United Way Of Central Jersey Inc

STRIVING TO ENSURE ALL YOUNG CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITIES ATTAIN A MORE SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.

HEALTHNURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP - THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (NFP) PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY TARGETS LOW INCOME, FIRST TIME PREGNANT WOMEN, PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE PARENTING TRAINING AND EDUCATION ALONG WITH A RANGE OF OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FROM THE TWELFTH WEEK OF PREGNANCY THROUGH THE CHILD'S SECOND BIRTHDAY. (ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED ON SCHEDULE O)(HEALTH)THE NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP ('NFP') PROGRAM, WHICH CONSISTS OF AN INTENSIVE SCHEDULE OF HOME VISITS BY REGISTERED NURSES, HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN BOTH THE SHORT AND LONG TERM BY ENSURING THAT BABIES GET A HEALTHIER START EVEN BEFORE BIRTH, BY HELPING MOTHERS TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEMSELVES, AND BY HELPING CHILDREN GROW TO ADOLESCENCE WITH FEWER BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. RECENT PROGRAM OUTCOMES INCLUDE: - 67% REDUCTION IN BEHAVIORAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROBLEMS BY AGE 6 - 19% INCREASE IN IMMUNIZATION RATES FOR CHILDREN - 21% DECREASE IN PRE-TERM BIRTHS A RECENT STUDY OF OVER 30,000 NFP FAMILIES SHOWED THAT PRE-TERM BIRTHS COST AN AVERAGE OF $54,194, WHILE A FULL TIME HEALTHY BIRTH AVERAGES $4,389.WE ALSO CONNECTED MOTHERS IN OUR NFP PROGRAM TO; - NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS FOR FOOD - COLLEGE COACHING - MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND SUPPORTTHE NUMBERS:329 PEOPLE HELPED: 163 MOMS, 166 BABIES 3,200 HOME VISITS

UWCJ IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AGES 0-5, ARE HEALTHY AND READY TO LEARN. FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS, ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION CONCENTRATE ON THIS PRIORITY WITH FOCUS ON EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTHY LIVES AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.GIFTS OF THE SEASON - UWCJ'S GIFTS OF THE SEASON PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, TOYS AND GIFTS FOR THE END-OF-YEAR HOLIDAYS TO CHILDREN IN FAMILIES IN NEED IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP IN SOMERSET COUNTY. UWCJ'S NON-PROFIT AGENCY PARTNERS PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC FAMILIES RECEIVING SERVICES THAT ARE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S BASIC END-OF-THE-YEAR NECESSITIES, AND UWCJ STRIVES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.AS OUR COMMUNITY TRANSITIONED OUT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, UWCJ WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE TRADITION OF FACILITATING CORPORATE PARTNER GIFT DONATIONS AND DISTRIBUTING BAGS FILLED WITH INDIVIDUALIZED GIFTS TO QUALIFIED AGENCY FAMILIES. AS A RESULT, IN 2022, UWCJ - WITH THE HELP OF OUR DONORS WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE YEAR-END GIFTS TO 170 FAMILIES FROM 26 AGENCIES AND/OR FAMILIES SERVED BY UWCJ PROGRAMS. BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES - AT THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, UWCJ SOLICITS DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE PARTNER DONORS TO PURCHASE BACKPACKS, PRE-PACKAGED 'SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS, AND GENERAL SCHOOL SUPPLIES, WHICH ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL SCHOOLS WITH LOW-INCOME SCHOOL POPULATIONS. IN 2022, A TOTAL OF 500 BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO TWENTY (20) LOCAL SCHOOLS. FOOD, CLOTHING, AND DONATED ITEMS COLLECTIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS - UWCJ DISTRIBUTES NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS COLLECTED AT AREA CORPORATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS FOOD IS DELIVERED TO MIDDLESEX COUNTY'S CENTRALIZED FOOD BANK, REPLENISH (FORMERLY, MCFOODS), WHICH SUPPLIES 120 LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES. CLOTHING, TOILETRIES, AND OTHER NECESSITIES ARE ALSO COLLECTED AT AREA CORPORATIONS, WHICH ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED TO OUR NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FAMILIES AS WELL AS LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS. D.I.R.E. - IN 2022, DIRE SUPPORT AND LEGAL SERVICES EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES REQUIRING ASSISTANCE. NEW IMMIGRANTS, PAROLEES, REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS, VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND UNACCOMPANIED MINORS RELOCATING FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER REQUIRED CASE MANAGEMENT, ASSISTANCE ACCESSING SERVICES FOR WHICH THEY WERE ELIGIBLE, HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, ASSISTANCE REGISTERING FOR SCHOOL, ASSISTANCE ADJUSTING TO LIFE IN A NEW COUNTRY, TRANSLATION SERVICES, ETC. UWCJ SUPPORTED THE DIRE HELPLINE AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS WITH IMMIGRATION COURT APPOINTMENTS.FACILITIES AND OTHER SERVICES TO LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS - IN ADDITION TO OFFERING FREE MEETING SPACE TO LOCAL COMMUNITY-PARTNER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UWCJ CONTINUES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER IN-KIND SERVICES TO LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.DESIGNATED GIFTS TO OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS - THROUGH THE ANNUAL WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS, AREA CORPORATIONS ALLOW DONORS TO DIRECT THEIR GIFTS TO ANY NON-PROFIT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION. UWCJ IS ESSENTIALLY FUNDRAISING ON BEHALF OF COUNTLESS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS VIA THIS "OPEN DESIGNATION" PROCESS. IN 2022, UWCJ'S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS GENERATED $122.9 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN WORKPLACE DESIGNATED-DONOR GIFTS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS, AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

FINANCIAL STABILITYUWCJ ASSISTS FINANCIALLY FRAGILE HOUSEHOLDS IN MULTIPLE CAPACITIES, INCLUDING OUR YEAR-ROUND IRS-CERTIFIED VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM, ADMINISTRATION OVERSIGHT OF FEMA EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER FUNDING IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY NJ, SUPPORTING THE NJ211 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE, AND THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR CHILD AND FAMILY SUCCESS PROGRAM. (ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED ON SCHEDULE O)(FINANCIAL STABILITY)UWCJ HAS A MULTI-LEVEL FOCUS TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. VITAINDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES MAKING $70,000 OR LESS PER YEAR CAN HAVE THEIR FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS PREPARED AND FILED FOR FREE BY IRS-CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS IN UWCJ'S VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE ('VITA') PROGRAM. THE VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN PROGRAM SUPPORTS NEARLY 3,000 INDIVIDUALS IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND RETURNS AN AVERAGE OF $2-MILLION DOLLARS IN REFUNDS, INCLUDING EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS ('EITC'), AND CHILD CARE CREDITS FOR TAXPAYERS. UNLIKE OTHER VITA PROGRAMS, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL JERSEY PROVIDES VITA SERVICES YEAR-ROUND TO ASSIST LATE FILERS, DELINQUENT FILERS, FILERS RESPONDING TO IRS AND STATE TAX NOTICES, AND PREPARATION OF ITIN APPLICATIONS AND RENEWALS.THE NUMBERS:168 VOLUNTEERS 3,616 TAX RETURNS FILED$2 MILLION+ REFUNDS & CREDITSFEMA UWCJ PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO MIDDLESEX COUNTY'S LOCAL FEMA BOARD - WHICH IN 2022 GENERATED $357.8 THOUSAND IN FEMA AWARDS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER; RENT, MORTGAGE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE; AND EMERGENCY FOOD, DIAPERS AND INFANT FORMULA.NJ211UWCJ SUPPORTS NJ211 - THE STATE'S MULTI-LINGUAL TELEPHONE AND ONLINE HELPLINE AVAILABLE 24/7/365 PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF UWCJ'S SERVICE AREA.MIDDLESEX COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR CHILD AND FAMILY SUCCESSUWCJ'S 2022 NEEDS ASSESSMENT DEMONSTRATED THAT MANY LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME MIDDLESEX COUNTY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-5 WERE UNAWARE OF AVAILABLE SERVICES, AFRAID TO USE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDOCUMENTED, AND/OR HAD DIFFICULTY NAVIGATING THE CURRENTLY FRAGMENTED SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND NEEDED SUPPORT AND RESOURCES. UWCJ CREATED THE ALLIANCE TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. THE ALLIANCE IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE LINE THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION THAT ENABLES FAMILIES TO OBTAIN NEEDED SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN APRIL 2022.THE NUMBERS:517 CALLERS, INCLUDING:103 CALLERS WITH 148 CHILDREN AGES 0-591% FEMALE66% HISPANIC56% WITH ANNUAL INCOMES BELOW $29,000COVID-19 RECOVERY ASSISTANCETHE COVID-19 PANDEMIC-INDUCED ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN ADVERSELY AFFECTED MANY LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY. RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND FOOD ASSISTANCE, UWCJ CREATED A COVID-19 RECOVERY FUND IN 2020, FUNDED BY A FEMA AWARD, CORPORATE DONATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS. THE URGENT NEEDS FOR COVID ASSISTANCE DECLINED IN 2022, ALTHOUGH UWCJ CONTINUED DISTRIBUTING ASSISTANCE FUNDS. UNDISTRIBUTED FUNDS WILL BE FOCUSED ON FURTHER FINANCIAL-STABILIZATION COVID RECOVERY EFFORTS.

EDUCATIONFOCUSING ON ACADEMIC AND LIFE SUCCESS FOR MIDDLESEX COUNTY CHILDREN AGES 0-5, OUR PRIMARY INITIATIVES ARE 1) A PLACED-BASED INITIATIVE AT JFK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN JAMESBURG NJ, 2) SUMMER STREAM STARS SUMMER CAMP AT JFK, 3) ABRIENDO PUERTAS PARENT-TRAINING, AND 4) THE PARENTCHILD+ FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAM MODEL. (ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED ON SCHEDULE O)(EDUCATION)UWCJ'S FOUR FOCUSED 'EARLY EDUCATION' INITIATIVES ARE:PLACE-BASED INITIATIVE AT JFK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN JAMESBURG NJUNITED WAY OF CENTRAL JERSEY LEADS JOHN F. KENNEDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL'S LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE EARLY EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF PRESCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR FAMILY ADVOCATE STATIONED AT JFK HAS AN ACTIVE CASELOAD OF OVER 50 FAMILIES WITH A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, IMMIGRATION, NUTRITION, AND FINANCIAL HURDLES. THE FAMILY ADVOCATE ALSO FACILITATED PARENT WORKSHOPS, ESL CLASSES, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND A DENTAL WORKSHOP. UWCJ ALSO SUPPORTED TWO JAMESBURG FOOD PANTRIES AND A HOLIDAY FOOD DISTRIBUTION.SUMMER STREAM STARS AT JFK ELEMENTARYUWCJ RECEIVED COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING FROM CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON-COLEMAN (D-12) FOR A SUMMER STREAM PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AT JFK IDENTIFIED BY THEIR TEACHERS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO INCREASE ACADEMIC SUCCESS. STUDENTS ATTENDED A HALF-DAY PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION IN SCIENCE, MATH, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND THE ARTS AND READING.STUDENTS WERE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN A SUMMER AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, AND THEIR PARENTS PARTICIPATED IN UWCJ-FACILITATED WORKSHOPS. THE LEARNING CONTINUED AT HOME WITH TOOLKITS AND HOME LIBRARIES THAT WERE SHARED WITH PARENTS. THE PROGRAM CONTINUED INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH STREAM MODULES INCORPORATED INTO AN ENHANCED SCIENCE CURRICULUM.THE NUMBERS:90 PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS IN THE STREAM PROGRAM30 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS IN THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM90 AT-HOME LEARNING KITS PROVIDEDABRIENDO PUERTASABRIENDO PUERTAS (OPENING DOORS) IS A 10-SESSION, EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY CURRICULUM FOR LATINO PARENTS WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-5. THE PROGRAM TEACHES PARENTS THAT THEY ARE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER, AND EQUIPS THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL. THE ABRIENDO PUERTAS CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF SEVERAL TOPICS, INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, READING, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND MATH. THE PROGRAM HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG LATINO CHILDREN.UWCJ STAFF WERE TRAINED TO FACILITATE ABRIENDO PUERTAS IN LATE 2022, AND CONDUCTED THE FIRST WORKSHOPS IN 2023.PARENTCHILD+ (PC+)THE PARENTCHILD+ FAMILY CHILD CARE PROGRAM MODEL IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HOME-BASED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN THEIR ROLE OF HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN PREPARE FOR SCHOOL AND LIFE SUCCESS. THE POSITIVE EFFECTS CONTINUE THROUGH CHILDHOOD INTO ADOLESCENCE, WITH PC+ GRADUATES FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES HAVING A 20-30% GREATER CHANCE OF GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL COMPARED WITH THEIR SOCIOECONOMICALLY EQUIVALENT PEERS. UWCJ'S EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST VISITED PROVIDERS TWICE A WEEK FOR 24 WEEKS TO INTRODUCE THE PROGRAM MODEL, AND PROVIDES ALL PROGRAM MATERIALS, INCLUDING BOOKS AND EDUCATIONAL TOYS.THE NUMBERS:672 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED 336 TRAINING HOURS42 CHILDREN