Strong Families Focus Area
Purpose:
The Strong Families focus area envisions a community where all children are nurtured by informed parents/caregivers and have access to services which prepare them for success in school and life. Youth have the resources and opportunities to achieve their full potential – to become prepared for a productive adulthood to make a contribution to their community. We envision a community where families are strong and healthy. United Way supports programs for low-income and at-risk youth and families.
Youth Services
Objective: To promote quality, affordable programs that will address the core competencies of youth development and are in line with the Search Institute’s 40 developmental assets (see www.search-institute.org/assets).
Program Impact:
I. Provide programming that will result in one or more of the following:
- Increase academic achievement
- Develop positive character traits
- Prevent or reduce teenage pregnancies
- Decrease youth violence
- Decrease alcohol and drug use
- Foster academic and professional achievement
II. Provide programming that will help youth develop comprehensive life skills:
- Money management
- Wellness programs
- Career exploration and job readiness
Family Services/Early-Childhood
Objective: To promote the development of healthy, resilient families and young children by providing access to quality parent education/family support services; early childhood development workshops and mentoring services. Programming should be predominantly preventative in nature to help foster a stable home environment.
Program Impact:
I. Provide programming to families that will:
- Improve parenting skills and knowledge
- Improve problem resolution and coping skills
- Provide families with resources to help them become stabilized
- Provide quality, educationally based child care
II. Provide early childhood workshops and programs that will:
- Help young children develop socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically
- Advocate for children to help to provide safe and/or stable home environments
**Special Consideration will be given to program applications that address the racial/ethnic graduation gap, reduction of truancy (especially in the primary grade levels) and mentoring programs that provide support and guidance to parents, as well as, youth.**