United Way Of York County

Programs: The community fund and designations - through united way of york county's annual camapaign, donors can designate their contribution to the community fund. During the past year, funding was provided to 71 programs of 35 partner agencies through the community fund in the areas of education, income and health. United way of york county receives program applications from partner agencies which are reviewed and assessed by trained community volunteers to ensure they demonstrate measurable results. Funding levels are recommended by the volunteers and approved by united way of york county's board of directors. United way of york county also allocates funds for special one-time projects and new programs of partner agencies. Applications for these programs are also reviewed by volunteers and with united way of york county's board of directors who approve the actual funding levels. As part of united way of york county's annual fundraising campaign, donors are also able to designate their contribution to qualified organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3). This service is provided as a convenience to our donors. Organizations receiving designations are not required to submit information relative to the use and results of these contributions.

education programs - focus, a success by 6 initiative, is a program of united way of york county which promotes high quality early childhood education for children throughout york county. Focus provides training, on-site technical assistance and financial support to child care centers and home based providers to assist with national accreditation and advancement in the keystone stars program which is pennsylvania's program to promote continuous quality improvement in early childhood education. Keystone stars performance standards are grouped into four levels and address staff qualifications and professional development, the early learning program, partnerships with family and community, and leadership and management. During this past year, more than 125 providers in york county are participating in the keystone stars program. In york county, there are 8 programs who have received national accreditation either by the national association for the education of young children (naeyc) or the national association of family child care (nafcc). To receive funding through united way of york county's community fund, a partner agency must have national accreditation or star 4 status. In february, over 350 parents and children attended the focus love 2 learn event. Nine early learning centers and 21 community agencies engaged families in activities and by providing resources for children. Each early childhood program showcased a learning center that demonstrated the environment provided by high quality centers. Focus also promotes school readiness. Through grants received from the rehmeyer trust, york county community foundation, and the donley foundation, focus provided the "ready freddy" kindergarten readiness program to 445 families from seven york county school districts. In addition, infant/toddler, preschool and kindergarten readiness materials were distributed to over 5,200 families through collaboration with york county partners. During this past year, focus placed reading ready corners in four community agencies. These corners provide reading opportunities for families to interact and read while waiting for services. United way of york county also operates the york county truancy prevention initiative which is a strategic effort to consistently respond to truancy among multiple partners, agencies and school districts in york county. It serves all school-aged youth in york county by establishing itself as a clearinghouse for what works to prevent truancy and dropout, staying current on national education policy research, and finding ways to enhance york county's provision of truancy prevention programs using best practices research. The first program started by the truancy prevention initiative, check & connect is in its 5th year of operation and is provided to students and families in three york county school districts. School districts identify truant students who then are monitored by a school-based staff person who helps determine why the student is truant and what supports and strategies will reduce unlawful absences. The program is currently funded by the office of children, youth and families. In 2011, youth court alliance (yca), a youth-run truancy intervention program, was created by the truancy prevention initiative. Yca works to re-engage truant students in school and develop a personalized plan so the student can avoid getting fined in district court. Dispositions include jury duty, community service, research, and tutoring. In 2014, 69 students and their families participated in youth court. 62 students completed the program. Those students logged 1,178 community service hours.

united way of york county operates the volunteer center to provide nonprofit organizations with volunteer recruitment and management tools, and to manage event registration for the day of action. Using get connected, an online event management and volunteer information and referral database, united way and volunteer center members can effectively recruit and manage volunteers. Members can also manage and communicate with their volunteers by e-mail. During 2014, over 1,000 people served as volunteers on the united way board of directors, committees, campaign cabinet, allocations panels and agency review teams and for community initiatives such as focus and the truancy prevention initiative. In addition, more than 1,200 community volunteers were connected to opportunities with more than 80 nonprofit organizations. An additional 600 volunteers participated in the annual day of action and volunteered over 1,400 hours of service for volunteer center members. Projects included garden maintenance, reading to children, building improvements and many other worthwhile activities.