March 2013 Report to the Board
IMPACT
- Coordinated Assessment through United Way 2-1-1 launched on February 25. Coordinated Assessment means United Way 2-1-1 staff is working with individuals and families to explore options for housing outside of emergency shelter. They are also doing intake to participating emergency shelters: La Posada, Family House, Beach House, and St. Paul’s.
- Within the first week, three households benefited from homeless diversion services allowing them to stay in a long-term housing solution. Additionally, eight shelter intakes were completed and 13 households were provided mainstream resources through St. Paul’s Winter Crisis, Cherry St. Mission, and Toledo Gospel.
- Prior to Coordinated Assessment’s launch on February 25, staff were conducting homeless prevention and re-housing screenings.
- 29 Homeless Prevention Assessments
22 Households were provided with mainstream resources
3 Households benefited from long-term housing solutions outside of shelters
4 Households were referred and enrolled in housing programs
- 19 Re-Housing Assessments
11 Households were referred and enrolled into short-term rapid re-housing programs
1 Household was referred and enrolled into a medium-term rapid re-housing program
7 Households were provided with mainstream resources
- In response to learning about the “Bullyproofing Your Classroom” workshops we hosted in January, Toledo/Lucas County CareNet has invited Social Emotional Learning to be a member of the Preventing Bullying Creating Safety Coalition.
- As of March 9, the Free Tax Preparation Program prepared 1,853 taxes, brought in more than $2.6 million to the community through federal returns, and more than $1.1 million through Earned Income Tax Credits. Also, 66 people utilized www.myfreetaxes.com/unitedway211 to do their taxes.
- Our Health work was recognized by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as a Health Prize finalist. While we didn’t win, we were selected as one of 11 communities nationally doing great health work.
ENGAGEMENT
- Tocqueville Tuesdays luncheons continue the second Tuesday of every month at The Toledo Club.
- The February program was Bridges Over Poverty. As explained by Marian Brannon from the Lucas County Family Council, “There is a huge amount of pressure on someone in poverty, and it takes a long time for a family to move from generational poverty to financial stability.”
- The March program presented United Way’s AmeriCorps Graduation Coach program, in partnership with Toledo Public Schools. The program is centered on reducing absenteeism, leading to a higher graduation rate. The new AmeriCorps Program Manager James Jones provided an overview of accomplishments and program direction. Graduation Coaches led table discussions about their experiences.
- Now that the annual campaign has concluded, the resource development staff is meeting with leadership donors to personally thank them for their United Way support and discuss their passions around philanthropy.
- Chip Carstensen, United Way’s 2012 campaign chair and president of Block Communications, Inc. held his first campaign cabinet meeting. Chip recruited more than 40 community leaders to help with the upcoming year’s campaign.
- Women’s Initiative of United Way hosted two trainings for WordShop during January and February, and began story-writing field trips at its third location, the Toledo Museum of Art.
- Women’s Initiative hosted a Financial Empowerment Workshop in February, providing women with the opportunity to network and learn about investing, tax laws, estate planning, and more.
- After review by United Way’s Public Policy Advisory Council, United Way of Greater Toledo has lent its name in support of Medicaid expansion proposed by Governor Kasich. We are actively participating in the Northwest Ohio Medicaid Expansion Coalition.
- United Way of Greater Toledo has signed on to letters supporting the preservation of the Serve America Act and passing a Healthier Farm Bill (with emphasis on strengthening Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Online action alerts, found at www.unitedwaytoledo.org/advocate, currently encourage individuals to urge Congress to prioritize education, income, and health programs in final appropriations, preserve the Serve America Act, and pass a Healthier Farm Bill.
- United Way Volunteer Center is working with Owens Illinois, Inc. to re-focus their overall corporate volunteerism efforts for their 400-employee volunteer base. The focus will be on collaborating with partner organizations that impact the neighborhoods surrounding the Scott Community Hub and East Toledo Family Center.
- The Northwest Ohio Corporate Volunteer Council had a general membership meeting on February 26 and toured the East Toledo Family Center to better understand the services and needs in that neighborhood.
Previous updates:
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
August 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
October - November 2010
August - September 2010
June - July 2010
May 2010
April 2010