Focus Areas

United Way of Central Minnesota is working to advance the common good by focusing on Education and Basic Needs. The way to achieve these action areas is to Give. Advocate. Volunteer.

Education: Helping children and youth achieve their potential

Early Learning – Early Literacy

Aspiration:  Every young child, birth through 3^rd grade, reaches their early learning and literacy potential.

2013 – 2015 Targeted Outcomes:

• Ensure access to ongoing quality learning and literacy services for families with children, birth through 3^rd grade.
• Increase parent and caregiver knowledge and skills related to: 1) awareness and assistance in accessing resources and 2) birth through 3^rd grade learning and literacy development.

Quality Out of School Time

Aspiration: Every school age youth is engaged in ongoing experiences that build positive life skills and support from caring mentors.

2013 – 2015 Targeted Outcomes:

• Engage youth in quality youth programs that build positive life skills. 
• Ensure youth have at least one caring mentor in their lives supporting and guiding them in development of positive life skills.

Basic Needs: Ensuring all people have a safety net.

Homelessness

Aspiration: Reduce the impact of homelessness with a special focus on youth and families with children.

2013-2015 Targeted Outcomes:

• Establish emergency housing options with supportive services for unaccompanied youth*.
• Expand emergency, transitional or permanent supportive housing options and supportive services available, with a special focus on youth and families with children.
• Provide supportive services that prevent and/or decrease homelessness and length of homelessness to reduce reliance on existing service models.  *youth defined as ages 16-21

Access to Food

Aspiration: Ensure that all people have food to nourish themselves so that no one in our communities goes hungry.

2013- 2015 Targeted Outcomes:

• Ensure access to food for people who are low-income or struggling.
• Build knowledge and skills related to cost-effective food choices, food preparation, safe food storage, and/or nutrition.

Financial Stability

Aspiration: Increase financial stability and independence among lower-income or struggling households.

2013-2015 Targeted Outcomes:

• Connect or provide individuals with services/resources to stabilize living conditions, maintain independence and lessen dependency.
• Deliver financial education that decreases barriers to financial stability.
• Prepare individuals through educational programs for development of job readiness, marketable skills and job placement to attain stable living wage employment with benefits.