UNITED WAY OF MCLEAN COUNTY

PATHWAYS 2 PROSPERITY: THIS PROGRAM IS HELPING RESIDENTS FIND FUTURE STABILITY THROUGH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL ACCESS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND MORE. UWMC SEEKS TO INCREASE PROSPERITY BY ADDRESSING THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND ROOT CAUSES THAT LEAD TO MORE THAN 26,000 MCLEAN COUNTY HOUSEHOLDS THAT STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY. IN 2025, UNITED WAY'S WORKFORCE180 INITIATIVE INCLUDED OVER 100 YOUNG PEOPLE IN VARIOUS PHASES OF THE INITIATIVE - FROM INTAKE TO FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN. THIS INCLUDES OVER 20 YOUNG PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN THE WORKFORCE IN MCLEAN COUNTY, MANY OF WHOM ARE BREAKING INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLES OF POVERTY. WORKFORCE180 REMOVES ANY BARRIERS THAT THESE AT-RISK YOUTH MAY FACE, SUPPORTING THEM FINANCIALLY WHEN NECESSARY AS WELL AS THROUGH MENTORS AND OTHER WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, UWMC ADDRESSES MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AFFECTING LOCAL TEENS THROUGH OUR SUPPORT OF THE BRIDGE ACADEMY, AS WELL AS OUR THRIVEMIND INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARLE BROMENN. YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS REPRESENT A CONTINUUM, AND UNITED WAY HAS ADOPTED A STRATEGY OF SUPPORTING THESE EFFORTS AT VARIOUS POINTS ALONG THIS CONTINUUM.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN SERVICE PROVIDERS TO CLOSE GAPS FOR A SERVICE-BASED APPROACH FOR RESIDENTS. IN 2023, TWO INITIATIVES CAME ONLINE THAT PROMOTE LITERACY AND/OR ACCESS TO SERVICES. THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UWMC AND THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION AND PROVIDES A BOOK PER MONTH, FREE TO THE FAMILIES, FOR ANY ELIGIBLE CHILD (UNDER 5) IN MCLEAN COUNTY. NEARLY 2,600 KIDS HAVE SIGNED UP AT THIS POINT. UNITED WAY, ALONG WITH OTHER INVESTORS, HELPED CARLE BROMENN PURCHASE A BRAND NEW MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT THAT OPERATES THROUGHOUT MCLEAN COUNTY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON REACHING NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES THAT EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST DISPARITY IN POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES.