:: United Way of Central Jersey ::

United Way of Central Jersey
Funding Priorities

United Way of Central Jersey provides funding to support operating costs for
program with measurable outcomes that fall into one of three issue areas:

Children Ready to Succeed
Ensures healthy development and school readiness of children 0 to 5 years old.

Kids on Track
Prepares youth ages 6-18 to become accountable adults

Families Living Well
Ensures that families are safe and protected, healthy and economically
self sufficient

United Way volunteers, staff and other community stakeholders determined funding priorities. Input was gathered from United Way’s Vision Councils, The Community Needs Committee, community service providers and The United Way of Central Jersey Board of Trustees.

I. Children Ready to Succeed Ensures healthy development and school readiness of children 0 to 5 years old.
United Way		Funded Programs
United Way will measure and report on these outcomes/indicators to determine impact of its investment on the community		Funded programs are required to measure at least one funded program outcome that aligns with its primary United Way outcome
United Way Outcomes	United Way Indicators	Funded Program Outcomes	Funded Program Measurements
I-A) Babies are born healthy into a supportive environment Services that meet this outcome: Prenatal education and support	I-A-1) Increased rate of infants born full term, decreased low birth weights and other medical complications I-A-2) Reduced interventions for abuse, neglect and illness	I-a-1) Increased rate of infants born full term and/or with decreased low birth weights and other medical complications	Hospital and public health records
		I-a-2) First time mothers have prepared a nurturing environment for their infants that is free of abuse, neglect or avoidable illness	Documented knowledge gained through education and professional assessments
I-B) Children are developmentally on track and ready to succeed in school Services that meet this outcome: Early Care and Education Parent/family support Mentoring	I-B-1) Increased early social and literacy skills to age-appropriate levels I-B-2) Increased number/rate of children developmentally on track I-B-3) Increased quality of childcare I-B-4) Increased quality childcare slots for children of low income families	I-b-1) Children demonstrate improvement in desired skills at age-appropriate levels	Child assessment tools
		I-b-2) Children achieve age-appropriate developmental milestones	Child assessment tools such as the ages and stages questionnaire
		I-b-3) Childcare centers and teachers successfully complete a licensed child care accreditation process	Training and graduation records
		I-b-4) Children of low income families achieve age-appropriate developmental milestones through early childcare education	Child assessment tools such as the ages and stages questionnaire

II. Kids on Track Prepares youth ages 6-18 to become accountable adults
United Way		Funded Programs
United Way will measure and report on these outcomes/indicators to determine impact of its investment on the community		Funded programs are required to measure at least one funded program outcome that aligns with its primary United Way outcome
United Way Outcomes	United Way Indicators	Funded Program Outcomes	Funded Program Measurements
II-A) Youth have enhanced personal and academic success Services that meet this outcome: After-school programs Summer camps Substance abuse prevention Mentoring Literacy/reading programs Tutoring Parent literacy programs Parent resources/networks aligned with schools	II-A-1) Improved standardized test scores II-A-2) Children are reading at grade level by Grade 3 II-A-3) Improved graduation rate (middle school/8th and 12th grade), reduced drop-out rate II-A-4) Student attendance rates and reduced suspensions II-A-5) Student self esteem and commitment to education (ex. improved attitude, attendance, grades, etc.) II-A-6) Reduced substance abuse, pregnancy, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and obesity II-A-7) Parents/caregivers are equipped to help their children succeed in school	II-a-1) Youth demonstrate improved school academic performance	School records Assessments of participants
		II-a-2) Children in selected schools who were identified as below grade readers are reading at grade level by Grade 3	School records Teacher assessments Third grade reading proficiency as measured by accepted indicators
		II-a-3) Youth remain in school II-a-3) Graduation rate improves, drop-out rate decreases	School records Assessments of participants
		II-a-4) Youth demonstrate improved attendance rates	School records Assessments of participants
		II-a-5) Youth demonstrate increased assets	Youth assessment tools
		II-a-6) Youth demonstrate an increased knowledge of the consequences of and reduce risky behaviors	Pre-post assessment tool
		II-a-6) Youth have safe places and adult guidance for learning and development	Attendance records, Documented achievements, Youth assessment tools
		II-a-7) Parents have the tools to effectively support their child’s academic progress and serve as advocates for their children	Increased parental involvement with schools Effective communication between parents and schools Improved parental literacy
II-B) Children are healthy Services that meet this outcome: Family health Parent/family support	II-B-1) Increased rate of children with recommended immunizations II-B-2) Increased access to routine primary health care II-B-3) Access to specialized care for disabilities	II-b-1) Families of newborns understand the importance of recommended immunizations and maintain immunization schedule	Documented Immunization rates
		II-b-2) Children are enrolled in affordable primary health care facilities to ensure good health	Documentation of clients, Visits and treatments, Professional assessments
		II-b-3) Children receive timely & appropriate treatment & support for disabilities	Documentation of clients, visits and treatments
II-C) Children Live in a safe and nurturing environment Services that meet this outcome: Parent/family support Parenting skills	II-C-1) Decreased rate of child abuse and neglect II-C-2) Increased number/rate of children developmentally on track	II-c-1) Parents improve parenting skills and/or eliminate abusive or neglectful behavior	Documentation of training, pre-post behavior assessment tools, public records
		II-c-2) Improved parent-child interactions through education and mentoring that support child development	Child assessment tools such as the ages and stages questionnaire
II-D) Youth are safe in their homes and communities Services that meet this outcome: Violence prevention	II-D-1 Decreased rates of abuse and neglect II-D-2) Decreased juvenile crime rate	II-d-1) Youth are not abused or neglected II-d-2) Parents demonstrate positive parenting behaviors	Program records, Dept. of Human Services Program documentation, Pre-post assessment tool
		II-d-3) Youth are not involved in the juvenile justice system	Program records, Dept. of Human Services
II-E) Youth have at least one caring adult in their lives Services that meet this outcome: Mentoring	Any of the above	Any of the above	As above with the appropriate outcomes

Youth developmental assets as identified by Search Institute, www.search-institute.org

III. Families Living Well Ensures that families are safe and protected, healthy and economically self sufficient
United Way		Funded Programs
United Way will measure and report on these outcomes/indicators to determine impact of its investment on the community		Funded programs are required to measure at least one funded program outcome that aligns with its primary United Way outcome
United Way Outcomes	United Way Indicators	Funded Program Outcomes	Funded Program Measurements
III-A) Families are safe in their homes and communities Services that target this outcome: Support services Violence intervention Violence prevention	III-A-1) Decreased rate of domestic/family violence III-A-2) Increased percent of persons feeling safe in their neighborhoods	III-a-1) Families are living free of domestic violence, abuse and neglect	Documentation of successful interventions/ Pre-post assessment tool
		III-a-2) Reduced violence and arrests	Documentation of successful interventions/ Pre-post assessment tool
III-B) Families have the ability to maintain social and economic independence Services that target this outcome: Economic services Client Advocacy Client Training	III-B-1) Reduced homelessness III-B-2) Reduced unemployment/underemployment III-B-3) Increased enrollment in economic support programs III-B-4) Increased access to civil legal services for the disadvantaged	III-b-1) Homeless families placed in affordable permanent sustainable housing	Program documentation and follow-up
		III-b-2) Adults with families improve job or job seeking skills and obtain sustainable employment	Program graduation records and documentation of job offers and employment
		III-b-3) Clients receive the benefits of program enrollment	Program records and success rates
		III-b-4) Clients achieve legal status and recognition to which they are due III-b-5) Clients receive civil legal services that resolve economic issues	Program records and success rates
III-C) Families have access to good nutrition and health care Services that target this outcome: Medical, mental health and food services	III-C-1) Improved health and well being through nutritional feeding programs III-C-2) Increased access to primary health care III-C-3) Decreased usage of emergency rooms for routine health visits III-C-4) Increased access to mental health &substance abuse treatment	III-c-1) Families demonstrate good nutrition, health and well-being	Quantitative program records of clients, meals, other support services
		III-c-2) Families are able to maintain good health through routine access to appropriate private or government health care benefits	Quantitative program records of enrollments
		III-c-3) Families gain routine access to affordable primary health care	Quantitative program records of patients, treatments and presentations
		III-c-4) Families complete treatment goals at discharge	Functioning assessment tools/Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF)