United Way Of Cass-Clay

WE IMPROVE LIVES BY ACTIVATING RESOURCES TO SOLVE COMPLEX COMMUNITY ISSUES AND CREATE LASTING SOCIAL CHANGE.

UNITED WAY OF CASS-CLAY (UNITED WAY) IMPROVES LIVES BY ACTIVATING RESOURCES TO SOLVE COMPLEX COMMUNITY ISSUES AND CREATE LASTING SOCIAL CHANGE. WE SEEK TO MAKE MEASUREABLE PROGRESS TOWARD INCREASING ACCESS AND REDUCING BARRIERS FOR UNDERSERVED, AT-RISK, AND VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, AND FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE OUR BOLD COMMUNITY GOALS:-REDUCE HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS-PREPARE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED-HELP PEOPLE BE INDEPENDENTULTIMATELY, THESE GOALS COLLECTIVELY HELP TO LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY. BY FOCUSING ON OUR BOLD GOALS, WE LOOK TO IMPROVE LIVES AND CREATE A BETTER TOMORROW FOR EVERYONE IN CASS COUNTY, ND, AND CLAY COUNTY, MN. WE DO THIS BY INCREASING ACCESS AND REDUCING BARRIERS TO MUCH NEEDED SUPPORTS AND SERVICES INCLUDING STABLE HOUSING, LIVING-WAGE EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS, AND PROVIDING AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILDCARE. BOLD GOAL 1 - REDUCE HUNGER FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN- REDUCE HOMELESSNESS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDRENWHY WE INVEST: UNITED WAY WORKS TO REDUCE HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS BY IMPROVING SYSTEMS AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO STABLE HOUSING AND FOOD. TOGETHER, WE ARE WORKING TO END HOMELESSNESS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THROUGH A COMMUNITY FOCUS ON THE "HOUSING FIRST" PHILOSOPHY AND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS FROM HAPPENING. LOCAL DATA SHOWS THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY HUNGER. TOGETHER WE'RE FOCUSING ON COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE FOOD INSECURITY, PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO FOOD, ALL WHILE ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER.THE ISSUE:- APPROXIMATELY 1,000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY- LAST YEAR, OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY, APPROXIMATELY 20% WERE CHILDREN- OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY, 37% ARE CHILDRENTHE POWER OF COMMUNITY: - EXPANDED CLINIC-BASED FOOD PANTRIES AND PROGRAMS TO DIRECTLY CONNECT HUNGER AND HEALTH; WITH 695 HOUSEHOLDS ACCESSING 20,258 POUNDS OF FOOD THIS PAST YEAR DURING CLINIC VISITS- EXPANDED THE HOMELESS PREVENTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAM, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS, FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND PRIVATE FUNDING. IN 2021, 2,367 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SCREENED FOR SERVICES EITHER BECAUSE THEY WERE FACING HOMELESSNESS OR FEARED THEY'D BECOME HOMELESSTHE RESULTS: - 3,415 CHILDREN RECEIVED FOOD ON THE WEEKENDS AND DURING THE SUMMER WHEN SCHOOL WAS NOT IN SESSION- 78% OF PEOPLE WHO WENT FROM HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSED, WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN HOUSING ONCE THEY EXITED FROM SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMSSPOTLIGHT: THE HOUSING NAVIGATION PROGRAM, A SOLUTION-FOCUSED BEST-PRACTICE STRATEGY, YEAR OVER YEAR HAS SEEN MASSIVE COST SAVINGS THROUGH HOUSING INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND KEEPING THEM HOUSED WITH COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS.IN 2021, 54 ACTIVE HOUSING NAVIGATION PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SERVED BY PRESENTATION PARTNERS IN HOUSING WERE ABLE TO ATTAIN SAFE, STABLE HOUSING ALONG WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO MAINTAIN HOUSING AFTER EXPERIENCING LONG EPISODES OF HOMELESSNESS. IN ADDITION, DATA WAS COLLECTED ON 28 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO REDUCED THE USAGE OF COSTLY COMMUNITY SERVICES SUCH AS DETOX ADMISSIONS, AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS, JAIL TIME, EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND EMERGENCY SHELTER STAYS AFTER ATTAINING HOUSING. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM, THERE HAS BEEN A COMBINED COST SAVINGS ESTIMATED AT $2,148,756 FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY!BOLD GOAL 2 - CHILDREN ENTER SCHOOL READY TO SUCCEED- STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH SCHOOL AND UPON GRADUATION ARE READY FOR THEIR NEXT STAGE IN LIFE LIKE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, WORKFORCE, ARMED SERVICES, ETC.WHY WE INVEST: UNITED WAY WORKS TO INCREASE CHILDHOOD AND STUDENT SUCCESS BY SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE FAMILY AS THE CHILD MOVES THROUGH KINDERGARTEN, SCHOOL, AND BEYOND. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RESEARCH POINTS TO THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS FROM PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN. THE BENEFITS NOT ONLY IMPROVE KINDERGARTEN READINESS LEVELS BUT IMPROVE THIRD GRADE READING LEVELS, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES, AND DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE LIFETIME EARNING POTENTIAL FOR STUDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM QUALITY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. RESEARCH ALSO SUPPORTS THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENTS RECEIVING SERVICES FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS TO ENHANCE READINESS FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREER OR ENTERING COLLEGE.THE ISSUE:- IN CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES, ONLY 37% OF CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 4 ARE ENROLLED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION- IN NORTH DAKOTA, 26,937 CHILDREN ARE UNSUPERVISED AFTER SCHOOL, MEANING FOR EVERY CHILD IN AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THERE ARE TWO WAITING TO GET INTHE POWER OF COMMUNITY: - IMPLEMENTED INNOVATIVE WAYS TO EXPAND FOOD ACCESS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, SUCH AS THE SCHOOL LUNCH REPACKING PROGRAM- WORKED WITH THE NORTH DAKOTA AFTERSCHOOL NETWORKS TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR QUALITY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR MORE YOUTH; ESPECIALLY FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH AND YOUTH OF COLOR WHO HAVE MORE LIMITED ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMSTHE RESULTS: - 91% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRE-K PROGRAMS AND QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE ENTERED KINDERGARTEN THIS YEAR SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND ACADEMICALLY READY- 1,491 STUDENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATED IN OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSSPOTLIGHT: OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH CENTRAL CASS, KINDRED, NORTHERN CASS, AND WEST FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO INCREASE ACCESS AND REMOVE BARRIERS FOR STUDENTS. THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR, 244 STUDENTS RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON-SITE AT THEIR SCHOOLS. OF THOSE SERVED:-88% CONTINUED TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL-81% DECREASED ABSENTEEISM OR MAINTAINED ATTENDANCE OF AT LEAST 90% OF SCHOOL DAYS-95% REDUCED BEHAVIORAL REFERRALS IN SCHOOLTHESE PROGRAMS HAVE GROWN OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, IMPACTING OVER 500 LOCAL STUDENTS.BOLD GOAL 3- INCREASE EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING LEVELS- INCREASE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCEWHY WE INVEST: UNITED WAY FOCUSES ON A TWO-GENERATION MODEL TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO OBTAIN FAMILY SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND BUILD THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL CAPITAL NEEDED TO THRIVE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT A FOCUS ON A TWO-GENERATIONAL MODEL IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS AND CAN STOP THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY. WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUR COMMUNITY'S WORKFORCE SHORTAGE BY PROVIDING TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO GAIN AND MAINTAIN IN-DEMAND JOBS.THE ISSUE: - IN MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA, 1 IN 5 CHILDREN HAVE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WHO LACK SECURE EMPLOYMENT- YOUNG FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH 1 IN 7 CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD LIVING IN POVERTY- IN CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES, 2,145 COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCYTHE POWER OF COMMUNITY: - CONTINUED PLACE-BASED SERVICES, SUCH AS CAREER COACHING, FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES, AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) PROGRAMS, TO LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THE ARBORS AT MCCORMICK PARK- EXPANDED ACCESS TO CIVIL-LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA TO REDUCE EVICTIONS, FAMILY INSTABILITY, AND STRESS FOR AT-RISK FAMILIESTHE RESULTS: - 81% OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED SERVICES OBTAINED STABLE EMPLOYMENT, THE REMAINING 19% ARE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CASE MANAGERS TO GAIN SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT- 5,085 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICESSPOTLIGHT: THE DAY SHE MET HER CAREER COACH, SONJA BUZZED WITH ENERGY AS SHE TALKED ABOUT HER DREAM OF BECOMING A CNA BUT THOUGHT THE DREAM WAS OUT OF REACH: NO STABLE PLACE TO LIVE, NO RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, LACK OF A FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND NO LOCAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY.WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM HER CAREER COACH, SONJA: -COMPLETED HER CNA CLASS -WAS HIRED BY BETHANY RETIREMENT SERVICES -SAVED AND PURCHASED A VEHICLE -SAVED ENOUGH FOR HER FIRST MONTH'S RENT AND OBTAINED STABLE HOUSINGUNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTED SONJA WITH A HOME FOR GOOD BASKET, BECAUSE SHE WAS STARTING OVER WITHOUT ANY HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS. SONJA'S CAREER COACH PROVIDED SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND RESOURCES, AND COUPLED WITH SONJA'S DETERMINATION TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, SONJA IS NOW THRIVING WITH A FAMILY-SUSTAINING INCOME AND A FRESH START IN LIFE.

35 UNDER 35 LEADERSHIP PROGRAM:UNITED WAY OF CASS-CLAY'S 35 UNDER 35 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE LOCAL WOMEN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HELP THEM REALIZE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ENERGIZE THEIR COLLECTIVE POWER AS WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE 2009, 455 LOCAL WOMEN HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS MEET MONTHLY TO FOCUS ON VARIOUS ISSUES PERTINENT TO YOUNG LEADERS. EACH SESSION IS LED AND PRESENTED BY LOCAL LEADERS AND INCLUDES TRAINING AND DISCUSSION AS WELL AS GOAL SETTING, COMMUNICATION, PERSONAL GROWTH, BOARD LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC SPEAKING, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, AND SEVERAL ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP TOPICS.EMPLOYERS OF UNITED WAY 35 UNDER 35 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT GREATLY FROM THE EXPERIENCE. PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO: -CONNECT WITH A DIVERSE NETWORK OF DYNAMIC YOUNG WOMEN AND LOCAL LEADERS-EXPAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS-BECOME RE-ENERGIZED, MOTIVATED, AND EQUIPPED TO SHARPEN THEIR SKILL SET-GAIN CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS TO LEAD IN CURRENT AND FUTURE POSITIONS AT THEIR COMPANIES/ORGANIZATIONSWOMEN UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAM:THE WOMEN UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAM IS A POWERFUL NETWORK OF WOMEN WHO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH AN INVESTMENT OF:-COMMUNITY SERVICE-FUNDRAISING-LEADERSHIPTHE UNITED WAY WOMEN UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAM IS COMPRISED OF SIXTEEN MEMBERS LIVING AND OR WORKING IN CASS-CLAY COUNTIES, TO CREATE A DIVERSE GROUP OF WOMEN WITH VARYING LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES, CAREERS, AND BACKGROUNDS. THE WOMEN'S UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAM IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING UNITED WAY'S WORK ACROSS OUR BOLD GOALS, WITH ALL FUNDRAISING FROM WOMEN UNITED EVENTS BENEFITTING LOCAL FAMILIES AND CHILDREN LIVING IN CASS OR CLAY COUNTIES.EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM:EMERGING LEADERS IS A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-MINDED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO GIVE, CONNECT, BUILD SKILLS AND VOLUNTEER TO LEAD THE CHANGE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OVER 900 MEMBERS STRONG, EMERGING LEADERS HAVE ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS WHERE LOCAL PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND GROW AS LEADERS TO AFFECT CHANGE FOR DECADES TO COME.

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE;2021 MARKED THE 23RD YEAR OF THE ANNUAL SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE, WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS IN NEED WITH A NEW BACKPACK FILLED WITH SUPPLIES SO THEY CAN START THE SCHOOL YEAR CONFIDENT, READY TO LEARN AND PREPARED TO SUCCEED. IN 2021, 6,000 LOCAL STUDENTS WERE EQUIPPED WITH A BACKPACK AND SET OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY! STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT ACROSS CASS & CLAY COUNTIES RECEIVED BACKPACKS AND MORE THAN 675 VOLUNTEERS HELPED IN COLLECTING SUPPLIES, PREPARING BACKPACKS, AND DISTRIBUTING THEM TO STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. HOME FOR GOOD;EVERY DAY, UNITED WAY HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES STOP THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS YEAR WE INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO HELP WELCOME FAMILIES HOME - FOR GOOD.THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY DONATIONS, 120 HOME FOR GOOD BASKETS WERE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WERE ONCE HOMELESS, BUT WITH THE HELP OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN STABLE HOUSING.AS PEOPLE TRANSITION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, THEY ARE OFTEN STARTING OVER, AND MANY ARE MOVING INTO THEIR NEW HOME WITH LITTLE TO NO PERSONAL OR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. UNITED WAY HOME FOR GOOD BASKETS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BASIC HOUSEHOLD NECESSITIES AND THE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES NEEDED TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL. IMAGINATION LIBRARY;UNITED WAY HAS ENJOYED SUPPORTING DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY FOR OVER 15 YEARS. STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2020 UNITED WAY IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW REGISTRATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM BUT WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR AND MAINTAIN ALL PRIOR REGISTRATIONS. THOSE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVE A FREE BOOK IN THE MAIL EACH MONTH TO HELP SPARK A LOVE FOR READING. IN 2021, 55,013 BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 4,674 LOCAL CHILDREN MONTHLY. ADDITIONALLY, UNITED WAY IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:-SINCE 2014, UNITED WAY HAS INVESTED $10,000 ANNUALLY TO TWO VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAMS. IT'S MORE THAN PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES ABOUT FINANCIAL STABILITY; IT'S GIVING THEM SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND CREATING CONNECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2021, 691 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED SERVICES AND HAD TAX RETURNS COMPLETED. OVERALL, FEDERAL AND STATE REFUNDS TOTALED $1,214,870.