We’re Uniting for Greater Impact!

We have exciting news to share with you, our valued partner and supporter:  

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County is expanding our impact!

As of July 1st,  2023, we will partner with a sister united Way—United Way of Western Connecticut—to serve a broader area that includes 27 towns and 25% of the state’s population. Our merged organization will be known as United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut.

We’re thrilled by the promise of this alliance, specifically:

• Strategic alignment:  We will continue to support struggling families in the short term, while promoting long-term solutions and lasting change.  As before, we will focus on improving outcomes in 3 key areas:  health, education, and financial stability.  Importantly, our alliance will bring together three StriveTogether collective impact movements—Bridgeport Prospers, Stamford Cradle to Career, and the new Danbury initiative—under a single umbrella to share expertise, resources, and best practices.

• Expanded supports for our communities:  We plan to expand successful, beneficial initiatives across the footprint to serve all of our neighbors, (e.g., initiatives that foster literacy, youth enrichment, and food security).

• Increased community engagement to direct our work:  We will develop two new Community Councils--in Greater Bridgeport and Greater Norwalk--to input on community needs and United Way funding priorities.  We will also establish an ALICE* Advisory Board—to give voice to the needs of families who work hard, but earn incomes below the high cost of living in our area.   We will continue and expand our current engagement work with Community Messengers and Parent Ambassadors.

• Increased potential for fundraising to support the work:  Now serving most of Fairfield and Southern Litchfield counties, we have a promising, cohesive footprint for resource development.  This bridges the gap for partners and donors who may live in one footprint but work in another.  Also, as one expanded organization, we can more easily qualify for larger public and private funding, and avoid competing against each other for grants.  Longer term, we expect to operate more efficiently through economies of scale.

• Expanded staff to advance our work:  Our team size will triple, and we will maintain our offices in our current key municipalities:  Bridgeport, Danbury, New Milford, and Stamford.

Our expanded organization will be led by President and CEO Isabel Almeida, who brings a deep commitment to community service and more than 20 years of experience in community affairs and leadership in the United Way network (most recently, as President of United Way of Western CT).  The new governing Board of Directors contains members from both current boards.

 We look forward to our continued partnership with you, as we meet the short and long-term needs of our neighbors.  Together, we will build communities where everyone can thrive.

 Sincerely,

 Margo Amgott (Interim CEO) and the United Way Team

 *ALICE:  an acronym for Asset Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed, this refers to individuals whose income falls below the cost of living threshold in our area.  Combined with those in poverty, fully 38% of CT residents experience financial hardship.

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United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut Board of Directors as of July 1, 2023

Cheryl Bakewell, Chair, Bakewell & Mulhare LLC
Lyn Kobsa, Vice Chair, Kobsa Strategic LLC
Paul Reszutek, Treasurer, Deloitte LLP (retired)
Ken Weinstein, Secretary, Newtown Savings Bank

Noel Anderson, Pitney Bowes
Christina Bodine Aysseh, Atlantic Community Bankers Bank
Doreen Bentson, Genworth
Paul Bruce, Union Savings Bank
Luis Diez, Northern Trust
Eric Duenwald, Synchrony
Carmen Hughes, City of Stamford
Thomas McCarthy, Town of Trumbull
Anne McCrory, Diocese of Bridgeport
Aaron Meyer, Retired Portfolio Manager and Community Volunteer
Mark Ouellette, Pitney Bowes
S. Giles Payne, Brody Wilkinson PC
Gerald Rosenberg, Commercial Consultant & Executive Coach
Michael Stern, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Samuel Tingley, M&T Bank Corporation
Robert Trefry, PathQuest Coaching and Consulting, LLC
Katherine Webster-O'Keefe, Attorney

United Way Announces New Executive Director Of Bridgeport Prospers

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County and Bridgeport Prospers Cradle to Career are excited to announce that Katerina Vlahos has been named Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers, a cradle to career collective impact movement. 

According to Margo Amgott, United Way’s Interim President and CEO, “Katerina Vlahos was selected for her insight, compassion, and deep experience in addressing the challenges facing the Bridgeport community.  Her 15 years of work improving outcomes for area children and families make her ideal for the role.”

On the Horizon: Events and Info from Your United Way

I’m proud to share with you our recent efforts to build strong communities—for today and tomorrow. We’re working hard to foster healthy development of young children, to offer STEM learning opportunities to youth, and to promote the financial stability of all our neighbors.

Partners and donors make it possible. Please consider supporting the work with a donation this Giving Day on February 23rd.

Gratefully,

Margo Amgott and the Team from United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

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Sparking Healthy Development of Young Children

During the first few years of life, a child’s brain develops quickly.  (More than 1 million new neural connections form every second.)   What fuels the healthy development of the growing brain?  Positive, loving interactions and play between caregiver and child. 

That’s why Bridgeport Prospers is promoting use of the free Sparkler mobile app by parents and caregivers of children 0-5 years.

Photo courtesy of our partners at Connecticut’s Office of Early Childhood

Sparkler offers thousands of fun, off-screen activities developed by early childhood educators to help children learn through play (including The Basics).

Sparkler also helps caregivers track how a child is progressing toward age-appropriate milestones, with a screening tool used widely by parents, teachers, and pediatricians (Ages & Stages Questionnaire).  This tool can help families celebrate development & catch delays.  If parents have questions or concerns, the app can connect them directly to early childhood advisors and care coordinators at 2-1-1 Child Development Infoline for advice and support. 

The Sparkler app is being shared with caregivers at interactive events, led by Bridgeport Prospers’ Manager of Early Childhood Initiatives, Jayson-Ann Johnson.  So far, 70% of the families reached have already registered on Sparkler, and 25% have completed screenings.  The next family event is scheduled for Thursday, February 23rd, 5:30 - 7 pm (see details below).

Evidence shows that the earlier a child’s development is assessed, the greater the chance has to reach his or her potential. By providing tools like the Sparkler app, we help families set up their children for success in school and life.

PROMOTING FINANCIAL STABILITY THROUGH FREE TAX PREPARATION

Who benefits from the VITA free tax assistance supported by United Way? The grandmother on a fixed income—suddenly raising her granddaughter. A couple with a new baby—who lost needed income during pregnancy due to mandated bed rest. A single mom whose college student needs tax forms that allow him to access college financial aid. Last year, more than 2,500 neighbors just like these saved $5.5M through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Overall, they are members of low-to-moderate income households (earning less than $60,000), including the elderly, disabled, and limited-English speakers. VITA filers maximize their tax returns because IRS-certified volunteers are trained to help them claim every deduction they have earned, including important credits--like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)--which often go unclaimed.

They use their refunds to support their households, paying monthly bills like groceries, utilities, and childcare. They use them to weather unexpected costs like car repairs. They use them to save for their futures.

We’re proud to partner again with the Connecticut Association for Human services to bring this free program to local community organizations near you. It’s part of our work to empower our neighbors to build stronger financial foundations.

Find a location near you at https://uwc.211ct.org/taxhelp, and other resources below.

SUPPORTING LEARNING AND CAREER PATHWAYS IN STEM

STEM careers are among the fastest growing and highest paying in the US, but they often less accessible to women, low-income individuals, and students of color. That’s why the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE) aims to expand learning opportunities and career pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Recent activities include the launch of a new academic Esports club, located at Bridgeport Military Academy. (Esports uses team video-gaming as a platform to increase student interest in STEM fields and to develop vital life skills such as teamwork, strategic thinking, and problem solving.) At the kickoff, students learned about careers in the gaming industry as well as their upcoming project to build a computer from scratch. The latest Esports club addition is sponsored by Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse. It joins four partner clubs who are planning a competition for the summer.

The GBSLE also supplied judges for two area Science Fairs, most recently for the Bridgeport Public Schools district fair for students in 7th-12th grades. The judges were deeply inspired by projects from the 25 students who are moving on to the state competition in March at Quinnipiac University. (Among the winners: two eighth graders aiming to prevent coastal erosion without disturbing ecosystems.) Importantly, the GBSLE will also provide $3,000 in scholarship funding to the local Science Fair winners.

And to help promote college enrollment, the ecosystem recently filmed videos on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These fun, light-hearted videos in English and Spanish (coming soon!) introduce students and parents to a tool for college funding--a key barrier to enrollment, especially for families with moderate incomes and/or first generation college students. (Click HERE to view the FAFSA videos and share!)

Grant Funding Available: Emergency Food and Shelter Program

Life can turn unexpectedly, and our neighbors may need urgent help with food, utilities, or rent/mortgage/shelter. That’s why our United Way serves as facilitator for the local Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), awarding funds to partners in 11 towns in the Greater Norwalk & Greater Bridgeport areas. Grant applications are now available to community-serving organizations and due Monday, Feb. 27th. Learn more...

Fairfield County’s Final “Giving Day”

Mark your calendars because on 2/23 Fairfield County will come together to support all of the incredible nonprofits in our community for the 10th (and final) annual 24-hour online giving marathon. Please consider sharing our social media posts and/or the images below, and giving back so we make life better for the people in our community. See how…

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Katerina Vlahos has been named Acting Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers

Vlahos was selected for her local ties, work as Bridgeport Prospers’ Director of Community Impact, and 15 years of experience improving outcomes for children and families.

Katerina Vlahos has been named Acting Executive Director of Bridgeport Prospers, a cradle to career collective impact movement funded by United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.  Vlahos assumes the role from Allison Logan, who is shifting to advance the Pre-Natal to Three initiatives launched by Bridgeport Prospers onto state and national levels. 

Ms. Vlahos has deep ties to the community.  Having immigrated to Bridgeport at age 11 from Greece, she experienced first-hand the systemic challenges faced by residents who are marginalized or under-resourced. As a result, she has worked to promote successful outcomes for children and families for over 15 years. 

Since 2019, she has served Bridgeport Prospers as the Director of Community Impact.  In that role, she expanded the Resilience Initiative statewide to become the Connecticut State Task Force on ACES and Resilience (CSTAR), which she leads.  Additionally, she serves on the Doulas4CT coalition, directs the United Way Community Messengers initiative, and co-chairs the Child Wellbeing Task Force of the area’s Health Improvement Alliance.

Before joining Bridgeport Prospers, she coordinated the local GEAR UP initiative to increase the numbers of low-income students entering college.  She also helped conduct the Mothers’ Stress and Coping Study for Yale New Haven Health.  As Pre-school Assistant Director of Caroline House, she designed a multi-sensory, parent-led curriculum to increase English language, STEM learning, and life skills for parents and children.   

Ms. Vlahos holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Sacred Heart University (the first in her family to graduate college).  She is certified by the Trauma Resource Institute as an educator in the Community Resiliency Model.  She lives in Stratford with her husband and dog Apollo, and she enjoys travelling, spending time with her two adult children, caring for her elderly parents, and walking on the beautiful local beaches.

Our Community Thanks You

Thanks to your partnership this year, we empowered more than 51,000 of our neighbors to improve their lives.

Click here to download your 2022 Impact Report, and take a moment to view our holiday card below!

Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season and in the New Year.

Sincerely,

The Team at United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

What’s New? Updates from Your United Way...

STEM ECOSYSTEM STEAMS AHEAD

The Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem (GBSLE) is busy providing students various pathways to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Their next exciting offering: a workshop in music production, engineering, and coding, in partnership with Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and University of Bridgeport’s Department of Music, called Meta Code Remix on November 17.

Engaging youth in STEM through music!

Designed to engage youth in STEM through music, the workshop includes an introduction to engineering and block-based coding. Students will create their own “beats,” or pieces of music that use mostly digital tools, instead of relying on vocalists and instrumentalists. Beats are the steady pulse of a composition and are used most frequently in rap and hip-hop music.

At the end of the workshop, students will showcase their own beats in a contest to win a Meta virtual reality headset. 

The STEM Ecosystem’s progress on other fronts includes:

• Producing informational videos to help students and parents complete applications for college financial aid (FAFSA).  

• Exploring a pilot of academic Esports clubs at a local high school.  (There are currently five Esports teams led by ecosystem partners.)

• Introducing students to TALLO--a tool that connects students to jobs, internships and scholarships--at a recent college fair.

 We’re inspired by the progress of the STEM Ecosystem and its growing impact on area youth!

BON VOYAGE, ALLISON LOGAN

After six years of serving Bridgeport Prospers, Executive Director Allison Logan will be moving on to support her passion: expanding Prenatal-to-Three initiatives on state and national levels. She will be staying aboard to ease the transition to new leadership.

Thank you, Allison, for your leadership.

We thank Allison for her leadership in improving outcomes for children, most notably:

• Launching a “Baby Bundle” of supports for families with young children to promote on-track development.  This work has been recognized as “a model for the state of Connecticut” and as a “replicable model” for the nation.

• Advancing the Greater Bridgeport STEM Ecosystem, a collaboration of 30 local partners providing multiple STEM learning opportunities to area students.

• Expanding the Resilience Initiative to raise awareness of the lifelong impact of trauma and offer tools to build community resilience.  This initiative has engaged thousands of partners and community members to date. It has expanded statewide to become the CT State Taskforce on ACEs and Resilience (CSTAR).

We bid her a bittersweet--but fond—farewell in the coming months as she transitions onward.  But thanks to her leadership and the stellar Bridgeport Prospers team, the work goes on.  Bon Voyage, Allison!

SALUTE TO GENEROUS COMPANIES MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

Sincere gratitude to four hand-raising, game-changing business partners who recently launched workplace giving campaigns to support their communities in need:

These companies inspired their employees to support initiatives to improve the health, school success, and financial stability of their neighbors.

Through their generous partnership with United Way, together we can build a community where everyone can thrive.

RESILIENCE INITIATIVE RAISES TRAUMA AWARENESS STATEWIDE

The Resilience Initiative team recently partnered with the CT State Employees Association (CSEA) in an event to raise awareness of the impact of trauma and discuss practical means of addressing it.  The event was held in collaboration with the CT State Taskforce on ACEs and Resilience, and included a screening of the documentary “Resilience,” and a panel discussion that reached over 300 participants, mostly educators.

The most important public health finding of a generation.

The “Resilience” documentary explores the most important public health finding of a generation, namely, that Adverse Childhood Experiences—extremely stressful experiences in childhood (e.g., abuse, neglect, household dysfunction)--can alter brain development and have lifelong effects on health and behavior. ACEs are now understood to be a leading cause of everything from heart disease and cancer to depression and substance abuse.

However, the documentary also chronicles the birth of a new movement among pediatricians, therapists, educators and communities, who are using cutting-edge brain science to help the next generation break the cycles of violence, addiction and disease. The film details several remarkable success stories of communities that have launched initiatives to address these seemingly-intractable issues.

Following the screening, a panel of experts discussed the film’s findings and applications.  The panel included Dr. Ignacio Cerdena, Yale School of Medicine (Psychiatry Dept.), Janee Woods, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, and Monica Jackson of the emme coalition at Optimus Health Care. The panel agreed on the need to:

• destigmatize mental health services;

• share mental health resources and coping tools more broadly;

• become aware of our own individual trauma and likely triggers

As a next step, CSEA will work with the Office of Early Childhood to increase awareness among parents and additional educators.  The goal is to prevent or address trauma, and to build resilience for the future.

 “If I had to boil it down [to] one thing for people to learn from this science:  it’s to totally put to bed forever this sense that children who are born under disadvantaged circumstances are doomed to poor life outcomes.  The science is saying that’s just not true.”

—Dr. Jack Shonkoff, Pediatrician, Director, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, “Resilience” documentary

Learn more about our Resilience Initiative’s vision to increase awareness of ACEs, create more positive childhood experiences, and chart a path to a just society.

We’re Growing to Meet Our Mission!

United Way’s mission is to empower people to improve their lives by tackling the most pressing issues in our communities. To deliver on our mission and its growing needs, we’ve expanded our staff to include three amazing new members, who hail from towns across our service area.  Warm welcome to:

Warm welcome to Talyn, Jayson-Ann, and Elaine!

Talyn Cook, (Bridgeport), Office Administrator. With 10 years of non-profit experience, Talyn brings experience in business management and healthcare to the oversight of our office operations. At the same time, she serves as a key team member of Resource Development, Impact Philanthropy, and the Community Messenger program. In her spare time, Talyn loves spending time with her vibrant toddler Zuri, and attending events to engage with community.

Jayson-Ann Johnson, (Wilton), Early Childhood Coordinator for Bridgeport Prospers. Jayson–Ann will implement pre-natal-to-three initiatives like the Basics and Sparkler app in both community and pediatric settings.  She has a master’s degree in public health, and vital experience as a teacher of young children and as a WIC Nutritionist/Breast Feeding Coordinator.  In her spare time, she runs an online boutique offering clothing, jewelry, and accessories.

Elaine Osowski, (Norwalk), Database Manager. Elaine oversees our database system for managing relations with donors, volunteers and partners, working closely with Finance and Resource Development.  She has over 23 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, donor engagement, and volunteer cultivation. Elaine is a movie buff and a board member of Squeaky Wheel Productions, a community media non-profit.

Please join us in welcoming these dynamic staff members to the team! 

It’s Hot in Here! Events and Info from Your United Way

Things are heating up both outdoors and inside at your United Way.

Read on, and be inspired! Happy summer!

Gratefully,

Margo Amgott and the Team from United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

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Meet Our Amazing Spring 2022 Impact Philanthropy Grantees

We are proud to announce our 2022 Impact Philanthropy grantees!

United Way recently awarded grants to 17 community partners to promote health, education, and financial stability throughout our 12-town footprint. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $20,000.

The new grantees were selected from a pool of 62 applicants by a committee of 15 members from the community, staff, and UW Board of Directors.

Read about our partners’ inspiring work to meet community needs HERE.

Washington Comes to Bridgeport: A Salute to Our Pre-natal to Three Work

Staff from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) along with the US Health and Human Services (HHS) recently met with our Bridgeport Prospers team to explore best practices in Prenatal-to-Three initiatives.

OMB and HHS staff are seeking to improve outcomes for families with children under age 5 by developing a group of wrap-around services and supports needed to thrive. Our “Baby Bundle” is viewed as the type of holistic model that can achieve those results, and was recommended to federal staff by the Pritzker Children’s Initiative and the CT Office of Early Childhood.

Why is this work critical? Currently, the US has one of worst maternal mortality rates of any developed nation, more than double that of most other high-income countries. In addition, low-income families lack access to healthcare, food, housing, childcare, and employment that promote child development, well-being, and educational achievement.

United Way-led Coalitions Award $1.1 MM in Funding for Emergency Food and Shelter

Led by United Way, two local coalitions recently awarded $1.1.MM in funding for emergency food and shelter in the Greater Bridgeport and Greater Norwalk areas. The coalitions—called “Local Boards”—evaluated community needs, accepted applications from local agencies, and selected 30 providers for the federal awards from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). EFSP is a federally funded program administered by FEMA to support those experiencing or at risk of hunger and homelessness.

STEM Ecosystem to Host Esports Tournament

In order to create pathways to careers in growing STEM fields, the Greater Bridgeport STEM Ecosystem has been hard at work expanding Esports in our area.

The summer program will culminate in a citywide Esports tournament on August 16th at the University of Bridgeport, where students will compete in Rocket League.

Academic Esports, short for electronic sports, uses online video gaming as a platform to build skills in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving that youth need to thrive in work and in life.

Stay tuned for exciting announcements about Esports this fall.

Long-Term Impacts of Supreme Court Ruling That Overturned Roe v. Wade

The recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe V. Wade has sparked intense response nationwide. We explored the research on the likely real-world impacts of the decision on our collective health, education, and financial stability. The results may surprise you. Review them and our statement HERE.

United Way to Support Project Connect

Project Connect returns to Bridgeport for the first time in three years, and United Way will collaborate with 12 other community-serving organizations in the effort.

Project Connect is a one-day event that connects residents who are at risk of homelessness with free services and resources in housing, health, employment, family services, and social services.

Participants will enjoy music and lunch, and receive health assessments, KN95 protective masks, and adult backpacks with personal care items. The event will be held Thursday, August 4th at the University of Bridgeport’s Wheeler Recreation center.

Many thanks to our corporate partner Regency Centers who donated items for the day!

United Way Announces Community Innovation Grants for 17 Partners

Awards Aim to Increase Equity and Opportunity in Fairfield County

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County has announced investments in 17 community partners to increase equity and opportunity in three impact areas:  health, education, and financial stability.  Awards were made to organizations serving each of the 12 towns in the United Way service area, and each ranged from $5,000 to $20,000 (list below).

“We are proud to partner with you to empower people to improve their lives,” commented Margo Amgott, United Way Interim President & CEO.  “I am truly inspired by the innovative work being done to meet community needs.”

Investments were made though United Way’s Impact Philanthropy Fund. Recipients were chosen by a diverse committee of 15 community volunteers, staff, and United Way Board members from a pool of 62 applicants.  Proposals were evaluated based upon their innovative approach and their ability to promote equity and opportunity.  Selection criteria also included extent of impact, objective measurements of success, and a willingness to collaborate in learning and sharing data on outcomes.

According to Katerina Vlahos, United Way Director of Community Impact and leader of the granting process, “We are pleased that this round of grant funding reaches broadly into the twelve communities we serve.  It represents a wide range of initiatives, including books for families of newborns in Bridgeport, workforce development of youth in Norwalk, and food and summer camp supports for families in Stratford.” 

At the award presentation, grant recipients provided keen insight into the impact and importance of their initiatives. 

According to Carla Miklos, Executive Director of Operation Hope, “Everyone deserves an opportunity for positive change, and that starts with a stable home.  But a big barrier to housing access is the lack of security deposits, and federal funds can’t be used for that purpose. This United Way grant will fund deposits to help clients find both housing and financial stability at the same time, since once stably housed, clients are able to gain, keep and increase employment.”

Michael Testani, Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools, noted, “If students aren’t reading on grade level by the Fourth Grade, their chances of graduating high school are greatly diminished.  This grant from United Way will help support our struggling readers with a proven intervention, so that they will meet that critical benchmark.”

One grant recipient offered a personal story of the need for an innovative suicide prevention approach. “I am a survivor of several suicide attempts.  That’s why I’m excited to bring this initiative to a community that I recovered in and that I also struggled in.  This therapy model allows clients to focus on what’s affecting us, and importantly, on what’s keeping us here,” commented Allison Kernan, Peer Support Specialist at Westport-based Positive Directions.  The grant will be used to expand capacity and use of the peer support model, “Alternatives to Suicide.”  According to Executive Director Vanessa Wilson, this model allows a “safe space” to discuss thoughts and feelings, and Positive Directions will be the first in Fairfield County to host training in the model.

Addressing the new grant recipients, United Way Interim CEO Margo Amgott noted, “We are honored to be working with you.  Together, we can create communities where all of our neighbors have an equal opportunity to thrive.”

Grants were presented by United Way of Coastal Fairfield County Board members who chaired or served on the three subcommittees, Lyn Salsgiver-Kobsa (Health & Wellness), Susan Weinberger (Education), and Paul Reszutek (Financial Stability).

Receiving the 2022 Community Innovation grants are:

Health and Well-Being

“Well-being is fundamental to health and happiness.  Our United Way aims to ensure access to programs that advance health equity, improve individual and community-level outcomes, and enhance the quality of life.” (Lyn Salsgiver-Kobsa, UW Board Member, Chair of the Impact Philanthropy Health and Well-being Committee)

• Bridgeport Hospital Foundation & CIRI (CT Institute for Refugees and Immigrants), mental health support groups for Afghan & Ukrainian refugees to address PTSD, depression, isolation, and substance use disorder

• Partnership to End Human Trafficking, holistic healing for sex trafficking victims through housing, employment, and trauma-focused services

• HomeBridge Ventures, trauma healing, economic mobility, and job training for those returning to the community from incarceration

• Newfield Park Youth Baseball, mentoring for underserved youth through the vehicle of baseball

• Positive Directions, suicide prevention thorough peer support groups and facilitator training in the “Alternatives to Suicide” therapy model

• Triangle Community Center, programming, resources, and wraparound supports for the LGBTQ+ community

 Education

“Education is the key to long-term success in the U.S.  Key factors in student achievement include parent engagement, early development of language, literacy, and social-emotional skills, and reading on-level by the end of Grade Three.  Our United Way grants recognize the importance of these critical factors.” (Susan Weinberger, UW Board Member, Member of the Impact Philanthropy Education Subcommittee)

• Bridgeport Public Schools, promotes reading on level at the Grade Three benchmark through Lexia, a proven intervention for struggling readers

• Make the Road Connecticut, for a parents’ Bill of Rights that allows non-English speaking parents of students to fully support their child’s education

• Norwalk Early Childhood Council, promotes healthy child development from birth to age 5 with a system of screening and tracking

• Read to Grow, for an early language and literacy initiative that provides reading coaching and children’s books for families, prenatally to age three

 Financial Stability

“United Way is very intentional about targeting services that empower people to build financial independence in addition to getting help to weather a crisis.”  (Paul Reszutek, UW Board Member, Chair of the Impact Philanthropy Financial Stability Subcommittee)

• Building Neighborhoods Together, promotes home ownership through housing counseling and financial literacy classes

• Homes for the Brave, support for women veterans with housing and employment services

• CT Association for Human Services, income tax prep assistance for the elderly, persons with disabilities, limited-English speakers, and low to middle income individuals

• Norwalk ACTS, supporting the cradle to career partnership to create equitable outcomes for children & families

• Operation Hope, homeless prevention by aiding families with housing security deposits

• Sterling House, food security for families and camp scholarships for youth

• Youth Business Initiative, provide workforce training and mentorship for high-risk, underserved youth, using local community members as guides

For more information on grant recipients or our Impact Philanthropy granting process, please contact:

Katerina Vlahos
Director of Community Impact
kvlahos@unitedwaycfc.org

Impact of the Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe V. Wade

A Research Review of Likely Consequences for Families and Society

Here at United Way of Coastal Fairfield County (UWCFC), we seek to advance the health, education, and financial stability of community residents.  We are dedicated to gender, racial, and ethnic equity. We seek to build communities where everyone can thrive.  That’s why we are gravely concerned about the likely impacts of the most recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court which overturned Roe v. Wade and removed federal protection for the right to abortion.

Current research on abortion restrictions indicates that the court ruling will have negative, long-term effects on maternal and infant health, on education attainment, on the financial stability of families.

Health Impact:  Limited Access to Care in an Era of Declining Maternal Health

The potential impact of the ruling on reproductive health, preventive care, and child well-being is cause for alarm.

The current state of maternal health in the US is already fragile:

• We have one of the highest rates of maternal death and morbidity in the developed world—nearly double the rate of other developed nations.

• Outcomes are even worse for black birthing people-who die in pregnancy-related deaths at three times the rate of their white peers—and for black infants, who are twice as likely to die in their first year of life.

• Those with unintended pregnancies are especially vulnerable, with lower rates of prenatal care and higher risks for medical complications and poor health outcomes postpartum. 

• New mothers lack support in the postpartum period.  The US is the only high wealth country not to guarantee access to provider home visits or paid parental leave after birth.  Research shows that these supports result in lower rates of maternal stress, re-hospitalization, and  death.

With the loss of access to abortion, the demand for pre-and post-natal care will grow dramatically, when there is already an overall shortage of maternity care providers relative to the number of births.

Provider scarcity poses a particular threat to those who suffer miscarriages.  Early pregnancy losses (which occur in 1 out of every 10 pregnancies) often require immediate medical intervention to prevent severe consequences, including death. They also require the same provider training, skills, and medicines used in abortion care.  Abortion restrictions will result in fewer providers and tools available to save lives.

The impact extends to routine preventive care.  Clinics that provide abortions also play a crucial role in primary care—from immunizations to screening tests for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.  But the current ruling will mean loss of staff and clinics.

Loss of abortion access will also impact women’s mental health—increasing stress, anxiety and depression, according to American Psychological Association.   This comes at a time when youth are already experiencing what the US Surgeon General has called a “mental health crisis.”

The health impact of the Supreme Court ruling also extends to the health of the child: unplanned pregnancies are associated with higher rates of premature birth, low birth weight, cognitive impairment, and physical abuse and neglect.  These conditions negatively affect a child’s health and development, for a lifetime. 

Education Impact: Lower Attainment

Research indicates that abortion access has a significant, positive impact on educational achievement. 

The amicus brief filed in the recent abortion court case and signed by 154 economists notes that, for young women experiencing  an unwanted pregnancy, access to abortion increased the probability of higher achievement, notably:

• a 20-percentage point increase in finishing college 

• a 40-percentage point increase in entering a professional occupation

For black teen women, the impact was even more pronounced:

• a 22 to 24 percentage point increase in the probability of graduating high school 

• a 23 to 27 percentage point increase in the probability of attending college.

A recent study also notes the dramatic impact on young men.  Those whose partners were pregnant but had an abortion were four times more likely to graduate college. This affects as many as one in five men.

Long term, educational achievement is very closely tied to an individual’s financial stability.

Economic Impact:  On Families and Society

In testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen noted that restricting women's reproductive rights would have "very damaging effects on the economy." 

In fact, data indicate that restricting abortion access will have a negative economic impact on the parent, the child, and society at large. 

Already, working women face a “motherhood penalty,” with a one-third drop in expected earnings with the birth of a child, while male parents remain relatively unaffected.

But a number of studies have found that abortion restrictions reduce women’s participation in the workforce, decreasing earnings, and increasing rates of debt and poverty.

For example, data from the longitudinal Turnaway Study show the impacts on women who sought abortions but were turned away.  Compared to their peers who accessed abortion, those seeking abortion who could not access services were four times more likely to earn incomes below the Federal Poverty Level, and faced significant and lasting financial distress:

• 78% increase in past-due debt, and

• 81% increase in public records of bankruptcy, evictions, and court judgments.

Restricting access to abortion will pose a pronounced hardship for those who are economically vulnerable:  those who are unmarried, and people of color (85% & 59% of all abortion seekers, respectively).  It will also force additional reliance on childcare, even though childcare is currently unaffordable for many (i.e., the median cost of childcare is four times what’s affordable for someone earning $15 per hour).

The impact extends beyond the individual parent to the very environment into which a child is born.  One study shows that abortion access reduces the number children who live in single-parent households, who live in poverty, and who receive social services. Other studies show that abortion legalization reduces cases of child neglect and abuse.

The economic impact extends further to our society at large.  With low earnings due to lack of education, limited workforce participation due to lack of childcare access, and workplace disruption with turnover or employees’ taking time off, it is estimated that abortion restrictions currently cost state economies $105 billion per year—a figure expected to grow with the new ruling.  Conversely, the lifting of restrictions is projected to increase the national GDP by 0.5%, according to a study from the International Women’s Policy Center.

A Question for All of Us

We realize that the latest Supreme Court ruling is divisive—with advocates on both sides and strongly held beliefs. 

For our United Way, it is an issue with real world, potentially devastating consequences for the health, education, and financial stability of parents and families—especially for vulnerable populations—and for our society at large.

These are costs that will be borne by all of us.

 So, we ask ourselves, our partners, and our government representatives:   Are we prepared to pay these consequences?

Our Statement on Recent Gun Violence in America

We mourn for those lost to unfathomable acts of gun violence in recent weeks.

The 10 shoppers and staff at the Tops Market in Buffalo, New York.  The worshipper at the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in California. And, the 21 children and their teachers who were gunned down at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

All this--four years after the murder of 17 at a high school in Parkland, Florida; ten years after the murder of 26 at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

In the US, firearms are now the leading cause of death for our children.

And, for every child lost, there are parents, friends, neighbors, and other children who will never be the same.  Because their traumatic experiences can correlate with poor health and life outcomes long into the future (heart disease, diabetes, drug abuse, school drop-outs, teen pregnancy).

Let us all grieve in a moment of silence.  Then, let us do more. 

Let’s raise our voices for all of them and mobilize in a moment of action (see links below); we can: 

• Support the families of victims in Uvalde, Texas

• Join organizations working to end gun violence

• Seek response from our government representatives--local, state, and national

• Explore methods and studies on preventing gun violence in the US and around the world

Today— the day of the first funeral services for children in Texas--let’s unite to prevent the next Uvalde, the next Parkland, the next Newtown.  Let’s build stronger, more resilient communities that are healthier, safer, and more prosperous—for all of us.

Only policy and change can do that.  Only we can do that.

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How to Take Action

Help the families of victims in Uvalde, Texas by donating to and promoting any of these 3 relief local funds:

• Robb Elementary Memorial Fund for families of Robb Elementary, created by First State Bank.  Zelle donations to robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com; mail checks to Robb School Memorial Fund, 200 East Nopol St., Uvalde, TX  78801

• United with Uvalde Fund, providing trauma and mental health services for students, teachers families, and community members,  by United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County (100% of donations will be used for support)

• Uvalde Strong Fund, supporting those affected by the tragedy and the organizations serving them (response services, medical institutions caring for the victims, orgs organizing long-term efforts for the Uvalde community), hosted by the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country

 Join/support organizations working to end gun violence in the US; here are 3 of many

• Everytown for Gun Safety, where all donations by 5/31 will be tripled by Michael Bloomberg.  (This is the home of Moms Demand Action, the nation’s largest grassroots network; here’s their petition)

• Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, 47 national organizations working through research,  engagement and policy advocacy

• Sandy Hook Promise, where family members of Newtown victims educate students and adults to “Know the Signs” and intervene to prevent violence

Contact your government reps for action

• US Congressional Delegates: House Representatives and Senators

• Connecticut General Assembly reps; find yours HERE

• Local Officials, on your hometown website

Explore methods to end gun violence:

• Actions taken in Canada and Europe

• A Public Health Approach to Prevention in the US

• Learnings on Firearm Legislation, from 130 studies in 10 countries