United Way Of Berks County

INSPIRING COLLABORATION, VOLUNTEERISM AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY

MORE THAN 150,000 CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND SENIORS BENEFITTED FROM VITAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS FUNDED BY UNITED WAY OF BERKS COUNTY (UWBC) THROUGHOUT 2021. UWBC'S WORK AND INVESTMENTS FOCUS ON FOUR AREAS: EDUCATION, INCOME (FINANCIAL STABILITY), HEALTH AND SAFETY NET SERVICES.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCH O.DURING 2021, UWBC INVESTED FUNDING IN OVER 80 PROGRAMS DELIVERED BY 35 AGENCY PARTNERS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTED COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND PROVIDED VARIOUS ONE-TIME GRANTS. ALL PROGRAMS IN WHICH UWBC INVESTS ARE EVALUATED BY OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT CABINET, FOCUS AREA PANELS (FAP) AND ACCOUNTABILITY REVIEWERS, REPRESENTING OVER 50 VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS. THESE VOLUNTEERS DEDICATE INVALUABLE TIME TO ENSURE UWBC DOLLARS ARE INVESTED IN HIGH-PRIORITY PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS CRITICAL CURRENT COMMUNITY NEEDS, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS THAT ARE HIGH-PERFORMING CONSISTENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY DELIVERING A HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAM PRODUCING MEANINGFUL RESULTS FOR PARTICIPANTS. ANNUALLY, PROGRAMS RECEIVING UWBC INVESTMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A REPORT THAT DETAILS HOW UWBC DOLLARS ARE SPENT TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING, AND THE OUTCOMES ACHIEVED BY CLIENTS. THESE OUTCOMES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF UWBC INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS. AS EFFECTS FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUED INTO 2021, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND AGENCIES FACED ONGOING CHALLENGES. SOME PROGRAMS WERE STILL LIMITED IN THE SERVICES THEY COULD PROVIDE DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. OTHERS CONTINUED TO SEE A LARGER DEMAND FOR SERVICES THAN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, ESPECIALLY THOSE MEETING BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD ACCESS AND HOUSING. UWBC INVESTED IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS IN 2021:EDUCATION FOCUS AREAUNITED WAY BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE CAN PLAY A ROLE IN ENSURING THAT CHILDREN GROW UP TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS BEGINS WITH A GOOD EDUCATION THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A CHILD'S SUCCESS IN WORK AND LIFE, ALONG WITH PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMING THAT HELPS YOUTH DEVELOP NECESSARY SKILLS FOR THEIR FUTURES. TO MEET THIS GOAL, KEY ISSUES ADDRESSED BY UWBC AND ITS SUPPORTED PROGRAMS IN THIS FOCUS AREA INCLUDE EARLY CARE AND SCHOOL READINESS, SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, SINCE THESE ISSUES ARE ALL INTERTWINED IN HELPING CHILDREN ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL. COVID-19 CONTINUED TO IMPACT SOME PROGRAMS, LIMITING DELIVERY OR UTILIZING VIRTUAL PLATFORMS. MANY WERE ABLE TO RESUME IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING TO CONNECT WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES! THESE PROGRAMS IMPACTED OVER 18,000 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN BERKS COUNTY IN 2021. EARLY CARE AND SCHOOL READINESS - COMMUNITY-LEVEL OUTCOME: CHILDREN REACH APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES. -- BERKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT, CHILDCARE: FAMILIES RECEIVE ACCESS TO KEYSTONE STAR RATED 3 OR 4 CHILDCARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITH UWBC'S INVESTMENT. BCIU CHILDCARE PROVIDES QUALITY CHILDCARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AGES 13 MONTHS TO 12 YEARS OF AGE. BCIU'S DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH FOCUSES ON OFFERING EXPOSURE TO ACTIVITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATH, LITERACY, MUSIC, CREATIVE ARTS, DRAMATIC PLAY, SOCIAL STUDIES, FINE AND GROSS MOTOR, COOKING, AND FIELD TRIPS FOR SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS. BCIU CHILDCARE SETTINGS INCLUDE SCHOOL AGE, PRESCHOOL, TODDLER AND INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES. PLEASE NOTE BCIU MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO SUNSET THEIR CHILDCARE SERVICES AS OF JUNE 30, 2021, AND UNITED WAY'S INVESTMENT ENDED AT THIS TIME.- COMMUNITY-LEVEL OUTCOME: FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT RESULT IN KINDERGARTEN READINESS. -- OPPORTUNITY HOUSE, CHILDCARE: THE SECOND STREET LEARNING CENTER IS A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY CHILDCARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 13 YEARS FOCUSING ON CREATIVITY, SOCIALIZATION, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SELF-ESTEEM. ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD. MULTI-CULTURAL AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT ARE OFFERED. --YMCA OF READING & BERKS COUNTY, CHILDCARE: OFFERS A SCIENTIFICALLY-BASED, IMPLEMENTED EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM THAT ALIGNS WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA LEARNING STANDARDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD. SINCE PLAY IS THE FOUNDATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT, THE YMCA PROVIDES WELL-EQUIPPED AND CAREFULLY ARRANGED CLASSROOMS.- COMMUNITY-LEVEL OUTCOME: INDIVIDUALS GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOP SKILLS TO ESTABLISH STRONG FAMILIES AND HELP CHILDREN REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. -- CENTRO HISPANO, ABRIENDO PUERTAS/OPENING DOORS PROGRAM: AN EVIDENCE-BASED, COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM, DEVELOPED BY AND FOR LATINO PARENTS WITH CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 5; AIMS TO IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES OF THE NATION'S LATINO CHILDREN BY BUILDING THE CAPACITY AND CONFIDENCE OF PARENTS TO BE STRONG AND POWERFUL ADVOCATES IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES. IN 2021, STAFF WENT THROUGH THE NATIONAL TRAINING TO TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING WHICH ELIMINATED BARRIERS FOR PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ALIGNS WITH UWBC'S READY.SET.READ! INITIATIVE. -- YMCA OF READING & BERKS COUNTY, BABY UNIVERSITY: OFFERED AS A 6-WEEK SESSION, EACH PARTICIPANT, A PARENT OR CAREGIVER WITH A CHILD FROM PRENATAL TO FIVE YEARS OLD, RECEIVES A WEEKLY HOME VISIT IN ADDITION TO THE WEEKLY CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, WHICH INCLUDES EDUCATION ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING CURRICULUM.SCHOOL SUCCESS - COMMUNITY-LEVEL OUTCOME: STUDENTS WILL ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS BY IMPROVED ATTENDANCE AND/OR PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL. -- BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BERKS COUNTY, MENTORING PROGRAM SERVICES: THEIR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE CHILDREN FACING ADVERSITY WITH STRONG AND ENDURING, PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED 1-TO-1 RELATIONSHIPS THAT CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOR THE BETTER, FOREVER. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH PROFESSIONALLY-DIRECTED MENTORING PROGRAMS UTILIZING CAREFULLY SCREENED AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, AND INCLUDES ONE-TO-ONE PROGRAM, COUL (THE CLUB OF UNMATCHED LITTLES) GROUP-MENTORING, TEEN PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES GROUP-MENTORING, AND SMART (STUDENTS & MENTORS ACHIEVING RESULTS TOGETHER), A SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM.- COMMUNITY-LEVEL OUTCOME: STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES DURING THE SUMMER TO MAINTAIN READING SKILLS. -- BIRDSBORO COMMUNITY MEMORIAL CENTER, OUT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMS: THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH IN GRADES FIRST THROUGH SIXTH ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO PRACTICE AND LEARN NEW STRATEGIES THAT WILL ASSIST THEM IN MAINTAINING CURRENT READING LEVELS, OR INCREASE LEVELS, THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. -- OLIVET BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF READING AND BERKS COUNTY, COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: OLIVET SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS PICK UP WHEN THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM ENDS, KEEPING YOUTH ENGAGED IN PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - COMMUNITY-LEVEL OUTCOME: BY PARTICIPATING IN DIVERSE, SAFE, AND EFFECTIVE OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, YOUTH WILL DEVELOP ACADEMIC, ARTISTIC, AND/OR LEADERSHIP SKILLS. -- BIRDSBORO COMMUNITY MEMORIAL CENTER, OUT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMS: LITERACY PROGRAMS OFFERED AS PART OF THE AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBHOUSE, WHICH ENGAGES STUDENTS, GRADES 1-6. STAFF ASSIST STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK AND READING SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM ALSO ENCOMPASSES SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. -- GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN PA, OUTREACH TO AT-RISK GIRLS: GIRLS IN FUNDED INITIATIVES PROGRAMS PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME THROUGH EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF READING. GIRLS ATTEND WEEKLY MEETINGS AT CONVENIENT COMMUNITY LOCATIONS BOTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IN THE SUMMER. -- HAWK MOUNTAIN COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, TRADITIONAL SCOUTING: THIS PROGRAM OPERATES WITHIN THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD AT LOCATIONS PROVIDED BY PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE A CONTINUED INTEREST IN CITIZENSHIP TRAINING, PERSONAL FITNESS, AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. ADULT VOLUNTEERS ADMINISTER THE PROGRAMS AT ALL LEVELS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE HAWK MOUNTAIN COUNCIL. THE LEVEL OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP IS BASED UPON AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES.