United Way for Greater Austin advances our mission — bringing our community together to break economic barriers and build opportunity for all — using four strategies. One of those is services and support.
United Way envisions a Central Texas where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. And 2024 marks an important milestone for us: 100 years serving the community! As we reflect on a century of change and a legacy of impact, our new strategic plan lays a strong foundation for our next 100 years.
Our new strategic plan galvanizes our promise to realize a future where every child is set up for success with high-quality early care and education – in a community where everyone is connected to the essential resources they need, when they need them. Through this plan, four key strategies emerged. One of them is services and support.
One example of our work in services and support is our Navigation Center, which paved the way for connecting local families and individuals to resources in our region. For more than 25 years, we have served as a 24/7 helpline that connects families and individuals right here in our community to more than 30,000 resources. Last year, we answered more than 200,000 requests for help – that’s one call every two minutes.
Our Navigation Center is just one example of our work in services and support. Programs like Family Connects and Parenting Students Project provide health and education services to families in our region. We also support more than 50 organizations who provide essential resources.
In every service we provide, our community knows they will receive an answer. Through our 2-1-1 helpline, clients receive access to resources like housing, health care, income support and employment, utilities, food, and more.
One of those calls was from Mariana.
Mariana couldn’t ignore her increasing lower abdominal pain. Her fear: a postpartum infection.
It wasn’t as simple as a quick visit to the doctor. Mariana was new to Austin, unable to speak English, had no family in town, and no transportation of her own.
So, fearing a life-threatening medical emergency, Mariana called United Way for Greater Austin’s Navigation Center.
Her call was met with compassion and a sense of urgency. Mariana was connected with a community health worker who went straight to her home to help her. They assisted with transportation to the hospital, helped her fill out medical forms, and stayed with her for hours to interpret between medical providers. Thankfully, Mariana was experiencing normal postpartum symptoms and made a full recovery. She and the community health worker created a plan for future emergencies so Mariana wouldn’t have to live in fear of the next health scare.
For Mariana, her health emergency was just the beginning. Basic resources like transportation and interpretation became immediate obstacles to having her primary medical need addressed. Our Navigation Center ensured Mariana would receive the medical care she needed in addition to transportation and interpretation for timely, quality care.
For 100 years, United Way has championed the collective power of gathering and giving to strengthen our community through programs and services like our Navigation Center. With access to essential resources, Mariana and her family have an opportunity to thrive.
As we lay the foundation for 100 more years of community-building, our strategic framework galvanizes our promise to realize a future where every child is set up for success with high-quality early care and education – in a community where everyone is connected to the essential resources they need, when they need them.
United Way envisions our next century as one characterized by innovation, inclusivity, and an even more profound community impact. We stand as a beacon, guiding the way toward a future where everyone in Greater Austin has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Now, in a time where community is more important than ever, we invite you to be a part of ours.
Read another story about our work in programs and services