Heart Of Illinois United Way Inc

TO INCREASE THE ORGANIZED CAPACITY OF PEOPLE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. TO CREATE A STRONG, SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY WHILE PROVIDING THE BEST RETURN FOR THE COMMUNITY'S CHARITABLE INVESTMENT IN THE PROGRAMS FUNDED AT PARTNER AGENCIES.

YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED AT VARIOUS NONPROFIT PARTNER AGENCIES TO HELP AT-RISK YOUTH DEVELOP PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY BY IMPROVING GRADE LEVELS, DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, RELATIONSHIPS AND MUCH MORE. PROGRAMS INCLUDED ARE MENTORING, TUTORING, COUNSELING, CHILDCARE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS THROUGH POSITIVE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS. HELP YOUTH DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT LEAD TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, GOAL SETTING AND HIGHER GRADUATION RATES. PREVENTIONS AND INTERVENTION THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. PRE-K CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED MONTHLY BOOKS TO HELP WITH READING SKILLS TO GET CHILDREN SCHOOL READY. TEACHERS PROVIDE PROGRAMS AROUND THE THEME OF THE BOOKS TO HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING.

FAMILY PROGRAMS HELP AT-RISK FAMILIES FUNCTION SUCCESSFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING SOCIAL, HEALTH, EMERGENCY AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE COUNSELING, DISASTER SERVICES, LEGAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SHELTER AND PARENTING SKILLS THAT FOCUS ON: COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT THAT DEVELOP SKILLS WHICH LEAD TO STABLE LIFESTYLES, PROVIDE IMMEDIATE CRISIS SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN NEED, TRAINING AND SUPPORT THAT HELP FAMILY MEMBERS BECOME PARENTS AND PROVIDE LEGAL SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO BE SECURE AND STABLE.

SELF-RELIANCE PROGRAMS HELP AT-RISK PEOPLE LIVE ON THEIR OWN BY HELPING THEM GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH LIFE. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: COUNSELING, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, LIFE SKILLS, FOOD PANTRIES, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT FOCUS ON: PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND HELPS MITIGATE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS SUCH AS LOW INCOME, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HEALTH ISSUES AND AGING. CREATE FINANCIAL STABILITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SUCH AS JOB PREPAREDNESS AND TRAINING. OPTIMIZE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS SENIORS AND THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.

HEALTH PROGRAMS HELP AT-RISK INDIVIDUAL LEAD HEALTHIER AND SAFER LIFESTYLES BY PREVENTING HEALTH DETERIORATION AND PROMOTING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE COMMUNITY CLINICS, EXERCISE AND THERAPY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, HOME HEALTH CARE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION. PROGRAMS FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND PREVENTION THROUGH NUTRITIONAL TRAINING AND INFORMATION, PHYSICAL FITNESS LEADING TO HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF UNDERAGE PREGNANCY, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. TREATMENT AND HEALTH SERVICES THAT WARE PROACTIVE IN TREATING GENERAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS, ORAL CARE, VISION CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE. SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS (S3) IS A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM BETWEEN HEART OF ILLINOIS UNITED WAY AND AREA SCHOOLS TO PROMOTE STUDENT SUCCESS VIA COUNSELING, SCHOOL PROGRAMS, MENTORING STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL. 2-1-1- IS A 24/7 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CALL CENTER WITH A WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION THE COMMUNITY CAN ACCESS. CALLERS CAN GET LOCATIONS OF ASSISTANCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY FOR HOUSING, FOOD, UTILITIES, COUNSELING SERVICES, OR OTHER INFORMATION AS NEEDED. DONOR DESIGNATED GIFTS ARE SENT TO 501C3 CHARITIES ACCORDING TO DONOR'S WISHES. THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAM SERVICES AT EACH CHARITY.