What Is Community Impact?

1. What Is Community Impact?

2. Topics Why United Way needs a new approach to improving lives The elements of “community impact” Changing community conditions to improve lives Final thoughts What is Community Impact?

3. Topics Why United Way needs a new approach to improving lives The elements of “community impact” Changing community conditions to improve lives Final thoughts What is Community Impact?

4. Mission of the United Way System To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities What is Community Impact?

5. support services for individuals and families Mobilizing communities that to   improve lives of program clients financial resources of businesses and employees United Way’s Traditional Approach to Improving Lives DIRECT IMPACT What is Community Impact?

6. Many Problems in Our Communities are Getting Worse • Rent affordability • Children with a single parent • Low-birthweight babies • Hard drug use in high school • Cigarette use by adults • Trust in others • Community giving • Voter turnout Source: United Way State of Caring Index, 2004 What is Community Impact?

7. Historical trends Economic conditions Public attitudes Media messages Public sector practices Health care system practices Community Issue Private sector practices Educational system practices Neighborhood conditions System relationships Family characteristics Personal choices Many Factors Contribute to Pressing Community Issues What is Community Impact?

8. Community Issue Family characteristics Personal choices Most Direct-service Programs Address Only One or Two Factors What is Community Impact?

9. Historical trends Economic conditions Public attitudes Media messages Public sector practices Health care system practices Community Issue Private sector practices Educational system practices Neighborhood conditions System relationships Family characteristics Personal choices Addressing Those Pressing Issues Requires New Approaches and Additional Partners What is Community Impact?

10. people, time, talent, relationships, expertise, technology, money, etc. create lasting changes in community conditions of community populations Mobilizing communities  improve lives to that   support services for individuals and families of program clients financial resources of businesses and employees New Model for Improving Lives Uses Two Approaches COMMUNITY IMPACT  DIRECT IMPACT What is Community Impact?

11. Topics Why United Way needs a new approach to improving lives The elements of “community impact” Changing community conditions to improve lives Final thoughts What is Community Impact?

12. create lasting changes in community conditions Mobilizing communities that to improve lives   Community Impact is . . . What is Community Impact?

13. Mobilizing communities . . . to identify pressing community issues, agree on priorities, create partnerships, develop change strategies, activate needed resources • For example: • Meeting with neighborhood residents to identify their concerns and assets • Working with advocates for homeless families on setting priorities for action • Partnering with residents and experts to pinpoint root causes of and promising responses to family violence • Convening strategic partners to develop a plan to provide transportation for disabled persons • Collaborating with opinion leaders to raise awareness of isolated seniors • Engaging the 2-1-1 service to enlist interested people and organizations in advocating for quality child care • Linking investors concerned about health care access with efforts to address the issue What is Community Impact?

14. Mobilizing communities create lasting changes in community conditions to  • For example: • Four neighborhood banks change lending practices to increase the supply of quality affordable housing • Eleven businesses provide regular and varied internship and apprenticeship opportunities for youth • Junior League, Kiwanis, and other civic groups provide volunteers and other resources to early literacy efforts • Neighborhood associations in three high-crime areas influence the city council to provide funds for improved street lighting • State and city governments enact new policies and allocate added funds for quality early childhood education • Public attitudes toward child abuse become less tolerant What is Community Impact?

15. Mobilizing communities that improve lives  create lasting changes in community conditions to  • For example: • Low-income children in pilot school districts reach targeted developmental benchmarks • Families of workers without health insurance have preventive health care • High school juniors and seniors demonstrate commitment to community involvement • Homeless families are in quality transitional housing • Workers laid off in company closings develop needed technical and educational skills • Residents of high-crime neighborhoods experience increased safety • Home-bound seniors in central-city high-rises have nutritional, social, and medical support What is Community Impact?

16. create lasting changes in community conditions Mobilizing communities that to improve lives   Community impact is . . . What is Community Impact?

17. United Way of Chittenden County, Burlington, VT The Burlington Truancy Project Mobilizing the caring power of the community...  A Truancy Task Force – non-profit service providers, school district, police department, school administrators, juvenile court judges, attorneys, child protection agencies, and the United Way – convened to address the school district’s high dropout rates.  Task Force partners developed a coordinated response to truancy.  United Way provided financial and other resources and leveraged funds from community stakeholders to support community dropout-reduction strategies. What is Community Impact?

18. United Way of Chittenden County, Burlington, VT The Burlington Truancy Project … to create lasting changes in community conditions ...  The Burlington School District instituted new truancy policies and procedures. It now tracks student absences closely and follows up with every student who drops out to offer alternative educational opportunities.  The Juvenile Court, cooperating with the State’s Attorney, now reserves monthly court time to hear truancy cases.  Vermont state agencies, such as the Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services, now provide all truant students with services that remove barriers to school attendance. What is Community Impact?

19. United Way of Chittenden County, Burlington, VT The Burlington Truancy Project …and improve lives.  The Burlington School District dropout rate has fallen by two thirds, from 10% in 1999 to 3.5% in 2004. What is Community Impact?

20. Topics Why United Way needs a new approach to improving lives The elements of “community impact” Changing community conditions to improve lives Final thoughts What is Community Impact?

21. Community Systems Personal networks Organizations Individuals & families Neighborhood environments What is Community Impact?

22. Direct-service strategy Program clients What is Community Impact?

23. strategy Community Individuals & families change What is Community Impact?

24. strategy Community Systems Community Personal networks Organizations Individuals & families Neighborhood environments change What is Community Impact?

25. Changes in Personal Networks -- Examples • Parents and other caregivers use everyday moments to encourage early learning • Friends and family members know to call 2-1-1 for information about local resources • Parents, teachers and friends know signs of serious depression in teens and how to offer help • Neighbors routinely clear snow and ice from steps and walks of elderly residents • Friends don’t let friends drive drunk What is Community Impact?

26. Changes in Neighborhoods -- Examples • Vacant lots are cleaned up and outfitted with safe and sturdy playground equipment • Neighborhood-based businesses are flourishing • Housing is safe and complies with local codes • Decent-paying jobs are available in the neighborhood • Residents take action if they see suspicious or illegal activity What is Community Impact?

27. Changes in Organizations -- Examples • Businesses make time and space available for financial literacy seminars • Service providers have staff and materials appropriate to clients’ language and culture • Faith groups provide vans to transport low-income citizens to prenatal and immunization services • Pizza parlors serve as drop-off sites for ongoing books-for-children program • Civic groups work with 2-1-1 to develop year-long volunteer projects related to a pressing community issue What is Community Impact?

28. Changes in Systems -- Examples • The human services system engages all service providers in connecting low-income families with services and supports to grow family assets • Public, private, and nonprofit sectors join to develop a coordinated community crisis response system • The juvenile court system helps prevent drop-outs by treating truancy as a serious offense • The school board and dental association collaborate to operate dental clinics in schools • A State senate committee votes to broaden access to rehabilitative services for persons with disabilities What is Community Impact?

29. Two Notes •  We would not pursue these or other community changes because they seemed like “a good idea.” • We would pursue them because careful analysis shows that they will be effective approaches to improving lives. •  The choice is not either direct services or community changes. Both may be included in comprehensive strategies to improve lives. What is Community Impact?

30. Targeted community outcomes Needed changes in community conditions Coordinated community change plan C o m m u n i t y a s s e t s / p a r t n e r s / i n v e s t o r s Institutions Associations Neighborhoods United Way Faith community Corporations Agencies Networks Individuals Labor groups Foundations Academia etc. Partnering to Achieve Community Impact What is Community Impact?

31. Topics Why United Way needs a new approach to improving lives The elements of “community impact” Changing community conditions to improve lives Final thoughts What is Community Impact?

32. Community Impact ... • Is not just about improving lives of clients of United Way-funded programs • Isabout improving lives of people affected by pressing community issues • Is not just about influencing the health and human services sector • Is about influencing whatever sectors, systems, networks, groups, or environments can play a role in improving lives in our communities • Is not just the job of certain United Way functions (e.g., fund distribution, community building) • Is the business of the entire organization What is Community Impact?

33. Targeted community outcomes United Way’s roles in community-change efforts Aligned organizational resources Finance Staff Agency relations Volunteers Community research Human resources Community investment Marketing & communications Resource development Public policy Investor relations Governance United Way:Aligned to Achieve Community Impact What is Community Impact?

34. Related Resources on United Way Online • Aligning for Impact (keyword: Alignment) • Community Initiatives: Tracking Progress and Results (keyword: CITracking) • Community Investment Triangle: A Tool for Transformation (keyword: CITriangle) • Connecting Program Outcome Measurement to Community Impact (keyword: POM-CI) • Hometown Literacy Partnership Experience (keyword: Hometown) • Ogre Story (keyword: Ogre) • Redefining Agency Relationships for Community Impact (keyword: RedefineAgency) • The Road to Community Impact: Changing Direction (keyword: ChangingDirection) • Six That Got Results and How They Did It (keyword: SixThatGotResults) What is Community Impact?

35. What is Community Impact?