Funding directed toward partnerships that focus on successful outcomes in the areas of education, income and health; and target which ways to keep our communities strong today and into the future.

Income

Personal Empowerment for Achieving Real Lasting Security (PEARLS)
Personal Empowerment for Achieving Real Lasting Security (PEARLS) will help transform the lives of victims of domestic violence. Partners will work hand-in-hand with one another to support survivors of violence in Marion County as they move from crisis to safety and shelter; and ultimately to security as they rebuild their lives free of violence. By surrounding families with seamless services and support, the PEARLS project promotes health, stability and self-sufficiency for victims of violence within our community.

Yamhill Regional Food Bank
As evidenced by the growing number of Yamhill County households experiencing hunger and food insecurity, a safety net is needed. This partnership will work toward facilitated discussion and the development of a community-acceptable action plan with regard to food, education and local agriculture. The goal is to build a healthier, more equitable and resilient food system; thereby reducing hunger insecurity for residents of Yamhill County.

Marion County Reentry Initiative
Marion County Reentry Initiative uses Steps to Employment Project (STEP) to assist in the attainment of employment for adult ex-offenders and those who are under supervision of the Marion County Sheriff’s office. Stable employment is critical to a successful transition into the community. STEP is implemented through a collaboration of nonprofit, higher education, and government agencies using a multi-systemic service model to increase employability and employment of individuals re-entering the community after serving time in a corrections facility. Ex-offenders benefit from employment mentoring, job coaching, access to coordinated employment and basic needs resources, on-the-job training opportunities, employment search and case management, and employment readiness support.

Summer Youth Employment Project
Project builds a bridge to the adult world of work for youth with disabilities who might otherwise have no access to employment opportunities. As youth with disabilities enter the workforce, they are able to escape the “poverty trap” brought about by reliance on social services. They also support their community through payroll taxes and support local businesses whenever they purchase goods and services with their earned wages. Eliminating the constant threat and some-time reality of poverty for people with disabilities in Marion & Polk Counties.

Education

Churches as Neighborhood (‘CaN’ Centers)
Build safer and healthier neighborhoods as churches move from “congregation cocoons” to Neighborhood Centers. The Churches as Neighbors (CaN) will produce lasting changes in Salem-Keizer by expanding five current CaN sites and launching two new sites to serve at-risk youth, families and neighborhoods. A central focus will be increasing developmental assets in children and youth; however, the overall outcome will be higher health and well-being for all residents in the neighborhoods with a CaN Center. Since its inception, the CaN Center Collaboration has serviced more than 7,000 at-risk youth and their families with after-school programs, English language classes, homework clubs, an overnight shelter, foster-family support, community gardens, block parties, health fairs and other asset-building activities.

Fostering Hope & Community Homes for Children
Fostering Hope holds great promise for safely reducing the need for foster care, preventing child maltreatment, and helping children break the cycle of generation poverty. Currently operating in Salem and McMinnville, Fostering Hope builds a comprehensive model of family-centered supports provided in a foster child’s own neighborhood. Vulnerable families find the services and support they need to raise children well and keep families together.

Peacebuilding Project
Family and juvenile victim/offender mediation—proving a safe, comfortable setting where family members learn to communicate with each other more effectively to resolve conflicts peacefully and respectfully. The use of mediation to help resolve family conflict can introduce clients to a more positive style of communication. Positive results can be achieved for the family through focused training in conflict resolution, thereby improving the quality of family life and potentially the quality of community dialogue. Partners will work to increase public awareness of mediation services for youth and families; and increase availability and access to quality family and juvenile/victim offender mediation services. Partners will also work toward helping to create a more effective “culture of communication” that will lead to healthier family dynamics and safer neighborhoods in Yamhill County.

Health

Bringing Health & Hope to our Community
Salem Free Medical Clinic (SFMC) seeks to assist in the health and well-being of all patients. Through the mobilization of hundreds of medically-qualified volunteers working in collaboration with numerous nonprofits and faith-based organizations, this clinic provides life-saving health care services to the communities most vulnerable residents. SFMC will continue to expand its services to increase outcomes in the community with the goal to increase availability and access to free health, dental and mental health care for 6,000 patients per year.

Health & Dental Services Center
Health and dental prevention and treatment for vulnerable school children who are not enrolled in Healthy Kids or the Oregon Health Plan programs. The Health & Dental Services Center has four objectives:  1) to increase oral health education among children and families, 2) to increase prevention services available to uninsured children, 3) to reduce decay among uninsured children in need, and 4) to make dental care accessible to uninsured children.

Rural Community Mental Healthcare Management
Project will focus on providing outpatient mental health care prevention, treatment and services contributing to long-term, positive outcomes for the growing indigent population in rural Yamhill County, and the St. Paul area who are afflicted by poverty, substance abuse, mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders. Until recently, there have been few options for those we need mental health services, or regular medications, without the means to pay such. The project goal is outcomes that result in a healthy, vibrant, thriving community with improved quality of life for all residents.

Income

Human Services Research Institute, Juntos Podemos Family Center
Financial Literacy/IDA – Financial literacy training for Latino families of children with disabilities. Asset-specific training in the areas of continuing education, home ownership, repair or modification, and purchase of assistive technology.

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
Emergency Assistance Program –Promote self-sufficiency and prevents homelessness through emergency financial assistance—including rental and utility—for families and individuals.

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
HOME Youth & Resource Center – Meals, clothing, employment training and entry level job experience, leadership and community services opportunities, tutoring, support groups and referrals to community resources for homeless youth.

Northwest Human Services
Homeless Outreach & Advocacy Project – Assistance in the form of payee services for the homeless and those who suffer from chronic and persistent mental illnesses.

St. Vincent de Paul, Yamhill County
Rental Assistance – Short-term assistance in the form of basic living requirements for low-income families, the mentally and physically disabled, children, senior and the homeless. Including but not limited to food, rent and/or utilities.

Salvation Army of Marion & Polk Counties
Lighthouse Lodge Shelter – Shelter, meals, outcome-based case management, life-skills instruction and job training, referrals to community resources, transportation, and housing assistance for the homeless.

Yamhill Community Action Partnership
Transitional Shelter Program – Shelter services for individuals—primarily women and children—who have no income. Direct assistance with income, education, and housing.

YWCA of Salem
Salem Outreach Shelter – Long-term transitional housing for families with no-to-low income. Assistance with action plans to establish permanent or stable housing and financial self-sufficiency.

Education

Farmworker Housing Development Corporation
Afterschool & Summer Enrichment Programs – Tutoring and mentoring opportunities for children in farmworker housing communities for the purpose of promoting academic success.

Farmworker Housing Development Corporation
Family Literacy – A pro-active Latino dropout prevention program that engages parents, schools and children as partners in education. Specifically dedicated to children 10 and younger who are learning to read and write and want to improve skills.

Human Services Research Institute, Juntos Podemos Family Center
Family Support/Parent Education – Case management/family support planning, educational/parent support opportunities and referral services for Latino families of children with developmental disabilities.

Jefferson Youth Connect
Elementary & Middle School after-school Programs – After-school programs providing homework help, computer lab, crafts, games, social recreation, and hobby and skill building classes.

Mano a Mano
Youth Empowerment Project – Provides culturally specific programming including leadership activities, tutoring, health/wellness activities and supervised recreational activities for Latino youth ages 12-19. Designed to build resiliency skills, positive identity and self esteem.

Mid-Valley Literacy Center
Literacy Center – Dedicated to the expansion of literacy programs for adult learners; to increase educational and vocational opportunities for families.

Mid-Valley Mentors
Juvenile Enrichment through Mentoring – Provides mentoring for youth ages 4-19 who have a parent who is incarcerated and/or are under the supervision of the juvenile justice system.

Salem-Keizer Youth Basketball
SKYBALL – Supports youth by providing a positive environment for middle school students to play basketball. Students learn healthy behavior and respect for others while developing positive self-esteem, and engaging in good sportsmanship.

Health

Faith in Action
Strong for Life – Weekly fitness classes for seniors, which aids in increased functioning and overall physical fitness, better management of health-related issues; and a decrease in isolation.

Faith in Action
Volunteer Caregivers – Assistance with transportation, housekeeping, shopping, respite care, yard work, home repair, and library book delivery for seniors who choose to remain independent and living at home.

Easter Seals Children’s Therapy Center
Sponsor a Child for Therapy – Financial support for uninsured or underinsured children ages 0-18 to receive mental health, medical rehabilitation, and prevention services through Easter Seals’ Children’s Therapy Center.

Marion County CASA
Court Appointed Special Advocates, Teen Team – Program focuses on those youth who are “aging out” of the foster care system and connects them with education, life skills training, housing and employment resources so that they can be successful living independently.

Northwest Human Services
Crisis & Information Hotline – Crisis and suicide intervention services, financial assistance to prevent disconnection of utilities and/or housing eviction, and food boxes and personal hygiene items for those in need.

Thugz off Drugz
Structured Living – Stable drug-free housing, addiction counseling, mental health treatment, and re-entry support for recovering addicts in Yamhill County.

Yamhill County CASA
Court Appointed Special Advocates – Supports program that trains volunteers to advocate for children ages 0-18. CASA volunteers speak on behalf of children in court proceedings and advocate for timely resolution of cases to hasten placement in safe, permanent environments.

On any given day, you, your neighbor, friend or co-worker could be seeking help for the first time and have no idea where to look.

Mid-Valley 211 is an easy-to-remember, toll-free phone number that connects callers with local community services such as food, shelter, counseling, employment assistance, elder care, legal help, and more. Rather than spending hours searching the Internet or calling numerous numbers, simply dialing 2-1-1 is an efficient and convenient solution.

Mid-Valley 211 is FREE, confidential, and live.

Supported by 211info, a state-wide information and referral helpline based in Portland,
Mid-Valley 211 is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Your call will be answered by trained specialists who live and work right here in Oregon, so they understand the needs of Oregonians.

Answers are also available 24/7 on the 211info Web site. Up-to-date software systems make it easy to share database information across regions while reserving local control over resources and partnerships.

During a disaster situation, 211 provides critical information about evacuation routes, food and shelter, as well as support during long-term recovery. 

The United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is working hard to expand Yamhill 211 to Marion and Polk Counties during 2011. This is a step that directly aligns with the United Way mission to connect people with the resources they need and provides a community-wide service with community-wide outcomes

If you are the one who needs help, wants to volunteer, or is looking for solutions to unexpected challenges, the answers you need are just three digits away.

Visit Mid-Valley 211 online at here.

Funding directed toward partnerships that focus on successful outcomes in the areas of education, income and health; and target ways to keep our communities strong today and into the future.

Impact Area: Income

Impact Area: Education

Impact Area: Health

HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley (HandsOn) is the volunteer action center for Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties. Our team provides resources to connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities to deeply impact our tri-county region.  HandsOn is a network of 200+ local community partners, providing an online database of unique opportunities and various volunteer programs.  HandsOn provides services that help volunteers discover their passion; prepare agencies to recruit, train, and retain volunteers; and businesses to engage their employees in mutually beneficial community involvement.  HandsOn is an initiative of the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Mission
HandsOn mobilizes volunteers to create positive change in our community.

Our Vision
We envision a region of engaged volunteers nourishing our communities.

Strategic Direction
We advocate for the volunteer, emphasizing the quality of each volunteer’s experience.

History
HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley was launched in October 2007 as an online volunteer database and resource for local volunteers at GiveBackToday.org. The Center was the result of community members, facilitated by the Mid-Valley Volunteer Managers Association (MVVMA) and the Marion County Commission for Children and Families, coming together and collectively building a vision for a community of volunteers. Agencies joined the Volunteer Center Action Team and selected the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley to house the center.

The original intent for the Center was to be solely an online service for residents of Marion, Polk, and Yamhill County.  Based on demands and interest, the Center quickly grew to adopt a number of other services including managed projects, days of services, and training.  Based on the expanded role of the Center, the decision was made to fully align with the national network of volunteer action centers - the HandsOn Network, bringing best practices and funding to our region. The HandsOn Network, is made up of 370 affiliate Action Centers that serve 83% of the American population.

HandsOn is an initiative of the United way of the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Strategic investments that represent United Way Worldwide priorities with an emphasis on local conditions, that are available to all residents and provide services in our tri-county region.

The United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is proud to be a redistribution partner through Good360—a partnership that allows the United Way to obtain retail goods from local businesses and redistribute to nonprofit agencies in the community.  Known to the community as Gifts in Kind, this program provided more than $89,000 in goods to nonprofits during 2010.

Mid-Valley 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, toll-free phone number that connects callers with local community services such as food, shelter, counseling, employment assistance, elder care, legal help, and more. During a disaster, 211 provides critical information about evacuation routes, food and shelter, as well as support during long-term recovery. 

HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley (HandsOn) is the volunteer action center for Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties. Our team provides resources to connect volunteers with meaningful opportunities to deeply impact our tri-county region.  We provide services that help volunteers discover their passion; prepare agencies to recruit, train, and retain volunteers; and businesses to engage their employees in mutually beneficial community involvement.

Funding allocated for a single program or service that is focused on alleviating a specific issue.

Impact Area: Income

Impact Area: Education

Impact Area: Health

The United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is proud to be a redistribution partner through Good360—a partnership that allows the United Way to obtain retail goods from local businesses and redistribute to nonprofit agencies in the community.  Known to the community as Gifts in Kind, this program provided more than $89,000 in goods to nonprofits during 2010.

United Way’s current Gifts In Kind retail donation partners:
Good360
Bed Bath & Beyond- Keizer Station
Home Depot- S. Salem
Guess Outlet- Woodburn
Van Heusen Outlet- Lincoln City
Borders- NE Salem
Avenue- Keizer Station
Torrid- Salem Center

Gifts In-Kind Program Overview for Nonprofits

United Way Gifts In Kind manages large-scale donations, and matches those gifts with qualified nonprofit agencies that can use them best. This support helps nonprofits hold down overhead costs, expand capabilities, and ultimately serve more people in the community.

In an effort to expand and improve Gifts in Kind, the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley will be implementing the following changes:

• Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) health and human service agency offering direct services to clients in Marion, Polk, or Yamhill counties
• Program will run annually from July 1 through June 30
• An annual administration fee of $100 applies to all nonprofits participating in the program
• Distribution will occur on a monthly set date/time.
• Special interest items will be available periodically for purchase; posted prices will be significantly lower than the retail cost

Donation Examples:
•  Computers
•  Books
•  Clothing
•  Household goods
•  Home repair/remodel items
•  Children’s toys

Investing Locally

Here are a few examples of how our partners are putting United Way resources to work in local communities:

• Catholic Community Services used products to build their “Forever Homes”
• YWCA used items to redecorate and update apartments at their shelter
• Marion-Polk Foster Parent Association distributed donated clothing to foster children for school and job interviews

Please contact Kara Rotella at 503-363-1651 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if your non-profit organization is interested in participating in United Way’s Gifts in Kind program.

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is Community Redistribution Partner with Good360.

Community Impact Funding Process

The United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley doesn’t stand alone in the process of allocating funds to single programs and collaborations. In fact, it takes a village to get the job done right. And with your investment in mind, we take the responsibility of funding seriously.

To aid in the process of funding programs and community collaborations, the United Way reaches out to the community for volunteers representing a cross section of professionals and experts in the areas of education, health and financial stability and invites them to play a key role in determining how to use donations and resources in a manner that will achieve maximum improvement in the lives of Mid-Willamette Valley residents.

Volunteers review applications, discuss program effectiveness and develop recommendations for community investments. We select volunteers who are interested and involved in community initiatives and have a willingness to learn about the philosophy of the United Way’s Community Impact agenda.

Review panel volunteers are guided by the vision of the Community Impact Council, which is comprised of United Way board members and community volunteers.  Working together, these groups are responsible for reviewing applications submitted by local agencies and selecting recipients based upon a matrix of program criteria, outcomes, geographic characteristics and relevancy to current issues affecting our communities.

Engaging volunteers to oversee community investments and initiatives helps the United Way work effectively to support long-lasting outcomes and help to improve the lives of individuals and families across the tri-county region.

The United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley engages in a thorough, community-based process to help address the most pressing issues and emerging needs in three crucial areas—education, income and health.  Together with numerous organizations, experts and key leaders, we work to identify specific community-wide concerns, strategize for long-term outcomes, and gather and leverage resources.

Our community investment strategy is designed to have maximum impact on improving peoples’ lives across the tri-county region.

The result is funding that fits into three distinct categories:
• Program Investments – Funding allocated for a single program or service that is focused on alleviating a specific issue.
• Collaborative Investments – Funding directed toward partnerships that focus on successful outcomes in the areas of education, income and health; and target ways to keep our communities strong today and into the future.
• Initiatives – Strategic investments that represent United Way Worldwide priorities with an emphasis on local conditions, that are available to all residents and provide services in our tri-county region.

We rely on the generous contributions of individuals, foundations and corporations to support the effort to allocate dollars toward programs and collaborations that will result in community-wide change and outcomes. When you give to the Community Impact Fund, your money goes directly toward supporting our most vulnerable citizens. The power of this collective effort has a lasting, measurable effect.

Following the fundraising campaign ending June 30, 2011, nearly $1.3 million dollars will be invested in the community via the categories listed above.

We are grateful for your support.