United Way Of Northern New Jersey Inc

Programs: Education: united way of northern new jersey research reveals that 1. 2 million new jersey households are unable to afford life's basic necessities, including the high cost of quality early education programs. As a community, we must rally together to do everything we can to prepare our kids for success in school and in life. The research is promising: studies suggest that quality early education increases achievement for lower income children, making them better prepared for kindergarten and beyond. Research proves when students are engaged and have strong social and emotional skills, test scores increase and disciplinary issues decrease. Providing our youth with positive school environments where they can develop key social and emotional skills will ensure they are able to thrive in the future workplace. We provide the critical foundation from birth to high school that makes it possible for the region's youth to reach their greatest potential and face a future of limitless opportunity. Our efforts helped 1,000 children attended quality early education programs, setting them up for lifelong success; 27 non profit childcare centers and preschools received intensive staff training and technical assistance, improving the quality of care, teaching, and classroom environments; 40 area schools serving 15,000 students got cutting edge educational tools and expert counseling to improve the safety and well being of students, teachers and staff.

income: we help people become financially stablein our region, 22 percent of households are working hard yet still struggling to make ends meet. Nearly one third of northern new jersey households are walking a financial tight rope, unable to meet expenses, deal with unexpected hardships, and save for the future. United way is helping lower income families set a more positive course and achieve financial independence through financial literacy and free services like tax preparation. We are also working to ensure everyone in our communities has access to the support they need for getting and keeping a job with a livable wage. We are rebuilding financial stability by putting money back into our community through services offered by united way, community partners and volunteers: $6. 2million in tax refunds were returned to nearly 6,000 area households and the local economy through free tax preparation; 900 individuals and families made strides toward financial independence through access to financial education and services; 600 job seekers received free career coaching, job training resources and attended specialized workshops.

health: we improve lives of family caregiverscaregiving is a universal reality that touches almost every family. In new jersey there are about 1 million unpaid family caregivers shouldering this responsibility, often without preparation or education. Caregivers often put their own physical, mental and financial health at risk. Caregivers experience higher levels of depression and many have reported worse health than the general population. They also find themselves taking a financial hit by dipping into their savings, passing up promotions, or even leaving the workplace altogether. We are strengthening family caregivers by giving them the tools, resources, and information needed to build mental, physical, and financial resiliency while caring for a loved one who is ill, aging or living with a disability or mental illness: 1,500 unpaid family caregivers got critical legal, medical and self-care information and resources for free through more than 100 meetings, conferences, educational workshops and community outreach; 12,000 caregivers obtained free copies of our award-winning, comprehensive "pathways for caregivers" guide, a one-of-a-kind road map for surviving in the role of being an unpaid caregiver; 1,700 "informed caregiver" educational video series dvds were provided free for family caregivers unable to leave their loved ones alone at home.

a major goal of united way of northern new jersey is to identify the barriers to significant change for societal problems. On many levels, new jersey is an affluent state one with high median incomes, quality schools and prosperous corporations. But look a little more closely you will find that within this affluence, a growing number of people are barely getting by. Alice an acronym for asset limited, income constrained, employed lives in every county in new jersey and represents the growing number of individuals and families who are working hard but are unable to afford the basics. United way's strategy is focused on tackling the underlying causes of financial instability the lack of a quality education, insufficient income, and poor health. The first step in our approach is to determine where the fault lines exist by assembling the best data and listening to community leaders of all backgrounds. From that solid foundation, united way takes on filling gaps in services and advocating for changes in public and business policies. And, because we recognize that no one entity alone can resolve these problems, united way also provides grants to community partners who already provide critical supports to individuals and families in need. While the community impact pillars of education, income and health provide specific outcomes for serving the needs of the alice population, there are other services needed that we provided which may not easily be defined by those categories: 36,000 school supplies equipped more than 9,700 students; 7,000 food and personal care items stocked local pantries and shelters; 1,000 articles of winter clothing kept families warm; 6,360 volunteers inspired to donate 146,500 hours of manpower, valued at $3. 5 million; funding nj211 as well as other needs of a more generalized nature.