United Way Of Cass-Clay

WE IMPROVE LIVES BY ACTIVATING RESOURCES TO SOLVE COMPLEX COMMUNITY ISSUES AND CREATE LASTING SOCIAL CHANGE.

WE FOCUS ON FOUR STRATEGIC AREAS THAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN SOLVE THESE COMPLEX ISSUES AND CREATE LASTING SOCIAL CHANGE THAT LEADS TO A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL OF US. TOGETHER, WE CAN SOLVE COMPLEX COMMUNITY ISSUES, LIKE HOMELESSNESS, HUNGER, CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP, AND HELPING CHILDREN BE READY TO LEARN. THE WORK WE DO TOGETHER TOWARD OUR BOLD GOALS RESULTS IN FEWER CHILDREN HAVING TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS, MORE STUDENTS FEELING CONFIDENT AND PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND BEING READY FOR OUR WORKFORCE, INCREASED QUALITY OF LIFE AND INDEPENDENCE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE PARENTS TO GET THE JOB SKILLS AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO LAND A JOB TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHEN WE MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR BOLD GOALS TOGETHER, FAMILIES ARE LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ARE CHANGED:1. REDUCE HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS2. PREPARE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED3. HELP PEOPLE BE INDEPENDENT4. LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTYBOLD GOAL 1 - REDUCING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED.- REDUCING LONG-TERM, CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS / HOUSING THE HARDEST TO HOUSE.WHY WE INVEST: UNITED WAY SEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS BY IMPROVING SYSTEMS AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS STABLE HOUSING AND FOOD THAT ULTIMATELY LEAD TO HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS BEING RARE, BRIEF AND NONRECURRING. THERE IS A STRONG FOCUS ON THE HOUSING FIRST PHILOSOPHY, A PROVEN METHOD OF ENDING ALL TYPES OF HOMELESSNESS, WHICH OFFERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO PERMANENT AFFORDABLE OR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WITH A LOW THRESHOLD FOR ENTRY.THE ISSUE:- ESTIMATED 1,022 INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY. - LAST YEAR, OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY, 23% WHERE CHILDREN. - OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY, 37% ARE CHILDREN.THE ACTION: - CONTINUED TO BUILD ON INCREASED COLLABORATION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS PART OF THE CASS CLAY HUNGER COALITION, ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FOOD, WHILE ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF HUNGER - WITH LEAD ROLE ON STEERING COMMITTEE. - INCREASED THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO ATTAIN STABLE HOUSING BY 92% IN THE PAST 5 YEARSTHE RESULTS: - 3,665 CHILDREN RECEIVED FOOD ON THE WEEKENDS AND DURING THE SUMMER WHEN SCHOOL WAS NOT IN SESSION.- 95% OF INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING FOR 12 MONTHS WHILE IN PROGRAMING.SPOTLIGHT: THE HOUSING NAVIGATION PROGRAM, A COMMUNITY-BASED, SOLUTION-FOCUSED STRATEGY, ASSISTS CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPLEX AND FREQUENTLY CO-OCCURRING ISSUES TO ACCESS AND MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING. IN 2020, 48 ACTIVE HOUSING NAVIGATION PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SERVED BY PRESENTATION PARTNERS IN HOUSING WERE ABLE TO ATTAIN HOUSING, WITH 100% OF CLIENTS BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN STABLE HOUSING FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS. IN ADDITION, THESE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REDUCED THE USAGE OF COSTLY COMMUNITY SERVICES SUCH AS DETOX ADMISSIONS, AMBULANCE TRANSPORTS, JAIL TIME, EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND EMERGENCY SHELTER STAYS AFTER ATTAINING HOUSING. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM, THERE HAS BEEN A COMBINED COST SAVINGS ESTIMATED AT $1,576,212 FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. BOLD GOAL 2 - CHILDREN ENTER SCHOOL READY TO SUCCEED. - STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH SCHOOL AND UPON GRADUATION ARE READY FOR POST-SECONDARY OR WORKFORCE.WHY WE INVEST: NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RESEARCH POINTS TO THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI) FROM PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN. THE BENEFITS NOT ONLY IMPROVE KINDERGARTEN READINESS LEVELS BUT IMPROVE THIRD-GRADE READING LEVELS AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES AND DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE LIFETIME EARNING POTENTIAL FOR STUDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES. WE RECOGNIZE THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES MUST BE SUPPORTED AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH SCHOOL FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. THE ISSUE:- IN CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES, ONLY 37% OF CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 4 ARE ENROLLED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.- 63% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CASS COUNTY REPORTED THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT GOOD. THE ACTION: - INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN QUALITY PRE-K PROGRAMMING BY 14% OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS.- COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE TO MONITOR EMERGING NEEDS OF CHILDREN, STUDENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES AS OUR COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO COVID. THE RESULTS: - 94% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRE-K PROGRAMS AND QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE DEMONSTRATED AGE-APPROPRIATE SKILL PREPARING THEM SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND ACADEMICALLY FOR KINDERGARTEN.- 2,367 STUDENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATED IN OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSSPOTLIGHT: IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH CENTRAL CASS, KINDRED, NORTHERN CASS, AND WEST FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO INCREASE ACCESS AND REMOVE BARRIERS FOR STUDENTS. THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR, 186 STUDENTS RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON-SITE AT THEIR SCHOOLS. OF THOSE SEVERED:- 99% CONTINUED TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL- 83% DECREASED ABSENTEEISM OR MAINTAINED ATTENDANCE OF AT LEAST 90% OF SCHOOL DAYS- 77% REDUCED BEHAVIORAL REFERRALS IN SCHOOLBOLD GOAL 3- INCREASE ACCESS AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL RESOURCES.- INCREASE ACCESS AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.WHY WE INVEST: WE KNOW THAT WHAT MAKES US HEALTHY IS MORE THAN JUST CLINICAL CARE, GENES AND BIOLOGY. EIGHTY PERCENT OF WHAT MAKES AN INDIVIDUAL HEALTHY IS WHERE ONE LIVES, WORKS AND PLAYS. THERE IS AN INCREASED NEED FOR MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS NEED INTENSIFIES WHEN PAIRED WITH THE MANY BARRIERS FACED BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERSERVED.THE ISSUE: - LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS ARE NEARLY 2 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE DEPRESSION. - 1 IN 4 (26%) FAMILIES ARE HOUSING COST BURDENED (SPEND OVER 30% OF MONTHLY INCOME ON HOUSING COSTS, THIS JUMPS TO 41% OF ALL RENTERS ARE HOUSING COST BURDENED) THE ACTION: - CONTINUED TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF INDEPENDENT LIVING THROUGHOUT CASS AND CLAY COUNTIES. - CONTINUED TRAUMA INFORMED CARE AND COORDINATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE OR TRAUMA.THE RESULTS: - 890 INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF INDEPENDENT LIVING.- 4,420 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND SERVICES. SPOTLIGHT: ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES) ARE MORE COMMON THAN WE THINK. THE CDC REPORTS 61% OF ADULTS SURVEYED REPORTED HAVING EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE TYPE OF ACES, AND NEARLY 1 IN 6 REPORTED THEY HAD EXPERIENCED FOUR OR MORE TYPES OF ACES. WE KNOW ACES CAN HAVE LASTING, NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND OPPORTUNITY. WE USE A TARGETED APPROACH BY PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND TRAUMA IN ORDER TO HELP THEM HEAL AND TO BE INDEPENDENT. 94% OF CLIENTS SERVED TRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WERE ABLE TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH OR TRAUMA STRESS SYMPTOMS BECAUSE OF THESE SERVICES.BOLD GOAL 4- INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH LOW-INCOME ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND ELEVATE THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.- SUPPORT FAMILIES BY INCREASING ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE.WHY WE INVEST: THE TWO-GENERATION MODEL IS A WAY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO OBTAIN LIVING-WAGE EMPLOYMENT AND IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THE SUCCESS OF THE TWO-GENERATION MODEL BOTH IN OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS. RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND POVERTY ARE STRONGLY CORRELATED, AND THIS APPROACH GROWS THE WORKFORCE BY PROVIDING TRAINING, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO MEET THE SKILLS GAP.THE ISSUE:- 1 IN 7 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 LIVE IN POVERTY.- 1 IN 9 PEOPLE LIVE IN POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY - THERE ARE OVER 19,000 AVAILABLE JOBS IN AND AROUND THE FARGO INDUSTRIAL PARK- LIVING IN POVERTY (LIVING ON LESS THAN $26,200 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF 4) IS ONE OF THE SINGLE GREATEST THREATS TO A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT.

35 UNDER 35 LEADERSHIP PROGRAMUNITED WAY OF CASS-CLAY'S 35 UNDER 35 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE LOCAL WOMEN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HELP THEM REALIZE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ENERGIZE THEIR COLLECTIVE POWER AS WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE 2009, 420 LOCAL WOMEN HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS MEET MONTHLY TO FOCUS ON VARIOUS ISSUES PERTINENT TO YOUNG LEADERS. EACH SESSION IS LED AND PRESENTED BY LOCAL LEADERS AND INCLUDES TRAINING AND DISCUSSION AS WELL AS GOAL-SETTING, COMMUNICATION, PERSONAL GROWTH, BOARD LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC SPEAKING, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, AND SEVERAL ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP TOPICS.EMPLOYERS OF UNITED WAY 35 UNDER 35 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT GREATLY FROM THE EXPERIENCE. PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO: -CONNECT WITH A DIVERSE NETWORK OF DYNAMIC YOUNG WOMEN AND LOCAL LEADERS -EXPAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS -BECOME RE-ENERGIZED, MOTIVATED AND EQUIPPED TO SHARPEN THEIR SKILL SET -GAIN CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS TO LEAD IN CURRENT AND FUTURE POSITIONS AT THEIR COMPANIES/ORGANIZATIONSWOMEN UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAMTHE WOMEN UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAM IS A POWERFUL NETWORK OF WOMEN WHO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH AN INVESTMENT OF: -COMMUNITY SERVICE -FUNDRAISING -LEADERSHIPTHE UNITED WAY WOMEN UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAM IS COMPRISED OF SIXTEEN MEMBERS LIVING AND OR WORKING IN CASS-CLAY COUNTIES, TO CREATE A DIVERSE GROUP OF WOMEN WITH VARYING LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES, CAREERS AND BACKGROUNDS. THE WOMEN'S UNITED LEADERSHIP TEAM IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING UNITED WAY'S WORK ACROSS OUR BOLD GOALS, WITH ALL FUNDRAISING FROM WOMEN UNITED EVENTS BENEFITTING LOCAL FAMILIES AND CHILDREN LIVING IN CASS OR CLAY COUNTIES.EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAMEMERGING LEADERS IS A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-MINDED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO GIVE, CONNECT, BUILD SKILLS AND VOLUNTEER TO LEAD THE CHANGE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OVER 900 MEMBERS STRONG, EMERGING LEADERS HAVE ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS WHERE LOCAL PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND GROW AS LEADERS TO AFFECT CHANGE FOR DECADES TO COME.

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE2020 MARKED THE 22ND YEAR OF THE ANNUAL SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE, WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS IN NEED WITH A NEW BACKPACK FILLED WITH SUPPLIES SO THEY CAN START THE SCHOOL YEAR CONFIDENT, READY TO LEARN AND PREPARED TO SUCCEED. IN 2020, 6,040 LOCAL STUDENTS WERE EQUIPPED WITH A BACKPACK AND SET OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES DURING A TOUGHER THAN NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT ACROSS CASS & CLAY COUNTIES RECEIVED BACKPACKS AND MORE THAN 700 VOLUNTEERS HELPED IN COLLECTING SUPPLIES, PREPARING BACKPACKS, AND DISTRIBUTING THEM TO STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.HOME FOR GOODEVERY DAY, UNITED WAY HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES STOP THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS YEAR WE INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO HELP WELCOME FAMILIES HOME - FOR GOOD.THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY DONATIONS, 120 HOME FOR GOOD BASKETS WERE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WERE ONCE HOMELESS, BUT WITH THE HELP OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN STABLE HOUSING.AS PEOPLE TRANSITION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, THEY ARE OFTEN STARTING OVER, AND MANY ARE MOVING INTO THEIR NEW HOME WITH LITTLE TO NO PERSONAL OR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. UNITED WAY HOME FOR GOOD BASKETS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BASIC HOUSEHOLD NECESSITIES AND THE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES NEEDED TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL.IMAGINATION LIBRARY UNITED WAY HAS ENJOYED SUPPORTING DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY FOR OVER 15 YEARS. STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2020 UNITED WAY IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW REGISTRATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM BUT WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR AND MAINTAIN ALL PRIOR REGISTRATIONS. THOSE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVE A FREE BOOK IN THE MAIL EACH MONTH TO HELP SPARK A LOVE FOR READING. IN 2020, 79,385 BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO APPROXIMATELY 6,615 LOCAL CHILDREN MONTHLY. ADDITIONALLY, UNITED WAY IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: -SINCE 2014, UNITED WAY HAS INVESTED $10,000 ANNUALLY TO TWO VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAMS. IT'S MORE THAN PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES ABOUT FINANCIAL STABILITY; IT'S GIVING THEM SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND CREATING CONNECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN 2020, 968 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED SERVICES AND HAD TAX RETURNS COMPLETED BY 41 VOLUNTEERS. OVERALL, FEDERAL AND STATE REFUNDS TOTALED $2,078,625.