United Way Of Denton County Inc

THE MISSION OF UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY, INC. (UWDC) IS TO IMPROVE AND TRANSFORM LIVES IN DENTON COUNTY.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT (PARTNER AGENCY GRANTS, AGENCY RELATIONS):FIFTEEN AGENCIES SERVING DENTON COUNTY WERE PROVIDED WITH FUNDS TO MAINTAIN A "SAFETY NET" OF SERVICES FOR THOSE RESIDENTS MOST IN NEED. ALL AGENCIES THAT RECEIVED FUNDS PROVIDED SERVICES THAT FALL UNDER AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOCUS AREAS:CHILDREN & FAMILIESVETERANSHOMELESS/HOUSINGHEALTH/MENTAL HEALTHFUNDING DECISIONS ARE BASED ON RECOGNIZED EXISTING AND EMERGING NEEDS IN DENTON COUNTY. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS REVIEWED THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATED PARTNER AGENCY PROGRAMMING, OUTCOMES AND FINANCIALS TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF FUNDS.FUNDING FOR THIS PROCESS COMES FROM UWDC'S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN WHICH IS CONDUCTED WITH THE HELP OF HUNDREDS OF LOCAL COMPANIES AND VOLUNTEERS. THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES WORKPLACE AND INDIVIDUAL SOLICITATION AND CORPORATE DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS. UWDC ALSO PROVIDES DONORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGNATE THEIR DONATIONS TO LOCAL AGENCIES. LOCAL AGENCIES MUST ANNUALLY VERIFY THEY ARE AN AGENCY IN GOOD STANDING AS AN IRS CODE SECTION 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.DURING 2021-2022 FUNDING YEAR, UWDC DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF $383,900 TO 15 PARTNER AGENCIES. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, UWDC PARTNER AGENCIES WERE ABLE TO SERVE MORE THAN 85,000 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN DENTON COUNTY.IN ADDITION TO FUNDED PARTNER AGENCIES, UWDC HAS DEVELOPED AN EXTENDED NETWORK OF NONPROFIT PARTNERS, SOME OF WHICH MAY RECEIVE FUNDING, ALL OF WHICH WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH UWDC TO WORK ACROSS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY TO TACKLE COMPLEX SOCIO-ECONOMICAL CHALLENGES. UWDC ALSO PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO MANY LOCAL AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE DENTON COUNTY IN ORDER TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE OF OUR DENTON COUNTY NONPROFIT SECTOR.IN 2021, UWDC CONTINUED MOBILIZING COVID-19 STIMULUS FUNDING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DENTON COUNTY, TO SUPPORT COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY NONPROFIT GRANTS, EVICTION PREVENTION DIRECT CLIENT ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC. OUR COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH NONPROFITS ACROSS DENTON COUNTY PREVENTED AN INCREASE IN HOLELESSNESS ACROSS DENTON COUNTY DURING COVID-19 AND ENABLED OUR DENTON COUNTY NONPROFIT SECTOR TO RAPIDLY RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC CRISIS.

COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING (DC HOMELESSNESS LEADERSHIP TEAM, FINANCIAL COACHING, VITA, DC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM, DC WORKFORCE SUCCESS LEADERSHIP TEAM):UWDC HAS DEVELOPED A STRONG NETWORK OF PARTNESHIPS & COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THIS WORK IS DRIVEN BY THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPALS:-MUST ALIGN TO CRITICAL UNMET NEEDS MAINLY: CHILDREN & FAMILIES, VETERANS, HOMELESS/HOUSING, HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH-MUST ALIGN WITH OUR UWDC MISSION-MUST PRODUCE MEASURABLE RESULTS THAT INDICATE THE LEVEL OF EFFICACYUWDC'S CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE UNIVERSITIES, NONPROFITS, LOCAL GOVTS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE UTILIZATION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS & OTHER GOVERNANCE LEADERS WHO CAN INFLUENCE POLICY ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS AND BREAK DOWN BARRIERS.FINANCIAL INITIATIVES:VITAVOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE: IRS-CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS HELP LOW & MODERATELY-LOW INCOME TAXPAYERS E-FILE THEIR FEDERAL TAX REURNS FOR FREE IN AN ACCURATE AND TIMELY MANNER. IN DENTON COUNTY, UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY HAS OPERATED VITA SITES SINCE 2008 TO THE PRESENT DAY. DURING THE 2022 TAX SEASON, ENDING APRIL 2022, VITA VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES IN PERSON AT FIVE SITES ACROSS DENTON COUNTY. VOLUNTEERS FILED 778 TAX RETURNS, RETURNING $1.27 MILLION TO PEOPLE IN DENTON COUNTY, AND SAVING OUR COMMUNITY AN ESTIMATED $210,000 IN TAX PREPARATION FEES.FINANCIAL COACHING: IS A CLIENT-DRIVEN PROCESS THROUGH WHICH COACHES ASSIST CLIENTS IN REACHING PERSONALIZED GOALS TO IMPROVE THIER FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES. THE PROGRAM PLANS TO EXPAND SERVICES AND INCREASE ACTIVIITES IN SOUTHERN DENTON COUNTY. UWDC'S LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO MERGE FINANCIAL COACHING WITH CAREER PLANNING TO INCREASE MOBILITY TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY. MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE:DENTON COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM (DCBHLT)DCBHLT CONVENED AS A POLICY MAKING TEAM TO IMPROVE THE PLANNING, COORDINATION, OVERSIGHT, AND IMPLEMENTATION REQUIRED TO CREATE SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DENTON COUNTY. THE TEAM IS COMPRISED OF DENTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, NON-PROFITS, HOUSING, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.DCBHLT FUNCTIONS AS A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL TEAM WITH GUIDING CHARTER AND BYLAWS UNDER THE BACKBONE OF UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY INC. (UWDC) COLLECTIVE IMPACT MODEL.DCBHLT VISSION: COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FOR EVERY PERSON IN DENTON COUNTY.2021-2022 ACHIEVEMENTS:1. GATHERED DATE AND PRESENTED A REQUEST FOR FUNDING TO THE DENTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO PILOT A MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATOR PROGRAM. 2. FORMED A SUBSTANCE USE WORKGROUP THAT HAS DRAFTED A PROCESS MAP TO GET PEOPLE FROM INITIAL REQUEST FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT TO A TREATMENT RESOURCE IN 5 CALLS OR LESS. 3. FORMED A SUICIDE PREVENTION WORKGROUP TO TRACK SUICIDE NUMBERS IN DENTON COUNTY AND PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY ON SUICIDE PREVENTION. 4. FORMED A DATA WORKGROUP TO TRACK MENTAL HEALTH NUMBERS IN DENTON COUNTY TO ULTIMATELY IDENTIFY GAPS IN TREATMENT AND DEVELOP FUTURE PROGRAMMING TO FILL THOSE GAPS.HOMELESSNESS:DENTON COUNTY HOMELESSNESS LEADERSHIP TEAMTHE DENTON COUNTY HOMELESSNESS LEADERSHIP TEAM (DCHLT) IS TO CONVENE AS A POLICY MAKING TEAM TO IMPROVE THE PLANNING, COORDINATION, OVERSIGHT, AND IMPLEMENTATION REQUIRED TO CREATE A SYSTEMS CHANGE, FOR HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SERVICES IN DENTON COUNTY. THE DCHLT IS COMPRISED OF: DENTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, NON-PROFITS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AGENCIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. DCHLT FUNCTIONS AS A QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL TEAM WITH GUIDING CHARTER AND BYLAWS UNDER THE BACKBONE OF UWDC'S COLLECTIVE IMPACT MODEL.DCHLT VISION: EVERY PERSON IN DENTON COUNTY HAS A PLACE TO CALL HOME THAT IS SAFE, AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE & SUPPORTED BY COMMUITY RESOURCES.IN THE 21-22 FISCAL YEAR THE DCHLT WITH UWDC BACKBONE SUPPORT ACHIEVD THE FOLLOWING: 1. CREATED COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT RECOGNIZED OUR SYSTEM AND PROVIDERS FOR THEIR WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL OF ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS AND MEMORIALIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAD PASSED AWAY WHILE ACCESSING HOMELESSNESS RESOURCES. 2. RESEARCHED AND WROTE ONE GRANT RENEWAL FOR UWDC AS WELL AS FOUR NEW GRANTS TO OPERATIONALIZE FOR THE DENTON COUNTY HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM. 3. REORGANIZED EXISTING WORKGROUPS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP TEAM IN ORDER TO REFOCUS FROM CRISIS RESPONSE TO OUR NEW NORMAL POST-PANDEMIC. 4. GATHERED DATA & BUILT UPON THE CURRENT HOMELESSNESS DATA DASHBOARD & FUTURE RACIAL EQUITY DATA SETS FOR OUR HOUSING CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY TO UTILIZE. EDUCATION & WORKFORCE INITIATIVESDENTON COUNTY WORKFORCE SUCCESS LEADERSHIP TEAM(DCWSLT)IN THE 21-22 FISCAL YEAR THE DCWSLT ACHIEVED A SUCCESSFUL YEAR 2 RENEWAL OF THE FAMILY CHILD CARE NETWORK FUNDING, WHICH KICKSTARTS AND SUPPORTS IN-HOME CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WITH CURRICULUM, BUSINESS COACHING, AND FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION. DCWSCLT ACHIEVED FUNDING TO BRING BE STRONG FAMILIES, PARENT CAFES TO DENTON COUNTY. THIS INITIATIVE CREATES A PARENT SUPPORT NETWORK WHILE ALSO FOLLOWING A CURRICULUM THAT AIMS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE IN HOMES.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION (COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT, BOARD LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE):COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT:OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS A TOOL TO HELP PINPOINT UNMET NEEDS & GAPS IN SERVICES FOR THE SHORT TERM IN DENTON COUNTY DUE IN PART TO THE CONSTANTLY CHANGING NATURE OF THE LOCAL AREA. POPULATION GROWTH, CHANGES IN AREA DEMOGRAPHICS & THE LOCAL ECONOMY INFLUENCE & OFTEN STRESS THE PUBLIC & NONPROFIT HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES.THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL INFORMATION TO DEVELOPE A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BASED ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRENDS & LONG-STANDING HEALTH, HOUSING, & HUMAN SERVICE ISSUES.ALL INVESTMENT AND PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITY OF UWDC HAS BEEN IN RESPONSE TO KEY FINDINGS IN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.BOARD LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE:UWDC'S BOARD LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO BECOME QUALIFIED, QUALITY BOARD MEMBERS OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN DENTON COUNTY. THE TRAINING CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF MEETINGS WHERE THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE TAUGHT:PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, BOARD OPERATIONS & GOVERNANCE, BOARD DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIC PLANNING, OUTCOME ASSESSMENT, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, ADVOCACY, AND FINANCE.EACH MODULE TAUGHT IS PRESENTED BY AN EXPERT IN THAT FIELD, WITH ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND GROUP EXERCISES. IN 2021 UWDC GRADUATED 15 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS FROM THIS PROGRAM.