United Way of Weld County

According to the World Health Organization, early childhood is the most important phase for overall development throughout a person’s lifespan, and early experiences determine future health, education, and economic participation.

United Way of Weld County's early childhood initiatives support parents, grandparents, early childhood professionals, childcare providers (both licensed and exempt), and teachers in preparing children to enter school ready to learn and ready to read on target by third grade. Third grade reading level is a strong indicator of whether children will successfully stay in school, graduate from high school on time, and become contributing citizens. United Way provides this support through the provision of direct service programs, managing several state grant-funded programs locally, providing advocacy at the state level, and coordinating the efforts of Weld County organizations working in early education.

Current programs include:
-Child Care Provider Professional Development
-Child Care Provider Recruitment
-Child Care Resource & Referral
-Colorado Shines Quality Improvement Project
-Expanding Quality in Infant and Toddler Care (EQIT)
-Family Friendly Workplace Practices
-Family Support
-Northern Colorado Children's Festival
-PASO Institute
-RoadMap4Kids

Many nonprofits in Weld County operate with minimal budgets. Sometimes volunteer support is the only way these organizations can achieve their mission. On average, about 26% of Americans volunteer. Colorado consistently surpasses the national average – nearly one third of Coloradoan’s volunteer each year – that’s 1.32 million people! Coloradoans volunteer, on average, 160 million hours of service a year, averaging 40 hours per resident each year. Volunteer Engagement at United Way of Weld County helps make these community connections for volunteerism.

Volunteer Engagement (VE) at United Way of Weld County (UWWC) provides direct service to the Weld County community and creates a more connected, cohesive, and supportive environment for all its citizens. VE acts as a hub for connecting interested volunteers by promoting meaningful opportunities via an electronic resource guide, a mobile phone app, and an online registration and referral system. VE also convenes conversations and holds trainings on nonprofit volunteer management capacity building. Additionally, VE oversees the UWWC volunteer management system and recruits volunteers for a number of UWWC programs, projects, and events.

Volunteer Engagement also coordinates Day of Action, an annual one-day event for community members, businesses, and families to volunteer and complete projects at local nonprofit organizations.

Weld County has an overall poverty level of 14% (over 36,900 people); much of the poverty is concentrated in Greeley and Evans, with one in three people living in poverty in the eastern part of Greeley. With a record low housing vacancy rate, rental rates are increasing, leaving little to no housing for low income residents. Many households live paycheck to paycheck, and a single event can easily push them over the edge to homelessness. For the majority of households, one unexpected cost could be all it takes to send them into economic distress: 75% of people in households making less than $50,000 a year would have difficulty coming up with $1,000 to cover an unexpected bill; 67% of people with household incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 would have trouble; Even for the country's wealthiest 20%—households making more than $100,000 a year—38% say they would have at least some difficulty coming up with $1,000.

Weld Project Connect (WPC) is a one-day event providing on-site health and human care services to adults and families who are in need due to household and financial insecurity, job loss, health problems and other critical life issues. While creating a welcoming environment providing actual services rather than just referrals or information, WPC hosts over 70 free services such as health screenings and medical services, immunizations, citizenship class registration, library card issuance, pet licensing, credit reports, job referrals, résumé writing assistance, podiatry services, legal counseling, documentation assistance, mental health counseling, veterans assistance, haircuts, food stamp enrollment, personal care, early child development insight and much more.

In 2016, a community-wide collaboration of volunteers and providers came together to develop
the first Weld’s Way Home strategic plan. These dedicated community members understood
that ending homelessness requires coordinated system-level change and that reforms and
improvements would take time, dedication, and hard work to achieve. Over the next five years,
partnerships formed, volunteers came together, and capacity was built to accomplish the
work outlined in the plan. Some of these key successes include the establishment of
the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care and the coordinated entry system, the opening of
the Housing Navigation Center and cold weather shelter, and the revitalization of the High Plains Housing Development Corporation—a nonprofit housing developer dedicated to building affordable housing in Weld
County.

Provides and manages direct service programs and access to services:
- 2-1-1 Colorado Information & Referral
- Housing Navigation Center and cold weather shelter
- Reading Great by 8
* ChildCare4Weld.org
* Child Care Provider Professional Development
* Child Care Provider Recruitment
* CO Shines Quality Improvement Project
* Covering Weld Diaper Bank
* Providers Advancing School Outcomes (PASO Institute)
* RoadMap4Kids
- Northern Colorado Continuum of Care - Coordinated Assessment and Housing Placement System
- Thriving Weld Dashboard
- Weld Child Care
- Weld County's Early Childhood Council
- Weld Project Connect
- Weld Together
- Weld's Way Home

Funds and supports a robust partner agency network:
- Collective Impact Fund
- Colorado Tutoring Corps
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program
- Special Grants
- Weld County Recreation Scholarships

For their life success, it is critical that youth have an adult to go to for support when they are facing a significant challenge. This caring connection increases mental health and makes it more likely that each youth graduates high school and has a good job by age 25.

The Thrive by 25 shared effort includes over 20 organizations. Investments are made in a number of programs with county-wide impact that lead to more young adults succeeding in life by age 25. Activities include:
- decreasing learning loss and increasing knowledge at after school and summer experiences
- building relationships for integrating refugee and immigrant youth
- mentoring for mental health and building life skills
- providing STEM education
- supporting students in their higher education pursuits
- mentoring for mental health and participating in recreation programs

For their life success, it is key that older adults have the supports that they need to age well in the community of their choice. Cities and towns that are age friendly bring about a better quality of life for older adults and everyone that lives in them.

The Aging Well shared effort includes over 20 organizations. Investments are made in a number of programs with county-wide impact that lead to older adults aging well with the support that they need to do so. Activities include:
- ensuring food security
- providing case management and grief recovery assistance
- increasing housing, recreation, and transportation opportunities
- improving older adult physical and mental health outcomes
- connecting volunteers with opportunities to serve older adults
- assisting those with memory and dementia challenges and their caregivers