This summer, United Way for Greater Austin awarded a total of $112,000 in one-time grant funding to 23 qualified community organizations delivering effective programs and services that advance the goals of the community coalitions we convene as part of our collective impact work to fight poverty.
Here at United Way for Greater Austin we’re working hard alongside our community partners to ensure that all children in Austin/Travis County enter Kindergarten happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in school and beyond. That’s why we lead the Austin/Travis-County Success By 6 Coalition (SX6), a community-wide collaboration of child and family advocates – providers, parents, policymakers, civic leaders, and experts – with a shared goal to ensure every child born in the Austin area receives the support and care they deserve during their essential first 2,000 days.
To help advance this goal, United Way put out a call for proposals to fund programs and services that are advancing SX6’s goals with a focus on efforts that build capacity to deliver prenatal and postpartum health services that are culturally responsive and support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) women and infants, and elevate family voice as part of the planning and decision-making processes of community-based organizations serving children and families birth to age five.
We’re thrilled to announce that the following organizations were awarded mini-grants, up to $7,500, to support their programs and services that are supporting our littlest Austinites!
Culturally responsive prenatal and postpartum support
Catholic Charities of Texas: support the St. Gabriel’s Pregnancy and Parenting Program that helps families give their children a healthy start at life through evidence-based prenatal and parenting education, family case management and guidance, mentoring and advocacy, and material items, including mental health support group in Spanish for postpartum mothers and individual or family counseling sessions for undocumented mothers
Mother’s Milk Bank at Austin: support successful breastfeeding journeys with breastfeeding education and support led by and provided in BIPOC communities
Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW): deepen and expand MSVW’s work, including bilingual group therapy sessions for underserved Black and Latinx communities, women of color support circles, and strengthening the postpartum curriculum to incorporate doula/ certified lactation counselor trainings, and professional development opportunities for staff
Elevating family voices at community-based organizations
Open Door Preschools: support family members from each school to join the Board of Directors by removing barriers, such as providing child care during in-person board meetings and expanding community circles — parent-led meetings where families discuss pressing issues and their vision for the school community
Congratulations to all the organizations that received funding for their programs and services, and thank you for standing United with us to ensure that all children in Austin/Travis County enter Kindergarten happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in school and beyond!
During this grant cycle, United Way also provided funding to organizations advancing the goals of our other two community coalitions: the 2-Gen and Greater Austin Reading (GARC) Coalitions. Check out this blog post to learn more about funding for SX6 initiatives and this one to learn more about funding for GARC initiatives.