Author: Christa Berry

Hands On focuses on holiday gifts

Dates:  November 16, 2012 – December 19, 2012 Hands On Central Texas, UWATX’s volunteer program, is working with our community partners to support Austin families this holiday season. Please join our effort in fundraising the following items for the following groups and individuals: Gift Cards for Financial Education Middle School Uniforms & Sweaters Playground Adoption & Clean-Up Tablet Covers & Screen Protectors for Success By 6 Pre-Teens to Young Adults Book Drive Teacher Care Kits Turkey Donations to Local Food Pantry The Basics: Diapers, Wipes and Underwear (socks, too!) Culturally Sensitive Thanksgiving Dinner Drive for Local Middle School Students This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity that your faith-based organization, school leadership group and neighborhood can rally behind. This citywide Holiday Drive is an example of United Way’s goal to build philanthropy in our community by providing both giving and volunteer opportunities, allowing everyone to be a philanthropist regardless of how much they earn or where they live. The act of giving binds us all together and joins us in the shared mission of making sure our community continues to thrive. Holiday Drives can be organized individually or as a team. This opportunity to help continues through Wednesday, December 19th. Find out more. Photo courtesy of cwwycoff1 via Creative Commons.  

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Local Holiday Assistance Programs: How you can help

Each year around the holidays, nonprofits, faith-based communities and community partners come together to contribute to holiday joy for the most needy in our community. Programs range from holiday meals (like yesterday’s Feast of Sharing, put on by H-E-B) and food boxes to holiday gifts for children. And whether you’re in need of these resources or you’d like to contribute, you can just call 2-1-1,  a service of our Navigation Center, to connect to up-to-date information about these holiday assistance programs. In Travis County, holiday gift programs are provided by The Salvation Army Social Service Center, Operation Blue Santa, which is operated by the Austin Police Department, and Brown Santa, run by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. The programs match individuals and families in need with organizations and individual sponsors who provide holiday meals, toys and gifts. For many area children, these are the only toys they will receive all year. In addition to providing holiday assistance information through 2-1-1, the United Way Navigation Center publishes calendars each year that include free or low-cost Thanksgiving and Christmas meals in Central Texas. The calendars are used by area nonprofits, like the Capital Area Food Bank. 2-1-1 also provides information on holiday volunteer opportunities each year. Just last week, 2-1-1 received a call from a woman who had received assistance from the Christmas Bureau in the past and said that because she is in a better place in her life this year, she wanted information on how to volunteer to help others in […]

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UWATX’s Navigation Center Partners with CAMPO

Beginning in November, our Navigation Center will embark on a partnership with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to help improve access to information about transportation resources for callers of 2-1-1. CAMPO is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties in Central Texas. The purpose of CAMPO is to coordinate regional transportation planning with counties, cities, Capital Metro, the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and other transportation providers in the region and to approve the use of federal transportation funds within the region. Currently, most of the transportation-related calls received at 2-1-1 pertain to other caller needs, such as older adults or people with disabilities who need help getting to medical appointments; residents in rural areas who may have to rely on multiple transportation systems to make a single trip; and families living in poverty who have run out of food and cannot afford bus fare to get to a food pantry. The funding provided by CAMPO will allow 2-1-1 to work with Capital Metro and CARTS to better assist callers in utilizing transportation services, social services and other community resources more seamlessly. UWATX Navigation Center staff will work with transportation specialists at both organizations to create trainings for 2-1-1 Navigation Specialists on how to navigate the complex transportation system and relay information to callers in a usable way. If staff are unable to assist a caller with complex transportation issues, we will be able to escalate […]

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It’s here: 2012 Target Graduation End-of-Year Results

We’ve put the finishing touches on the Target Graduation 2012 End-of-year Results, a report that summarizes the program’s successes over the past year and goals for major improvement in the lives of middle school students in the Greater Austin area. Target Graduation focuses on two areas of work –middle school and out-of-school time – both of which are proven to have a major impact on the success of a student in college, work and life. In the middle school work, Target Graduation’s goal is to change the trajectory of three high-needs middle schools in the Greater Austin area by creating and refining a system of board-spectrum services. Through the Middle School Matters initiative, the program coordinates a wide array of evidence-based services and provides campuses with integrated coordination to ensure the services area available to meet the specific needs of students. Great strides were made this year: As a result of UWATX coordination and funding, our partners delivered more than 1,200 interventions (sessions in behavioral health, case management, mentoring, out-of-school time, parent education and tutoring) at 3 high-needs middle schools. Target Graduation facilitated 75 Youth Program Quality assessments, 23 professional development courses and the training of 108 individuals on improving the quality of their youth programs. Looking forward, we will continue to implement research- and evidence-based models and tracking results to improve the outcomes for children and youth in Greater Austin. We are excited about the future potential of Target Graduation and all UWATX could do for Greater Austin, our stakeholders […]

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Pilot Training: Financial Education Delivered to Social Workers

“About 1 in 5 people, or 20.3 percent of all people in Austin lived in poverty [in 2011],” according to a recent Austin American-Statesman article. Although that’s a decrease from the 20.8 percent in 2010, it’s still a significant number…nearly 32,000 people. One of the most effective solutions in fighting poverty is to educate working poor individuals and families – by supplying them with tools and support individuals can become empowered to take control of their finances. The hurdle: Providing education to 32,000 Austinites would take a large amount of resources and even more time. The solution: Using pre-existing platforms, such as a client/social worker relationship, to reach groups of the working poor provides considerable opportunities to scale. Across the country, social service providers are providing financial stability services in a way that’s culturally competent and builds off a client’s strengths. By understanding the financial values and habits of clients, practitioners are better able to address the root cause of financial insecurity. And so, last week United Way for Greater Austin launched a training, the Client-focused Financial Empowerment Seminar, which was piloted at the University of Texas’ School of Social Work. The seminar, which was a full-day training, was coordinated by UWATX’s Financial Opportunity staff and was conducted by national experts, Robin McKinney and Sara Johnson. Both McKinney and Johnson are directors of Maryland and Baltimore’s Creating Assets, Savings and Hope (C.A.S.H.) campaign, a network of organizations that promote financial stability for working families. The more than 60 participants were […]

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2012 Fall Day of Caring Complete!

Although it was rainy and dreary this morning, we still forged ahead with our annual Fall Day of Caring – with some projects starting at 6 am! The turnout was fantastic – 749 volunteers showed up to power through the nasty weather and give back to our community. Volunteers signed up for Fall Day of Caring as individuals and employees of local companies like ABC Home & Commercial Services, Austin American-Statesmen, Freescale, and Dell, and spread out across 20+ projects. Projects included several beautification projects, an Empty Bowl project at Garza High School, financial kit distribution, and Disaster Response Training + more. Over the course of the day, volunteers completed  2,622 hours of service – giving a total of $57,123 in donated labor costs! To conclude the day, we hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at The Long Center, where volunteers got to kick back and listen to some great local music. Special thanks to Freescale for being our Premiere Sponsor and to Austin Coca-Cola for donating beverages to keep our volunteers hydrated!   View additional photos from the event!                             Below is some initial feedback from participants of Fall Day of Caring. Please feel free to leave additional feedback in the comment fields below. ABC Home & Commercial wrote about their time at Open Door Preschool: “Great team building experience. The Open Door folks were fantastic and very appreciative. Enjoyed working with them.” – Bobby Jenkins “I volunteered with […]

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Partner Profile: Velocity Credit Union

Name: Velocity Credit Union Partner for: 2 years with Bank On Central Texas Partner with: Financial Opportunity   Our relationship: Since the launch of Bank On Central Texas (BOCT) in 2010, Velocity Credit Union has been a member of the coalition. BOCT, a program of United Way for Central Texas, aims to bank the unbanked by offering resources that link families and individuals directly with banking institutions that offer zero- or low-cost banking options. This year, Velocity has also partnered with UWATX by attending financial education workshops, called Learn Where You Earn. At the workshops Velocity staff members are available to answer questions about banking and encourage participation in direct deposit. What we’ve accomplished: BOCT opened more than 6,000 bank accounts in its first year, saving Austinites $2 million in check-cashing fees. How Velocity Credit Union makes Austin greater: “Velocity has a strong ethic of social responsibility. They are committed to helping Austinites improve their financial wellbeing, which makes them an excellent partner.” – Faith Ryan, Director, Program Coordinator, Financial Opportunity.

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Partner Profile: Foundation Communities

Name: Foundation Communities Partner for: 5+ years Partner with: Financial Opportunity   Our relationship: Since 2005 Foundation Communities has provided free tax preparation assistance for Central Texas families, enabling them to claim tax credits and refunds they’ve earned without paying high fees to commercial tax preparers. For several years, United Way for Greater Austin has helped fund Foundation Communities to specifically support their Community Tax Centers. Additionally, our Navigation Center provides eligibility screenings and referrals for the tax preparation assistance program. What we’ve accomplished: In 2012, with the help of UWATX, Foundation Communities was able to secure 11 million dollars in Earned Income Tax Credits for low-income families and individuals as well as $29 million in tax refunds. How Foundation Communities makes Austin greater: “Foundation Communities is committed to the financial wellness of Austin residents – making it possible for more Austinites to overcome barriers to economic opportunities.” – Sarah Janecka, Director, Financial Opportunity.

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Partner Profile: Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area

Name: Boys and Girls Club Partner for: 40 years Partner with: Target Graduation   Our relationship: Long-time partnership For 40 years, United Way of Greater Austin (UWATX) has partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. Due to their expertise in out-of-school time programs, the Boys and Girls Clubs are an extremely valuable member of UWATX’s  Youth Program Quality Initiative subcommittee. Currently, a number of assessors and trainers dedicate time to plan and implement the cycle of improvement. Sharing knowledge and experience In Fall 2012, UWATX will release an Out-of-School (OST) Time Agenda, a detailed plan with buy-in from local stakeholders to create and improve the OST system in Central Texas. Without valuable partners like the Boys and Girls Clubs offering guidance and knowledge, this Agenda wouldn’t be as comprehensive. What we’ve accomplished: Through this partnership, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area and UWATX are providing Central Texas youth with higher-quality OST time activities and programs.  With their support, YPQ was able to provide trainings to 388 youth workers and assess the quality of 78 out of school time programs. How Boys and Girls Club makes Austin greater: “The Boys and Girls of the Austin Area understand the importance of quality out-of-school time – they’re experts in this field.  They’re a long-time partner who are actively involved and willing to share their expertise.” – Laura LaFuente, Director, Target Graduation

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Partner Profile: Manor Independent School District

Partner: Manor Independent School District (ISD) Partner for: 5 years Partners with: Target Graduation Our relationship: Implementing proven solutions to support the growth of students United Way’s relationship with Manor Independent School District (ISD) started through the District’s involvement in the Youth Program Quality (YPQ) Initiative, a continuous comprehensive quality improvement system for out-of-school time programs. Based on four key areas (safe environments, supportive environments, interaction and engagement), YPQ is proven to impact positive youth development. Through its partnership with UWATX, Manor ISD is able to assess and implement improvement plans for its programs to advance youth development. Partnering in many ways In addition to being a partner through our youth work, Manor ISD also provides volunteer engagement opportunities to UWATX corporate partners like Goldman Sachs on their campuses. They have also worked with our Financial Opportunity program to deliver financial literacy training to students’ parents and families. What we’ve accomplished: Through this partnership, in the 2011- 2012 school year Manor ISD and UWATX helped coordinate 559 interventions for Decker Middle School students. How Manor ISD makes Austin greater: “The Manor ISD is a wonderful partner to work with – they make the coordination aspect so easy. They’re always open to collaboration and identifying opportunities to continuously improve the work we all do for the students.” – Laura LaFuente, Director, Target Graduation.

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