United Way Of Coastal Fairfield County Inc

OUR MISSION IS "TOGETHER, WE MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES." OUR VISION IS THAT ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WILL THRIVE, LEADING TO STRONGER COMMUNITIES. UWCFC SERVES 12 COMMUNITIES IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT: BRIDGEPORT, DARIEN, EASTON, FAIRFIELD, MONROE, NEW CANAAN, NORWALK, STRATFORD, TRUMBULL, WESTPORT, WESTON AND WILTON CONNECTICUT.

UWCFC HELPS IMPROVE LIVES BY TACKLING THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN A COMMUNITY. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY KEY PROBLEMS AND UNDERSTAND THEIR CAUSES. THEN, WE COLLABORATE WITH OTHER CHANGE AGENTS-FROM NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS TO BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, AND ADVOCATES-TO DESIGN INNOVATIVE APPROACHES THAT EMPOWER PEOPLE TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES. LAST YEAR, WE WORKED WITH MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND 1400 VOLUNTEERS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES IN OUR THREE FOCUS AREAS: HEALTH AND WELLNESS, SCHOOL AND CAREER READINESS, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.1. IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGBECAUSE LIFE EXPECTANCY IN OUR SERVICE AREA CAN VARY UP TO 19 YEARS, OUR UNITED WAY WORKS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. WE START EARLY-BECAUSE A CHILD'S HEALTH DEPENDS ON MOM'S-BY FOCUSING ON MATERNAL HEALTH. OUR BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS TEAM HAS WORKED TO PLAN, FUND, AND IMPLEMENT TWO KEY INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES: (A) DOULA CARE FOR EXPECTANT MOMS. THIS BENEFITS BOTH MOMS AND BABIES, RESULTING IN FEWER CESAREANS, MORE FULL-TERM BIRTHS, HEALTHIER BIRTHWEIGHTS, AND INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF BREASTFEEDING. DOULA SUPPORT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MOMS (WHO ARE 3-4 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM CHILDBIRTH COMPLICATIONS THAN THEIR CAUCASIAN PEERS) AND THEIR BABIES (WHO ARE NEARLY TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR).(B) HOME VISITS FOR ALL NEW FAMILIES. HOME VISITS PROVIDE POST-PARTUM HEALTH EXAMS FOR ALL PARENTS AND BABIES, AND THEY CONNECT NEW PARENTS TO ANY ADDITIONAL NEEDED SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HOME VISITING REDUCES FAMILY ANXIETY (-28%), EMERGENCY ROOM CARE (-50%), AND REFERRALS TO CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES (-44%). THIS COORDINATED, SYSTEMIC APPROACH HAS BEEN LAUDED AS "A MODEL FOR THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT." WE ALSO PROMOTE THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN, SINCE 80% OF A CHILD'S BRAIN GROWTH HAPPENS IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF LIFE. WE EQUIP PARENTS WITH TOOLS TO TRACK AND PROMOTE THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS AND THE BASICS PARENTING PRACTICES (PROVIDED TO 3500 FAMILIES IN BRIDGEPORT AND NORWALK LAST YEAR). GIVEN THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THE US, WE PROMOTE EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY WORKING ON 2 KEY PATHS: (1) DIRECT FUNDING OF LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR A RANGE OF AGE GROUPS, FOR EXAMPLE, AN AFTERSCHOOL BASEBALL PROGRAM FROM UNDERSERVED YOUTH, TRAINING IN SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND PEER GROUPS FOR ADULTS AND REFUGEES; (2) FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS RESILIENCE INITIATIVE, WHICH WORKS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF TRAUMA'S LIFE-LIMITING IMPACT AND TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE.2. IMPROVING SCHOOL SUCCESS AND CAREER READINESSCONNECTICUT'S CHILDREN FACE ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S LARGEST ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS (THE DISPARITY IN STUDENT PERFORMANCE BY INCOME AND RACE/ETHNICITY). ACCORDING TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY, THE GAP BEGINS BY AGE 2 (ACHIEVEMENT GAP INITIATIVE). CLOSING THIS GAP TAKES THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF PARTNERS IN ALL SECTORS, WORKING ON KEY INFLECTION POINTS IN A CHILD'S LIFE.THAT'S WHY OUR UNITED WAY INVESTS IN COLLECTIVE IMPACT MOVEMENTS IN OUR TWO LARGEST CITIES: BRIDGEPORT AND NORWALK. THESE MOVEMENTS-BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS AND NORWALK ACTS-ENGAGE PARTNERS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN, FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. THEY AIM TO ENSURE INFANT HEALTH, SCHOOL READINESS, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, AND PREPAREDNESS FOR COLLEGE OR WORKFORCE. UWCFC ALSO FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON PROMOTING EARLY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DEVELOP TOGETHER FROM BIRTH, STARTING WITH INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND BABIES. LATER READING PROFICIENCY REQUIRES ACCESS TO BOOKS, BUT 2/3 OF LOW-INCOME CHILDREN HAVE NO AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS AT HOME. AND DATA SHOW THAT READING ON-LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE CORRELATES WITH SCHOOL SUCCESS; IN FACT, STUDENTS NOT MEETING THIS BENCHMARK ARE 4 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. WITH THIS DATA IN MIND, WE SPONSOR READING COACHING AND BOOK DISTRIBUTION FOR EXPECTANT AND NEW MOMS IN MEDICAL SETTINGS. LAST YEAR, WE REACHED 3,146 FAMILIES THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE. IN ADDITION, WE DISTRIBUTED 6800 BOOKS TO YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT EVENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. TO PROMOTE PROFICIENCY BY THE CRITICAL THIRD GRADE BENCHMARK, WE FUND A SKILL-BUILDING TOOL FOR STRUGGLING READERS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE. THIS TOOL SHOWS STRONG POSITIVE IMPACT, TRIPLING THE USERS READING ON GRADE LEVEL, ACCORDING TO RECENT SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS. WE FUNDED THIS TOOL FOR MORE THAN 4,400 STUDENTS LAST YEAR.TO ADVANCE CAREER READINESS, WE UNDERWRITE THE GREATER BRIDGEPORT STEM LEARNING ECOSYSTEM (GBSLE). THE GBSLE PARTNERS PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) AS PATHWAYS TO GROWING STEM CAREERS. RECENT OFFERINGS HAVE INCLUDED ROBOTICS, ACADEMIC E-SPORTS, AND CODING THROUGH MUSIC PRODUCTION. TO HELP STUDENTS TRANSITION TO COLLEGE, THE GBSLE OFFERS FAFSA WORKSHOPS, SUPPORTS COLLEGE FAIRS, AND TRAINS STUDENTS IN TALLO, AN ONLINE PLATFORM LINKING STUDENTS TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS. LAST YEAR, WE ENGAGED 500 STUDENTS IN EVENTS.3. IMPROVING FINANCIAL STABILITY FAIRFIELD COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES IN THE US, BUT ITS WEALTH IS NOT EQUALLY SHARED: AT LEAST ONE OUT OF SIX FAMILIES IN EVERY TOWN STRUGGLES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. UWCFC UNDERSTANDS THAT ECONOMIC INSECURITY NEGATIVELY AFFECTS EVERYONE'S HEALTH, AND THAT HUNGER OR AN UNSTABLE HOME ADVERSELY AFFECTS A CHILD'S SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.TO AID THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, UNITED WAY: (1) FUNDS THE CT 2-1-1 HELPLINE TO CONNECT CALLERS TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. LAST YEAR, WE FIELDED 47,504 REQUESTS FOR HELP IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY; (2) OPERATES THE COMMUNITY MESSENGERS ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES AND IDENTIFY UNMET NEEDS; (3) FACILITATES THE FLOW OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY FOOD AND HOUSING SUPPORT. WE MOBILIZE 14 COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INVEST THESE FUNDS INTO LOCAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING FOOD, SHELTER, UTILITIES AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE GREATER BRIDGEPORT AND GREATER NORWALK AREAS.IMPORTANTLY, UWCFC DOESN'T JUST RESPOND TO HARDSHIP: WE EMPOWER NEIGHBORS TO BUILD STRONGER FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. WE FUND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS KEY RISK FACTORS-LIKE LOW INCOME, LACK OF EMPLOYMENT, UNSTABLE HOUSING-WITH MENTORSHIP, PEER SUPPORT, AND/OR JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT (2,427 NEIGHBORS BENEFITTED LAST YEAR).WE ALSO HELP FAMILIES BUILD A FINANCIAL SAFETY NET THROUGH THREE INITIATIVES: (1) FINANCIAL COACHING AND SAVINGS PROGRAMS; (2) FREE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA), WHICH HELPS LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS CLAIM TAX CREDITS THEY'VE EARNED BUT OFTEN MISS; (3) SINGLE CARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAVINGS. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, MORE THAN 9,000 FAMILIES SAVED $5.2M LAST YEAR.AT UNITED WAY OF COASTAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY, WE ADDRESS COMPLEX ISSUES WITH A RANGE OF MULTI-FACETED APPROACHES. WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITIES THRIVE WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO REALIZE THEIR FULL PROMISE. OVERALL, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP PEOPLE TO MOVE BEYOND THE BARRIERS THEY FACE TODAY--AND EMPOWER THEM TO REALIZE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY TOMORROW. THANKS TO THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR PARTNERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND GENEROUS DONORS, THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHTER EVERY DAY.

DESIGNATIONS: ONE ROLE OF UNITED WAY OF COASTAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY HAS REMAINED THE SAME, OUR FACILITATION OF DONOR'S PLEDGES TO NON-PROFIT AGENCIES OF THEIR CHOICE. WITHOUT OUR PRESENCE IN CORPORATE CAMPAIGNS, THIS SERVICE WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE.THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WE SUPPLY, ALLOWS DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE IF THEY WISH TO DESIGNATED CHARITIES WITHIN COASTAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY OR IN THE TOWN THEY LIVE IN.