what is community impact?. 2 what is community impact? why united way needs a new approach to...

What Is Community Impact?

2What is Community Impact?

Why United Way needs a new approach to improving lives

The elements of “community impact”

Changing community conditions to improve lives

Final thoughts

Topics





Final thoughts

Topics


To improve lives by mobilizing

the caring power of communities

Mission of the United Way System


United Way’s Traditional Approach to Improving Lives

Mobilizing communities

DIRECT IMPACT

financial resources of businesses and

employees

of program clients

to

support services for individuals and families

that

improve lives


Many Problems in Our Communities are Getting Worse

Source: United Way State of Caring Index, 2004

Rent affordability

Children with a single parent

Low-birthweight babies

Hard drug use in high school

Cigarette use by adults

Trust in others

Community giving

Voter turnout


Many Factors Contribute to Pressing Community Issues

Community Issue

Personal choices

Family characteristics

System relationships

Educational system practices

Health care system practices

Media messages

Historical trends

Economic conditions

Public attitudes

Public sector practices

Private sector practices

Neighborhood conditions


Most Direct-service Programs Address Only One or Two Factors

Community Issue

Personal choices



Addressing Those Pressing Issues Requires New Approaches and Additional Partners

Economic conditions

Public attitudes

Historical trends

Media messages

Public sector practices

Private sector practices

Neighborhood conditions

System relationships


Personal choices

Health care system practices

Educational system practices

Community Issue


New Model for Improving Lives

Uses Two Approaches

to


that

DIRECT IMPACT

COMMUNITY IMPACTpeople, time, talent,

relationships, expertise, technology, money, etc.

financial resources of businesses and

employees

of program clients

of community populations

support services for individuals and families

create lasting changes in community conditions

improve lives





Final thoughts

Topics


Community Impact is . . .


to


that

improve lives


For example:

• Meeting with neighborhood residents to identify their concerns and assets

• Working with advocates for homeless families on setting priorities for action

• Partnering with residents and experts to pinpoint root causes of and promising responses to family violence

• Convening strategic partners to develop a plan to provide transportation for disabled persons

• Collaborating with opinion leaders to raise awareness of isolated seniors

• Engaging the 2-1-1 service to enlist interested people and organizations in advocating for quality child care

• Linking investors concerned about health care access with efforts to address the issue


. . . to identify pressing community issues, agree on priorities, create partnerships, develop change strategies, activate needed resources


For example:

• Four neighborhood banks change lending practices to increase the supply of quality affordable housing

• Eleven businesses provide regular and varied internship and apprenticeship opportunities for youth

• Junior League, Kiwanis, and other civic groups provide volunteers and other resources to early literacy efforts

• Neighborhood associations in three high-crime areas influence the city council to provide funds for improved street lighting

• State and city governments enact new policies and allocate added funds for quality early childhood education

• Public attitudes toward child abuse become less tolerant


to



For example:

• Low-income children in pilot school districts reach targeted developmental benchmarks

• Families of workers without health insurance have preventive health care

• High school juniors and seniors demonstrate commitment to community involvement

• Homeless families are in quality transitional housing

• Workers laid off in company closings develop needed technical and educational skills

• Residents of high-crime neighborhoods experience increased safety

• Home-bound seniors in central-city high-rises have nutritional, social, and medical support

to

Mobilizing

communities


that

improve lives


Community impact is . . .


to


that

improve lives


United Way of Chittenden County, Burlington, VTThe Burlington Truancy Project

Mobilizing the caring power of the community...

A Truancy Task Force – non-profit service providers, school district, police department, school administrators, juvenile court judges, attorneys, child protection agencies, and the United Way – convened to address the school district’s high dropout rates.

United Way provided financial and other resources and leveraged funds from community stakeholders to support community dropout-reduction strategies.

Task Force partners developed a coordinated response to truancy.


… to create lasting changes in community conditions ...

The Burlington School District instituted new truancy policies and procedures. It now tracks student absences closely and follows up with every student who drops out to offer alternative educational opportunities.

The Juvenile Court, cooperating with the State’s Attorney, now reserves monthly court time to hear truancy cases.

Vermont state agencies, such as the Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services, now provide all truant students with services that remove barriers to school attendance.



…and improve lives.

The Burlington School District dropout rate has fallen by two thirds, from 10% in 1999 to 3.5% in 2004.


Dropout Rate for Burlington School District Students

10.0%

4.2%3.5%

6.4%

5.0%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

1999 2001 2002 2003 2004





Final thoughts

Topics


Community Systems

Individuals & families

Personal networks

Neighborhood environments

Organizations


Program clients

Direct-service strategy


change

strategy


Community


Community Systems


Personal networks

Neighborhood environments

Organizations

Community

change

strategy


Changes in Personal Networks -- Examples

• Parents and other caregivers use everyday moments to encourage early learning

• Friends and family members know to call 2-1-1 for information about local resources

• Parents, teachers and friends know signs of serious depression in teens and how to offer help

• Neighbors routinely clear snow and ice from steps and walks of elderly residents

• Friends don’t let friends drive drunk


Changes in Neighborhoods -- Examples

• Vacant lots are cleaned up and outfitted with safe and sturdy playground equipment

• Neighborhood-based businesses are flourishing

• Housing is safe and complies with local codes

• Decent-paying jobs are available in the neighborhood

• Residents take action if they see suspicious or illegal activity


Changes in Organizations -- Examples

• Businesses make time and space available for financial literacy seminars

• Service providers have staff and materials appropriate to clients’ language and culture

• Faith groups provide vans to transport low-income citizens to prenatal and immunization services

• Pizza parlors serve as drop-off sites for ongoing books-for-children program

• Civic groups work with 2-1-1 to develop year-long volunteer projects related to a pressing community issue


Changes in Systems -- Examples

• The human services system engages all service providers in connecting low-income families with services and supports to grow family assets

• Public, private, and nonprofit sectors join to develop a coordinated community crisis response system

• The juvenile court system helps prevent drop-outs by treating truancy as a serious offense

• The school board and dental association collaborate to operate dental clinics in schools

• A State senate committee votes to broaden access to rehabilitative services for persons with disabilities


Two Notes

We would not pursue these or other community changes because they seemed like “a good idea.”

We would pursue them because careful analysis shows that they will be effective approaches to improving lives.

The choice is not either direct services or community changes.

Both may be included in comprehensive strategies to improve lives.


Needed changes in community conditions

Targeted community outcomes

Institutions

Corporations

Associations Neighborhoods

Faith community

United Way

Agencies

Networks Individuals Labor groups Academia etc.Foundations

C o m m u n i t y a s s e t s / p a r t n e r s / i n v e s t o r s

Coordinated community change plan

Partnering to Achieve Community Impact





Final thoughts

Topics


Community Impact ...

Is not just about improving lives of clients of United Way-funded programs

Is about improving lives of people affected by pressing community issues

Is not just about influencing the health and human services sector

Is about influencing whatever sectors, systems, networks, groups, or environments can play a role in improving lives in our communities

Is not just the job of certain United Way functions (e.g., fund distribution, community building)

Is the business of the entire organization


United Way:Aligned to Achieve Community Impact

Targeted community outcomes

United Way’s roles in community-change efforts

Aligned organizational resources

Volunt

eers

Finance

Agency relationsC

omm

unity

rese

arch P

ublic policy

Gov

erna

nce R

esource

development

Mar

ketin

g &

com

mun

icat

ions

Inve

stor

rel

atio

ns

Com

munity investm

ent

Staff

Hum

an resources


Related Resources on United Way Online

• Aligning for Impact (keyword: Alignment)

• Community Initiatives: Tracking Progress and Results (keyword: CITracking)

• Community Investment Triangle: A Tool for Transformation (keyword: CITriangle)

• Connecting Program Outcome Measurement to Community Impact (keyword: POM-CI)

• Hometown Literacy Partnership Experience (keyword: Hometown)

• Ogre Story (keyword: Ogre)

• Redefining Agency Relationships for Community Impact (keyword: RedefineAgency)

• The Road to Community Impact: Changing Direction (keyword: ChangingDirection)

• Six That Got Results and How They Did It (keyword: SixThatGotResults)

what is community impact?. 2 what is community impact? why united way needs a new approach to...

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