Unprecedented community outreach guides UWSEM in long-term strategic planning to achieve social-services goals for region

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contacts:

United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Patricia A. Ellis, (313) 226-9484, pager: (313) 840-1948
Megan Bracket, (313) 226-9409, pager: (313) 840-4321

Caponigro Public Relations Inc.
Jeff Caponigro, (248) 355-3200 ext. 204

United Way’s Agenda for Change focuses on educational preparedness, economic stability and basic needs in regional effort with One D and other community groups and individuals

DETROIT, Mich. – Responses from approximately 7,000 people from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, as well as from 100 one-on-one interviews, and 30 community forums were the basis for United Way for Southeastern Michigan identifying three social-services goals for the region. These three social-service areas were further defined and narrowed through additional focus groups with issues experts and an extensive review of academic studies, best practices and local data trends, according to Michael Brennan, president and CEO of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, who made the announcement today.

Educational preparedness, economic stability and basic needs emerged from the research – considered to be the most extensive of its kind ever conducted in Southeast Michigan – as the three most important goals for “achieving financial stability and well being for everyone in our communities,” according to United Way’s long-term strategic plan called Agenda for Change.

According to Brennan, the Agenda for Change strategic-planning process that began shortly after the formation of United Way for Southeastern Michigan in 2005 was guided by the organization’s mission, “To mobilize the caring power of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan to improve communities and individual lives in measurable and lasting ways.” The extensive research project, which involved more than 5,000 staff, volunteer and community hours, provided input and insight that led to a statement describing to what the region should aspire:

“All people across Southeastern Michigan have the educational and economic opportunities needed to succeed and thrive.”

“We knew we had to do things differently and do them well,” said Brennan. “Our first charge was to reach out and engage the region in new and unprecedented ways. The second was to seek the input, ideas and involvement of the community and bring focus to the issues people care most about.”

The three goals and corresponding outcomes -- which will include short-, medium- and
long-term objectives determined through strategy development during the 2007 calendar year are the following:

• Educational preparedness, defined in Agenda for Change as “Children and youth are prepared for life, work and postsecondary education.” Outcomes to be achieved include children entering school ready to learn; children consistently reading at grade level; youth staying in school; and providing access to supportive services needed for children and families to be successful in school and life.

• Economic stability, defined as “Individuals of all ages and families can build assets to achieve their educational and financial goals.” Outcomes needed include increasing financial literacy; increasing homeownership; and creating access to supportive services for individuals of all ages and families to move toward economic security.

• Basic needs, defined as “Individuals of all ages and families meet their needs and move toward financial stability.” Outcomes to be achieved include providing access for individuals of all ages and families to necessary basic services and crisis support including shelter, food, health care, mental health, clothing, personal care and transportation services. Crisis support includes disaster relief and services related to neglect, abuse, exploitation and respite care. A second outcome to be achieved is helping residents in southeast Michigan successfully navigate through systems in order to receive services.

“We recognize the importance of using data to support initiatives and measure progress on critical social issues facing the region,” said Al Lucarelli, director on the United Way for Southeastern Michigan board, who helped lead the Agenda for Change planning process. “The goals and corresponding outcomes will be measured against specific indicators. For instance, educational preparedness may be measured by graduation rates, school attendance trends, and reading levels. United Way will further define the indicators as strategies to target each of our goals are developed in 2007.”

Key strategies, action steps and barometers of success will be developed by the summer of 2007 through a series of community partnerships and initiatives, public policy and advocacy, community education, pilot projects and direct program and supportive services. Full implementation and measurement will commence in 2008, according to Brennan.

Anthony F. Earley Jr., chairman and CEO, DTE Energy and chair of United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s board of directors. “More than 85-percent of the respondents to our survey affirmed that they ‘expect the region to work better together.’ The challenges in our region are much too difficult to manage alone. United Way for Southeastern Michigan is very pleased to be an active member of One D: Transforming Regional Detroit, working closely with the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance, New Detroit, the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Alliance for Southeast Michigan. The United Way’s Agenda for Change planning process will play an integral part in meeting the six goals on which One D is focused – economic prosperity, educational preparedness, regional transit, race relations, regional cooperation and quality of life.”

United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Torch Drive and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self- sufficiency, nurturing children and youth, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at www.uwsem.org.

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Learn More

• The Detroit News: United Way to key in on solving social ills
• The Detroit Free Press: United Way to revamp cash-grant procedures
• Crain's Detroit Business: United Way ready to focus funds on three areas
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: The Agenda for Change Executive Summary [27KB]
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: The Agenda for Change Full Report [686KB]
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: The Agenda for Change - Community Voices [10KB]
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: The Agenda for Change - Goal Area Fact Sheets
  • Basic Needs [24KB]
  • Economic Stability [29KB]
  • Educational Preparedness [35KB]

Safe and Vibrant Neighborhoods

Jacqueline Jones, Vice President for Public Policy at United Way had this comment on the Safe and Vibrant Neighborhoods posting:

"The reduction of crime is key to safe and vibrant neighborhoods. UWSEM plays a key leadership and partnership role with the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative working towards the outcomes of safe communities and the successful reintegration of ex-offenders into our communities. Both of these outcomes require a collective coordinated community approach.

Vibrant and safe neighborhoods also impact our community's overall economic growth and development and support educational attainment, asset building, access to services, and advancement of literacy. Thus, reduction of crime becomes a critical strategy in our community's quest for a stronger region that is competitive in today's global world."

Jacqueline R. Jones, MSW
Vice President, Public Policy
United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Safe and Vibrant Neighborhoods

One of the keys to any community of progress is a sense of security and safety in our homes and neighborhoods. From Downtown Detroit to the outer districts of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties, our goals are the same -- we want healthy, vibrant, safe and nurturing places in which to raise our families and to develop our communities.

There are some great examples of work in this area already, especially with the Local Initiatives Support Coalition, known as LISC and their Neighborhoods Now program connecting inner-ring suburbs and Detroit neighborhoods for common purpose.

The Skillman Foundation's Good Neighborhoods program vision is to "transform Detroit's neighborhoods into healthy, safe and supportive environments for children, youth, and their families by working directly with concerned citizens and organizations in specific neighborhoods."

As United Way works on safety and youth violence issues through its Taking Action Against Violence (TAAV) initiative, we are beginning to reach out across city and county boundaries to replicate this very successful collaborative.

Combining with community leaders like LISC and Skillman with United Way strategies will be critical to our ability to make long term change in the region. Partnerships with groups like these and others will be a true benchmark for regional progress. Most importantly, it will honor the regional imperative that over 85% of our survey respondents told us that they expect Southeastern Michigan to collaborate to make progress together.

Indeed, as we all know, we can accomplish so much more together than we ever could alone.

Have any ideas on how to enhance your neighborhood? Are there great programs going on in your community? What are the keys to a safe and vibrant neighborhood?

Email us at impact.strategy@uwsem.org to share your voice.

Detroit and Out-Wayne Results

Chart 4: Out-Wayne County Respondents Who Selected Each Aspiration


Chart 4 details the responses of Wayne County residents outside of Detroit. Out-Wayne County residents also tracked very closely on their top 3 selections with the choices voiced by the entire tri-county sample, though they placed preparedness for young children slightly ahead of older youth. They also chose Basic Needs at a slightly higher rate than the overall population. The aspiration areas for which Out-Wayne County residents differed most on the low side from regional totals were Knowing How to Get Help, Affordable Housing/Homelessness and the need for Targeted Funding. The areas for which they saw a greater need were Safety, Abuse and Neglect, and the Disabled.

Chart 5. Percentage of City of Detroit Respondents Who Selected Each Aspiration


Chart 5 provides the distribution of responses gathered from City of Detroit residents. Here is where we found the greatest variation in comparison to the tri-county respondents as a whole. While Basic Needs came in first, at a rate slightly lower than that of the region, the issue of Safety vaulted into second place, ahead of Youth Preparedness. The urban problem of crime was joined by the issues of Job Skills and a Livable Wage and Affordable Housing/Homelessness as critical aspirations for Detroiters. This combination pushed School Readiness for Children into 6th place. Among the other aspiration areas, Detroiters demonstrated less concern than average in the areas of Abuse and Neglect, Seniors and the Disabled.

Oakland County Results

Chart 3: Oakland County Respondents Who Selected Each Aspiration


Oakland County residents tracked very closely on their top 3 selections with the choices voiced by the entire tri-county sample. In each case, they selected these categories at a slightly higher (between 0.1 and 0.7 percentage points) rate than the tri-county as a whole. The aspiration areas for which Oakland County residents differed most on the low side from regional totals were Safety/Crime, Affordable Housing/Homelessness and the need for Targeted Funding. The areas for which Oakland County residents saw a greater need were Abuse and Neglect, Seniors and the Disabled.

Macomb County Results

From the Community Action Survey, we were interested in finding out how the totals faired by the different geographic areas in metro-Detroit. Over the next couple days we'll present these from Macomb, Oakland, out-Wayne and the City of Detroit. Together, they explain how residents selected items in the context of the regional results from yesterday's post.

You'll note how, overall, residents of Southeastern MI expressed very similar concerns and aspirations.

Here are Macomb's Results
Chart 2: Macomb County Respondents Who Selected Each Aspiration


While Macomb County residents generally followed the overall ranking of issues, they were slightly less likely to list Basic Needs, Youth School Preparation, Safety, Skills, Affordable Housing and Targeted Funding among their top three priorities than was the total tri-county population. The three issues for which they showed higher support were Readiness to Succeed by Age 6, Abuse Prevention and Independence for Seniors.

Seniors are very important for Macomb County in that it has the highest share, among counties in southeast Michigan, of persons 65 years and over and is forecast to continue this dominance over the next 25 years.

Please, get involved.

(Special thanks to Kurt Metzger, Director of Research for his analysis and overall leadership with United Way's survey data)

More Regional Survey Results

The Chart presents the composite score for each of the eleven aspiration statements, based on the web responses of tri-county residents. It is clear that respondents felt strongly toward the statement, “Individuals and families meet their basic needs for food, shelter and other necessities,” as nearly half (47 percent) listed it among their top 3 choices. The education of youth – both for post-secondary and pre-school readiness – followed, though some 10 percentage points behind basic needs. We knew each statement would be important to the region, which helps explain why they all ranged below the 50% mark.

More to come on how the results faired across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and the city of Detroit as well as the 2-1-1 call in version. To learn more, visit www.uwsem.org.

Community Action Survey - Results

News you can use!

Many have asked about the data analysis of our recently completed community-wide survey. While a final summary is still being drafted, below are some interesting findings.

The table provides a summary ranking of the 11 focus areas based on responses to the web-based survey. The data ranking was based on the number of times each statement was listed as one of the three primary responses.

The most significant finding in this chart, besides the overall ranking, is the general consistency across geographies.

Table 1. Ranking of Aspiration Areas by Residence of Respondents*




Much more to come as we continue to mine the more than 6,400 responses and determine how this will help inform our future work.

*The Community Action Statements were as follows:

·Children are safe, healthy, nurtured and ready to succeed in school by age 6
·Individuals and families meet their basic needs for food, shelter and other necessities
·People in need know how to get help
·People have the skills to maintain meaningful employment at a living wage
·Seniors live independently in their homes for as long as possible
·People with disabilities live healthy and independent lives
·People live in safe, affordable housing and are prevented from being homeless
·Youth complete school prepared to succeed in the workforce and higher education
·People are safe from violence and crime
·People do not suffer from physical, emotional and sexual abuse or neglect
·There is targeted funding available for people who want to go to college, start a business, or buy their first home

Conversations

Perhaps its a little early in this Blog's short history to ask much of its readers. But when you have a tagline as auspicious as "What Matters Most" you're setting some high expectations. I'd like you're feedback on what you'd like to hear from United Way.

A friend of ours just today shared the following quote that really struck a chord with me:

"I believe we can change the world if we start listening to one another again. Simple, honest, human conversation. Not mediation, negotiation, problem-solving, debate or public meetings. Simple, truthful conversations where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and we each listen well." (From Margaret Wheatley's Turning to One Another -- Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future)

In my view, conversations connect us to each other in important ways; its how we build empathy and understanding. And we all know communicating effectively is a perpetual challenge. So much so because we genuinely want to feel we are understood and understand others. Its true for individuals as much as it is for organizations, especially places like United Way.

I'm curious what you think. How can we better engage in conversations with you and the communities we serve?

Thanks for your feedback.

The Community Voice

It has been sometime since we've posted on this blog which started as an outgrowth of our community action survey. We thought we'd be back sooner ... but we couldn't believe the response and have had to be more thoughtful with how we share the results in an easy to digest manner.

My oh my, did that survey ever take off. It unleashed a response unlike anything I've ever seen ... with no other incentive than because you and others like you cared, over 6,000 people took the time to fill it out and tell us what mattered most to them.

When was the last time 6,000 people did anything without an incentive like a free rock concert or a chance to win a car?

It rarely happens. Atlanta had 4,000 people respond in their Metro Voices Metro Choices, which was a great collaboration between Coca-Cola, United Way and the Ad Council. Seattle spent $50,000 on a random digit dial survey for almost 1,000 respondents.

Here in the Metro Detroit -- the genius of the survey was it was open and accessible to all -- through our 2-1-1 line, the web and even on paper -- everyone could share their voice. And by leveraging the technology available and our trust and respect for the regional voice, we did it for less than $10,000. At less than 50 cents per response, we received a priceless set of data and input from thousands that so rarely get heard.

Frankly, our jaws began to drop as the numbers poured in. At first it was only a few hundred, then a 1,000 after the first week. Then suddenly, it tipped. Almost 300 responses a day and thousands of visitors to our website. 5,000 people in three weeks ... and over 6,200 in a month. Incredible.

We have to thank our great media partners who helped spread the word. The real gift though was people like you. Everyone it seems kept passing the message forward, encouraging friends, family, colleagues and neighbors to take the time to share their voice as well.

Over 19,000 individual comments on key partners, barriers to success and thoughtful ideas for civic and regional action were provided.

And the kicker ... Over 85% said they "Expect people in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties to work together and provide resources to help achieve" the action items you cared about.

We're still figuring out the best ways to return this gift back into the community. We appreciate everyone's patience. Look for many more opportunities to read about the results and to share your voice again in the weeks and months ahead.

We now know for certain that the region wants progress and will not sit silently nor idly by to wait for it to happen. It means so much to us here at United Way. We will continue to partner with you to ensure we make progress together right here in Southeast Michigan.

And know that we still want to hear your voice! So please, send us an email, go to our website, or register for our monthly newsletter.

Show the Way

Help United Way decide where dollars should go

source: Detroit Free Press Editorial

Like so many households, businesses and governments around the state, the United Way for Southeastern Michigan is facing critical decisions about its future and the best use of resources.

But rather than sounding a call for additional donations, the organization is asking the community it serves to help set its priorities. An unprecedented region-wide survey affords area residents an opportunity to help determine how the United Way should spend the money it collects to do the most good.

The need for input grows with the list of social challenges facing the region. United Way President Michael J. Brennan insists that the organization must narrow its focus or be overwhelmed by the demand. Rather than spreading money more thinly in many places, he hopes to determine where United Way dollars can really make a difference.

Difficult as it will be for the agencies that come up short, Brennan is right. There is only so far dollars can be stretched without losing their impact. And the community should have a say in the organization's tough choices.

This survey effort is really less about the organization than it is about the people living and increasingly struggling for any number of reasons in metro Detroit and how best to serve them with United Way dollars.

Because the survey is voluntary, the United Way will have to weigh its findings against other assessments of regional needs that the organization is doing in its two-year refocusing project.

Still, the more response the better. On or before April 7, residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties should ponder, then voice, how much importance they place on programs that help families thrive, children learn, disabled people have advocates and everyone gain access to affordable housing. Citizens' answers will help the United Way determine where to place its financial focus.

The United Way is putting incredible power in the hands of the people it serves. They should readily accept the invitation.

To participate in the Community Action Survey, call the United Way's 2-1-1-line or 1-800-552-1183 anytime or go online at www.uwsem.org.

Copyright © 2006 Detroit Free Press Inc.

Detroiters should help United Way focus its mission

The United Way of Southeastern Michigan is taking a welcome step to becoming more efficient about how it targets fund-raising money. Besides trying to measure how the organizations it funds perform, it is also surveying where it should spend its money.

The charitable organization traditionally has focused on funding social services activities, but it is surveying area leaders as well as the public about how to sharpen its focus. You can go to the United Way's Web site at www.uwsem.org or call 2-1-1 to take its Community Action Survey by phone. It's a good way for Metro Detroiters to help the nonprofit group stretch dollars and make them work better. [source]

Community Action Item: There is targeted funding available for people who want to go to college, start a business, or buy their first home

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: People do not suffer from physical, emotional and sexual abuse or neglect

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this issue? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: People are safe from violence and crime

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this particular Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: Youth complete school prepared to succeed in the workforce and higher education

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: People live in safe, affordable housing and are prevented from being homeless

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: People with disabilities live healthy and independent lives

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: Seniors live independently in their homes for as long as possible

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this issue? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: People have the skills to maintain meaningful employment at a living wage

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this issue? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: People in need know how to get help

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: Individuals and families meet their basic needs for food, shelter and other necessities

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Community Action Item: Children are safe, healthy, nurtured and ready to succeed in school by age 6

Share your ideas and best practices with us! What else should our community be doing to address this Community Action Item? What are you already involved in that's working? Click on the comments link below and tell us.

Metro Detroit residents have a voice: United Way wants to hear it

United Way for Southeastern Michigan wants metro Detroit residents to participate in a brief Community Action Survey via telephone or online. From March 24 through April 7, residents of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties are being encouraged to voice what they feel are the top social issues that they would like to see progress on in our region, as well as what are the barriers we need to overcome to achieve success. Click here to learn more.