United Way Of The Big Bend Inc

TO RAISE AWARENESS, MOBILIZE RESOURCES AND FIND COLLABORATIVE, TARGETED SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VITAL CONCERNS.

FUNDS FOR THE AGENCY PROGRAMS COME FROM THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF UNITED WAY OF THE BIG BEND (UWBB) SUPPORTERS THROUGH THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN. THE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN AND LEON COUNTY SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN SOLICIT MONETARY SUPPORT FROM THE CORRESPONDING CONSTITUENTS. UWBB SUPPORTED OVER 197 PROGRAMS ACROSS THE BIG BEND AREA. THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IS BASED ON THE DECISION OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TEAM, COMPRISED OF UP TO 102 AGENCIES KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. A PANEL OF VOLUNTEERS REVIEWS EACH AGENCY'S FINANCES, PROGRAMS, FACILITIES, AND LONG-RANGE PLAN WITHIN THE BROAD FRAMEWORK OF COMMUNITY NEEDS. AFTER THOROUGH ANALYSIS, THESE VOLUNTEERS RECOMMEND HOW THE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO EACH AGENCY PROGRAM.

MATHPALSFOR MANY STUDENTS, MATH CLASS IS THE SUBJECT OF NIGHTMARES. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT AT LEAST A THIRD OF ALL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE EXTREME "MATH ANXIETY." SPEED PRESSURE, TIMED TESTING, AND BLIND MEMORIZATION CAN CREATE HIGH HURDLES WHEN LEARNING MATHEMATICS. STUDIES SHOW THAT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT SUCCEED IN MATH ARE LESS LIKELY TO GRADUATE ON TIME WITH THEIR PEERS. HELPING STUDENTS CONNECT MATH IN A VISUAL AND SYMBOLIC WAY USES DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BRAIN WHICH DEEPENS THEIR LEARNING.MATHPALS CREATES A CREATIVE AND ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING MATH BY MATCHING CARING MENTORS ONE-TO-ONE WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF EXTRA HELP IN DEVELOPING ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICAL SKILLS.SMILE UNITEDDURING THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR, PRIOR TO COVID CAUSING THE PROGRAM TO BE PAUSED IN 2019- 2020, SMILE UNITED PROVIDED BENEFICIAL PEDIATRIC DENTAL SERVICES TO 1,372 STUDENTS IN SECOND AND SIXTH GRADES ATTENDING TITLE I SCHOOLS ACROSS LEON COUNTY. STUDENTS RECEIVED 4,683 PREVENTATIVE DENTAL SERVICES THAT INCLUDED DENTAL ASSESSMENTS, DENTAL CLEANINGS, ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION, AND FLUORIDE VARNISH WHERE 1,300 SEALANTS WERE PLACED ON STUDENTS' TEETH.IN GADSDEN COUNTY, 1,912 STUDENTS RECEIVED BENEFICIAL PEDIATRIC DENTAL SERVICE WHERE 372 WERE COVERED BY SMILE UNITED. OF THOSE 372 STUDENTS, 423 SEALANTS WERE PLACED, AND 2,176 SERVICES WERE DELIVERED TO INCLUDE DENTAL ASSESSMENTS, DENTAL CLEANINGS, ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION, FLUORIDE VARNISH, AND SEALANTS. THIS PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME WHEN COVID HEALTH CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.VITAVOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TAX HELP TO PEOPLE WHO GENERALLY MAKE $66,000 OR LESS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND LIMITED ENGLISH-SPEAKING TAXPAYERS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE IN PREPARING THEIR OWN TAX RETURNS. IRS-CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE FREE BASIC INCOME TAX RETURN PREPARATION WITH ELECTRONIC FILING TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. VITA SITES ARE GENERALLY LOCATED AT COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS, AND, IN SOME CASES, AT AN AGENCY'S/ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE.REALITY STOREREALITY STORE IS A FINANCIAL SIMULATION WHERE STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED CAREERS AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BUDGET AND LIFESTYLES. THE EVENT IS A FUN AND EFFECTIVE WAY FOR TEENS TO LEARN ABOUT PERSONAL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIFE CHOICES. THE REALITY STORE GIVES STUDENTS A PRETEND SALARY, CHECKBOOK AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE LIKE AN ADULT. IT HELPS TEENAGERS UNDERSTAND REAL WORLD EXPENSES THAT THEY WILL ENCOUNTER AS AN ADULT. THE REALITY STORE HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF MAKING GOOD CHOICES, THE IMPORTANCE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION, AND HOW HARD IT IS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET.THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE FOR ALL THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE, TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN AND TO HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT AT THE END OF THE DAY. TO COMPLICATE MATTERS, STUDENTS ARE RANDOMLY SELECTED FOR UNEXPECTED LIFE EVENTS. THESE CAN BE ANYTHING FROM GETTING AUDITED FOR A TAX RETURN, BEING ARRESTED FOR FAILURE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT, OR HAVING AN UNEXPECTED MEDICAL EMERGENCY, TO A FLAT TIRE. THE EXPERIENCE IS AN EYE OPENER FOR MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE SHOCKED AT HOW FAST IT ALL ADDS UP. THE GOALS OF THE REALITY STORE PROGRAM ARE TO HELP ALL STUDENTS LEARN BASIC SKILLS IN FINANCIAL PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, DECISION MAKING AND CAREER PLANNING AS WELL AS CLARIFY THE NEED FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN TO EXAMINE THEIR ATTITUDES ABOUT THEIR FUTURES AND THEIR CAREER EXPECTATIONS.POVERTY SIMULATIONPOVERTY IS A REALITY FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BUT UNLESS YOU'VE EXPERIENCED POVERTY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TRULY UNDERSTAND. THE POVERTY SIMULATION ACTIVITY BRIDGES THAT GAP FROM MISCONCEPTION TO UNDERSTANDING. POVERTY SIMULATION IS AN INTERACTIVE IMMERSION EXPERIENCE; IT SENSITIZES COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS TO THE REALITIES OF POVERTY.DURING THE SIMULATION, PARTICIPANTS ROLE-PLAY A MONTH IN POVERTY AND EXPERIENCE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES' LIVES. AFTER THE SIMULATION, PARTICIPANTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT THEY LEARNED AND BRAINSTORM ABOUT IDEAS FOR MAKING COMMUNITY CHANGES TO ADDRESS POVERTY ISSUES. THE POVERTY SIMULATION EXISTS TO PROMOTE POVERTY AWARENESS, INCREASE UNDERSTANDING, AND INSPIRE LOCAL CHANGE. TOGETHER, WE CAN BE A VOICE TO END POVERTY AMONG OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

READINGPALSEVERY YEAR, ONE IN FOUR STUDENTS FAILS TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME. UNITED WAY OF THE BIG BEND IS HELPING TO CHANGE THIS THROUGH OUR READINGPALS PROGRAM. READINGPALS IS A STATEWIDE EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE THAT RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND SUPPORTS VOLUNTEER MENTORS FOR STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 3RD GRADE WHO MAY NEED EXTRA HELP, UTILIZING ONE-ON-ONE SHARED READING SESSIONS. READINGPALS IS MANAGED BY THE CHILDREN'S MOVEMENT OF FLORIDA AND ADMINISTERED THROUGH 16 UNITED WAYS - WITH THE HELP OF NUMEROUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE.NOW IN ITS ELEVENTH YEAR, READINGPALS IS CONTINUING TO WORK TO IMPROVE THE READING SKILLS OF STUDENTS IN LEON COUNTY. DUE TO THE COVID HEALTH SITUATION, LAST YEAR WE PIVOTED TO PILOT A VIRTUAL READING SESSION. 80% OF THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IMPROVED THEIR READING SCORES WITH 50% INCREASING BY A FULL READING LEVEL. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THAT PILOT PROGRAM, THIS YEAR WE ARE OFFERING BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SESSIONS IN 11 TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. VIRTUAL SESSIONS HAVE ENABLED MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE AS MENTORS FROM HOME OR WORK.IN THE READINGPALS PROGRAM, MENTOR VOLUNTEERS READ WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS STRUGGLING READERS. MENTORS ARE MATCHED ONE-TO-ONE WITH A STUDENT PAL, AND MENTOR FOR ONE HOUR A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. MENTORS SELECT FROM A LIST OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS THE SCHOOL WHOSE DAY/TIME SESSION OPTIONS BEST FIT THEIR SCHEDULE. IN-PERSON MENTORS USE A GUIDED LESSON PLAN CREATED BY LCS DISTRICT AND UWBB THAT IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER AND SUPPORT READING SKILLS. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVE A BRAND-NEW BOOK EVERY WEEK TO TAKE HOME. MENTORS RECEIVE TRAINING FROM UWBB AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT (INCLUDES BACKGROUND SCREENING). VIRTUAL MENTORS AND THEIR PALS CONNECT THROUGH A SECURE PORTAL AND USE A RESEARCH-BASED ONLINE READING SOFTWARE PROGRAM. TAKE HOME BOOKS ARE DELIVERED TO THE SCHOOLS FOR THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS.

21 CCLCTHIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS THAT PROVIDE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS FOR CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS WHO ATTEND HIGH-POVERTY AND LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS MEET STATE AND LOCAL STUDENT STANDARDS IN CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, SUCH AS READING AND MATH; OFFERS STUDENTS A BROAD ARRAY OF ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT CAN COMPLEMENT THEIR REGULAR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS; AND OFFERS LITERACY AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN.