THE UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND INC

United way neighborhood zones: in october 2017, united way of central maryland (uwcm) took over the operations of the ben center in brooklyn, baltimore city, maryland, and integrated the strategy/programs into operations. The original neighborhood zone, the uw neighborhood zone in brooklyn, operates out of benjamin franklin high school in the brooklyn/curtis bay neighborhood of baltimore city. This unique concept has been designed to create a "hub" within the community that provides a safe, nurturing environment for students and community members to not only seek out a vast array of services, but to be active participants in shaping their community to be what will help them fulfill their hopes and dreams for themselves, their family, and the community.neighborhood zones are focused on multi-generational support in the areas of social, economic, and educational advancement. Neighborhood zones emerge from listening to what people want and need to succeed on their terms and are co-created by those who live and work in the designated geographical area. The team builds on assets to fill in gaps and encourages collaboration and coordination. Programs and initiatives include but are not limited to housing and employment assistance, community schools, high school dropout prevention, mental health services, access to healthy food, advocacy, neighborhood led services and resources and the united way family center.uwcm now has three neighborhood zones, in brooklyn and poppleton in baltimore city, and in columbia in howard county. Each zone addresses the unique needs of their respective neighborhoods. The uw family center in each zone provides quality childcare, early childhood education, and family support. The family centers in brooklyn and poppleton also provide intensive parenting support to student parents so that they can stay in school and graduate and break the cycle of teen pregnancy. The family center in columbia provides high quality early childhood support to alice families.the success of these zones led to the creation of the neighbors united initiative, a resident led, community building initiative adapted from st. Joseph's health system in ca. Neighbors united coaches residents to identify assets and challenges together and work with allies to improve health, security, and economic well-being of their communities. This approach promotes building power structures that put residents in a position of strength and self-determination. Communities progress through neighbors united with the guidance of a lead agency that is embedded in the community and supported by united way of central maryland. Neighbors united sites progress from this initiative to become a neighborhood zone. There are currently five neighbors united sites throughout central maryland.multiple initiatives and programs have blossomed out of neighborhood zones based on what is heard from the community and what the data shows. United for childcare is an initiative recently created to address the national childcare crisis, birthed out of opportunities and challenges experienced with the uw family centers. The focus of united for childcare is to transform the early childhood education ecosystem through a multi-generational strategy that elevates the childcare profession and expands access to quality, affordable early childhood education to close the racial educational and wealth gap. Fiscal year 2024 (fy24) was spent on continued listening, researching, and building a collaborative that will decide how to move the initiative forward.education initiatives are part of the neighborhood zone portfolio. Young men united is an educational initiative that focuses on providing young men of color with the wrap-around support they need to realize the success they see for themselves. Ymu partners with several stakeholders to implement the initiative and is currently operating in two baltimore city public high schools.key outcomes of uw neighborhood zones include: o the family center at benjamin franklin high school has provided intensive parenting support to 144 students and early childhood education to 120 infants and toddlers since inception in 2014. The center provided intensive parenting support to forty-six individuals (24 parents and 22 children) in fy24. 100% of the children were on track developmentally by the end of the year. The cumulative, 5-year cohort graduation rate of family center student parents is 70%.o the social-emotional wellness program at benjamin franklin high school had a staffing vacancy for the duration of the year. In the 2023-24 school year the program served eighty-four students, approximately 10% of the entire student body. Students received individual and group counseling, crisis intervention/mediation, and wellness programming.o the family center at excel academy (in poppleton) has provided intensive parenting support to forty-six students and early childhood education to 43 children, cumulative from 2022 through fy24. 100% of the children in fy24 were on track developmentally by the end of the year. The cumulative, 5-year cohort graduation rate of family center student parents is 83% based on two class cohorts thus far.o the columbia family center has served thirty-three families (60 individuals) since its opening in fy23. 94% of families served in fy24 were living at or below the alice threshold. 79% of the children in fy24 were on track developmentally by the end of the year.o young men united served 45 young men of color during school year 2023-2024 and onboarded 3 key initiative partners. 82% of students were successfully promoted to the 12th grade. 8 students not promoted were offered twilight courses.o neighbors united (nu) is currently operating cohort 2 and engaging 31 core team members. 77% of the cohort live in the designated neighborhoods. 93% of core members surveyed believe they are better off because of being part of nu.o in fy24 uwcm-led community schools served 3,785 students; formed or maintained 180 partnerships; engaged 820 volunteers; and leveraged over $1.3 million through cash and in-kind funds.

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