United Way Of Central Alabama Inc

UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE ORGANIZED CAPACITY OF PEOPLE TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY. WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN BLOUNT, CHILTON, JEFFERSON, SHELBY, ST. CLAIR AND WALKER COUNTIES TO CREATE COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT STRENGTHEN QUALITY OF LIFE. WE FIGHT FOR THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS HELP US IMPACT THE LIVES OF THOSE IN NEED EVERY DAY. BECAUSE CHANGE DOESN'T HAPPEN ALONE. TO LIVE BETTER WE MUST LIVE UNITED.

HEALTH - UWCA AND ITS PARTNERS TARGET EMERGING HEALTH ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY, SUCH AS IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH (49,286 INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND 23,964 AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH UW PARTNER AGENCIES), ENDING HUNGER (6,778,128 MEALS SERVED THIS YEAR FOR HUNGER RELIEF), ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY, PROVIDING ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY HIV (5,687 CLIENTS ASSISTED), OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR SERVICES (672,946 SENIOR MEALS SERVED), IMPROVING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT TO BE MORE CONDUCIVE FOR HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND PROVIDING PANDEMIC RESPONSE SERVICES. UWCA'S COVID RESPONSE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN LATE 2021 SERVED 50 CLIENTS WITH SERVICES RELATED TO ISOLATION AND ACCESS TO FOOD.

ACCESS TO SERVICES - UWCA TAKES A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BUILDING A STATEWIDE INFORMATION NETWORK ENTITLED 2-1-1 CONNECTING ALABAMA, AN INNOVATIVE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL STRATEGY ENSURING ALL ALABAMIANS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, 2-1-1 RESPONDED TO 49,759 CALLS UTILIZING A CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED DATABASE TO ASSIST CALLERS. 2-1-1 PROVIDES REFERRALS FOR ALL BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CHILD CARE. IN ADDITION, 2-1-1 COLLABORATES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TIME-SENSITIVE INFORMATION ON ISSUES SUCH AS DISASTER RELIEF, INCOME TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE, MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, FORECLOSURE PREVENTION, DISEASE OUTBREAKS AND MORE. UWCA'S 2-1-1 CALL CENTER IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CALL CENTER IN THE STATE TO BE ACCREDITED BY THE ALLIANCE OF INFORMATION & REFERRAL SYSTEMS (AIRS). IN 2021, UWCA ASSISTED 98 FAMILIES WHOSE HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED THROUGH THREE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.

EDUCATION - FROM QUALITY CHILDCARE TO DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAMS, UWCA USES ITS COLLECTIVE RESOURCES TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS ALONG THE ENTIRE EDUCATION CONTINUUM. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING TUTORING, AFTER SCHOOL AND MENTORING PROGRAMS, UWCA'S SUCCESS BY SIX INITIATIVE IMPROVES SCHOOL READINESS BY ENGAGING PRE-K EDUCATORS AND PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM, STATE-OF-THE ART CLASSROOM MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT AND EVALUATION. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM SERVED 1,878 STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, OUR HELP ME GROW CENTRAL ALABAMA PROGRAM SERVED 118 FAMILIES (WITH 207 CHILDREN) AND CONNECTED FAMILIES WITH COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESOURCES SO CHILDREN CAN START SCHOOL HEALTHY AND READY TO SUCCEED.