United Way Of Dane County Inc

UNITED WAY OF DANE COUNTY UNITES THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE MEASURABLE RESULTS AND CHANGE LIVES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE VISION OF A DANE COUNTY WHERE EVERYONE CAN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, WORK AND LIFE. TO FACILITATE THIS, WE MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITY'S CARING POWER AND ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY'S AGENDA FOR CHANGE, SIX GOALS FOCUSED ON THREE PRIORITY AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH - THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A STABLE LIFE AND THRIVING COMMUNITY. BY TARGETING SPECIFIC GOALS AND FORGING PARTNERSHIPS, UNITED WAY IS TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRITICAL LOCAL ISSUES AND ACHIEVING REAL, MEASURABLE RESULTS IN EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, HOUSING, HEALTH AND MORE. THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIVE WORK, WE BRING THE MANY VOICES OF DANE COUNTY TOGETHER TO FIND COMMON GROUND AND MAKE MEASURABLE PROGRESS, WHILE PROVIDING ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE, ADVOCATE AND VOLUNTEER TO CHANGE LIVES IN DANE COUNTY.

HEALTH GOAL: (1) SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED STRATEGIES THAT HELP KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL AND PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AVAILABLE FOR LEARNING; (2) REDUCE RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES IN DANE COUNTY; (3) INCREASE RESILIENCY AND TRAUMA SUPPORTS FOR BIPOC RESIDENTS. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INVESTMENTS FOCUSED ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND ON CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY TRAUMA - AN ISSUE THAT BECAME MORE PRESSING DUE TO THE SOCIAL ISOLATION RESULTING FROM THE COVID LOCKDOWN. IN 2021 OUR SIGNATURE SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, CBITS AND FACE-KIDS, SCREENED OVER 3,200 STUDENTS FOR SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMATIC STRESS AND DELIVERED REMOTE SERVICES THAT HELPED OVER 400 STUDENTS CONNECT WITH SERVICES FOR A VARIETY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT MOST REPORTED IMPROVED THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES. UPDATED STRATEGIES WERE DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THE RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT HAVE LED TO POORER HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR OUR COUNTY'S BIPOC (BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR) POPULATION. SIGNIFICANT TIME AND RESOURCES WERE FOCUSED ON COLLABORATING WITH DANE COUNTY HEALTH COUNCIL PARTNERS TO DEVELOP A CARE COORDINATION SYSTEM THAT BRINGS HEALTH AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IMPACTING BIRTH OUTCOMES FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN PREGNANT MOMS. UNITED WAY OF DANE COUNTY'S HEALTHCONNECT PREMIUM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MANAGED PAYMENTS THAT ENABLE OVER 653 LOW-INCOME (WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF 100-138% OF FPL) TO BE INSURED BY PAYING THEIR 2021 PREMIUMS FOR PLANS PURCHASED THROUGH THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE. 18% OF PARTICIPANTS HAD NO PREVIOUS HEALTH COVERAGE, 95% OF HEALTHCONNECT PARTICIPANTS RETAINED HEALTH INSURANCE IN 2021. 30% OF HEALTHCONNECT ENROLLEES IDENTIFIED AS BIPOC.

EDUCATION: BORN LEARNING GOAL: "CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR AND HAVE FUN AS THEY BECOME PREPARED FOR SCHOOL." WE HAVE THREE MAJOR BORN LEARNING STRATEGIES THAT ARE HELPING US ACHIEVE THIS GOAL THAT 4-YEAR OLD'S ARE AT AGE-EXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AND READY TO BEGIN SCHOOL: (1) HOME VISITING, (2) COMMUNITY-BASED PARENT EDUCATION IN SMALL GROUPS AND (3) DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING. THROUGH HOME VISITING, WE SERVED 75 YOUNG CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN 2021. HOME VISITING IS IN-HOME PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO LOW-INCOME PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN FACING MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS TO HELP THEM NURTURE THEIR CHILDREN. OUR HOME VISITING PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE PARENT-CHILD HOME PROGRAM, WELCOME BABY, AND KINDER READY. IN 2021, ON AVERAGE 75% OF THE CHILDREN ENROLLED WERE REACHING DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES ON TRACK. OUR LEAD PARTNERS ON THESE THREE BORN LEARNING INITIATIVES INCLUDED ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, RISE, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL - COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION AND COMMUNITY COORDINATED CHILD CARE. ACADEMIC SUCCESS GOAL: "STUDENTS SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, PREPARED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, CAREER, AND COMMUNITY." OUR MAJOR INITIATIVES IN THIS AREA ARE TUTORING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS AT THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS TO HELP INCREASE THE GRADUATION RATE IN DANE COUNTY TO 95% BY 2024. SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILL-BUILDING PREPARES STUDENTS TO BE CONFIDENT AND READY FOR THE NEXT STEP. TO HELP ALL CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, THE TUTORING PROGRAMS MOBILIZED OVER 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR OVER 2,000 STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS IN MADISON, MIDDLETON/CROSS PLAINS, MARSHALL, AND SUN PRAIRIE. OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM, SCHOOLS OF HOPE, RECRUITED VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR STUDENTS IN THE MADISON AND SUN PRAIRIE SCHOOLS IN READING. URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON IS THE LEAD AGENCY PARTNER ON MIDDLE SCHOOL LITERACY AND MATH TUTORING. OUR HIGH SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM, ACHIEVEMENT CONNECTIONS, RECRUITED VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR STUDENTS IN THE MADISON AND MIDDLETON SCHOOLS IN ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY. DANE COUNTY IS AT A 92.4% SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE. IN ADDITION, WE PARTNER WITH NEIGHBORHOOD, COMMUNITY, AND SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL-BUILDING SUCCESS IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL, INCLUDING 100 BLACK MEN, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, BY YOUTH FOR YOUTH, CENTRO HISPANO, GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, LITERACY NETWORK, LUSSIER COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER, JUSTDANE, MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH, FAST, LUSSIER COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER, CITY OF MIDDLETON YOUTH CENTER DEAR DIARY, THE HMONG INSTITUTE INC., VERA COURT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, OPERATION FRESH START, BRIARPATCH YOUTH SERVICES, INC, SIMPSON STREET FREE PRESS, AND THE URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON.

INCOME HOUSING GOAL: "THERE IS A DECREASE IN FAMILY HOMELESSNESS." OUR GOALS HERE ARE 1) # OF WHO MAINTAIN HOUSING/AVOID EVICTIONS, 2) # WHO MOVE INTO STABLE HOUSING 3) # WHO INCREASED THEIR INCOME, AND 4) # WHO RECEIVE QUALITY CASE MANAGEMENT. RESULTS FOR 2021 WERE - 1,641 FAMILIES MAINTAINED THEIR HOUSING AND AVOIDED EVICTIONS. 329 FAMILIES MOVED INTO STABLE HOUSING. 58 FAMILIES INCREASED THEIR INCOME AND 370 FAMILIES WORKED WITH CASE MANAGERS ON THEIR HOUSING GOALS. PARTNERS IN THIS WORK ARE: MIDDLETON OUTREACH MINISTRY, STOUGHTON AREA RESOURCE TEAM, THE ROAD HOME, SALVATION ARMY, YWCA OF MADISON, COMMUNITY ACTION COALITION FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, PORCHLIGHT, THE BEACON (PART OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES) AND SECOND HARVEST OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. BUILDING ECONOMIC STABILITY GOAL : "MOVE MORE PEOPLE ON PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY." WE HAVE TWO INITIATIVES IN THIS AREA" (1) THE HIRE INITIATIVE AND (2) THE JOURNEY HOME INITIATIVE. THE HIRE INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO PLACE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY INTO FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGE JOBS BY HELPING THEM COMPLETE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA (IF NEEDED), AND/OR IMPROVING THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND LIFE SKILLS, AND SECURE NEW OR IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT. IN 2021, 503 PEOPLE WERE HIRED WITH 348 GETTING A JOB EARNING $15 AN HOUR OR MORE. THE HIRE PARTNERS PREPARED 1,046 INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVED A KNOWLEDGE GOAL TOWARDS EARNING A DIPLOMA. 171 COMPLETED THE PREPARATION TO RECEIVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT WITH 42 ACTUALLY EARNING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA/GED/505 OR 509 DIPLOMA. OUR EDUCATION TRAINING PARTNERS ARE: LITERACY NETWORK AND VERA COURT. THE HIRE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PARTNERS TAUGHT EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND PLACEMENT TO 1,046 PARTICIPANTS IN 2021. THESE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PARTNERS ARE: CENTRO HISPANO, JUSTDANE, URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON, VERA COURT AND THE YWCA. THE JOURNEY HOME INITIATIVE LINKS EX-OFFENDERS WHO ARE RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY TO FOUR RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES: RESIDENCY, EMPLOYMENT, SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND TREATMENT (RESET) SO THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. JOURNEY HOME PROVIDED SERVICES FOR 870 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING 114 INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED INTENSIVE ONE-TO ONE SERVICE. IN 2021, JOURNEY HOME HAD FOUR (3.5% OF ALL PARTICIPANTS) OF THE PARTICIPANTS RETURNED TO PRISON FOR ANY REASON. SINCE THE JOURNEY HOME PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED TO SERVE ALL RETURNING PRISONERS TO DANE COUNTY, THE RETURN-TO PRISON RATE FOR DANE COUNTY HAS DECREASED FROM 66% (IN 2006) TO 39% (IN 2019). OUR LEAD PARTNER ON JOURNEY HOME IS JUSTDANE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND (AHF) ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE UNITED WAY OF DANE COUNTY FOUNDATION AS A SUSTAINABLE LOAN FUND TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN DANE COUNTY. IN 2021, VOLUNTEERS APPROVED LOANS FOR TWO PROJECTS WITH NORTHPOINTE DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES: UNO ON MINERAL POINT ROAD, MADISON ($50,000) AND KLASSIK ($175,000) IN VERONA FOR A TOTAL OF 26 AFFORDABLE UNITS AT 30% AMI TO BE ADDED TO LOCAL HOUSING INVENTORY.