The United Way advocates for sound policies affecting Health, Education, Financial Stability and the nonprofit sector’s capacity to Advance the Common Good. Within each of these four areas, based on United Way’s 10-year goals, United Way has established its engagement strategies for each issue.
EDUCATION
The United Way Worldwide’s 10-year education goal is to cut the nation’s high school dropout rate in half; by 2018, 87% of high school seniors will graduate on time, up from 74% in 2006.
To accomplish this goal, the United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Access to Quality Early Learning Opportunities Beginning at Birth
- Middle and High School Retention and Re-enrollment
- Parent and Community Engagement in Education
Help us advocate for government funding for afterschool! Visit After School Alliance to find out how you can get involved.
You can also email congress with this premade email.
FINANCIAL STABILITY
The United Way Worldwide’s 10-year income goal is to cut in half the number of lower-income families who are financially unstable. By 2018, 82% of families with one or two parents working 50 or more weeks (combined) during the previous year and incomes less than 250% of the federal poverty level will spend less than 40% of their income on housing, down from 64% in 2006.
To accomplish this goal, the United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Affordable Housing
HEALTH
The United Way Worldwide’s10-year health goal is to increase by one-third the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behavior. By 2018, 45% of youth and 47% of adults will be healthy and avoid risky behaviors, up from 34% of youth and 35% of adults in 2005.
To accomplish this goal, the United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Increasing Children’s Health Coverage
- Preserving Healthy Start Program Funding
- Improving Child and Maternal Nutrition
NONPROFIT STRENGTHENING
United Way will strongly support policy initiatives that seek to strengthen the nonprofit sector through expansion of the 2-1-1 system, tax policy and policy incentives and regulations that encourage philanthropy and volunteerism.
To accomplish this goal, the United Way will focus on the following policy priorities:
- Protecting the Federal Charitable Deduction for All Those Who Donate To Charity
- Preserving the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps
- Establishing a 2-1-1 Partnership with the Federal Government
We hope that this information helps to equip those in the community with a better understanding of our specific goals.
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