Certified Agencies
United Way of Greater Union County ensures that programs within its network of certified agencies produce measurable results that impact our community. By measuring quality outcomes, United Way ensures that funded programs have a sustained impact on clients or target groups.

Here are just a few examples of some outcomes from the past year:

• 40,000 local kids are in day care, after school and summer camp programs powered by United Way.
• 14,000 seniors are supported by local health, social and recreational programs powered by United Way.
• 5,000 individuals and families receive food from local providers supported by United Way.
• 4,224 local people with disabilities are becoming self-sufficient thanks to United Way funded programs and  services.

2-1-1 HELPLINE
Every hour of every day, someone in our community needs essential services - from finding substance abuse assistance to securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent. That's why United Way's 2-1-1 helpline has become a vital resource and an easy link for thousands of local people in need of assistance.

United Way's 2-1-1 helpline connects people in Greater Union County and throughout New Jersey to local services, community resources, and government assistance they need. 2-1-1 is available 24/7/365, and calls are free and confidential. Multi-lingual 2-1-1 Call Specialists provide comprehensive information and referral services to callers about a variety of issues, including:

• Basic Human Needs Resources
• Support for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
• Support for Children, Youth and Families
• Physical and Mental Health Resources
• Employment Supports

2-1-1 is available in our area thanks to a strong partnership between United Way and Union County's Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Born Learning Programs for Children

It's a simple fact that children are learning constantly, right from birth. And what they learn during those first five years depends on the experiences they have each and every day.

In addition, studies show that children who do not get quality care and education before they reach school age may lag behind in their ability to learn and may have difficulty keeping up with their classroom peers. That's why United Way is committed to ensuring that local children are well prepared to learn and succeed in school and in life.

Project Improve

Early Care and Education Centers constantly struggle to maintain quality services due to the lack of time, money, and staff turnover, according to the Union County Child Care Plan 2005. The report also states that local centers need to be improved through a better coordination of resources, advocacy, training, and  professional development. United Way and Community Coordinated Child Care are working together to boost the quality of local programs through Project IMPROVE. Project IMPROVE is bringing trained volunteers into our local  centers to assess their programs and determine areas of weakness. Child Care professionals are then providing intensive training and technical assistance to help improve their services.

Here is a list of important tips from Community Coordinated Child Care on selecting a Child Care Center:

Is the current license posted?

Is the area clean and child-proofed?

Is the outdoor play area fenced in with a variety of climbing and ride-on toys?

Is the staff to child ratio adequate? State law requires the following ratios:

1:4 for children under 18 months
1:7 for children 18 months - 2 1/2
       years
1:10 for children 2 1/2 - 4 years
1:12 for four year olds
1:15 for 5 year olds

Do the children and staff wash their hands before touching food, after diapering, toileting and coming in from  outside?

Is the food nutritious and prepared under sanitary conditions?

Are the toys developmentally appropriate and in good conditions?

Is a daily schedule posted?

Is there a written policy for administering medication and caring for sick children?

Are the same caregivers in the classroom throughout the day? Children benefit when they are cared for by the same  individual.

Is there a good balance between active play and quiet time? Are the children read to aloud every day?

Learning MI Way
Bringing arts education to local children

Exposure to the arts has been proven to help children build self-confidence, express their creativity and perform better in math and reading. Thanks to United Way and Artsgenesis' Learning MI Way program, hundreds of children and their families are learning these skills through a special artist-in-residence program at our local preschools.

Learning MI Way uses the Multiple Intelligences (MI) Assessment to evaluate and build upon children's Musical, Linguistical, Visual Spatial, Bodily Kinesthetic, Logical-Mathematical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Natural intelligences.
 

The Women's Leadership Initiative
United Way's WLI brings together dynamic women from local businesses, government, education, healthcare and other community organizations to help keep our community safe and thriving. WLI participants plan networking events and develop ways to address local issues that affect our community, including child care, senior care and reducing hunger and homelessness. 

To get involved, or for more information, please call (908) 353-7171.

The HLAC is focused on ensuring that members of the Hispanic community have full access to United Way's network of programs and services as  well as assessing and addressing critical health and human service needs.