United Way For Greater Austin

UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN BRINGS PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND RESOURCES TOGETHER TO FIGHT POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

EDUCATIONSUCCESS IN LIFE BEGINS WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION. THAT'S WHY UNITED WAY ENSURES CHILDREN GET A STRONG START IN LIFE AND ARE READY TO SUCCEED IN KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND. 90 PERCENT OF ALL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OCCURS IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE. WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE EARLY YEARS HAS A LASTING IMPACT FROM KINDERGARTEN READINESS TO THIRD-GRADE READING SCORES TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND BEYOND.UNITED WAY LEADS THE SUCCESS BY 6 COALITION, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL NONPROFITS, POLICYMAKERS, PHILANTHROPISTS, PARENTS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY. THE COMMUNITY COALITION WAS LAUNCHED IN 2012. SINCE THEN, THE SUCCESS BY 6 COALITION HAS GROWN, STRENGTHENED, AND CONTINUES TO BUILD UPON ITS ACHIEVEMENTS. PROGRESS TOWARD THE IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY GOALS, STRATEGIES, AND PERFORMANCE TARGETS IN THE SUCCESS BY 6 STRATEGIC PLAN ARE MONITORED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND WE PUBLISH DATA TO SHARE BRIGHT SPOTS AND IDENTIFY ONGOING CHALLENGES.COMMUNITY SUCCESSES IN THE PAST YEAR INCLUDE: INCREASES IN CITY AND COUNTY FUNDING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION; INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY; EXPANSION OF FAMILY CONNECTS, A FREE NURSE HOME VISITING PROGRAM; NEW PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS IN HOME VISITING AND PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN CENTRAL TEXAS; ADVANCES IN THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL WORKING GROUP AT THE CITY; LAUNCH OF THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE TOOLKIT.UNITED WAY RUNS SEVERAL PROGRAMS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS IN THE SUCCESS BY UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN STRATEGIC PLAN. A FEW INCLUDE:- OUR PRE-K PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM WITH AUSTIN ISD EXPANDS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PRE-K. BY PARTNERING WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN AUSTIN, WE INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF PRE-K AND PROVIDE CENTERS WITH RESOURCES THAT HELP IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN QUALITY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM IMPACTS MORE THAN 500 FAMILIES ANNUALLY.- OUR CLASS COACHING PROGRAM MAKES THE MOST OUT OF CLASSROOM INTERACTIONS. THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COACHING TO TEACHERS IN MORE THAN 40 PRE-K CLASSROOMS ACROSS FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION, USING THE CLASS COACHING MODEL TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TEACHER-STUDENT INTERACTIONS.- FAMILY CONNECTS TEXAS IS A NURSE HOME VISITING PROGRAM OFFERED TO EVERY FAMILY WITH A NEWBORN IN TRAVIS COUNTY TO GIVE BABIES THE BEST POSSIBLE START IN LIFE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH A VISIT FROM A REGISTERED NURSE, WHO PROVIDES A COMPLETE FAMILY ASSESSMENT IN THE HOME, GIVES IMMEDIATE MATERNAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT IN AREAS SUCH AS BREASTFEEDING OR SAFE SLEEP, AND IS ABLE TO PROVIDE REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THIS PROGRAM IMPACTS MORE THAN 800 FAMILIES ANNUALLY.- BRIGHT BY TEXT IS A FREE TEXTING SERVICE FOR CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AGES PRENATAL-8, PROMOTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESS TO LOCAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. THIS PROGRAM IMPACTS MORE THAN 4,000 CAREGIVERS ANNUALLY.ALL OF OUR EDUCATION EFFORTS ARE BACKED UP WITH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANTS (CIGS) TO AMPLIFY OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT. FUNDED PROGRAMS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE SUCCESS BY 6 STRATEGIC PLAN AND RANGE FROM EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING, PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, BOOK DISTRIBUTIONS, AND MORE. MORE THAN 10,000 FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED BY THIS GRANT FUNDING ANNUALLY.

NAVIGATION CENTERHERE AT UNITED WAY, WE KNOW THAT ANYONE CAN FALL ON HARD TIMES. THAT'S WHY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, WE RUN 2-1-1, A PHONE NUMBER PEOPLE CAN CALL TO SPEAK TO A COMPASSIONATE, CERTIFIED SPECIALIST WHO WILL CONNECT THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THIS "CALL FOR HELP" LINE IS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, MULTILINGUAL, AND AVAILABLE 24/7. 2-1-1 IS FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP AND DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN. CALL SPECIALISTS HELP CALLERS IDENTIFY THEIR NEEDS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH, CHILD CARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT RESOURCES, AND MORE. AND WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, OUR 2-1-1 CALL SPECIALISTS ARE THERE, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE HELP.IN 2020, 2-1-1 RESPONDED TO 124,504 CALLS FOR HELP. IN ADDITION, OUR NAVIGATION CENTER PROVIDES THESE COMMUNITY RESOURCES:- BLUEBONNET TRAILS: PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM INFORMATION AND REFERRALS;- ACA ENROLLMENT: PROVIDES PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL RESOURCES AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE;- RIDE UNITED: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LYFT AND UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE, PROVIDES FREE RIDES FOR THOSE WITH TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS;- 2020 CENSUS: PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THE CENSUS INCLUDING ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS AND HOW DATA WILL BE USED, COMPLETION ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE. AS THE REGIONAL COORDINATING ORGANIZATION FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS 2020 CENSUS GET-OUT-THE-COUNT EFFORTS, UNITED WAY COLLABORATED WITH COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEES, GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, FUNDERS, AND OTHER RELEVANT ENTITES IN FIVE CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES (BASTROP, CALDWELL, HAYS, TRAVIS, AND WILLIAMSON) TO ENSURE AS COMPLETE A COUNT AS POSSIBLE. UNITED WAY ADMINISTERED ALMOST $500K IN GRANT FUNDING, PROVIDED TECHNICAL SUPPORT, SHARED BEST PRACTICES, AND MAXIMIZED THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT TO ENSURE THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN OUR REGION WERE COUNTED.IN AN EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, UNITED WAY PARTNERED WITH AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO CREATE ALL TOGETHER ATX IN MARCH 2020. THE ALL TOGETHER ATX FUND WAS DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT THE WORK OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND EXPAND LOCAL CAPACITY TO ADDRESS ALL ASPECTS OF THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC WERE SUPPORTED AND FUNDED, EQUITY WAS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE IN THE ALL TOGETHER ATX GRANTMAKING PROCESS. LIVED EXPERIENCE AS A PERSON OF COLOR SERVED AS A CRITICAL INPUT, BOTH AMONG THE COMMUNITY REVIEWERS AND IN THE LEADERSHIP OF NONPROFIT APPLICANTS. FROM MARCH TO DECEMBER 2020, THE FUND RAISED AND AWARDED APPROXIMATELY $7.7 MILLION FROM 3,149 DONORS TO MORE THAN 210 LOCAL NONPROFITS.

FINANCIAL STABILITYFAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE FACING FINANCIAL OBSTACLES THAT PREVENT THEM FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. UNITED WAY FIGHTS TO ENSURE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO BUILD A STRONG FINANCIAL FOUNDATION AND THRIVE. WE WORK TO PUT EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY ON A PATH TOWARD FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT. THAT STARTS WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES, JOB TRAINING, CREDIT COUNSELING, AND MORE. ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE PROMOTING FINANCIAL STABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY IS THROUGH A 2-GEN (OR 2-GENERATION) APPROACH TO SOCIAL SERVICES. A 2-GEN APPROACH SERVES PARENTS AND CHILDREN SIMULTANEOUSLY AND LEADS TO BETTER FINANCIAL OUTCOMES FOR BOTH GENERATIONS.OVER THE COURSE OF 2018, UNITED WAY BROUGHT TOGETHER NEARLY 200 UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN STAKEHOLDERS IN GREATER AUSTIN TO DEVELOP THE AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY 2-GEN STRATEGIC PLAN, WITH A GOAL OF INTEGRATING THE 2-GEN APPROACH WITHIN OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THIS PLAN, THE FIRST COMMUNITY-WIDE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2-GEN IN THE NATION, ARTICULATES COMMON GOALS AND STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND 2-GEN SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR AUSTIN-AREA FAMILIES.ALL OF OUR 2-GEN EFFORTS ARE BACKED UP WITH COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANTS (CIGS) TO AMPLIFY OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT. FUNDED PROGRAMS PROVIDE A RANGE OF SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN SIMULTANEOUSLY AND INCLUDE ESL OR WORKFORCE TRAINING, COLLEGE CLASSES, AND HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY. MORE THAN 460 FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED BY THIS GRANT FUNDING ANNUALLY.IN THE FALL OF 2019, UNITED WAY LAUNCHED THE FAMILY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. THIS COUNCIL WAS FORMED TO:- ELEVATE AND VALUE THE EXPERTISE OF PARENTS/CAREGIVERS WITH YOUNGCHILDREN, TO INFORM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNITED WAY'S STRATEGIC WORK;- EXPAND ACCESS TO TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR PARENT LEADERS PASSIONATE ABOUT INFLUENCING SYSTEMS AND WHO WANT TO DEVELOP THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP SKILLS; AND- FOSTER A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH THAT BETTER REFLECTS ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITIES UNITED WAY SERVES.

OTHER AMOUNTS DESIGNATED BY CONTRIBUTORS FOR SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS.