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United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) understands the value of studying our community's health and human service needs. In fact, we commit significant staff time and other resources to learning more about our region's demographics, economic condition and perceptions on our community's quality of life. The reports and studies we produce are used to help UWCR identify funding priorities, emerging needs and growing trends in our community. Latino Community Needs Assessment: United Way of the Capital Region contracted Rodriguez, O’Neill and Associates (ROA) to conduct a comprehensive needs and assets assessment of the local Latino community. The assessment will provide insight into our region’s ability to address the unique human service needs of this population, and identify emerging issues and gaps in services in the Latino community. A comprehensive assessment of the Latino Community in the Capital Region has never been completed. United Way believes that this assessment will be a significant community service - having immediate value to many non-profits, other community services funders, as well as business and legislative leaders. The Latino community’s needs are not well understood and local capacity for responding to identified issues is not well understood either. This lack of knowledge has seemingly harmed the delivery of health and human services to a significant element of the Capital Region.
A Spanish version of the executive summary can be found here. View the Latino Community Needs Executive Summary Spanish (PDF format, 649 kb) Focused Care Council Annual Report Each Focused Care Council produces an Annual Report that summarizes its review of the issues facing our community and direction to our work during the year.
A summary of the programs UWCR funds and the results achieved is provided below. Check out more information on the results achieved by UWCR (PDF format, 680 kb). Capital Region Review: An Assessment of the Health and Human Service Needs and Assets of the Capital Region. Released in September 2003, this report provides a detailed look at our region’s social and economic conditions, and the diversity of our community. The report is an important component of our Community Impact Plan and serves as a reference guide to many of our committees. View the executive summary: Needs Assessment (executive summary) (PDF format, 1898 kb) View the complete report: Needs Assessment (full version) (PDF format, 5241 kb) A Healthy Community: Working in the Present, Envisioning the Future. This report was released in Fall 2002 and is the result of many hours of discussion, deliberation and information gathering. UWCR’s Community Initiatives Task Force undertook this difficult, yet important, task of studying our community’s collective health. View the report: Healthy Communities Report (PDF format, 2309 kb) Point In Time Survey 2008: A study of individuals and families who experience homelessness and the services requested. A network of 22 agencies and 34 programs conducted a 24-hour survey from noon January 24 - noon January 25, 2008. The survey studies the number of individuals and heads of households seeking homeless-related services in the Capital Area. These agencies are members of the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH), an extensive collaboration of non-profit agencies; city, county, and federal representatives; businesses; and foundations that are addressing homelessness in the Capital Area. The coalition’s work is underwritten by financial support from the City of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities and United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR). View the Point In Time Survey 2008 (PDF format, 3684 kb) A Look at the Issue of Grandparents Raising Minor Children: Grandparents raising grandchildren is a pressing issue in our community. In the Capital Region, large numbers of grandparents are replacing parents by actively contributing to today's families. The information provided allows us to better understand the new role that grandparents play, instead of the traditional one they have played in the past. View the report on Grandparents Raising Minor Children (PDF format, 177 kb) A Look at Childhood Obesity: The rate of childhood obesity has become alarming over the past few years. The Children and Youth Focused Care Council, dedicated to the welfare of children, has concern for the increasing number of children within the Capital Region that are obese, or at risk of becoming obese. The Council has prepared a brief report that examines the issue and offers insights on how our community is addressing the situation in our community. Click here to view the Report on Childhood Obesity (PDF format, 152 kb) A Look at Young Fathers Report: United Way of the Capital Region wants all families to be strong and successful. The challenges confronted by young families are especially daunting. Much has been written about teenage and young mothers, but little is understood about young fathers. Teenage fathers are less likely than other fathers to stay involved with their children over time. This is not surprising, as young men may be ill-equipped emotionally and financially to take on the responsibilities of fathering. This report is our effort to better understand the issue of young fathers with an eye toward strengthening the bond of young fathers to their children and families. A special thank you is owed to Rev. Ron Tilley, Executive Director, The Firm Foundation, for his assistance in developing this report. View A Look at Young Fathers Report (PDF format, 114 kb).
Mental Health Report: United Way’s Focused Care Councils have identified mental health as a priority issue needing additional attention. Individuals experiencing mental health problems often hide it from their families until the situation becomes serious. The delay in receiving services makes the problem worse and often contributes to an unnecessary crisis. In the Capital Region it can be difficult to get appointments with psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in a timely manner. UWCR has prepared this brief report to help our community better understand this complicated issue and its impact on the Capital Region. View the Report on Mental Health (PDF format, 161 kb). Faces of the Uninsured: An increasing number of men, women and children are unable to access the medical care they need because they are either uninsured or underinsured. Who are these people and why does this problem exist? You may be surprised. UWCR takes a look at this problem in the Capital Region. View the report - Faces of the Uninsured (PDF format, 112 kb). Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents: Anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, neurosis…most of us have heard of these mental health diagnoses in adults. But in children? One in five children has some type of mental health disorder and 5-9 percent of children between the ages of 9-17 are affected by a serious emotional disturbance that causes severe functional impairment. What causes these disorders? Should you be concerned? United Way takes a look at this serious issue. View the report – Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents (PDF format, 195 kb) The Impact of Mental Health on Aging Americans: When you picture senior citizens in America, what do you see? A population that is healthy, robust and active, or one that is frail, homebound and forgetful? Aging successfully should include good mental health. The loss of loved ones and friends, changes in environment, loss of independence and financial issues all create “stressors” that can result in mental health issues among older adults. The impact that mental illness may have on the lives of older adults is often unexpected by both our senior citizens and their families. View The Impact of Mental Illness on Aging Americans (PDF format, 127 kb). HIV/AIDS – Still Out There, Still Incurable and Still Deadly. Think HIV/AIDS is a problem of the past? Think again! HIV/AIDS is alive and thriving in the Capital Region and around the globe. Unlike Avian Flu, this pandemic is already with us and the Centers for Disease Control are now recommending routine screening for everyone between the ages of 13 and 64. Learn the facts about this still-deadly disease! View the report: HIV AIDS Still Out There, Still Incurable and Still Deadly (PDF format, 564 kb) Mentoring: UWCR wants our community’s children in to be successful and achieve their goals. For many, this can be a daily struggle. Currently a total of 17 million young people, nearly half the population of young people ages 10-18, live in situations that put them at risk of not reaching their full potential. Out of those 17 million, only 3 million receive some kind of mentoring. That means that there are still 14 million young people who are part of the so called “mentoring gap,” or need a mentor. A Look at Mentoring was prepared to review the topic of mentoring and best practices in mentoring. View the Mentoring Report (PDF format, 415 kb). UWCR also prepared a Mentoring Directory to help those who work with youth find mentoring resources in our community. View the Mentoring Program Directory (PDF format, 374 kb). Perry County Housing Needs Assessment: United Way of the Capital Region joined with the Perry County Family Services Partnership Board Housing Task Force to conduct the first-ever assessment of housing in Perry County. The study identified the current state of housing in the county, with particular emphasis on affordable, elderly and disability housing. It will be used to project future housing needs from a fresh perspective and to help guide the development of local policy and housing initiatives. View the Perry County Housing Needs Assessment (PDF format, 698 kb).
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| Copyright 2003-2008 by United Way of the Capital Region |
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