUNTEER MATCHING DATABASE, CONDUCTS EVENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH VARIOUS SERVICE EVENTS, WORKS WITH GRASSROOTS GROUPS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BUILDING MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM AND PROMOTES AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF COVID-19 VACCINES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE VACCINE CONNECT PROGRAM. ALSO, THROUGH IT'S HUNGER COMMISSION, IT PROVIDES FOOD AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FREE OF CHARGE TO ESTABLISHED PANTRIES, SHELTERS, SOUP KITCHENS AND COUNCILS ON AGING AND PROVIDES WORKING FAMILIES WITH FREE, FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH MOBILE MARKETS.

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH TWO COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS AND AN ACCOMMODATION RATE CONTRACT FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF). ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL OF THIS WORK IS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND BUILD A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.FAMILY RESOURCE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (FRC) - THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER OFFERS AN ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN RANGE FROM BIRTH TO 18 YEARS OF AGE. WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNER, CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE FRC PROVIDES A RANGE OF SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT SERVICES AND INFORMATION AND REFERRAL RESOURCES FOR SUCH THINGS AS HOUSING SERVICES, FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION AND EMPLOYMENT AND CHILD CARE. THE FRC ALSO PROVIDES PARENT EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, PARENT-CHILD ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR BOTH PARENTS AND TEENS. IN ADDITION, THE FRC PROVIDES SPECIFIC SERVICES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO ARE DEALING WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL, KNOWN AS CHILDREN REQUIRING ASSISTANCE (CRA). THESE SERVICES INCLUDE ACCESS TO A RANGE OF VOLUNTARY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT SERVICES.NEW BEDFORD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS COALITION (NBCCC) - THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE COALITION IS TO FACILITATE THE ORGANIZATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD WHILE PROMOTING A COMMUNITY CENTERED CHILD WELFARE BEST PRACTICES APPROACH. PATCH - CO-LOCATED IN THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, ALONG WITH NBCCC STAFF, IS THE DCF PATCH UNIT. PATCH IS A TEAM OF DCF SOCIAL WORKERS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR NBCCC STAFF TO PROMOTE SHARED OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM OF CHILD PROTECTION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. BEING CO-LOCATED WITH NBCCC ENABLES DCF SOCIAL WORKERS TO CONNECT FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH DCF TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES MORE QUICKLY, MINIMIZING THE NEED FOR LENGTHY DCF INTERVENTION, AND PROVIDES FAMILIES ACCESS TO AN ARRAY OF RESOURCES TO HELP PREVENT REPEAT CHILD MALTREATMENT.THE NEW BEDFORD STRENGTHENING FAMILIES (NBSF) AMERICORPS PROGRAM - AN AMERICORPS STATE PROGRAM LED BY UNITED WAY OF GREATER NEW BEDFORD. AMERICORPS IS A NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM WHERE MEMBERS PROVIDE SERVICE TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER, STRONGER, AND HEALTHIER TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AMERICORPS MEMBERS SERVING AT DIFFERENT HOST SITES IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, WITH A FOCUS ON PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE NBSF AMERICORPS PROGRAM IS BASED IN THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROTECTIVE FACTORS FRAMEWORK THAT CENTERS ON FIVE INTERRELATED FAMILY PROTECTIVE FACTORS: KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, CONCRETE SUPPORTS IN TIMES OF NEED, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE OF CHILDREN, AND PARENTAL RESILIENCE.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM - THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS AND A CITIZENS REVIEW PROCESS, UNDESIGNATED FUNDING IS GRANTED TO LOCAL AGENCIES AND PUBLIC ENTITIES DELIVERING SERVICES WITHIN THE UNITED WAY STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND BASIC NEEDS. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BUILDING MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION AWARDS SMALL GRANTS TO ALL VOLUNTEER, GRASSROOTS GROUPS DOING PROJECTS IN THE STARTEGIC PRIORITY AREAS.THE INNOVATION FUND FUNDS HIGHER RISK, HIGHER REWARD PROJECTS THAT AIM TO BE BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND BASIC NEEDS. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS MUST REIMAGINE THE DESIGN OF A PROGRAM, USE TECHNOLOGY IN A NEW WAY, OR TEST NEW COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS. WOMEN UNITED FUNDED INITIATIVES SUPPORTS PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY LITERACY. IT STRIVES TO PROVIDE FAMILIES ACCESS TO THE NECESSARY TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN BY INVESTING IN INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.THE EMERGING NEEDS & OPPORTUNITIES FUND ALLOWS THE ORGANIZATION TO FUND PROJECTS THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE AND TIMING OF OTHER FUNDING STREAMS, INCLUDING PROJECTS THAT ARISE DUE TO EMERGENCIES AND CRISES AND AS TIME SENSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR GREAT IMPACT. THE HELP UNITED FUND PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT, SUCH AS RENT, MORTGAGE AND UTILITY PAYMENTS, TO INDIVIDUALS IN GREATER NEW BEDFORD WHOSE LIVES AND WELFARE HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 CRISIS.THE HOLIDAY UNITED FUND WILL OFFER SMALL GRANTS TO HELP LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED WITH HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE OFFERINGS SUCH AS TOYS, GIFTS, CLOTHING, OR FOOD.THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) CAPACITY BUILDING FUND WILL SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS TO STRENGTHEN OR DEVELOP THEIR OWN DEI AGENDA. THE FUND WILL OFFER GRANTS TO DEVELOP THEIR AGENCY SPECIFIC EQUITY LENS IN GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES. ALL APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS ARE REVIEWED FOR THEIR ARTICULATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHALLENGE THEY ARE TARGETING IN THE COMMUNITY, THE APPROPRIATENESS AND CREDIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE, THE CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY OF THEIR ORGANIZATION OR GROUP TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM STRATEGY AND THE MEASURABLE BENEFIT PER DOLLAR INVESTED.