UNITED WAY OF DANE COUNTY INC

Youth Opportunity: Helping Young People Realize Their Full Potential. Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. At United Way, we help children get off to a good start and empower youth to reach their full potential by breaking down barriers to success. We advance early childhood education, literacy development, access to a high-quality K-12 education, college and career readiness and family engagement - fostering a future where every young person can realize their dreams. Children who start kindergarten-ready and finish high school are more likely to have the skills required to be successful in post-secondary education, an increasingly complicated job market and society. Adults with higher education levels are more likely to gain employment with family-sustaining wages. Strategies: Childcare and Early Childhood Development 1. Increase access to high quality, culturally relevant early care and education experiences particularly for Black, Indigenous and Families of Color experiencing poverty. 2. Build caregivers (parents and early care and education teachers) understanding of healthy child development through family and community outreach (outside of childcare, i.e. home visiting). 3. Connections to community resources and programs: remove barriers to accessing family support services that allow families to access the resources and services they need to overcome the experience of poverty (collective impact). 4. Support/influence policy changes that will deepen early learning and development outcomes for children. Strategies: In School, After School and Summer Learning, Literacy Development, Family Engagement and College and Career Readiness (K-12) 1. Facilitate access to additional learning opportunities to enhance students' mastery of academic content. 2. Build students' social/emotional and non-cognitive skills. 3. Ensure students' behavioral health and wellness. 4. Foster connection, belonging, leadership and academic success with youth at risk of disconnecting. 5. Recognize family engagement as a key component to improve student successes and outcomes. Goals: Build family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children under five and the adults in their lives together. All students succeed academically, and graduate high school prepared for higher education, career and community. Results: * 7,919 Dane County neighbors supported through Youth Opportunity programming * 196 Families reported improved parent-child interaction or increased knowledge about parenting * 1,379 elementary and middle school students improved social emotional skills * 427 high school students improved connection, belonging, leadership and/or academic success

Financial Security: Building Financial Stability and Strength. At United Way, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live in an affordable, safe, stable home and for homeownership to be an achievable goal for every family. Our Family Homelessness and Affordable Housing strategies ensure that families can maintain housing and avoid evictions as they work toward financial security. Our Job Readiness & Workforce Development strategies help underemployed individuals gain full time employment at $18+/hour with benefits in order to achieve financial security. When more individuals have jobs earning family-sustaining wages and safe and affordable housing, they are less stressed and more able to provide for themselves and their families - better positioning our entire community and our economy to thrive. Strategies: Family Homelessness Prevention and Affordable Housing The Family Homelessness and Affordable Housing strategies ensure that families can maintain housing and avoid evictions as they work toward financial security. 1. Support Quality Case Management for families at risk of or experiencing instability in their housing. 2. Increase investments in Housing First Programs. 3. Invest in Eviction Prevention. 4. Financial coaching specifically partnering with Black, Indigenous and People of Color led organizations already providing financial coaching programming and support services. 5. Invest in home ownership programs. Strategies: Job Readiness & Workforce Development: Adult education and job training Helping un or underemployed individuals gain full time employment at $18/hour with benefits in order to achieve financial security. 1. Support Workforce Development. Goal: More people are on pathways out of poverty. Results: * 29,127 Dane County neighbors supported through Financial Security programming * 101 Individuals did not return to prison after two years * 1,041 Households remained stably housed at 12 months * 280 People gained new or better employment at $18+/hour