COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Collaborations and Initiatives

United Way of Wexford County is committed to Community Impact utilizing the following principles of Community Building.

Community Building Principles:

Community building is the process of engaging residents and other stakeholders in sustained collaborative efforts to strengthen and improve conditions in an identified geographic area. Community building may be neighborhoood-focused, issue focused, or a combination of the two.

• Build on the strengths of local individuals, associations, and institutions.
• Focus on specific actions and measurable results to improve community life.
• Promote participation from all races, genders, and cultures.
• Ensure local decision-making and ownership.
• Draw upon the resources of the larger community.
• Bridge all sectors to develop healthy children and families.
• Share experience and knowledge to promote continuous community learning.

Collaboratives and Initiatives

New! 

 

Shepherd's Table Outreach:

As a result of the work in developing our Community Impact Agenda, United Way of Wexford County is leading a community-wide initiative to develop more effective ways to connect families in need with resources and services. The Affordable Housing Task Force had been experiencing poor attendance at their annual resource fair for several years, and with this in mind it was suggested that some of these services could connect with people more effectively by going to the people where they already were.   A new strategy was suggested to help families utilizing the Shepherd's Table Hot meal program access services onsite. This program serves between 150 and 300 meals each Tuesday and Thursday throughout the year. This target population consists of low to moderate income individuals and families.

A Community-wide meeting of area service providers and agencies was convened on November 28, 2007 to discuss ways that service delivery could be improved and what programs would be beneficial to offer onsite during Shepherd's Table hot meal program on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Over twenty program representatives came to the table to discuss the initiative.

Click here for : November 28, 2007 Meeting Notes.

A second meeting was held on January 9, 2008 to further look at possible outcomes and what actions could be taken.

Click here for: Draft Logic Model for Shepherd's Table Outreach.

A short survey was developed by the group to implement at the Hot meal program. It was decided to do the survey several times to include both beginning and end of month days. The survey was carried out by volunteers during the month of January, 2008. The results will be tabulated and discussed at the next meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13 at 10 a.m. at the Shepherd's Table facility in the First Baptist Church. All interested individuals and organizations are welcome to participate.

 

CANA

United Way of Wexford County initiated the community wide partnership that has become known as CANA.  This partnership has developed a comprehensive profile of the Wexford-Missaukee area and has published a report titled The Community Care Profile. This report is available for downloading in separate PDF files on this website. Click on: CANA .

United Way of Wexford County participates in other collaborative groups such as the Wexford/Missaukee Multi Purpose Collaborative Body, the Early On Interagency Collaborative for early childhood, Strong Families Safe Children, Team Up focusing on teens and positive develoment, and the community Housing Continuum of Care.

Local Initiatives include the SAFE KIDS Chapter Administration, and Boost America bringing hundreds of car safety seats and other kid safety equipment to the community. For more information click on SAFE KIDS.

Contact us for more information