United Way sharpens its focus
UNITED WAY IN THE NEWS
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Survey helps identify issues residents say are most pressing
Kim Kozlowski
The Detroit News
Jamarl Eiland thinks the lack of parental involvement in the lives of local youths is among the most pressing issues facing Metro Detroit, so he made his opinion known in an online survey conducted by the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
The United Way is best known for its annual fundraising campaigns that last year raised $63.5 million for more than 100 local human service agencies. But for several consecutive years, the agency has failed to fulfill its fundraising goals. This past year, for instance, it fell short by $3 million.
To help turn the tide, the local organization is following on the heels of United Way agencies in other cities, and narrowing the scope of its help by focusing only on the three or four issues that area residents think are most important.
Community input is crucial because the United Way's evolving mission will change the way it does business. Organizations that address the issues the United Way will focus on could see more money while programs that don't could see less. Some may stop receiving funding.
To determine what the public wants, the United Way is conducting a 23-question online survey, interviews with community leaders and a series of focus groups that constitute the agency's first steps at determining what areas it will ultimately focus on. The survey available at www.uwsem.org through April 17.
"I wanted to put my two cents in," said Eiland, 35, a Southfield resident who heard about the initiative through colleagues. "It's important information: where we are going as a community."
This won't be the first time the agency cuts funding for local service agencies. In 2004, the United Way delivered a 27.2 percent across-the-board cut -- the largest in its history -- because of years of shortfalls and government cutbacks.
Having survived the cut two years ago, officials with some United Way agencies are not surprised that more tweaks are on the horizon.
Even so, they plan to do all they can to retain United Way funding.
Citizens for Better Care, a watchdog group of nursing homes, plans to have representatives at focus groups to push its cause.
"We feel our organization is very important to the community," said Nancy Jackson, executive director for the organization's Detroit office.
"The best we can do is make sure they know how committed we are to our mission to helping the elderly."
Eric Cedo, executive director of Create Detroit, a nonprofit working to create a more vibrant city core, thinks the region's economy should be tops on the agency's list of priorities.
"People say if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but if you teach a man how to fish, he eats for a lifetime," Cedo said.
"But if you teach a man to fish and put him in an empty pond, he will still starve to death. We need to find ways to stock the pond."
So far, the United Way has interviewed 77 community leaders representing business, human services, local foundations and racial and ethnic groups. It also has held 12 focus groups.
About 3,000 area residents have taken the survey, but the United Way is hoping for much more participation.
The United Way supports more than 340 Metro Detroit programs and services that nurture youth, strengthen families, empower neighborhoods and promote health.
"Often, citizens don't feel like they have a voice in policy," said Michael Brennan, head of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "This is a direct, overt effort to reach as many residents and ask them to give their voice."
You can reach Kim Kozlowski at (313) 222-2024 or kkozlowski@detnews.com.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Survey helps identify issues residents say are most pressing
Kim Kozlowski
The Detroit News
Jamarl Eiland thinks the lack of parental involvement in the lives of local youths is among the most pressing issues facing Metro Detroit, so he made his opinion known in an online survey conducted by the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
The United Way is best known for its annual fundraising campaigns that last year raised $63.5 million for more than 100 local human service agencies. But for several consecutive years, the agency has failed to fulfill its fundraising goals. This past year, for instance, it fell short by $3 million.
To help turn the tide, the local organization is following on the heels of United Way agencies in other cities, and narrowing the scope of its help by focusing only on the three or four issues that area residents think are most important.
Community input is crucial because the United Way's evolving mission will change the way it does business. Organizations that address the issues the United Way will focus on could see more money while programs that don't could see less. Some may stop receiving funding.
To determine what the public wants, the United Way is conducting a 23-question online survey, interviews with community leaders and a series of focus groups that constitute the agency's first steps at determining what areas it will ultimately focus on. The survey available at www.uwsem.org through April 17.
"I wanted to put my two cents in," said Eiland, 35, a Southfield resident who heard about the initiative through colleagues. "It's important information: where we are going as a community."
This won't be the first time the agency cuts funding for local service agencies. In 2004, the United Way delivered a 27.2 percent across-the-board cut -- the largest in its history -- because of years of shortfalls and government cutbacks.
Having survived the cut two years ago, officials with some United Way agencies are not surprised that more tweaks are on the horizon.
Even so, they plan to do all they can to retain United Way funding.
Citizens for Better Care, a watchdog group of nursing homes, plans to have representatives at focus groups to push its cause.
"We feel our organization is very important to the community," said Nancy Jackson, executive director for the organization's Detroit office.
"The best we can do is make sure they know how committed we are to our mission to helping the elderly."
Eric Cedo, executive director of Create Detroit, a nonprofit working to create a more vibrant city core, thinks the region's economy should be tops on the agency's list of priorities.
"People say if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but if you teach a man how to fish, he eats for a lifetime," Cedo said.
"But if you teach a man to fish and put him in an empty pond, he will still starve to death. We need to find ways to stock the pond."
So far, the United Way has interviewed 77 community leaders representing business, human services, local foundations and racial and ethnic groups. It also has held 12 focus groups.
About 3,000 area residents have taken the survey, but the United Way is hoping for much more participation.
The United Way supports more than 340 Metro Detroit programs and services that nurture youth, strengthen families, empower neighborhoods and promote health.
"Often, citizens don't feel like they have a voice in policy," said Michael Brennan, head of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "This is a direct, overt effort to reach as many residents and ask them to give their voice."
You can reach Kim Kozlowski at (313) 222-2024 or kkozlowski@detnews.com.
Labels: Agenda_for_Change
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