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Our Community
A Message from the Executive Director
In 2008 United Way of America expanded its vision to challenge existing systems “to create opportunities for a better life for everyone and defines the areas it will impact over the next 10 years.”
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Helping Children and Youth Achieve their Potential
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Promoting Financial Stability and Independence
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Improving People’s Health – promoting healthy lifestyles
Road to Community Impact
County United Way began its journey toward community impact funding this year. The Board determined that for the effort to be responsive and effective, each county needed to gain a better understanding of the community needs and priorities. Through a grant provided by Maryland Physicians Care, a plan was developed to conduct community needs assessment meetings in each of the four-county region, followed by an all inclusive Summit that would build partnerships and solutions while providing a smooth transition to change.
A team was assembled to accomplish this task that included Desiree Eilers, event coordinator, hired to assemble the stakeholder list and to manage the details; Patti Thomas, a Western Maryland Health System employee who was completing work for her Master’s Degree in Social Work, served as facilitator for all community meetings; and Patricia Hilton worked through the community meetings as a graphic recorder and then was hired to facilitate the full Summit. Michele Walker, Linda Toey and myself supported the efforts throughout the process.
Stakeholders were identified considering the areas of education, income and health. Community needs assessment meetings were scheduled in each area; nine one-hour meetings in all. Finally a four-county Summit culminated in April with over 100 participants representing government, business, non-profit agencies, the general public and our United Way board and executive committee members and staff.
Outcomes from Summit
Collaboration and a Resource Directory
Throughout the many meetings during this process, two over-arching needs always surfaced to the top – the need for program collaboration and the link to services and resources through a common resource directory or at the very least the ability to know and to access these available resources. To that end, the Board of Directors voted at their retreat that County United Way should be the catalyst for assisting with existing systems to connect or link services and agreed to provide funding towards this next step for web portal or directory linkage.
Overall Priorities
Common priority interests that ranked at the top across all counties include: greater program collaboration, transportation, afterschool and summer programs and focus on wellness and prevention
VOTING RESULTS
(Direct from Summit Report)
Break-Out Group Topics
Allegany County: Collaboration, Transportation, Weekend food supplements for kids, Homelessness, Affordable health insurance (business)
Garrett County: After school and summer programs, Wellness and prevention, Weekend food supplements for kids, Adult education
Hampshire County: Collaboration, Transportation, after school and summer programs
Mineral County: Collaboration, Transportation, after school and summer programs, and Prescription drugs
Individual voting on key priorities
Allegany County: Focus on wellness and prevention, Better cope with homelessness, Mental health services, Affordable/transitional housing, Affordable health insurance (business)
Garrett County
Focus on wellness and prevention, early childhood education and education-based infant care, after school and summer programs, Vocational education/training
Hampshire County
After school and summer programs, Greater program collaboration, Transportation
Mineral County
After school and summer programs, Focus on mentoring and enhanced career choice options, Focus on wellness and prevention, more parental involvement, Greater program collaboration
We certainly recognize that County United Way cannot solve these problems alone, but we can serve as a catalyst in the process, advocate for the common needs and partner in the discussion with others who may be in the best position to meet these critical needs for each community.
United Way’s goal is to create long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying cause of these problems. LIVE UNITED means being a part of the change. It takes everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future.
Mary Beth Pirolozzi
Executive Director
Executive Director
