United Way Of Central New Mexico

UNITED WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO'S VISION IS TO CREATE EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES THAT PROVIDE EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY IN OUR FIVE-COUNTY, 11,000 SQUARE MILE SERVICE AREA WITH THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS. UNITED WAY SOLICITS AND RECEIVES DONATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED WAY PROGRAMS AND OTHER DONOR-CHOSEN AGENCIES. DISTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE BASED UPON A DONOR'S DESIGNATION OF MONIES TO SPECIFIC AGENCIES, OR BY ALLOCATION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO UNITED WAY AND OTHER PARTICIPATING AGENCIES. UWNCNM'S MISSION IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES TO EQUITABLY IMPROVE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES. THAT IS DONE THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT (GRANT MAKING), COMMUNITY OUTREACH (CONVENING AND COLLABORATING) AND LEADING THE COMMUNITY IN ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS FOR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN FINDING A MEANINGFUL PATH TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND/OR THE WORKFORCE.

RISING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY IMPACT TEAM WORKS ON PROJECTS THAT DELIVER COLLECTIVE IMPACT TO ITS SERVICE AREA. WE CALL THIS BODY OF WORK RISING TOGETHER AND IT FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: HEALTHY BEGINNINGS AND SCHOOL READINESS, K-12 LEARNING, COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS, ADULTS IN EDUCATION AND FAMILY RESILIENCE. K-12 LEARNING: ATTENDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT UWNCNM'S ATTENDANCE TEAM SUPPORT GROUP ON A SERIES OF ONLINE PRESENTATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE TEAMS STATEWIDE TO OFFER RESOURCES AS THEY IMPLEMENT THE ATTENDANCE FOR SUCCESS ACT WHILE ALSO DEALING WITH ISSUES RELATED TO IN- PERSON/HYBRID/REMOTE LEARNING. THE EMPHASIS WAS TO EMPOWER EDUCATORS WITH THE EVOLVING TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING ATTENDANCE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IN TOTAL, 41 DISTRICTS AND 139 SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN ELEVEN WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS AND A CONFERENCE. SURVEY RESULTS INDICATED THAT AT LEAST 70% OF PARTICIPANTS LEARNED A TECHNIQUE TO IMMEDIATELY USE IN THEIR WORK. AN AVERAGE OF 93% OF ALL PARTICIPANTS REPORTED GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AS A RESULT OF ATTENDING THE PRESENTATIONS WITH THE HIGHEST LEARNING REPORTED ON THE TOPICS OF PRIORITIZING STUDENTS AND SUPPORTING IN-PERSON AND REMOTE LEARNING. YOUTH INTERNSHIPS UWNCNM HOSTED A 10-WEEK PAID INTERNSHIP WHERE 12 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT CAREERS IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR. A PRIORITY WAS PLACED ON INTERNS DEVELOPING AUTONOMY, CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP. INTERNS ALSO DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, PROBLEM SOLVING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS WHILE WORKING BOTH INDEPENDENTLY AND WITH TEAMS. COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS: VALENCIA COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR A WORK READY COMMUNITY SINCE 2017, UWNCNM'S VALENCIA COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR A WORK READY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BUILDING A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF EMPLOYERS' NEEDS SO STUDENTS CAN BE BETTER PREPARED FOR ALL POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS WORKED WITH NEARLY 6,000 STUDENTS, 153 TEACHERS AND 93 BUSINESSES. PROJECTS INCLUDE RESUME WRITING WORKSHOPS, MOCK INTERVIEWS, EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS, STUDENT VIDEOS OF CAREER EXPLORATIONS AND HIRING FAIRS AT LOS LUNAS, VALENCIA AND CENTURY HIGH SCHOOLS. IN THE ANNUAL SUMMER TEACHER ACADEMY, EMPLOYERS PRESENT TO TEACHERS ON THE SKILLS THEY LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING. PARTICIPANTS COME FROM BELEN, LOS LUNAS, SCHOOL OF DREAMS AND MORIARTY EDGEWOOD SCHOOLS. CONSISTENTLY, NEARLY 90% OF STUDENTS SAY THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SKILLS NEEDED IN THE WORKPLACE AND 99% OF TEACHERS REPORT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR. ADULTS IN EDUCATION ALMOST 300,000 ADULTS IN CENTRAL NEW MEXICO DO NOT HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT, IN ADDITION TO EARNING MORE, PEOPLE WITH A HIGHER EDUCATION CREDENTIAL ARE MORE ECONOMICALLY RESILIENT AND BETTER ABLE TO SURVIVE ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS. CHILDREN OF PARENTS WITH POST-HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTAIN A CREDENTIAL THEMSELVES. UWNCNM WORKS WITH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS BARRIERS AND CREATE A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR ADULTS WHO WANT TO COMPLETE AN EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL BUT NEED HELP TO DO IT. FINISH LINE FUND WHEN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS PLACE A HOLD ON STUDENT ACCOUNTS DUE TO AN UNPAID BALANCE, IT CAN DERAIL A STUDENT'S COURSE OF STUDY. A SMALL AMOUNT DUE MAY PREVENT THEM FROM RE-REGISTERING FOR THEIR NEXT SEMESTER. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CNM, UWNCNM ESTABLISHED THE FINISH LINE FUND TO CLEAR BURSAR HOLDS ON ACCOUNTS WITH BALANCES OF 500 OR LESS, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO ENROLL IN CLASSES AND COMPLETE THEIR COURSE OF STUDY. FUNDS ARE PRIORITIZED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE AT 75% OF COMPLETION OF A DEGREE OR CREDENTIAL. IN 2022, 5,158 WAS AWARDED TO 18 STUDENTS. HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS & SUCCESS ECHO THIS VIRTUAL NETWORK INVITES COUNSELORS, EDUCATIONAL NAVIGATORS, ADVISORS, CASE MANAGERS, NONPROFIT STAFF AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINERS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS TO BETTER SUPPORT YOUTH AND ADULTS ON THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION JOURNEYS. ECHO USES SHORT PRESENTATIONS ON CASE STUDIES RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL OR SYSTEMS ISSUES, AND PEER-TO-PEER SUGGESTIONS AND SHARING. AN AVERAGE OF 34 PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING EIGHT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, SIX CITY/STATE AGENCIES, TWENTY NONPROFITS, EIGHT SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND THREE BUSINESSES ATTENDED MONTHLY SESSIONS. EDUCATION-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE INITIATIVE THE EDUCATION-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES LOCAL BUSINESSES TO EXPAND SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEE EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS. THESE MAY INCLUDE UPSKILLING THROUGH TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS, DEGREE ATTAINMENT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY COURSES. FAMILY RESILIENCE WHEN CHILDREN ARE HOMELESS, THE STRESS, TRAUMA AND ACADEMIC DISRUPTIONS THEY EXPERIENCE LEAD TO PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL - PROBLEMS THAT CAN CONTINUE THROUGHOUT LIFE. WHEN FAMILIES HAVE STABLE HOUSING, THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS, LEADING TO BETTER EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH OUTCOMES. UWNCNM WORKS TO PREVENT FAMILY HOMELESSNESS AND SCHOOL INSTABILITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SIEMER FAMILY FOUNDATION, ABC COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP AND EAST CENTRAL MINISTRIES THROUGH A PREVENTATIVE PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE ONE PAYCHECK OR EMERGENCY AWAY FROM BECOMING HOMELESS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ENHANCE VALUABLE SKILLS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SELF- EFFICACY, SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY AND RESOURCE ATTAINMENT. THIS LEADS FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE STABILITY AND THRIVE, A KEY OUTCOME FOR RISING TOGETHER. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND PROVIDES GRANTS TO QUALIFYING HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES IN NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. THE COMMUNITY FUND ADVANCES THE COMMON GOOD AND WORKS TO CREATE A STRONGER COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE GRANTS IN THREE AREAS: 1) IMPACT GRANTS THAT FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, FAMILY/HOUSING STABILITY AND SAFETY/WELL BEING; 2) BASIC NEEDS GRANTS SUPPORT EMERGENT NEEDS, SUCH AS FOOD AND EMERGENCY SHELTER; AND 3) CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS IMPROVE A NONPROFIT'S ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS MISSION. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND EXPENSES ARE PRESENTED UNDER THE IMPACT GRANTS, BASIC NEEDS GRANTS AND CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS HEADINGS IN THE STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES. TAX HELP NEW MEXICO TAX HELP NEW MEXICO PROVIDES FREE TAX PREPARATION TO NEW MEXICO HOUSEHOLDS WITH AN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME 60,000 OR LESS. 190 VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED OVER 8,400 RETURNS IN 2022, SAVING NEW MEXICO FILERS MORE THAN 3.6 MILLION IN TAX PREPARATION FEES. THIS PROGRAM WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING OVER 16 MILLION IN TAX REFUNDS/REBATES TO NEW MEXICANS WHICH ALLOWS FAMILIES TO BUILD THEIR FINANCIAL STABILITY AND IMPACTS NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY. TAX HELP NEW MEXICO EXPENSES ARE PRESENTED UNDER THE OTHER INITIATIVES HEADING IN THE STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES. 2-1-1 2-1-1 IS THE NATIONAL ABBREVIATED DIALING CODE FOR FREE ACCESS TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INFORMATION AND REFERRAL. UNITED WAY OF NORTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO'S 2-1-1 IS A COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. UWCNM'S 2-1-1 SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDES OUR PHONE SERVICE AND WEBPAGE, RECEIVES MORE THAN 10,000 CONTACTS ANNUALLY. 2-1-1 (OR 505-245-1735) IS STAFFED BY LIVE AGENTS BETWEEN 8:30 A.M. AND 4:30 P.M. MT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY; AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FIELDS CALLS AFTER HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. CALLERS WHOSE NEEDS ARE NOT MET BY THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM CAN LEAVE VOICEMAIL MESSAGES WHICH ARE RESPONDED TO THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. 2-1-1 EXPENSES ARE PRESENTED UNDER THE OTHER INITIATIVES HEADING IN THE STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES. 2-1-1/CONNECT UWNCNM'S 211 AND THE CONNECT NETWORK OF THE CITY OF SANTA FE AND SANTA FE COUNTY PARTNER TO STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL RESOURCES. CONNECT IS A NETWORK OF NAVIGATORS AT CLINICS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CITY AND COUNTY PROGRAMS THAT LINKS LOCAL CITIZENS WITH NONPROFITS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL NEEDS. IN SANTA FE, 211 PARTNERS WITH THE CONNECT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT CALLERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO FIND NEEDED RESOURCES. THE HELPLINE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FROM 8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. RIDE UNITED TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, JOB INTERVIEWS, OR OTHER NECESSARY APPOINTMENTS IS A CHALLENGE FOR MANY NEW MEXICANS. WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO ALLOW THEM TO TAKE CARE OF BASIC NEEDS, THE RESULTING COMPOUNDING PROBLEMS CAN TRAP FAMILIES IN THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. OPERATED THROUGH THE 2-1-1 PROGRAM, UW SPONSORS RIDE UNITED IN SANTA FE COUNTY TO PROVIDE COMPLIMENTARY LYFT RIDES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO CRITICAL APPOINTMENTS. FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER ESTABLISHED IN 2007 TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM OF CARE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER (FAC) IS A SERVICE FOR VICTIMS THAT OFFERS A SAFE, SECURE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF INTERPERSONAL CRIME. THE FAC HOUSES MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF. THE UNIQUE DESIGN OF THE