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United Way Transition Committee
In 2010, the United Way formed a Transition Committee to review 2009 Community Needs Assessment results. The Transition Committee was divided into Education, Health and Income Working Groups and was instructed to look at unmet needs and identify initiatives that 1) would address the underlying cause(s) of problems in our community and 2) would have the potential to effect systemic change.
The Transition Committee started as a group of 12 in January 2010. By September 2010, over 60 people had participated in the regular meetings of the Education, Health and Income Working Groups. In fall 2010, the entire Transition Committee (all Working Groups) recommended four priority areas for future United Way work.
EDUCATION
- Establish an early childhood initiative (birth to 4) to enable all children in Lafayette County to have the opportunity to reach their potential.
HEALTH
- Promote healthy lifestyles and eating habits to address obesity issues.
- Improve quality of life for both elderly and working individuals who care for them through adult day care.
INCOME
- Establish financial stability partnerships and programs to promote access to income, savings and asset building.
DURING 2010-11 ACTION WAS TAKEN ON TWO OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
EDUCATION: The Lafayette County-Oxford-University community has been accepted as an Excel by 5 Candidate Community. United Way is serving as the lead institution for the effort. Excel by 5 focuses on children birth to age five based upon research that shows that these years are vital in developmental growth. Excel by 5 provides a process to develop programs and meet benchmarks, based on the community's specific mix of resources and needs. Success in meeting goals will result in the LOU community being certified as a "child friendly" community.
An Excel by 5 Coalition of approximately 35 people will conduct parent, day care center directors and health needs and resources suveys, create an action plan and organize community participation in four focus areas (community involvement, family and parent support, child care and education, and health and safety). Certification as a child friendly community typically takes 24+ months.
HEALTH: The Oxford Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County partnered with Baptist Memorial Hospital to offer the Healthy YOU, Healthy L.O.U. program which encouraged and supported nearly 700 Lafayette County residents in their efforts to develop more healthy lifestyles and eating habits.
FUTURE: In 2011-12 and beyond, United Way will seek partners to assess and possibly address some of the other recommendations made by the United Way Transition Committee.
Websites of Interest:
Excel by 5
Lafayette County Excel by 5
