UNITED WAY OF KERN COUNTY INC

This program is targeted to improve the pre-literacy skills of 3 and 4 year olds through the increase of time parents spend reading to their children, with the goal that children will enter kindergarten with the pre-literacy skills needed to be successful.

UWKC's VITA program is a collaborative effort with several community partners and provides free tax return preparation to low and moderate-income persons. In 2015, the partnership completed 1,700 tax returns, realizing more than $2 million in refunds, half of which was Earned Income Tax Credit.

VITA also serves as a "gateway" program for individuals and families interested in and qualified for financial literacy and asset-building programs offered by UWKC and its partners.

The program provides parenting tools and education to teach parents that they are their child's first teacher, and that everyday moments can be teaching moments. New parent materials are distributed through public hospitals and low income health clinics. Parents are encouraged to begin reading with their children from birth. They are also taught about child development in children ages 0-5.

KIDS SUCCEED IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY HAVE BOOKS AT HOME AND PARENTS WHO READ WITH THEM.
Help build home libraries for children in need.

Each month, we distribute books to more than 700 young children along with other important resources to help their families thrive.

We love being part of your family's reading journey and providing books to increase your Home Libraries.

One of United Way of Kern County's main pillars is Health. Our team has decided to take on this issue in Kern County by developing many programs directed towards the health of the Kern County community which helped our team develop our Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies program. Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies is a distribution of food, books, and dental hygiene kits to low-income children and families. Currently, two of the largest issues in Kern County are literacy and hunger, and this event targets both. Children cannot focus on learning if they are hungry and access to books is crucial in creating routine reading for future success. We would like to thank some of our partners, Dignity Health, CAPK, and Capital Dental for supporting United Way of Kern County.

For over 30 years, the REACH program has helped low-income families keep their utilities services turned on in times of hardship.

The REACH program helps you pay for energy during a crisis. REACH provides an energy credit for up to $500 based on the past due bill (energy credit support is subject to funding availability). Over 170 Nonprofit organizations run the REACH program Northern and Central California.

United Way of Kern County is currently partnered with the Bakersfield City School District to teach Positive Prevention PLUS curriculum to 7th & 8th Grade Students.

Positive Prevention PLUS curriculum materials are the best source for evidence-based instruction in Comprehensive Sexual Health Education and Teen Pregnancy Prevention. Our curriculum has been thoroughly reviewed by the California Department of Education, the Federal Office of Adolescent Health, and the Bakersfield City School District administration. The lessons are written in compliance with California Education Codes 51930-51939, and are aligned with the California Health Education Content Standards.

United Way of Kern County is expanding its homeless prevention and diversion efforts through the Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP) designed to reduce and/or prevent homelessness. In partnership with Kern Family Health Care, United Way of Kern County is offering rent and utility assistance to individuals and families who have past-due balances and are at risk of experiencing homelessness or termination of utility services. This program offers a one-time assistance based on funding availability. Book an appointment with our team to see if you qualify.

The California Mortgage Relief Program is providing financial assistance to get caught up on past-due mortgages or property taxes to help homeowners who have a mortgage, a reverse mortgage, or who are mortgage-free. Using $1 billion in federal funds, the grants help homeowners who have had a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistance provided through this program is not a loan and does not need to be paid back.