Community Resources

Give.
Advocate.
Volunteer.

Issue: Children not in early childhood education programs often find themselves two years behind their peers.      

Solution: Born Learning - A public campaign that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments, like sorting socks at the Laundromat or identifying shapes at the supermarket, into quality learning opportunities.

Issue: 75% of all children in the US can't read and understand what they've read by the end of third grade.  In Massachusetts, 43% of third graders tested below proficiency levels. 

Solution: Imagination Library - Provide a book a month, from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, for children 0-5 yrs so parents and caregivers can build a library of age-appropriate books.  Hearing their voices, listening to the rhyme and rhythm of the words, develops the pathways of learning for life.

Issue: For the first time in American history, our children's life expectancy may be shorter than their parents.  In Massachusetts, 1/3 of middle and high school students are overweight or obese, while 1 out of 7 children under the age of 5 are overweight or obese. 

Solution: Kaboom Playgrounds - Age appropriate, safe and secure, open playgrounds for families to gather and kids to run, swing, jump and use their imagination.  

Issue: Only 70% of high school students graduate on time with a regular diploma.  1.2 million students drop out annually.  3.8 million youth ages 18-24 are neither employed nor in school.
 
Solution: Youth Venture  - Our United Way believes that youth that are involved in the community at a young age will continue to be involved as adults. The Youth Venture program inspires and invests in teams of youth between the ages of 12-20 to start social projects that create positive, lasting changes in their communities.
 
In our first year we successfully launched five teams and we our trying to double our initiatives in 2010.
 
Some examples of Venture Teams include:
  • Purchase recess equipment to increase participation at recess and get students more active for a healthier lifestyle.
  • Recycle non paper
  • Goods grow a community garden to sell produce to the community for an affordable rate.
  • Host community weekends throughout the year to bring together the entire community.
  • Plan luncheons at local Senior Centers to allow seniors to interact with youth in the community.
  • Start a café to provide healthy food at an afterschool youth organization 
The youth involved in our United Way Youth Venture program have learned the importance of volunteerism, feel confident in being leaders, and have developed entrepreneurial skills.
 

Strengthening Youth in a United Way: Teen Pregnancy Prevention

The Community Resources division of the United Way of Tri-County is working towards preventing adolescent pregnancy and promoting quality services for pregnant and parenting teens and their children.  We assist our agency partners in the creation of prevention programming and support current efforts that ensure successful parenting and reduce repeat pregnancies in teen parents.

Issue: As of November 2009, there were 2000 homeless families in shelters and an additional 1050 in motels.  The cost of a family in shelter in Massachusetts is $3000/month.

Solution: Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness- The ICHH is leading a 5-year strategic plan to end homelessness in the Commonwealth by 2013, a major initiative of the Patrick-Murray Administration.

United Way of Tri-County Volunteer Center