When you contribute your time or money to help others, you'd like to see results...evidence that your gift really matters to someone, and to our community. Please take a look!

Thanks to United Way donors and volunteers, thousands of people are getting the help they need, in more than 150 vital Community Care Fund programs in partner agencies across the metro area. Here are some concrete examples of how this "safety net" of services has made an impact with your contribution:

• 80% of the children and teens in one funded program scored higher in their reading grades, thanks in part to their mentor. (Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands mentoring program)
• More than 1,200 youngsters in an after-school program had better math scores, and they demonstrated improved skills in conflict resolution and interpersonal contact. (Camp Fire USA Midlands Council after school program)
• All 52 teenagers in a youth development program accepted leadership roles in community service on local boards and committees. (Jewish Community Services Youth Development)
• When it came time to discipline their children, 146 participants in a parenting class reported using at least one of the non-violent techniques they were taught.
• 324 of the teens in a special youth program say their involvement has helped them stay away from drugs. (YMCA Youth Development Program)
• 68% of the adult students in a parenting education class demonstrated greater knowledge of appropriate discipline, age-appropriate behaviors and positive activities for their children. (Heartland Family Service’s Parenting Education for At Risk Families)

• All 46 of the people enrolled in a foreclosure assistance program were able to reorganize their finances and keep their homes. (Family Housing Advisory Services)
• 50 adults in a family homeless shelter got the assistance they needed to find employment. (MICAH House)
• 74% of the women in a domestic violence shelter received the counseling and assistance needed to find a safe and permanent residence away from the abuser. (Heartland Family Service)
• Nearly 90 disabled people in a housing discrimination program had modifications made to their homes or they found other reasonable accommodations. (Family Housing Advisory Services)
• 80% of the families in a transitional shelter moved into more independent housing. (The Salvation Army Transitional Shelter)
• Within 30 days of arriving, 69% of the residents in a transitional shelter either found a job, had started job training or some kind of classes, which puts them on a path toward independent living. (The Salvation Army Transitional Shelter)

• Free tax preparation sites co-sponsored by United Way's Financial Stability Partnership and the Omaha EITC Coalition in Spring 2009 resulted in more than 3,600 filed returns for elderly and needy residents of our community, compared to 113 returns in Spring 2008. Volunteer preparers served more than 3,700 hours at the sites, and they helped filers determine if they qualified for earned income credits and child tax credits.  On average, the filers received a refund of $1,211, which goes a long way for an individual or family in need.

• 96% of the children enrolled in a family support program received all of their well baby health checkups on schedule. (Lutheran Family Services Building Families and Children program)
• More than 4,700 older adults with a short- or long-term physical challenge received medical equipment they needed to remain mobile and healthy. (HELP Adult Services)
• 97% of the infants and toddlers in a family-building program received their necessary immunizations on schedule, safeguarding their health and development. (Lutheran Family Services Building Families and Children program)
• After learning the value of establishing daily routines and participating more in community activities, 103 adults in a mental health program demonstrated fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. (Lutheran Family Services Mental Health Care and Counseling program)
• 156 children who needed emergency shelter also received regular medical attention there, safeguarding both their physical and emotional health in a time of crisis. (Child Saving Institute-Emergency Shelter for Youth)
• 98% of the older adults who regularly visit a funded senior center report feeling less lonely and isolated, thanks to the regular interaction with staff and supportive friends. (Heartland Family Service Senior Center)

_{( Thanks for making these outcomes possible in 2008! )}  

2-1-1    INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CENTER

Calls to the 2-1-1 information and referral phone line are up 31%.  (Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, 2009, compared to same period in 2008). Your gifts help us connect callers with nearby programs that best fit their need. 

So what were the most frequently mentioned needs among 2-1-1 callers?
Utility Assistance
Rent Assistance
Food Assistance
Housing
Health – physical and mental / expenses
Legal Services
Furniture/appliances
Bus fare/gas money

Most likely to call 2-1-1*
Females 74% Males 19%
Age 25 to 34
Caucasian 45% African American 35% Hispanic 3%

*Callers are not required to disclose their gender, ethnicity, etc., so stated percentages will not total 100%.

Because people’s needs continue to outweigh local resources, we need to use statistics gathered from 2-1-1 calls to plot a course for future services. Again, it’s more than treating today’s symptoms; it’s about trying to prevent the problems that bring people to 2-1-1’s doorstep in the first place.

RESULTS FROM OUR CAMPAIGN PARTNERS IN "COMMUNITY HEALTH CHARITIES NEBRASKA": 

Families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia disorders benefit from making connections with local community organizations. Of the participants in a caregivers’ seminar, 96% said they now knew more about local programs that could help them. And 92% of the participating caregivers say they learned something that would change the way they assist their loved ones who struggle with the disease. (Caregiver Educational Presentations – Alzheimer’s Association)

Proper self-care can make a world of difference for someone struggling with a chronic disease. After taking a self-help course, 78% of the arthritis patients who participated reported a decrease in their pain level. One month later, 76% of the course participants continue to use the self-help behaviors, improving their overall health. (Arthritis Foundation, Nebraska Chapter)

The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis can strain even the strongest relationships. 72% of the participants in an MS education program reported learning a new coping skill or conflict resolution tool to use as they learn to live with MS. (MS Education – National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Nebraska Chapter)

Out of nearly 5,000 Nebraska preschoolers who received vision screenings, nearly 840 of them were found to have problems that required a visit to an eye doctor…and 100 children received free eye exams and glasses. (Screen On Site - Prevent Blindness Nebraska)

Teaching children how to control their chronic disease helps them stay healthier. After a year in a free club for asthma patients ages 7-14, 132 members had worked with their doctors on a written asthma action plan. This activity helps reinforce the steps they need to prevent attacks. (AsthmaBusters Club – American Lung Association of Nebraska)

Nearly 93% of the people in a high risk group who were screened for kidney disease found out that they had one or more abnormal test readings… giving them warning that their health was at risk. Armed with professional results, they could work with their primary doctors to plan a course of treatment. (Kidney Early Evaluation Program - National Kidney Foundation of Nebraska)

Teaching school personnel how to make their buildings safer for young asthma patients can reduce the incidence of breathing problems. 76% of the schools recruited have fully implemented an “action kit” that helps them identify and remove asthma triggers in the school buildings. (Tools for Schools – American Lung Association of Nebraska)

For more information, call (402) 522-7904 or contact our Marketing Team by email.