2-1-1

Many helpful resources are available to help Jackson’s residents in need.  The right service can be difficult to locate in the confusing “alphabet soup” of telephone directories, especially when an individual is facing barriers such as emotional crisis or illiteracy.

The Federal Government recently reserved the 2-1-1 dialing shortcut for non-emergency information and referral services, and Jackson’s call center opened to the public in 2003.  People dialing 2-1-1 from a land line anywhere in the county are connected at no charge to a specially trained operator who sifts through a database of thousands of services to help connect the caller with the help he or she needs.

Jackson’s Department of Human Services Director Tanda Reynolds calls 2-1-1 “The best thing that has happened for Jackson in a long, long time.”  Need help with anything?   Want to find the right volunteer opportunity?  Dial 2-1-1 and see for yourself how it works.

Note: cell service not yet available.  Some corporate phone systems may not recognize 2-1-1 calls without programming; contact your telephone representative if you cannot connect.  Operators also accessible by dialing (517) 789-1211.

Full Circle Juvenile Justice Initiative

Juveniles commit crimes for a variety of reasons; factors such as poor educational attainment, child abuse/family dysfunction, substance abuse and a lack of adult involvement are proven contributors.  While Jackson’s juvenile crime rate is not alarmingly high, a prevalence of those contributing factors places us at risk; a federal planning grant brought our community together to address those factors.  Its goal is to ensure Jackson is a community where youth and families flourish, and where those youth who do commit crimes are dealt with appropriately.

History of the Initiative:
The initial goal of the Comprehensive Strategy was creation of a 5-year plan to decrease juvenile crime and enhance community safety.  At the request of the Juvenile Justice Coalition, and with its assistance, United Way brought over 130 community leaders and volunteers together to identify and systematically address prioritized community risk factors through prevention activities, and to develop a complete range of graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders.
Full Circle's Comprehensive Strategy began with a four-phased planning process that was created to help Jackson County develop a 5-year plan. The four phases are:

• Mobilization: Engage every segment of the community including law enforcement, courts, corrections, schools, governmental agencies, social service agencies, businesses, civic organizations, parents and private citizens.
• Assessment: Develop an inventory of resources for addressing juvenile problems, as well as identify gaps in resources, services, and programs. This information and data is provided to the community to help effectively coordinate prevention services.
• Planning: the creation of a 5-year strategy which identifies and systematically addresses priority community risk factors through the development of a complete range of prevention and early intervention services and graduated sanctions programs for juvenile offenders. 
• Implementation: development of systems and programs according to the 5-year Strategic Plan.

Major partners sharing accountability for successful planning and implementation:

Jackson County Youth Center, Family Court, Florence Crittenton Services, Juvenile Probation, Big Brother/Big Sister, Family Services and Children’s Aid, Jackson County 2-1-1, Jackson County Department of Human Services, United Way of Jackson County, Integro LLC

Intended/achieved results (who will benefit and how, what community changes are targeted):

• Reduction in juvenile crime rates
• Reduction in youth substance abuse
• Improved educational attainment through truancy initiatives and mentoring
• Improved information for courts to use when sentencing juvenile offenders
• Development of a full continuum of sanctions so young offenders can be dealt with swiftly, appropriately and effectively, starting with enhanced diversion alternatives

Actions:
Over $__ has been brought into the community to implement the plan, including supporting:

• Creation of a “Social Work Triage” position to assess young offenders and make recommendations to the courts
• Development of the Mentoring Collaborative, a partnership benefiting all nonprofit mentoring services
• Development of two different truancy intervention programs
• Significant expansion of the Juvenile Diversion Program at Florence Crittenton Services
• Leveraged funding to develop the Reentry Program for youth being released from detention
• Collaboration and development of the Victim's Impact Panel
• Financial support for local programs including Girl Quest, Breakout Drug Education, First Time Offender Program Children of Promise Excel, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Families and School Together, Peer Mentoring,  2-1-1, Creating Lasting Family Connections, Pride Respect Opportunity School for expelled  youth.

Full Circle’s successes led two different funders to request its leadership in developing relevant initiatives for Jackson County.  In early 2006 Full Circle began oversight of the community’s Healthy Marriage Initiative, and in summer 2006 it began coordination of the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition.

Full Circle's Healthy Marriage Initiative

Marriage is an important decision, and a life-changing event.  Several communities have organized initiatives to support those individuals contemplating, or engaging in, marriage.  Their data clearly shows that a coordinated initiative can reduce divorce rates and increase personal satisfaction.  Jackson County’s divorce rate is 2% higher than the rest of the state, and many stakeholders (including human service providers, clergy, attorneys, and parents) who deal with the effects of broken or dysfunctional families have joined together as a planning group to explore development of an initiative here in Jackson.

Utilizing Full Circle’s planning process, this community collaborative has analyzed data, catalogued existing services and identified gaps, and is now completing a thorough plan to support marital success in our community (the plan will be posted on this site soon).  The plan will include pre-marital educational opportunities, essential skill-building activities (conflict resolution, financial planning, etc.), and new ways for the community to recognize and celebrate marriage.  While working on the plan, it has also undertaken the following:

• Sponsoring the Brown Bag Lunch Series, a monthly event that promotes the value of healthy marriages and families through continued education and discussion of relevant marriage topics.
• Hosting the successful “Laugh Your Way To A Better Marriage” marriage strengthening weekend enjoyed by well over 500 people.

Full Circle's Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

The Mid-South Substance Abuse Commission is responsible for channeling public funding for substance abuse prevention activities to several Michigan counties.  In the autumn of 2005, Mid-South requested that United Way’s Full Circle initiative coordinate prevention planning activities in Jackson.  Full Circle entered into a contract to employ a full time coordinator toward that end.

Activities and accomplishments to date include:

• Convening of the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, a countywide collaborative decision-making body of community members that plan and implement measures to prevent underage alcohol, tobacco and other drug use in Jackson County.
• The Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition secured Mid South Substance Abuse Commission funding for Children of Promise Excel (Big Brothers/Big Sisters) in the amount of $57,658 and funding for the Breakout Drug Education (Family Services and Children’s Aid) in the amount of $43,850.
• Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition developed an implementation plan to impact substance abuse in Jackson County and received funding in the amount of $114,892 to carry out this plan in 2007.
• Working with law enforcement, first responders and the County to develop a system of computer mapping of all methamphetamine production and dump sites.

Community Report Card

Funding and other resources for human services are being stretched increasingly thinner.  Reliable and current data is needed to make the most effective use of those resources.  In 2000, several leading nonprofits joined together to explore creation of a “data repository” and community report card.  The Report Card incorporates data from a variety of sources, including a large household survey, to assess several facets of life in Jackson.  The United Way served as fiduciary, and eventually engaged the Human Service Coordinating Alliance in supporting and enhancing the Report Card. 

View the 2002 Report Card
View the 2004 Report Card

Enhancement of the Report Card and development of a robust data repository for use by nonprofits, government, and any other interested groups, is continuing today by a growing community collaborative.

Success by Six

The problem, issue, or need:

The following was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census:

Income has an effect on a child’s school readiness because families with less financial resources have a harder time meeting basic needs such as housing, health care, food, and transportation.  They commonly live in neighborhoods/communities where schools have fewer resources and offer limited options for early education and care.  They also are more likely to suffer from health problems such as asthma and malnutrition.  In addition, these children are at a higher risk for abuse and neglect.

According to the 2005 Kids Count in Michigan data book, Jackson County ranked last in the state for children with less than adequate prenatal care (data was from 2003).  In addition, in 2004 Jackson County ranked 69 out of 83 for confirmed victims of abuse or neglect (83 is the county with the highest abuse or neglect rate).  There were 3,670 families investigated for abuse or neglect and 789 confirmed cases.

According to the Michigan Department of Education, in 2004-2005 21% of four year olds and almost 70% of three year olds who were eligible for publicly funded preschool did not receive it.  This is due to lack of available funding.   The High Scope/Perry Preschool Study proves there is a necessity for early childhood programming.  Participants in the Perry Preschool Program were located at the age of 27, around 24 years after they had participated in the program.  Program participants were four times more likely to earn $2000 a month, and one fifth as likely to have been arrested.  This means the control group was arrested five times more than the program participants.  In all, researchers in this study estimated every $1 invested in high-quality preschool education produced a $17 return.  This money was saved through more efficient K-12 education (less grade retention and higher achievement), decrease in public adult education costs, increase in participant’s earnings and employee benefits, decrease in crime, and decrease in welfare payments. 

Currently, school readiness data specific to Jackson County is unavailable.  However, the Jackson County Intermediate School District is working to obtain it and data should be available by May of 2006.

History of the Initiative:

Launched in 1988, United Way SB6 is active in more than 350 communities or states.  The initiative is based on medical and scientific research indicating that a child’s environment and experiences (whether they are positive or negative), by age five, have an irreversible effect on brain function and a lasting impact on later success in school and in life.  In other words, if a child has positive early learning experiences/engagement, their brain functioning is impacted positively (e.g. parents/caregivers reading to the child starting in infancy) and if a child has not had early learning experiences/engagement their brain functioning is negatively impacted.  

United Way of America officially licensed Jackson County’s SB6 in May of 2005.  The purpose of SB6 is to ensure that all children in Jackson County enter school ready to learn.  School readiness is more complex than a student simply knowing their letters and numbers.  Children must not only be ready academically (e.g. basic letter/number knowledge), but also socially (e.g. play well with and respect other children), physically (e.g. basic health care needs addressed), and emotionally (e.g. able to leave parents without too much difficulty).  Through coordination and collaboration, SB6 adds value to the work of agencies by creating change in the community that is beyond the capacity of any single agency acting on its own. 

In June of 2005, SB6 held an Early Childhood Development Forum in collaboration with Great Parents/Great Start of Jackson and 15 other community partners.  The purpose of this forum was to involve the Jackson community in SB6’s strategic planning process.  Two strategic planning sessions were held at the Early Childhood Development Forum.  They aimed at developing a vision and setting priority areas for Jackson County.  The 75 attendees at the event included parents, childcare professionals, educators/school representatives, human service agency staff, business leaders, government representatives, members of the faith-based community, and the media.  The Early Childhood Development Forum was followed up with seven months of additional strategic planning. The end result was a strategic plan for SB6. 

Major partners:

Big Brothers Big Sisters, Catholic Charities, Child and Parent Center, Child Care Network, Community Action Agency, Consumers Energy, Department of Human Services, Florence Crittenton Services, Jackson Area Career Center, Jackson Community College, Jackson County Intermediate School District, Jackson District Library, Jackson Housing Commission, Jackson Nonprofit Support Center, LifeWays, MSU Extension, Spring Arbor University, United Way of Jackson County.

Intended/achieved results (who will benefit and how, what community changes are targeted):

The following is a summary of the intended outcomes for SB6:

Outcome 1:  Parents have increase in knowledge and are utilizing available resources.
Develop and implement media campaign focused on increasing awareness around early childhood development.  Media outlets include radio, TV, newspaper, billboards, etc.  Information on local trainings and events and numbers to call for additional information will be incorporated into this campaign.

Outcome 2:  Parents embrace their role and are supported as their child’s teacher.
Identify workplaces that employ lower income parents/caregivers such as Walmart, Meijer, and Kmart.  Build relationships with these businesses.  Set up short trainings/workshops for parents to attend while on break at work.  Topics could include how to make everyday moments teachable moments, discussing appropriate developmental stages for children at different ages, and the importance of reading/interacting with children on a regular basis.

Outcome 3:  Children age 0-6 are cared for in environments/community that nurture and instill social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.  Create and further develop neighborhood networks (starting with Partnership Park area).  Work with existing neighborhood associations and recruit additional members for them (recruitment could be done through the schools, Head Start, childcare providers, etc.).  These groups could then organize neighborhood clean up days (outcomes would be residents signing up to clean-up vacant lots and build playgrounds, volunteers for each lot meet and develop action plans, volunteers create clean, drug-free play areas, children play in clean, safe areas, and finally – residents feel the neighborhood is a safer place for children.  In addition, these associations would advocate to the city of Jackson for more lighting in poorly lit areas.

Increase in developmentally appropriate learning environments for infants and toddlers by subsidizing childcare for families who would not otherwise be able to afford quality childcare.  Steps taken to reach this outcome include finding funding for the subsidies, recruiting a panel of quality childcare experts to determine what area childcare providers are appropriate to receive subsidies, and develop criteria for recipients of subsidies. 

Outcome 4:  Enhance services available for parents and caregivers of children birth to age three.  Identify parents and caregivers that would benefit from early childhood development training and support.  Develop recruitment strategies (including going to parents for the training and support instead of requiring that they come to a training).  Provide transportation and childcare for the trainings if necessary.

Outcome 5:  SB6 is fully funded and integrated into the Jackson community.  Write grant proposals for funding and better align existing programs to pool funds and coordinate services so overlap is eliminated.  Continue collaborating and aligning strategies with the Great Start Collaborative.

In January of 2006, the Jackson County Intermediate School District was awarded a $150,000 grant from the State of Michigan through the Great Start Collaborative.  The strategic plan that SB6 created was a key factor in Jackson County receiving the grant. 

United Way roles in the initiative:

United Way staff have served as conveners of the initiative and invested significant staff time.  United Way also serves as the fiscal agent.

Community Warmth Initiative

In 2005, Jackson County 2-1-1 received almost 2,000 calls from people who needed utility assistance.  2-1-1 data shows that the need for utility assistance will continue to rise throughout the spring and summer months.  The rise in need for utility assistance in the spring and summer months is largely due to that Winter Protection Plan, which was developed and mandated by the Michigan Public Service Commission.  Energy companies calculate 6% of the estimated annual utility bill along with a portion of any past-due amount and charge households that average amount every month to avoid a spike in their winter bills.  If actual energy charges are higher than that average, an unpaid balance accrues.  After March 31st, households must pay their full monthly bills plus a portion of the amount they owe from the winter months (the balance is averaged across their April-October bills).  Because the unpaid balance is often a thousand dollars or higher, many households are unable to pay these bills in the spring and summer and as a result the need for assistance increases. 

History of the Initiative:

Faith-based and human service leaders started the Community Warmth Initiative after the hurricanes down south last year.  There was much concern that people in Jackson County would not be able to afford their heating bills because of the skyrocketing utility costs. 

Major partners:

Agape Christian Church, American Cancer Society, Bethel Baptist Church, Cascades Wesleyan Church, Catholic Charities, Christ Lutheran Church, Church of Christ, Community Action Agency, Disability Connections, Family Services and Children’s Aid, First Baptist Church, First Congregational UCC, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist Church, Grace Church, Greater Bible Way, Immanuel Lutheran, Jackson County 2-1-1, Lily Mission Center/Church, Love, INC, Michigan Veterans Trust Fund, Mount Hope, MSU Extension, New Beginnings Church of God, Pathway to Hope Center, Salvation Army, Sandstone Congregational Church, Senator Mark Schauer, Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, St. Johns United Church of Christ, St. John’s VCC, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, St. Vincent DePaul, Trinity United Methodist Church, United Way of Jackson County, Unity Church of Jackson, Universalist Unitarian Church, We Can Make  Difference, Westminster Presbyterian, Westwinds Community Church.

Intended/achieved results (who will benefit and how, what community changes are targeted):

Initially, the collaborative focused on raising funds and developing a system to distribute those funds to Jackson County residents in need of utility assistance.  To date the group has discussed advocating to the Michigan Public Service Commission to make changes in the Winter Protection Program, providing conservation and weatherization programs to households in need of utility assistance, and holding budgeting classes.  This group has been emphatic about wanting to address root issues and is enthusiastically working together to address the needs in the Jackson community.

Actions (who is doing what to make this happen):

• System created to distribute utility assistance to Jackson County families in need.  Funds can be accessed once a year.  Eligibility criteria to receive Community Warmth Initiative funds are as follows: a household must have a poverty level at or below 200%; the maximum number of funds that can be accessed by a household is $500 per year; a household cannot access funds unless their bill is overdue; in order to access fund the following year, participants must sign up to attend a budget class.
• Warm Hearts Warm Homes bonfire raised community awareness and $5,067.46.  Over 50 people volunteered for the event.

• Pooled funds from faith based organizations, human service providers, public sources, foundations, and fundraisers.  Leveraged over $27,000 in additional funds by using Community Warmth Initiative funds as matching dollars. Total dollars raised to date $64,127.83. 
• From February to August, 182 people have received utility assistance and $40,852.42 in funds have been distributed.

United Way roles in the initiative:

United Way of Jackson County convened the Community Warmth Initiative along with the Jackson Area Ministerial Association.  Currently, United Way acts as the Community Warmth Initiative’s leader and coordinator.  United Way also contributed funds and operates as the Community Warmth Initiative’s fiscal agent.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Jackson County ranks 76 out of 83 Michigan counties for high teen pregnancy rates.  In 2003, the estimated pregnancy rate for Jackson County residents age 15-19 was 78.4 per 1,000, compared to 56.9 per 1,000 statewide.  13.8% of Jackson County live births were to teen mothers, a full 4.3% higher than the state average.  Teen mothers also accounted for 22.3% (or 85) of the induced abortions in Jackson County (2003).  A total of 283 births were to teen mothers in 2003.  Births to teen mothers are estimated to cost society at least $5,000 per year.  Teen mothers face numerous issues, including disrupted and incomplete education, poverty, and increased health care needs.  Children born to teen moms are more likely to suffer a lifetime of challenges.

History of the Initiative:

Prior to the 2006-2009 funding cycle, United Way’s Community Investment Cabinet looked at community data/needs and prioritized prevention of teen pregnancy under its Fostering Health & Well Being Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally area.  Teen pregnancy is a very difficult problem to impact; only broad-brushed, multi-pronged efforts have proven successful.  Jackson’s Health Department had led an ambitious prevention initiative some years ago, but when that funding ended all centralized coordination was lost; what prevention services still exist are fragmented.  In November 2005 United Way convened a broad group to develop a strategic plan and set aside a portion of community funding to start implementation of that plan when completed.

Major partners:

Center for Family Health, Do’chas II, Florence Crittenton Services, Foote Health System, Foundation for a Healthy Community, Jackson County Health Department, Jackson County Intermediate School District, Jackson Public Schools, LifeWays, Lily Missions Center, Planned Parenthood, Pre Natal Task Force, United Way of Jackson County   

Goals/Intended results:

• Reduce the teen pregnancy rate in Jackson County.

 Outcomes Achieved (results to date):

• Community group meeting regularly to develop a plan for our community.
• Analyzed needs data, current programs serving teen moms and promising models.
• Identification of the Carrera Teen Pregnancy Prevention program as the most promising way to prevent teen pregnancies among Jackson’s youth. 

United Way roles in the initiative:

United Way has committed $75,000 per year over the next three years toward this initiative, and convened a collaborative group to develop a prevention plan for our community.  At the suggestion of that planning group, United Way awarded the Jackson County Health Department a $20,000 grant in June 2006 to further develop and lead the initiative; the Health Department staff who led the previous community efforts were still employed there and brought considerable expertise and experience to these efforts.  United Way continues to invest staff time on this initiative; its Vision Councils will review the Strategic Plan upon completion and recommend ways to fund the plan through their set-aside funds.

Health Care for All

Nationally 45.5 million nonelderly Americans lacked health insurance in 2004.  Adult’s account for 80% of that number.  Low-income Americans with family incomes below 200% of the poverty level run the highest risk for being uninsured (Kaiser Commission on Key Facts, November 2005).  Of Jackson County’s total population of 158,422 residents, 10.5%, or 16,635 persons, are uninsured [REACH database]. Jackson County has a low-income Medically Underserved Population designation, which indicates it is a high need population without sufficient resources.  The community is also a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area, which reflects the fact that there are not enough dentists available to care for the population. 

History of the Initiative:

The Health Care for All Initiative began meeting in June 2003, when the members of a school based health center planning team responded to a preponderance of evidence illustrating the needs of the uninsured and underinsured of Jackson County by broadening its mission to Health Care for All.  

Major partners sharing accountability for successful planning and implementation:

Center for Family Health, Foote Health Systems, Foundation for a Healthy Community, Jackson Community College, Jackson County 2-1-1, Jackson County Community Foundation, Jackson County Department of Human Services, Jackson County Medical Society, LifeWays, Moretz Technologies, United Way of Jackson County

Intended/achieved results (who will benefit and how, what community changes are targeted):

• Creating an integrated delivery system of public and private primary care, specialty care, hospital care, pharmacy and diagnostic services, dental care, behavioral health, substance abuse and related social services;
• Expanding and augmenting local resources to fill gaps in the safety net for uninsured and underinsured residents;
• Producing innovations that result in better health for people at less cost; and,
• Communicating results that demonstrate impressive returns on community investment and assure long-term sustainability.

Actions:

• Submitted $1.2 million request to the Department of Health and Human Services.  The Health Care for All Initiative did not receive the grant, but continues to implement the plan that was developed for that grant proposal.
• Conducted an interactive “Pacing Event” to engage numerous sectors and stakeholders in this initiative.
• In 2006, Health Care for All was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Jackson County Community Foundation to implement Project Access in Jackson County.  The Jackson County Medical Society has taken leadership of this project in collaboration with Health Care for All and plans to have Project Access running by the beginning of 2007.
• Developing an integrated access system called the Front Door.  This system would enroll people in health and human service programs and help them navigate the health and human service delivery system, resulting in overall improvements to their health and well-being.

United Way’s role in the Health Care for All Initiative:

United Way has been involved with the Health Care for All initiative since it was started; its Executive Director challenged the school-based health center planning group to broaden its mission to Health Care for All.  Currently, United Way staff serves as chair of the Health Care for All initiative and invests considerable time in its leadership and organization.

Emergency Needs/Special Response

Through a special arrangement between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and United Way of America, our local United Way coordinates distribution of FEMA funding to nonprofit programs, faith-based providers, and other qualified groups providing temporary shelter, food, and other basic needs to people in crisis.

United Way staff also coordinates Jackson’s Emergency Needs Coalition, working closely with numerous local nonprofits engaged in those activities to ensure services are coordinated and resources are distributed as efficiently and effectively as possible.  That staff member also disburses a small amount of funding each month, assisting individuals in crisis by assisting with medical bills, rent and utility payments, and a variety of other needs.  Sometimes a relatively small amount of assistance can mean the difference between an individual or family maintaining fiscal health versus falling into deep and lasting debt; over the years this program has helped numerous families retain their homes, obtain needed medication or treatment, achieve transportation, find work, and retain some basic human dignity.  A local foundation recently began contributing to this fund.

Teen Advisory Panel

The Teen Advisory Panel (TAP) offers opportunities for Jackson County teens to make their community a better place. More formally put, TAP's mission is:
To provide its members with opportunities to increase their community-wide involvement, knowledge, and understanding of the community's health and human service agencies and volunteer systems.
Panel members meet once per month at the United Way building. Members also choose to work on specific volunteer projects. Throughout the course of the year, TAP:

• Invites proposals for services that impact the youth and teen of our community, and determines which proposals should receive minigrants.
• Develops and conducts community service projects
• Coordinates Jackson County's Coats For Kids Drive (benefiting The Salvation Army of Jackson)
• Participates in National Volunteer Projects

Who Can Participate?
TAP is comprised of high school-aged students (15-18) from throughout the county. Some are established student leaders, while others are just developing that potential. Diversity is valued, and the willingness to actively participate in discussions and projects is essential.
Benefits of Participation:
TAP offers its members numerous benefits. In addition to the satisfaction of helping others in your community, you will:

• Develop leadership and communication skills
• Gain hours of volunteer experience
• Develop a better understanding of your community and its needs
• Participate in philanthropy, including distributing grants
• Meet other students from around Jackson who share your interests

If you want to make a difference, are 15-18 years of age, you could be a member! Contact Rochelle Gillespie, United Way of Jackson County's Teen Advisory Panel Advisor,at 517-796-5129 or rgillespie@uwjackson.org to learn more about joining.