Great Rivers United Way Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO UNITE PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR VISION IS THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH EDUCATION, INCOME STABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVES.

FUND DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM - UNITED WAY VOLUNTEERS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF UNITED WAY STAFF PERFORM AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW AND ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE ANNUAL PLEDGE DRIVE TO 51 LOCAL PROGRAMS AT 25 LOCAL PARTNER AGENCIES. THE PROGRAMS MUST ADDRESS IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS, TRACK PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS IN THE FOLLOWING IMPACT AREAS: POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS; STABILIZE HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC SITUATIONS SO PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THRIVING LIVES; AND SUPPORT A HEALTHY AND SOCIALLY-CONNECTED COMMUNITY.

GREAT RIVERS HUB - IS A SYSTEM TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND THE SOCIAL SERVICE SECTOR FOR COST SAVINGS, IMPROVED POPULATION HEALTH OUTCOMES AND INCREASED CLIENT EXPERIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT. THE HUB MODEL IS FOCUSED ON RISK REDUCTION THROUGH OUTCOME-BASED PATHWAYS. THERE ARE 20 IDENTIFIED PATHWAYS THAT REVOLVE AROUND HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. EACH PATHWAY HAS A DEFINED OUTCOME BASED ON CLINICAL BEST PRACTICE AND EVIDENCE BASED MODELS. THE HUB UTILIZES COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE WORKERS THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO COMPLETE PATHWAYS FOR AN IDENTIFIED AT-RISK POPULATION.

COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAM - COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING EFFORTS INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, UNITED WAY STAFF INVOLVEMENT AND RESOURCES FOR LA CROSSE COUNTY FAMILY POLICY BOARD, LA CROSSE COUNTY PREVENTION NETWORK, LA CROSSE COUNTY HOUSING COMMISSION, COULEE COLLABORATIVE TO END HOMELESSNESS, REBUILDING FOR LEARNING COMMUNITY RETREAT, HEALTH SCIENCE CONSORTIUM - POPULATION HEALTH COMMITTEE, ALLIANCE TO HEAL, LA CROSSE MENTAL HEALTH COALITION, MONROE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COALITION, MONROE COUNTY SAFE COMMUNITY COALITION, BETTER TOGETHER, RESILIENCE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE FRAMEWORK, LA CROSSE COUNTY DENTAL PAIN PROTOCOL INITIATIVE, 2-1-1 ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CREATING A HEALTHIER MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY PROJECT, LA CROSSE PRESCHOOL PROJECT, HEALTHY FAMILIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, W-2 STEERING COMMITTEE, ALL OF US RESEARCH PROGRAM COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD AND LA CROSSE COUNTY VOLUNTEERS ACTIVE IN DISASTER (VOAD). WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL PARTNERS, GRUW IMPLEMENTED HEALTHCONNECT IN 2020 WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES PREMIUM ASSISTANCE TO INCOME- AND PLAN- ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WHO PURCHASE HEALTH INSURANCE ON THE MARKETPLACE. BORN LEARNING TRAILS ARE AN OUTDOOR LITERACY TOOL FOR PRE-SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AND THEIR CARE GIVER. THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF COORDINATING THE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TRAILS CURRENTLY IN SPARTA, ONALASKA, LA CROSSE, LA CRESCENT AND TOMAH. READ TO SUCCESS IS A ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING PROGRAM FOR 3RD GRADERS THAT AIMS TO PUT KIDS ON A ROAD TO SUCCESS. PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS INCLUDE ARCADIA, CALEDONIA, LA CROSSE, LA FARGE, ONALASKA, SPARTA, AND TOMAH SCHOOL DISTRICTS. GREAT RIVERS UNITED WAY FACILITATES THE SPARKS EARLY CHILDHOOD COLLABORATIVE. GOALS AND STRATEGIES WERE PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT LA CROSSE COUNTY FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ARE LEARNING AND THRIVING NOW, AND INTO THE FUTURE. BY WORKING TOGETHER, MEASURING SHARED OUTCOMES, AND STRIVING FOR RESILIENT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, LA CROSSE COUNTY CAN PROVIDE CHILDREN THE BEST CHANCE AT BEING SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. SPARKS MATERIALS AND EVENTS ENCOURAGE CAREGIVERS (AND ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS) TO INTERACT WITH CHILDREN EVERYWHERE THEY GO, TRUE TO THE SPARKS TAGLINE: EVERY MOMENT IS A LEARNING MOMENT. UNITED WAY IS UPDATING THE COMPASS NOW HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ASSET AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL PARTNERS IN 2021. VIEW THE 2021 REPORT AT COMPASSNOW.ORG. THIS EFFORT HELPS IDENTIFY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE CRITICAL ISSUES, WHAT RESOURCES CURRENTLY EXIST FOR THESE ISSUES AND WHAT RESOURCES MAY BE MISSING TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS IN A SIX COUNTY AREA (HOUSTON (MN), BUFFALO, LA CROSSE, MONROE, TREMPEALEAU AND VERNON (WI)). THE COMPASS REPORT PROVIDES VALUABLE INFORMATION AND PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF DATA COLLECTED THROUGH A COMMUNITY SURVEY, FOCUS GROUPS, AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS, AND AN INVENTORY OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPASS REPORT IS TO SERVE AS A REFERENCE TOOL AND FOUNDATION FOR ACTION PLANS THAT SOLVE PROBLEMS LONG TERM.

BETTER TOGETHER IN LA CROSSE COUNTY - IS AN 8-YEAR PROJECT FUNDED BY THE HEALTHIER WISCONSIN PARTNERSHIP PROJECT OF THE ADVANCING A HEALTHIER WISCONSIN ENDOWMENT AT THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN. LA CROSSE COUNTY IS ONE OF 10 COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WHO RECEIVED FUNDING TO WORK ON IMPROVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AMONG ITS YOUTH. THE BETTER TOGETHER PROJECT SEEKS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF YOUTH, AGES 12-18, WHO ARE AT RISK FOR DEPRESSION. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED FOUR STRATEGIES WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.BETTERTOGETHERLACROSSE.ORG. VOLUNTEER CENTER - THE GREAT RIVERS UNITED WAY OPERATES A VOLUNTEER CENTER THAT PROMOTES AND FACILITATES VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE VOLUNTEER CENTER PROMOTES THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERISM, SERVES AS A RESOURCE TO NON-PROFIT AGENCIES, BUSINESSES AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IN EFFECTIVELY UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDES VALUABLE VOLUNTEER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMMUNITY. THE VOLUNTEER CENTER CAN BE ACCESSED AT OUR WEBSITE: GRUW.ORG. LABOR RELATIONS PROGRAM - PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GREAT RIVERS UNITED WAY AND ORGANIZED LABOR. THIS PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES OF THE COMMUNITY AND INVOLVING ORGANIZED LABOR IN THE ONGOING ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED WAY. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO INTERVENTION SERVICES, LETTER CARRIERS FOOD DRIVE, AND HOLIDAY FOOD PROGRAMS.