Trident United Way Inc

CATALYST FOR MEASURABLE COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION IN EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY & HEALTH.

COMMUNITY IMPACT - THE COMMUNITY IMPACT TEAM OF TRIDENT UNITED WAY WORKS TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY BY FOCUSING ON EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH. THE THREE AREAS OF EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH ARE INTEGRATED, AND TRIDENT UNITED WAY WORKS PROACTIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE LONG-LASTING CHANGE IN BERKELEY, CHARLESTON AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES USING THE COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FRAMEWORKS AND THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT DISCIPLINE. TRIDENT UNITED WAY LEADS THREE NETWORKS, KINDERGARTEN READINESS, SAFETYNET ASSISTANCE, AND HEALTHY TRI-COUNTY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-LEVEL AND SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT NO ONE ORGANIZATION CAN DO ALONE. EACH IMPACT AREA'S GOALS ARE DETERMINED BY THESE NETWORKS THROUGH DATA AND FEEDBACK. THE FUNDS TRIDENT UNITED WAY COMPETITIVELY AWARDS TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ALIGN WITH THE NETWORK PRIORITIES TO ENSURE SYNERGY BETWEEN FUNDING AND OTHER TRIDENT UNITED WAY INITIATIVES AND AREAS OF FOCUS.TRIDENT UNITED WAY'S COMMUNITY CHANGE EFFORTS ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH HUNDREDS OF WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGNS, INDIVIDUAL GIVING, CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION GRANTS, FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS, AND FEE FOR SERVICE ACTIVITIES. MAJOR INITIATIVES INCLUDED THE LAUNCH OF THE 2019-2022 FUNDING CYCLE ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 23, 2019 OF PROGRAMMATIC GRANT OFFERS TO 19 AGENCIES DELIVERING 35 PROGRAMS ACROSS BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES. THESE PROGRAMMATIC GRANT OFFERS COMPRISE PROGRAM INVESTMENT AND BASIC NEEDS GRANT POOLS TOTALING $1.2 MILLION IN PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS CYCLE. THESE GRANT POOLS ALSO INCLUDE COLLECTIVE IMPACT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GRANTS ALIGNING WITH THE FOUR TRADITIONS OF PHILANTHROPY: RELIEF, IMPROVEMENT, SOCIAL REFORM, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.IN ADDITION TO GRANTS, THE COMMUNITY IMPACT AREA OF TRIDENT UNITED WAY SUPPORTS AND PROVIDES CAPACITY-BUILDING TOOLS TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE INCLUDE 211, RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTERS, THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM, AND CHARITYTRACKER. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE CAPACITY-BUILDING TOOLS ARE AS FOLLOWS:2-1-1 SERVICE:2-1-1 IS A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL REFERRAL AND INFORMATION SERVICE THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE FROM ALL COMMUNITIES AND OF ALL AGES TO A COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST WHO WILL HELP THEM FIND LOCAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE CALL CENTER IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO SERVE CALLERS IN OVER ONE HUNDRED LANGUAGES BY DIALING ONE NUMBER AND MAKING ONE PHONE CALL. 2-1-1 IS COMMITTED AS THE FIRST, MOST ESSENTIAL RESOURCE TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP. AN COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST ASSESSES CALLERS' NEEDS AND HELPS THE CALLER DETERMINE OPTIONS AND BEST COURSE OF ACTION IN A NON-THREATENING, NON-JUDGMENTAL AND CONFIDENTIAL MANNER. ADDITIONALLY, COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALISTS ARE TRAINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A CALLER MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER PROGRAMS, TO INTERVENE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS AND TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE CALLER WHO MAY NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE SERVICE IS FREE TO THE COMMUNITY, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MUNICIPALITIES. TRIDENT UNITED WAY CONTRACTS WITH THE UNITED WAY OF ASSOCIATION OF SC, WHICH MANAGES THE CALL CENTER AND PROVIDES UP-TO-DATE, TIMELY, LOCAL INFORMATION ABOUT RESOURCES IN THE TRI-COUNTY TO TRI-COUNTY CALLERS. HIGHLIGHTS OF SERVICES FOR THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR INCLUDE 13,589 CALLS RECEIVED AND 33,147 REFERRALS MADE. BERKELEY AND DORCHESTER RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTERS:THE BERKELEY AND DORCHESTER RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTERS ARE A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TRIDENT UNITED WAY AND A HOST OF PARTNERS. THE BERKELEY RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTER IS LOCATED AT 325 E. MAIN STREET, MONCKS CORNER, SC 29461 AND THE DORCHESTER RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTER IS LOCATED AT 1325A BOONEHILL ROAD, ROOM 124, SUMMERVILLE, SC 29485. SERVICES IN THE CENTERS ARE PROVIDED THROUGH A COMMUNITY NETWORK OF PARTNERS IN AN INTEGRATED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM. PARTNERS LOCATED IN THE CENTERS INCLUDE DORCHESTER ADULT EDUCATION, SC WORKS, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, SALVATION ARMY, PALMETTO GOODWILL, PALMETTO CAP, SC THRIVE, ORIGIN SC, ACCESSHEALTH, AND LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK. THE CENTERS ARE SERVICE HUBS WHERE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, BASIC NEEDS AND RESOURCES TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTERS TAKE AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO SERVICE DELIVERY, WHICH INCLUDES BUNDLING AND SEQUENCING OF SERVICES, LEADING TO LONG LASTING FINANCIAL CHANGE FOR CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE CENTERS OPERATE USING A CONTINUUM FRAMEWORK THAT BEGINS WITH ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS AND MOVES INDIVIDUALS ALONG A CONTINUUM TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF GAINING AND SUSTAINING ASSETS. SERVING INDIVIDUALS COLLABORATIVELY IS A SHARED DESIRE TO CREATE BETTER FINANCIAL OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA.THE RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTERS PROVIDED OVER 7,430 FINANCIAL STABILITY SERVICES TO 1,383 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 3,064 INDIVIDUALS IN THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR. TRIDENT UNITED WAY AND AGENCY PARTNERS PROVIDED $167,095 IN IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.AMERICORPS FAMILY NAVIGATORS:THE TRIDENT UNITED WAY AMERICORPS PROGRAM HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR TEN YEARS WITH A GOAL OF BUILDING CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT HELP FAMILIES BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY STABLE. FURTHER, THE TRIDENT UNITED WAY AMERICORPS PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION IN THE TRI-COUNTY OF PRODUCING HIGHLY QUALIFIED, TRAINED HUMAN SERVICES PROFESSIONALS. MORE THAN 75% OF ALL TRIDENT UNITED WAY AMERICORPS MEMBERS OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS MOVE ON TO EMPLOYMENT IN LOCAL HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AFTER COMPLETING THEIR SERVICE. NOTABLE RESULTS INCLUDE:THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM CONNECTED 2,690 FAMILIES TO OVER 6,000 BASIC NEEDS AND CRISIS MITIGATION SERVICES. WE ASSISTED 359 FAMILIES FILE STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES AT NO COST OR FEE BRINGING BACK $1,344,730 IN REFUNDS TO THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDED 186 CLIENTS WITH BASIC FINANCIAL EDUCATION. THE 16 MEMBERS INCREASED OUR REGION'S SERVICE CAPACITY. PARTNER AGENCIES AGREE TO HOST AMERICORPS MEMBERS AT THEIR ORGANIZATION SITES TO ENHANCE AND FACILITATE CLIENT OUTREACH AND SERVICES. PARTNER AGENCIES PROVIDE A MATCH TO TUW BASED ON MEMBER SERVICE HOURS TO THE AGENCY. THIS YEAR, TUW RECEIVED $34,628 IN PARTNER AGENCY MATCH FUNDS FOR THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM.CHARITYTRACKER:CHARITYTRACKER IS A WEB-BASED TRACKING TOOL PROVIDED TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS AT NO CHARGE THROUGH TRIDENT UNITED WAY. IT IS USED BY TRIDENT UNITED WAY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING GRANTEES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO TRACK AND SHARE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING FINANCIAL STABILITY AND OTHER HUMAN SERVICES. THE TOOL MITIGATES ISSUES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION AND PROVIDES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE BEING SERVED, AS WELL AS AGENCIES AND PARTNERS WORKING COLLECTIVELY TO MOVE INDIVIDUALS INTO FINANCIAL STABILITY. AN ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD FEATURE ALLOWS PARTNERS TO POST SERVICES PROVIDED, SUCH AS CLASSES AND EVENTS, AND ALERTS ALLOW PARTNERS TO POST EMERGENCY NEEDS SO THAT RESOURCES CAN BE DISTRIBUTED QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THE SYSTEM IS SECURE AND ONLY AGENCIES AND PARTNERS THAT COMPLETE TRAINING CERTIFICATION CAN USE THE SYSTEM.-THERE ARE 342 ORGANIZATIONS USING CHARITYTRACKER SYSTEM.-SERVICES TRACKED PARTNERS USING THE SYSTEM IN THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR PROVIDED 22,391 HOUSEHOLDS, COMPRISED OF 44,334 INDIVIDUALS, WITH $4,217,736 IN MONETARY ASSISTANCE.

FINANCIAL STABILITY - INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL STABILITY FRAMEWORK INCLUDE THE AMERICORPS FINANCIAL STABILITY PROJECT, RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTERS IN BERKELEY AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES, SC THRIVE-THRIVE HUB ONLINE APPLICATION TOOL, CHARITYTRACKER AND THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER (EFSP) PROGRAM. THE INTEGRATION OF TWO IMPACT AREAS, BASIC NEEDS AND INCOME, INTO ONE BEGAN IN 2010 RESULTING IN A MODEL OF CHANGE - FINANCIAL STABILITY, WHICH CONSISTS OF INTERRELATED STEPS THAT BEGIN WITH ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS, FOLLOWED BY INCREASING BASIC SKILLS, THEN INCREASING INCOME AND SAVINGS, AND FINALLY, GAINING AND SUSTAINING ASSETS. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2020-2021 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. BERKELEY AND DORCHESTER RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTERS SERVED 1,383 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 3,064 INDIVIDUALS PROVIDED WITH 7,430 FINANCIAL STABILITY SERVICES.2. EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER (EFSP) PROGRAM - THROUGH TRIDENT UNITED WAY'S WORK WITH THE SAFETY NET ASSISTANCE NETWORK, EFSP AWARDED $697,061 IN 3 PHASES. THIS INCLUDES 36 PARTNERS AND 71 PROGRAMS OVER THE 3 PHASES IN BERKELEY, CHARLESTON AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES.3. CHARITYTRACKER - THROUGH THE MORE THAN 340 AGENCIES, CHURCHES AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS USING CHARITYTRACKER, 22,391 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 44,334 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS WERE ASSISTED WITH THE VALUE OF ASSISTANCE EQUALING $4,217,736. 4. SC THRIVE - THRIVE HUB - MORE THAN 3,313 APPLICATIONS FOR WORK SUPPORT AND BENEFITS WERE COMPLETED. THE TAX FILING ASSISTANCE SERVICES PROVIDED MORE THAN 1,898 STATE AND/OR FEDERAL TAX RETURN FILINGS FOR FREE THROUGHOUT THE TRI-COUNTY AREA BRINGING BACK $1,344,730 IN REFUNDS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. THIS SAVED MORE THAN $270,000 IN FILING FEES.

EDUCATION - TRIDENT UNITED WAY SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND LEADS COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT AIM TO PROMOTE BIRTH TO AGE 8 EARLY LEARNING, KINDERGARTEN READINESS AND MITIGATING KEY LEARNING BENCHMARK GAPS. THIS INCLUDES READING ON GRADE-LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS LIVING AT <200% OF POVERTY. THE EDUCATION IMPACT AREA WORKS IN THREE WAYS:-CONVENING THE KINDERGARTEN READINESS NETWORK FOR THE TRI-COUNTY CRADLE TO CAREER COLLABORATIVE, WHICH PRIORITIZES SCHOOL READINESS OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE EIGHT. THE NETWORK IS LED BY ITS GUIDING TEAM AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE THAN 40 ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION. THE NETWORK CREATED A GUIDING FRAMEWORK THAT SUPPORTS IMPROVED KINDERGARTEN READINESS OUTCOMES IN THE TRI-COUNTY. -PROVIDING TRIDENT UNITED WAY PROGRAM INVESTMENT AND BASIC NEEDS GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALIGN WITH NETWORK PRIORITIES.-FUNDING AND COLLABORATIVELY WORKING WITH THE FOUR TRI-COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CONDUCT THE READING BY THIRD INNOVATION PROJECT IN SELECT SCHOOLS, WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING CHILDREN ACHIEVE THE BENCHMARK OF READING AT GRADE-LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE AND SCALING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES.