United Way Of Greater New Bedford Inc

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

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM:THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH TWO COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS. ONE IS AN ACCOMMODATION RATE CONTRACT FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ("DCF"), AND THE OTHER IS A COST REIMBURSEMENT GRANT WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS SERVICE ALLIANCE ("MSA"). 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") - 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 AD 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, PARENTCHILD 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, KNOWS 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 THE 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 SERVICES PROGRAM - THE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT THROUGHT 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 AND EDUCATION. 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 PROVIDE WORKING FAMILIES WITH FREE,FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH MOBILE MARKETS.

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 UNITED WAY OF GREATER NEW BEDFORD STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS. THESE AREAS CONSIST OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND BASIC NEEDS.THROUGH THE 'CHANGEMAKER GRANTS PROGRAM', THE ORGANIZATION AWARDS SMALL GRANTS TO ALL VOLUNTEER GRASSROOTS GROUPS WHO PERFORM PROJECTS IN THE STRATEGIC 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. THE CRITERIA FOR THESE PROJECTS MUST REIMAGINE THE DESIGN OF A PROGRAM, USE TECHNOLOGY IN A NEW WAY, OR TEST NEW COMMUNICATION TOOLS.'WOMEN UNITED FUND', SUPPORT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY. IT STRIVES TO PROVIDE FAMILIES ACCESS TO THE NECESSARY TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES.THE 'EMERGING NEEDS & OPPORTUNITIES FUND' ALLOWS THE ORGANIZATION TO FUND PROJECTS THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE AND TIMING OF OTHER FUNDING STREAMS. THIS INCLUDES PROJECTS THAT ARISE DUE TO EMERGENCIES OR CRISES THAT PRESENT THEMSELVES AS TIME SENSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR GREAT IMPACT.THE 'HOLIDAY UNITED FUND' OFFERS SMALL GRANTS TO HELP LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED.THE 'TOGETHER, UNITED FUND' WILL SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS TO STRENGTHEN OR DEVELOP THEIR OWN "DEI" AGENDA. THE FUND WILL OFFER GRANTS TO AID ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPING A SPECIFIC EQUITY LENS IN GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES.ALL APPLICATIONS AND PROPOSALS ARE REVIEWED FOR THEIR ARTICULATION OF THE FOLLOWING:1. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHALLENGE THEY ARE TARGETING IN THE COMMUNITY.2. THE APPROPRIATENESS AND CREDIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE.3. THE COMPATIBILITY AND CAPACITY OF THEIR ORGANIZATION OR GROUP TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAM STRATEGY.4. THE MEASURABLE BENEFIT PER DOLLAR INVESTED.