United Way defines “initiatives” as focused, strategic efforts aimed at improving specific conditions defined through objective data gathering. Initiatives are United Way strategies for impact that offer solutions to our local challenges by mobilizing community resources.

We choose specific initiatives following the review of objective data available to us.

In April of 2002 United Way presented a Windham County Community Assessment (PDF format) to the community at large. Based on that report six key areas were identified as in need of attention or focus. Those areas in addition to information gathered routinely through other more immediate sources inform and drive Untied Way Initiative work.

Six areas defined by the Windham County Community Assessment.

1. Brattleboro and Bellows Falls Focus – A coordinated effort focusing on Brattleboro and Bellows Falls would be judicious. These two geographic areas are at higher risk for medical and social problems than the rest of the county. This includes child abuse and youth issues, especially in the areas of drug and alcohol abuse. Given the breadth of risk factors, the area would benefit from a strategy that includes a wide spectrum of resources and addressing the range of challenges that this sub-region faces. This should also include issues related to the economy, jobs, and wage stagnation.

2. Boost youth resources - Meaningful after-school programming needs to be expanded. Structures to support these activities, including transportation to ensure accessibility, need to be included. Activities, in addition to sports and club programs, might also include work or community service. Further gathering of information should take place on the types of activities that are currently taking place after school and the kinds of clubs in which youth are currently involved. Barriers to participation should also be explored.

3. Create economic vitality - The Steering Committee has hypothesized a connection between youth issues and the economic situation. Where youth have no clear aspirations and drop out of school, they cannot contribute to the re-vitalization of the region. New businesses are unlikely to re-locate to such an area, and new businesses will be hard to develop. Therefore, a significant effort to bring together--in a positive way--business, labor, and education, along with agencies involved in social services may be useful in further exploration and planning of a multi-faceted approach to these issues. This initiative could also create work incentives for youth and tap into future labor pools. Exploration of business development throughout the county is needed.

4. Support elders living alone - The large number of elders living alone, particularly in Brattleboro, is a significant concern. Expanding current support services and developing new ones that reach and support elders through a variety of modes would be helpful.

5.Examine multi-racial and ethnic diversity - Racial trends since the 1970s have led to an increasingly diverse population, a large minority of which is multi-racial. Multi-raciality should be addressed in the development of culturally competent social services. It is known that persons claiming multiple racial classification vary, with respect to health status, from persons identifying as either of their relevant single race categories. These patterns suggest that developing cultural competence, a goal voiced by several interviewees and Steering Committee members, will be a complex undertaking. Multi-racial children, for example, may face unique issues requiring resources and support, different from their single-race age-mates.

6. Develop better data collection - While this report sheds much light on some of the risk factors in Windham County, additional data is needed to better understand these factors. In particular, better data collection focusing on childcare, youth activities both in-school and out-of school, elders living alone, and ethnic, racial, and other minorities is needed.

As the project sponsor, the United Way of Windham County seeks to raise awareness of each community’s strengths and liabilities, and will use this report to guide future planning and development activities. Consistent with the United Way’s mission to “improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities,” the Community Assessment Project serves as a baseline from which increased health promotion and greater community capacity can develop.

United Way has continued to focus related to these six focus areas since 2002. Initiative areas include the Youth Initiative including advocacy for the inclusion of youth in the community as assets and pivotal to our economic viability, the completion of a county-wide after-school activities assessment, work on a Windham County Seniors assessment including support of the regional “cares” network, and support of diversity training for area service providers.