UNITED WAY OF JOHNSON & WASHINGTON COUNT

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - READY SET SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND OTHER ESSENTIALS TO STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN JOHNSON AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES. LAUNCHED AS A PILOT IN 2024, THE PROGRAM SERVED 1,568 CHILDREN IN ITS FIRST YEAR, HELPING THEM START THE SCHOOL YEAR PREPARED AND CONFIDENT. UNITED WAY COORDINATES THIS EFFORT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AGENCIES, DONORS, AND VOLUNTEERS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL EQUITY.DISASTER SERVICES: IN FY25, UNITED WAY CONTINUED TO LEAD THE COORDINATION OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER (COAD) COALITION, STRENGTHENING LOCAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS THROUGH PLANNING, PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING, AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT. COAD SUBCOMMITTEES FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM RECOVERY, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, PREPAREDNESS AND TRAINING, PUBLIC OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND UNMET NEEDS, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND EFFICIENTLY AND EQUITABLY IN TIMES OF CRISIS.UNITED WAY MAINTAINED READINESS THROUGH THE EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER CENTER (EVC) AND DISASTER CALL CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE, ENSURING TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, UPDATED PROTOCOLS, AND A COORDINATED RESPONSE FRAMEWORK WERE IN PLACE. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN PLANNING EFFORTS WITH JOHNSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. THESE EFFORTS REFLECT A PROACTIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND ENSURE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE WHEN EMERGENCIES ARISE.UNITED WAYS OF IOWA: A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL UNITED WAYS, WHICH FOCUSES ON SHARING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION, ACHIEVING EFFICIENCIES IN OPERATIONS AND FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES IN DRIVING COMMUNITY IMPACT AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. UNITED WAYS OF IOWA BRINGS ITS COLLECTIVE VOICE TO PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL ON ISSUES RELATED TO YOUTH OPPORUNITY, INCLUDING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ACCESS TO CHILD CARE, K-12 EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION; FINANCIAL SECURITY, INCLUDING POVERTY, HOUSING, INCOME SUPPORTS, WORKFORCE TRAINING AND ECONOMIC STABILITY; HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES, SUPPORT FOR AGING SERVICES AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, INCLUDING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE, EFFECTIVE RESOURCE REFERRAL, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS.