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- A Letter to United Way Supporters
- 2013 LIVE UNITED T-Shirt Day
- Welcome to Our New Website!
- Watch Roger Staubach's first United Way commercial and others from the last 40 years here
- USA WEEKEND Magazine sponsors Make A Difference Day
- See who sported their t's for 2013 LIVE UNITED Tshirt Day
- Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday. LIVE UNITED Today!
- Announcing...Our 2014 United Way 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Program Participants
- United Way's new approach is intended to give donors a better picture of their return on investment
- It's not about CHARITY. It's about CHANGE.
- United Way teams up with Target to Share-A-Tree with families in need
- Blog Rss Feed
- 1 more step toward quality child care: North Dakota launches Bright & Early North Dakota statewide
- Now Accepting Nominations for the 2013 Fredrick W. Donath Campaign Award
- We have achieved and exceeded our 2013 Campaign Goal of $5.2 million!
- It's tax time! What you need to know about preparing your tax return with your gift to United Way
- Congratulations to our 2013 BE THE ONE Award Winners!
- The Power of Community Involvement
- United Way Celebrates National Volunteer Week
- Individualism or the Common Good? We need both.
- May 10 is the National Letter Carriers' Food Drive and YOU can help!
- Education That Works: Educational Leaders, the Economic Development Corporation, and United Way
- United Way Celebrates May Day by Celebrating Education
- Launching "Education that Works" for students, teachers and our future workforce
- United Way announces 2015-2016 investments in Community Partners providing Basic Needs
- $ 5 lunch on Thursday at all Hornbacher's locations! Gobble It Up for United Way
- A letter from our 2014 Board Chair, Mark Jensen-Thanks from the United Way
- 16th Annual School Supply Drive kicks off today-donation and volunteer info!
- REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER FOR SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE HERE
- You are invited to the 2014 United Way Kick Off Event on September 9 featuring Hugh Weber
- YOUNG PEOPLE, UNITE! The NEW Emerging Leaders in Giving Program has launched
- Applications for the 2015 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Program are now available
- UNITED for Jefferson Neighborhood
- 35 Under 35 Alumni come together for Women’s Build for Habitat for Humanity
- Want to Stay Active and Improve Your Health as You Grow Older? Volunteer!
- Want to Stay Active and Improve Your Health as You Grow Older? Volunteer!
- Want to see what lasting change looks like?
- Monte’s Downtown launches DINE UNITED in partnership with United Way
- West Acres - BOOtiful Night: Trick or Treating
- Watch videos of the 2014 Kick Off Event
- United Way of Cass-Clay collaborates to lead first-ever regional workforce study
- 2014 LIVE UNITED T-Shirt Day
- Giving THANKS to our Volunteers!
- Essentia employee gets a VIP limo ride to work as part of United Way Campaign
- Proudly announcing the 2015 participants of the United Way 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Program
- United Way of Cass-Clay has officially reached the $3.5 million mark on our way to the 2014 campaign
- United Way Partners with Target to spread holiday cheer
- 5 Reasons to Celebrate Volunteer Mentors
- Now Accepting Nominations for the 2014 Frederick W. Donath Campaign Award
- The 2014 Annual Report to the Community has been officially released!
- United Way welcomes new board members in 2015
- May 1st Brings 4th Annual May Day Baskets of Books!
- Local Organizations Receive National Recognition from United Way
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- Regional Workforce Study Results Announced-United Way to Take Action to Address Workforce Challenges
- Millennials Move Mountains
- 2015 School Supply Drive - How to Donate & Receive Supplies
- 2015 School Supply Drive Equips 5,260 Students for the School Year
- YOUR IRA CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION WILL HELP IMPROVE LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- Introducing the nominees of the NEW “LIVE UNITED Catalyst of the Year” Award
- United Way names Kristi Huber as President
- Now accepting nominations for the 2016 LIVE UNITED Leader of the Year Award
- United Way makes new investment to help West Fargo students access mental health services
- You won't want to miss our Kick Off Event on Sept 14
- Applications for 2018 United Way 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Program available on September 1
- A Day in the Life: A Perspective on Poverty
- 8th Annual Roers/Keller Williams Chili Feed is Happening on Oct 3rd!
- Collaborative Investments Are Helping Rural Students Access Mental Health Services
- Generosity Is the Strength of Our Community
- LIVE UNITED T-Shirt Day & United Acts of Kindness on November 10th
- United Way Focuses on Investing to Help People Be Independent
- 800 Women UNITE to Help Give Kids the Very Best Start
- A Sign Is Worth A Thousand Words
- 2018 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Class Announced!
- Get Informed and then Advocate...Learn More About Poverty in Our Community
- Emerging Leaders Turn Inspiration Into Action
- News & Events
- Here's What You Need to Know About Claiming Your United Way Donation This tax season
- And The Nominees Are.....
- How You Can be an Advocate for Student Mental Health in Your Community!
- Check out the 2017 United Way Annual Report to the Community!
- JUST ANNOUNCED: 2018 United Way Top 50 Most Generous Workplaces
- Congratulations to the LIVE UNITED Award Winners!
- How VITA is helping hard working tax payers receive more on their tax returns
- Register for the 2018 35 Under 35 Celebration Ceremony on June 7
- Employee Campaign Coordinators - Join us for ECC Engage on May 10 or 21
- A Lesson In Leadership
- United Way's 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Program Celebrates 10 Years
- 7th Annual Women UNITED May Day Baskets of Books Event
- UNITED for Child Care Training Event Materials
- Gobble It Up Pre-Orders OPEN!
- Story Squad: Kid's Storytime with United Way
- Eggs & Issues: The State of Local Child Care & Its Impact on Workforce Development
- 20th Annual United Way School Supply Drive - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW!
- Join us for the 2018 United Way Kick Off Event!
- 2019 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Program Applications Now Available!
- 2018 Women UNITED Luncheon & Silent Auction
- 35 Women With One Thing In Common, A Desire to Make A Difference: United Way's 35 Under 35 Program
- Are You Up for the (Social Media) Challenge!?
- 2018 LIVE UNITED T-shirt & UNITED Acts of Kindness Day
- 2018 Campaign Video: I Wish My Teacher Knew
- A Song to Say Thank You
- Women UNITED Luncheon & Silent Auction Raffle WINNERS
- UNITED for Student Mental Health - Mental Health Services Expanded to 6 Rural Schools in ND
- Here’s What You Need to Know About Claiming Your United Way Donation This tax season
- Nominate YOUR Organization for LIVE UNITED Leader of the Year!
- Join us to Recognize Generosity in Our Community!
- And The Nominees Are...
- United Way of Cass-Clay: James' Story
- Congratulations to the LIVE UNITED Awards Winners!
- JUST ANNOUNCED: 2019 United Way Top 50 Most Generous Workplaces
- Community Collaborations: United Way Receives Presidents' Award for Community Partner
- Inviting all ECC's to attend ECC Engage The Power of Community on May 7 & 8
- Women UNITE to Share a Love of Learning
- Help Encourage Kids to Succeed on Their First Day of School
- The Route to Removing Barriers for Employment - United Way Helps Expand Transportation Services
- Pre Order Info for Hornbacher's Gobble It Up for United Way $5 Lunch
- A Backpacks Impact: The United Way School Supply Drive
- Will You Accept the Women UNITED Challenge?!
- Register now for the 2019 Kick Off Event on September 18
- Home For Good: Give Now to Help Welcome Families Home - For Good.
- Location Unveiled for the Future Home of United Way of Cass-Clay
- Hornbacher’s Gobble It Up for United Way
- Watch the Community Kickoff Event
- Roers Chili Feed – Get your Cup of Chili Sept 15-29
- Taking Action to Help Families in Need - How the Coronavirus Response Fund is Helping
- United Way moving Dec. 18
- Our New Location: What You Need to Know
- Reaching Out: A space to serve our region for generations.
- 2021 LIVE UNITED Awards & Annual Meeting
- LIVE UNITED Awards & Annual Meeting on March 25 – Join the Virtual Watch Party
- Helping people like Omar is at the heart of what we do
BOLD Goal 3: Help People be Independent
Why We Invest
80% of what makes an individual healthy is where one lives, works and plays. There is an increased need for mental and behavioral health services in our community. This need intensifies when paired with the many barriers faced by local individuals and families who are economically disadvantaged and underserved.
The Issue
Low-income individuals are nearly 2.5 times more likely to have depression.
The average nursing facility rate in North Dakota is $280.44 per day as of January 1, 2019, that equates to $102,360.60 for a year.
The Action
Our work expanded trauma-informed care and coordination for child victims of abuse.
We expanded navigation services for individuals throughout rural Clay County to stay independent and in their own homes.
United Way has taken great strides to understand national and local research and best practices in the areas of family stability and determinants of health. This research has allowed us to reexamine our Bold Community Goals and work to become more focused on specific areas and on services that have proven to create lasting social change and help families to reach their full potential in our community.
The County Health Rankings (Rankings) are published annually by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Below is the Rankings model that illustrates the factors communities can change to improve overall health and the relating contributors of each factor. *
Looking at this model, we see 80% of what makes us healthy is: *
- Living and working conditions
- Income, education level, access to social support, exposure to crime and violence, and health behaviors
- Availability of safe and affordable housing, quality jobs, transportation options, and opportunities for recreation
According to RWJF, “Disparities emerge when some groups benefit from consistently better access to opportunities and resources over a lifetime and across generations. For example, when children live in families with higher incomes, they typically experience stable housing in safer neighborhoods, have access to better-resourced and higher-quality schools, and are better prepared for living-wage jobs. When children live in families with lower incomes and do not have access to opportunities, they face challenges to gaining a foothold on the ladder to economic security and better health that helps them thrive.” **
Essentially, to create a healthy community and to achieve our Bold Community Goals, we need to lift people out of poverty. Previously, this has been a separate goal with a separate investment strategy. However, we recognize that reducing poverty truly encompasses all that we are trying to achieve.
Under the Affordable Care Act, nonprofit community hospitals are required to conduct community health assessments (CHA) every three years. A community health needs assessment helps the community build capacity to support policy, systems, environmental changes and community health improvement.
Locally, data is available from the most recent study conducted by Essentia Health, Sanford, ND Public Health Association, Fargo Cass Public Health, Family Health Care, Clay County Public Health, and many other community organizations and partners, including United Way of Cass-Clay. ***, ****, ***** Following this study, Essentia Health, Sanford, and Fargo Cass Public Health each published reports that detail themes and key findings as to the highest community priorities. This study included two surveys: one with key stakeholders and one with metro residents. By nature of their missions and armed with new local data, our community’s health care partners are focused on health factors of Health Behaviors and Clinical Care for all in our community.
We feel United Way’s role in creating a healthy, vibrant community, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, lays in focusing on the health factors of Social and Economic Factors and part of Physical Environment (specifically with our work to reduce homelessness and to ensure families have the support in maintaining safe, stable housing). These factors equate to 50% of what makes us healthy.
Having a poverty focus across all of United Way’s investment strategies naturally leads to the combination of investment strategies under Bold Goal #3, Help People be Independent, and Bold Goal #4, Lift People out of Poverty. In transition for the 2022-2024 investment cycle, we are looking to focus on the health factors not included in our other two Bold Community Goals of Reducing Hunger and Homelessness and Preparing Children to Succeed, mainly:
- Employment and Income: As income increase or decreases, so does health. Employment provides income that shapes choices about housing, education, child care, food, medical care, and more. Employment also often includes benefits that can support healthy lifestyle choices, such as health insurance. Unemployment and underemployment limit these choices and the ability to accumulate savings and assets that can help cushion in times of economic distress.
- Family and Social Support: People with greater social support, less isolation, and greater interpersonal trust live longer and healthier lives than those who are socially isolated. Neighborhoods richer in social connections provide residents with greater access to support and resources than those that are less tightly knit. *
As the Rankings point out, “We all want to live in a place where everyone is treated fairly, where all people have a voice in the decisions that affect them, and where we all have an opportunity to succeed. When communities adopt strategies that ensure safe drinking water, provide early childhood education, improve neighborhood safety, or reduce obesity rates, we all benefit. This is an equity-focused vision of health — one where all members of a community have ample opportunity to access what they need to thrive.” *
This is why we see fully adopting a Two Generational Model (2Gen) as being the key in advancing this investment strategy. By supporting the entire family from the start, together we build a family’s capacity for sustained stability. We are moving forward with partnerships that enable better coordination of high-quality and well-timed services, with the focus of identifying gaps in services or problems that are blocking equitable access to essential resources and services families in our community need to thrive.
According to The Aspen Institute, there are five key components of the 2Gen Approach: *******
- Postsecondary Education and Employment Pathways
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Economic Assets
- Health and Well-Being
- Social Capital
Their research shows a $3,000 difference in a parent’s income when their child is young is associated with a 17% increase in the child’s future earnings. This relatively small increase in a household’s income can have a significant impact on the life of that child. *******
Additionally, social capital is a key success factor of the 2Gen Approach. According to The Aspen Institute, research has shown that social capital manifests as peer support; contact with family, friends, and neighbors; participation in community and faith-based organizations; school and workplace contacts; leadership and empowerment programs; use of case managers or career coaches; social networks, such as cohort models and learning communities; and mental health services. As they state, “Social capital builds on the strength and resilience of families, bolstering the aspirations parents have for their children and for themselves. It is a powerful component in programs that help move families beyond poverty.” *******
We are not currently accepting proposals for this community goal. More details about the next grant cycle will be published in fall 2023.
For additional information on our strategy, please see the previous Notice of Funding Available.
Sources:
* County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, What Drives Health?
** County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Introduction to Equity
*** Fargo Cass Public Health, 2019 Community Needs Assessment
**** Sanford Health, 2019 Community Needs Assessment, Sanford CNA 2019-2021.pdf
***** Essentia Health, 2019 Community Needs Assessment, Essentia CNA 2020-2022.pdf
****** County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, What Works? Social and Economic Opportunities to Improve Health for All
******* Ascend, The Aspen Institute, What is 2Gen?