UNITED WAY OF LARIMER COUNTY
COMMUNITY IMPACT PLAN
VERSION 2.0
United Way of Larimer County UnitedWayofLarimerCounty.org
The Community Impact Plan is based on three key principles:
The updated Community Impact Plan:
Achieve maximum impact. While United Way
Explains poverty in Larimer County and how it
could work on practically every issue in the human services sector, the Community Impact Plan strives to answer the question - How can we have maximum impact on reducing poverty and improving the lives of people in our community? To do so, we must be strategic and make hard choices. We must engage in continuous improvement and make adjustments over time. And we must constantly pose the question of maximum impact and answer with the best strategies and the most scalable solutions known at the time.
affects all of us.
Identifies community-level outcomes, strategies to achieve our goals, and measurable objectives in our three impact areas of Education, Income, and Health.
Provides opportunities for community members, nonprofits, businesses, and other organizations to get involved and be part of the change.
Long-term, lasting solutions. For real change to take hold in our community, we must look beyond short-term, Band-Aid solutions and focus on the big picture - How can we address the root causes of poverty and prevent it from happening in future generations?
Collective movement. This important work cannot be accomplished by United Way alone. We bring together the people and organizations with the passion and resources to get things done. Our partners include nonprofit human service agencies, schools, community leaders, businesses, volunteer groups, the faith community, government entities, foundations, and others working together to change conditions and improve the lives of more than people just receiving the services of a particular program, but the entire community. This collective approach enables us to leverage resources and reinforce activities for a greater, community-wide change. 2 | United Way of Larimer County
Beginning in 2015, United Way will publish annual progress reports to keep the community informed of the advancements made on the goals in the Community Impact Plan and the collective progress of all of our partners. Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations who have spent time and effort in developing this agenda for community change. We believe it is through collective, focused action that we will reduce poverty and advance the common good in Larimer County. We invite you to be part of the change. Together, united, we can inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED.
SINCE 1958, UNITED WAY HAS SERVED AS THE LOCAL PHILANTHROPIC LEADER FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN FORT COLLINS, LOVELAND, BERTHOUD, ESTES PARK, AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN LARIMER COUNTY. In the fall of 2011, United Way announced an exciting new approach that would enable significantly greater impact on the major quality of life issues facing people in Larimer County – the Community Impact Plan. The original Plan outlined issues facing our community and established a bold goal – to cut poverty in half in Larimer County by 2025. It also provided a high-level framework for how that goal would be achieved by focusing on the impact areas of Education, Income and Health. The Community Impact Plan was designed to be fluid and ever-evolving. We knew that we would want to refine the Plan with new learning and ongoing monitoring of community conditions and
issues. During the refinement process, we fostered discussion among our nonprofit and community partners, and sought input to strengthen the focus of the Plan. We are thrilled to be sharing with you version 2.0 of the Community Impact Plan. As you will see in the following pages, the foundation remains the same, yet we have further expanded the strategies and objectives to better match current community conditions.
Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS Poverty
Page 5
Understanding Poverty Measuring Poverty Poverty in Larimer County Defining Our Poverty Goal Poverty & Prosperity
Partnerships Impact Areas Summary Education Impact Area Income Impact Area Health Impact Area Tracking & Sources How You Can Help 4 | United Way of Larimer County
Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 14 Page 16 Page 18 Page 19
UNDERSTANDING POVERTY UNDERSTANDING POVERTY AND ITS ROOT CAUSES IS CRITICAL TO IMPLEMENTING TANGIBLE AND LONG-LASTING SOLUTIONS. Living in poverty means there is not enough money for the basics of a healthy life, and it imposes difficult economic choices. Individuals and families living in poverty often must choose between shelter and medicine, nutritious food and transportation, or childcare and employment opportunities. These difficult choices are the reality for many in our community, including Cindy, a single mother working multiple jobs to make ends meet, your neighbor Jim, who just incurred unexpected major medical expenses, and the Smith family, who was thrust into poverty when their home was devastated from a flash flood. Each experience is unique and the face of poverty continues to change as community conditions evolve. A family or individual in poverty doesn’t only have a problem with housing, or only a problem with education, or only a problem with gaining and maintaining employment. Poverty is a complex issue that requires a coordinated, holistic approach to put people on a path to prosperity. The effects of poverty impact all of us. There are tangible costs, such as public assistance through taxpayer funds, and intangible costs, such as lost economic opportunities. Certainly not all of the costs of poverty can or should be captured in a dollar figure. Think of the lost potential for children growing up in poverty and the decreased quality of life for poor families. As a community, we must recognize that all of our lives
UNITED WAY IS FOCUSED ON TWO TYPES OF POVERTY: SITUATIONAL POVERTY occurs through unforeseen circumstances such as loss of jobs, homes, or financial security.
GENERATIONAL POVERTY occurs when children grow up in poverty, are unable to break the cycle, and continue living in poverty through their adult lives.
are improved when everyone in Larimer County is thriving.
Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 5
MEASURING POVERTY THE WAY WE MEASURE POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES MATTERS. The Federal Government defines poverty as a family of four living on less 2013 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE than $23,550 a year.1 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Persons in family/ household
Poverty guideline 1 $11,490 2 $15,510 3 $19,530 4 $23,550 5 $27,570 6 $31,590 7 $35,610 8 $39,630
This poverty measure was established in 1964, and it is far from perfect. Families living in poverty experience a different reality than those in similar circumstances 50 years ago. Although many aspects of our way of life as a society have changed, the poverty measure has not. Rising rental costs, access to social service programs, and affordable childcare are daunting barriers keeping families from bettering their situations. For example, in Larimer County, 65% of children under six have all parents in the workforce.2 Expenses such as childcare and transportation costs were not accounted for in the original poverty measurement, and yet account for a large percentage of many household expenses.
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,020 for each additional person.
POVERTY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY If an individual or family has an income higher than the federal poverty guideline, it does not necessarily mean that they are stable or self-sufficient. The Self-Sufficiency Standard is an alternative measure that attempts to demonstrate the level of income necessary to meet basic needs (including taxes) without public subsidies (e.g., public housing, food stamps, Medicaid or child care) and without private/informal assistance (e.g., free babysitting by a relative or friend, food provided by churches or local food banks, or shared housing). It also takes into account regional differences and family size.3 In order to truly address issues Self-Sufficiency level for a family of four consisting of 2 $58,232 of poverty, we must help adults, 1 preschooler and 1 school-aged child in Larimer families living between County poverty and self-sufficiency. Federal Poverty Level for the same family $23,550 As a family’s earnings increase The difference $34,682 and they rise above the official poverty level, they begin to lose eligibility for tax credits, childcare subsidies, health care coverage, and food stamps, even though they are not yet self-sufficient. This is also referred to as “The Cliff Effect.” Although parents may be working and earning more, their families are unable to reach financial security. In order to address the unmet needs of those striving toward self-sufficiency, many state and local human service programs provide assistance to households whose income falls between 100 – 250% of the Federal Poverty Line. 6 | United Way of Larimer County
POVERTY IN LARIMER COUNTY THOUGH POVERTY IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS A “HIDDEN ISSUE,” LARIMER COUNTY HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN SHEDDING LIGHT ON ITS COMPLEXITIES IN RECENT YEARS. In 2007, US Census Bureau statistics revealed that poverty in Larimer County was growing at a rapid pace. In fact, it was growing 1.4 times faster than the rest of the state, and 5.6 times faster than the rest of the nation.4 This sparked the beginning of an important community conversation. United Way of Larimer County, Colorado State University’s Center for Public Deliberation, Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation, and the Fort Collins Coloradoan brought together service providers, business leaders, funders, and hundreds of community members to identify and better understand the root causes of poverty. The Pathways Past Poverty (P3) effort was designed to educate and empower citizens, public institutions, and human service agencies about the nature, extent, causes, and solutions of poverty in Larimer County. In 2008, a team of Colorado State University researchers, led by Dr. Martin Shields, conducted a study to examine poverty from a variety of angles, with the goal of deepening the knowledge of the region’s poverty workings. This research also analyzed the poverty numbers and was supplemented by a series of focus groups with people experiencing poverty. It revealed key findings of the factors that drive household and regional changes in poverty and provided greater context and direction for P3.5
POVERTY SNAPSHOT IN LARIMER COUNTY
1 in 7 individuals in Larimer County live in poverty.4 15%
10%
2007
Individuals in poverty in Larimer County increased by 12% between 2007 and 2011, rising from
Through a variety of efforts, including the work accomplished through P3, poverty simulations, and the Bridges out of Poverty and Circles initiatives, a collective movement has begun.
12.7% to 14.2%.
4
15%
10%
2007 It also led to the bold goal: Cut Poverty in Half in Larimer County by 2025.
2011
2011
Families* in poverty in Larimer County also increased by 12% between 2007 and 2011, rising from to
12.1% 13.5%.
4
1 in 3 children in Larimer County (Kindergarten – 3rd grade) qualify for free or reduced lunch at school.6 *Families are defined as one or more adults living with one or more children between the age of 0-17.
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OUR POVERTY GOAL DEFINED Cutting poverty in half by 2025 is a big and audacious goal to help our community progress toward a stronger future. It is intended to serve as a catalyst for community action and collaboration. Within this goal, our work is focused on helping individuals and families move from poverty to self-sufficiency.
UNITED WAY OF LARIMER COUNTY WILL UTILIZE THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY (ACS) 3-YEAR POVERTY RATE ESTIMATE** TO MEASURE THE CHANGE IN POVERTY RATE IN LARIMER COUNTY. THE BASELINE ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOAL IS THE ACS 3-YEAR ESTIMATE FROM 2009-2011, WHEN THE POVERTY RATE WAS 14.2% FOR LARIMER COUNTY.7
We recognize that the following factors will have ongoing impact on our progress with this goal: • Population growth: We know that we cannot completely eradicate poverty from our community; there will always be a percentage of Larimer County residents who live below the poverty threshold. In addition, the population of Larimer County is expected to grow to more than 436,000 people by the year 2030, which is a 44% growth rate from the county’s population in 2010.8 For those reasons, we must focus on the poverty rate, rather than the number of people in poverty, as a measure of our progress in reducing poverty in Larimer County. • Individuals living on a fixed income: Many seniors and individuals with disabilities in Larimer County live on a fixed income that technically falls below the poverty threshold. Our focus is on maintaining quality of life for these segments of the population not necessarily reaching self-sufficiency. United Way is committed to leading, partnering, and supporting programs and activities through our Health Impact Area that enable these populations to live happy, productive lives. • Students with limited income: Larimer County is home to several higher education institutions. Some students earn a self-sufficient income while attending school, but many do not. Instead, they rely on student loans or financial support from their families to meet their needs. Therefore, many college students technically fall below the poverty threshold due to their limited income. We know that this impacts the poverty numbers for Larimer County, and our work will not necessarily change the figures that account for the student population.
**The ACS is currently the largest household survey in the United States, and it offers broad, comprehensive information for local communities. The 3-year estimate is more reliable than the 1-year estimate and more current than the 5-year estimate.4
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MOVING FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY REDUCING POVERTY IN LARIMER COUNTY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. WE’RE ALL CONNECTED. WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. When any part of our community is struggling, it affects prosperity for us all. We know that reducing poverty only tells part of the story of improving the quality of life for all people in Larimer County. Thousands of people who live above the poverty threshold struggle each month to pay for basic necessities, and thousands of children are at risk of living a life of poverty without early support to enable them to be successful later in life. United Way is committed to creating pathways to prosperity that increase opportunities for all people in Larimer County to reach their full potential. With the collective impact of all of us working together, we will have far-reaching, long-lasting results that broaden the path of opportunity and build a more vibrant community. Education, Income, and Health are the building blocks for a good quality life for all, and those three areas are inextricably linked. We know that a good education leads to more employment opportunities, parents with good jobs are better able to provide stability for their families, and kids are more likely to succeed in school if they are healthy and well-fed when they enter the classroom.
Education: Helping youth succeed in school and life. Income: Helping families become financially stable and independent. Health: Creating a more stable community by meeting basic needs.
Reduced poverty & increased prosperity in Larimer County
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The following pages describe the research-based strategies and objectives within the impact areas of Education, Income, and Health in pursuit of our vision of reduced poverty and increased prosperity in Larimer County. Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 9
“INDIVIDUALLY, WE ARE ONE DROP. TOGETHER, WE ARE AN OCEAN.” – Ryunosuke Satoro
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY IMPACT PLAN AS OUR GUIDE, United Way continues to work collaboratively with nonprofits, community leaders, businesses, and other organizations, to reduce poverty and empower all people in Larimer County to achieve their full potential. Community Impact Partners United Way recognizes that in order to create long-term, systemic change that improves lives in Larimer County, we must engage strategic partners working on a variety of levels. Community Impact Partners are organizations who meet high standards of effectiveness and efficiency while joining in a strategic collaboration to achieve a common purpose by sharing responsibilities, risks, and rewards. Partners will be reporting on and accountable to the objectives outlined in the Community Impact Plan. Community Impact Partners include nonprofit human service agencies, school districts, community organizations, professional associations, volunteer groups, the faith community, government entities, and foundations. Organizations are welcome to submit applications for partnerships on an annual basis.
Volunteer Engagement Volunteer engagement is integrated through a number of different programs and strategies at United Way. Key strategies include membership organizations, corporate engagement, place-based volunteerism, and individual engagement opportunities. We participate in a variety of community coalitions, committees, and task-forces that support community change in Education, Income, and Health. To learn more about how you can get involved in this important work, email volunteer@uwaylc.org or call 2-1-1.
United Way 2-1-1 Each year, United Way 2-1-1 helps thousands of people in Larimer County get help and give help.
United Way of Larimer County
TM
Get Connected. Get Answers.
By calling 2-1-1 (or 970-407-7066 from a cell phone), you can get help or information on crisis hotlines, food and clothing, housing and utility assistance, aging services, disaster recovery, mental health services, volunteer opportunities, health and medical needs, legal assistance, donation referrals, substance abuse services, and so much more. All services are confidential and free of charge.
Good Start. Right Direction. More to Do. Thanks to the support of our community, we’re on the right path for creating long-term, lasting change in Larimer County.
10 | United Way of Larimer County
In the end, we are advancing the common good and reaching our mutual goals together – by working with dozens of nonprofit agencies, hundreds of companies, and thousands of citizens all across the community.
UNITED WAY OF LARIMER COUNTY’S COMMUNITY IMPACT PLAN – VERSION 2.0 Our Bold Goal: Cut Poverty in Half in Larimer County by 2025 Impact Areas Summary
Education
Income
Health
What is our vision within these impact areas? All children in Larimer County will be prepared for postsecondary success in school, work, and life.
All individuals and families are afforded the opportunity to become economically selfsufficient.
All individuals and families in Larimer County have access to services to achieve stability in their lives and maintain independence.
Employment and Job Training: Workers access the workforce with employable skills and households earn a selfsufficient income.
Access to Services & Resources: Food, Transportation, Emergency Shelter & Homelessness, Rent & Utility Assistance, Safe & Healthy Life, Services for Seniors, Disability Resources & Services, Emergency Assistance, Information & Referral Services, Disaster Relief & Recovery
How will achieve this vision? School Readiness: Children enter school ready to learn and succeed. Youth Success: School-aged youth access academic and social supports to build competency and resilience. Graduation & Post-Secondary Success: Youth access academic, career, and social supports that provide pathways to self-sustaining employment or higher education.
Financial Capability: Individuals and families become informed and empowered financial consumers who can manage finances and debt, and build assets. Affordable Housing: Individuals and families obtain and maintain affordable housing.
In order to meet basic needs and mitigate consequences of crisis; maintain quality of life and self-sufficiency; and empower seniors and individuals with disabilities to live productive, healthy lifestyles.
Community-Level Outcomes Increase the number of children entering school ready to learn.
Increase the number of workers ready to enter and succeed in the workforce.
Increase the number of children reading proficiently by the end of third grade.
Increase the number of informed and empowered financial consumers.
Increase in the number of students graduating high school on time.
Increase the number of households earning a selfsufficient income.
Increase the number of students entering postsecondary tracks.
Increase the number of families and individuals maintaining affordable housing.
We strive for a more stable community that has the ability to provide a crucial safety net for those in need. Community conditions change frequently, and it is important for us to remain proactive and be able to effectively respond to the most pressing needs in our community. These needs include, but are not limited to, food security, emergency shelter, services for seniors, and safe and healthy life factors which will be reported out on an annual basis. Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 11
EDUCATION Education is the foundation for a child’s future stability and success. Research has shown that: Early language and literacy development are linked with academic
“THE SOLUTION TO ADULT PROBLEMS TOMORROW DEPENDS ON LARGE MEASURE UPON HOW OUR CHILDREN GROW UP TODAY.” – Margaret Mead
achievement, higher graduation rates, and enhanced productivity in life.9
Third grade reading proficiency is a key indicator of future graduation rates. 74% of children who are behind at the end of third grade never catch up to their peers. These students are at greater risk of dropping out, discontinuing their education, and lacking the basic knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s world.10
High school students who drop out represent a disproportionate percentage of persons living in poverty. Without a high school diploma, it is extremely difficult to access employment that allows for a stable family life.11 We must address the needs of our children today by investing in strategies that close the learning gap early in life and thereby increase high school graduation rates. This work will determine our long-term success in maintaining reduced poverty and increased prosperity in our community.
OUR EDUCATION VISION:
All children in Larimer County will be prepared for post-secondary success in school, work, and life. How will we achieve this goal? Together with our partners, we have identified three research-based strategies within the Education impact area. United Way of Larimer County will lead, partner, and support activities within these strategies to ensure our community’s children are prepared for future success.
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EDUCATION 1. School Readiness: Children enter
school ready to learn and succeed. School readiness is more than just the ABCs. It means being healthy, getting along with others, and being ready to learn. The first eight years of life are most critical in terms of learning. During these years, children gain many of the basic learning patterns and abilities that they will build upon for the rest of their lives.12 Within this strategy, efforts will focus on increasing:
3. Graduation & Post-Secondary Success:
Youth access academic, career, and social supports that provide pathways to self-sustaining employment or higher education.
A high school diploma matters to individuals, communities, and society. High school graduates are more likely to be employed, make a higher taxable income, and aid in job generation. 13 Within this strategy, efforts will focus on increasing:
• Developmental supports to enable
• Opportunities for parent/youth
age-appropriate social/emotional behavior and development. • Literacy supports to enable Kindergarten readiness and elementary school reading proficiency. • Access to and quality of pre-Kindergarten and childcare learning environments.
engagement that supports student growth and development. • Academic support programs to enable success in grades 6-12. • Opportunities for career exploration and internships to enable successful transition into post-secondary opportunities. • Support programs for at-risk behaviors to ensure age-appropriate social/ emotional behavior.
2. Youth Success: School-aged youth
access academic and social supports to build competency and resilience. Research shows that poor transitions into and out of middle grades are strongly linked to failing to finish high school. The years that connect elementary school and high school are the transitionary time when students build the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for high school success. Within this strategy, efforts will focus on increasing: • Summer learning opportunities to maintain academic knowledge over summer breaks. • Attendance in after-school enrichment programs to promote youth engagement in school and extra-curricular activities. • Early-grade mentoring programs and reading engagement programs to provide exposure to positive mentors and support success in transition to middle school.
HOW CAN
YOU HELP? GIVE: Your contribution to United Way’s Education Impact Fund supports programs and strategies to ensure that all children are prepared to succeed in
How will we measure our impact? United Way of Larimer County and its partners are committed to measuring progress in a common, collective approach. The following Community-Level Outcomes will demonstrate the collective impact of county-wide efforts to prepare children for future success: • Increase the number of children entering school ready to learn. • Increase the number of children reading proficiently by the end of third grade. • Increase in the number of students graduating high school on time. • Increase the number of students entering post-secondary tracks.
school, work, and life.
ADVOCATE: Lend your voice to Be Ready, a community-wide public awareness campaign for school readiness. Visit BeReadyLarimerCounty.org.
VOLUNTEER: Become a Reader,Tutor, or Mentor and make an immediate impact on the lives of children in need. Contact our Volunteer Engagement Team at volunteer@uwaylc.org or call 2-1-1 for more information.
Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 13
INCOME Poverty creates a vicious cycle of economic uncertainty, and many in our community are walking a financial tightrope. Did you know that:
“IF YOU WANT ONE YEAR OF PROSPERITY, GROW GRAIN. IF YOU WANT TEN YEARS OF PROSPERITY, GROW TREES. IF YOU WANT 100 YEARS OF PROSPERITY, GROW PEOPLE.” – Chinese Proverb
In Larimer County, 69% of people age 25 and older who live in poverty are employed at least part-time.4
Two in five U.S. adults graded themselves with a C, D, or F on their knowledge of personal finance in 2012, and 56% admit that they do not have a budget.14 Affordable rental housing is defined as housing which costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross monthly income for rent and utilities. An estimated 20,000 Larimer County households with total incomes less than $50,000 pay more than 30% of their income for rent.4 In the long-term, Larimer County will only prosper and grow if families are financially stable. We must address the financial stability of individuals and families in our community to break the cycle of poverty and broaden the financial tightrope into a sustainable path. Individuals and families need tools to navigate unplanned financial needs while maintaining the stability of their job and home.
OUR INCOME VISION:
All individuals and families are afforded the opportunity to become economically self-sufficient. How will we achieve this goal? Together with our partners, we have identified three research-based strategies within the Income impact area. United Way of Larimer County will lead, partner, and support activities within these strategies to help individuals and families stand on their own.
14 | United Way of Larimer County
INCOME 1. Employment and Job Training:
Workers access the workforce with employable skills and households earn a self-sufficient income. Individuals living in poverty need a clear point of entry into post-secondary education or job training opportunities. The working poor need an opportunity to obtain the skills needed to advance their career. Within this strategy, efforts will focus on increasing: • Access to and participation in degree, certification, and job training programs to enable workers to earn a living wage, retain a job, and increase their household income. • Job readiness and retention. • Opportunities for individuals and families to increase their household income.
3. Affordable Housing: Individuals and families obtain and maintain affordable housing.
To be financially stable and self-sufficient, working families need housing that is affordable. Often, low-income families spend more than half of their income on rent and/or mortgages, leaving them particularly vulnerable to eviction or foreclosure if their income is interrupted. Within this strategy, efforts will focus on increasing: • Number of low-income families who maintain housing. • Number of families and individuals who obtain housing.
families become informed and empowered financial consumers who can manage finances and debt, and build assets.
Increasing earnings alone is not enough for families and individuals to achieve selfsufficiency. They must also build savings, and gain and sustain assets. Within this strategy, efforts will focus on increasing: • Access to financial capability services to increase financial management knowledge and skills. • Access to Federal and State chartered financial institutions. • Awareness and use of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other available public benefits and income supports. • Ability for families to navigate unplanned financial needs while maintaining the stability of their job, home, and basic needs.
YOU HELP? GIVE: Your contribution to United Way’s Income Impact Fund supports programs and strategies to ensure that everyone
2. Financial Capability: Individuals and
HOW CAN
has the opportunity to become a thriving member
How will we measure our impact? United Way of Larimer County and its partners are committed to measuring progress in a common, collective approach. The following Community-Level Outcomes will demonstrate the collective impact of county-wide efforts to help individuals and families become self-sufficient: • Increase the number of workers ready to enter and succeed in the workforce. • Increase the number of informed and empowered financial consumers. • Increase the number of households earning a self-sufficient income. • Increase the number of families and individuals maintaining affordable housing.
of our community.
ADVOCATE: Share information on Free Tax Prep services for your neighbors, co-workers, and friends who make less than $50,000/year. Call 2-1-1 (or 970-407-7066) for more information.
VOLUNTEER: Sign up to volunteer as an ally, childcare provider or meal preparer with Circles®Larimer County, a local program that engages the community in solving local poverty issues. Contact our Volunteer Engagement Team at volunteer@uwaylc.org or call 2-1-1 for more
Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 15
information.
HEALTH “PEOPLE FIRST CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH MEETING THEIR BASIC NEEDS; ONLY AFTERWARDS, DO THEY PURSUE ANY HIGHER NEEDS.” – Abdolkarim Soroush
While United Way works to address the root causes of important community issues for long-term, lasting change, we realize that there are individuals in Larimer County who need our support right now. 13.4% of Larimer County residents are food insecure, meaning they lack access to enough food for a healthy life.15
An estimated 1,372 children in Larimer County schools were identified as being homeless during the 2011-12 school year. This was a 10% increase over the 2010-11 school year, compared to a 2.2% increase in the total enrollment.16 In Larimer County, the population over age 65 will grow 141% over the next 20 years. This is also referred to as “The Silver Tsunami.”17
Basic needs services are vital to individuals with chronic conditions and for individuals and families in crisis needing temporary support. When individuals are unable to meet their immediate needs, it becomes more difficult to focus on long-term goals such as employment, sustainable housing, or education. Basic needs services are critical to getting people back on their feet and on the road to self-sufficiency.
OUR HEALTH VISION:
All individuals and families in Larimer County have access to services to achieve stability in their lives and maintain independence. How will we achieve this goal? People living in poverty and families in crisis have a diverse set of needs based on their individual circumstances. Also, community conditions and needs change over time as a result of many unpredictable factors, including fluctuations in government services and effects of natural disasters. We must be sensitive to these changes and flexible to support our community’s most pressing needs.
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HEALTH United Way of Larimer County will lead, partner, and support activities in our community that achieve the following:
1. Access to services to meet basic
3. Ability for seniors to live productive,
needs and mitigate negative consequences of crisis.
healthy lifestyles by contributing to and benefiting from community resources.
2. Access to services to maintain quality 4. Ability for individuals with disabilities of life and self-sufficiency.
to live productive, healthy lifestyles by contributing to and benefiting from community resources.
Transportation
od Fo
Disas te Recov r Relief & ery
Stabilize Families in Crisis & Maintain Independence
ility & Ut ce t n e R stan Assi
HOW CAN
YOU HELP? GIVE: Your contribution to United Way’s Health Impact Fund supports programs and strategies to ensure basic needs of
Hea Safe & lthy Life
or sf ce rs rvi nio Se Se
Disability Resources & Services
Em As erg sis en tan cy ce
on & mati r o f In rral Refe ces i v Ser
Em er Ho me She gen les lte cy sn r & es s
These services and resources cover the following areas:
our community are met.
ADVOCATE: Attend a Poverty Simulation and learn how to help advance the cause. Contact our Volunteer Engagement Team at volunteer@uwaylc.org for
How will we measure our impact?
more information.
United Way of Larimer County and its partners are committed to measuring progress in a common, collective approach. In the Health impact area, we will report on number of services provided across Larimer County to stabilize families in crisis and enable individuals to maintain independence. Examples of these services include, but are not limited to the following: • Number of meals provided in Larimer County so that individuals and families are able to meet the gap between income and public benefits. • Invested resources that provide rental assistance so that families are able to maintain stable housing. • Transportation options for individuals needing transit to and from work, and for seniors and individuals with disabilities to access community resources. Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 17
VOLUNTEER: Coordinate a Service-ToGo project, such as making hygiene kits, meal bags, or fleece scarves for a homeless shelter. Contact our Volunteer Engagement Team at volunteer@uwaylc.org or call 2-1-1 for more information.
TRACKING PROGRESS United Way of Larimer County, alongside its Community Impact Partners, will be tracking progress in the three impact areas of Education, Income, and Health. The method of evaluation will happen on two levels: • We will work with Community Impact Partners to report annual progress measures with a baseline for evaluation
beginning in the 2014-2015 funding year. • We will also be monitoring and reporting on changes occurring at the broader population level based on data
from ACS 3-year averages. We are committed to accountability and transparency with our donors, partners, and community. This approach will provide the most accurate information in relation to our goals and objectives.
SOURCES 1
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, (2013). 2013 poverty guidelines. Retrieved from: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count Data Center, (2013). Children under 6 with all parents in the labor force. Retrieved from http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5283-children-under-6-with-all-parents-in-the-labor-force?loc=7&loct=5 2
3
Center for Women’s Welfare, (2013). The self sufficiency standard. Retrieved from http://www.selfsufficiencystandard.org/standard.html
4
U.S. Census Bureau, (2013). American community survey. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/acs/www
Shields, M., Aronson, M., Mushinski, D., & Keyser, D. (2008). What explains recent increases in poverty in Larimer County and Fort Collins? Informally published manuscript, Department of Economics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
5
Colorado Department of Education, (2011). K-12 free and reduced lunch eligibility by district, and school. Retrieved from http://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/documents/cdereval/download/pdf/2011pm/pk-12freeandreducedluncheligibility bydistrictandschool.pdf 6
7
U.S. Census Bureau, (2012). DP03 Selected Economic Characteristics, 2009-2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates
Colorado Department of Local Affairs, (2013). Population Estimates and Forecasts by Age and Gender. Retrieved from https://dola.colorado.gov/demog_webapps/pagCategory.jsf 8
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Zero to Three, (2009). Early experiences matter. Retrieved from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/Policy_Guide.pdf?docID=8401
Annie E. Casey Foundation, (2010). 2010 KIDS COUNT special report: Why reading by the end of third grade matters. Retrieved from http://www.aecf.org/~/media/Pubs/Initiatives/KIDS%20COUNT/123/2010KCSpecReport/AEC_report_color_highres.pdf 10
Lofstrom, M., Tyler, J.H., (2009). Finishing high school: Alternative pathways and dropout recovery. America’s High Schools, 19(1), Retrieved from https://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=30&articleid=49§ionid=175 11
National Governor’s Association, (2013). A Governor’s Guide to Early Literacy: Getting All Students Reading by third Grade. Retrieved from http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/2013/1310NGAEarlyLiteracyReportWeb.pdf 12
America’s Promise Alliance (2013). The High Cost of High School Dropouts: What the Nation Pays for Inadequate High Schools. Alliance for Excellent Education, Issue Brief, Retrieved from http://www.americaspromise.org/~/media/Files/Resources/the_high_cost_of_high_school_dropouts-RES.ashx 13
National Foundation for Credit Counseling, (2012). The 2012 consumer financial literacy survey. Retrieved from http://www.nfcc.org/newsroom/FinancialLiteracy/files2012/FLS2012FINALREPORT0402late.pdf 14
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Feeding America, (2013). Food bank locator. Retrieved from http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx?zip=80524
Colorado Department of Education, (2012). McKinney-Vento – Homeless Education. Retrieved from http://www.cde.state.co.us/dropoutprevention/homeless_index 16
Carcasson, M., (2012). Growing older in Fort Collins – Silver tsunami as a golden opportunity. Retrieved from http://www.cpd.colostate.edu/growingolderyear1summary.pdf 17
18 | United Way of Larimer County
HOW TO LIVE
UNITED We invite you to be part of something greater than yourself. You can be a part of the change we all want for our community. So much depends on your pledge. There are so many ways to impact our community’s future through a gift to United Way of Larimer County’s Community Impact Fund. Whether you choose an outright gift, stock, or a planned gift, we will maximize your generosity so it will have the greatest impact on the lives of those most in need in Larimer County. You are the one others listen to. Your leadership skills can inspire others to advance the common good. Lend your vision, voice, and talents within a caring community of committed professionals. Your expertise will lead the way. Volunteer as an individual. Organize a volunteer activity for your family, coworkers, or church group. Or make a longer-term commitment as a board or committee member. You’ll instantly see the impact you’re having in our community.
GIVE
ADVOCATE
VOLUNTEER
Learn more and get involved at
UnitedWayofLarimerCounty.org // 970-407-7000
Community Impact Plan - 2.0 | 19
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Published February 2014