Eleven New Vision Council Projects Approved for the
2008-2010 Grant Cycle to Address
Needs in Local Areas Starting January 1, 2008

After an 18-month long process of assessing community needs and planning the goals and investment strategies for our 2008-2010 grant cycle, UWGMC Board of Trustees has approved the eleven projects to be funded as of January 1, 2008. Based on our assessment, UWGMC is funding collaborative projects that focus on long-term community change. These projects are grouped under three “Vision Councils” designed to address priority needs in “Helping Children Succeed” (HCS), “Fostering Self-Sufficiency” (FSS) and “Caring for Seniors & People with Disabilities” (CSPD).

The four projects approved under HCS address the goals of getting children ready for school, keeping youth in school and getting them ready to work, and increasing parents’ involvement in their children’s lives.

1. The “Family Education Collaborative” has HomeFront as the lead agency, with partners Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, The Cherry Tree Club, Mercer County Library, and Educational Testing Service. This project provides homeless families who live in emergency shelters and transitional housing with free child care, education and literacy services.
2. The lead agency for “Hardcore Kids” is Catholic Charities, with partners Boys and Girls Club, Henry J. Austin Health Center, and Capital County Children’s Collaborative. This project provides “at-risk” teens with counseling, education, family therapy, vocational guidance, and positive socialization.
3. “Trenton Leadership & Mentoring” combines a lead agency, Big Brothers Big Sisters, with partners Princeton Center for Leadership Training, Leadership Trenton, and Princeton-Blairstown Center. This project provides mentoring and leadership training through a network of peers and adults.
4. “TRIO (Teaming Resources for Innovative Opportunities)” brings together lead agency Better Beginnings Child Development Center of Hightstown with partners Community Action Service Center and Jewish Family and Children’s Service. TRIO combines child care with parent training, summer camp, mental health and case management services, financial assistance and emergency food.

FSS includes five projects designed to address homelessness, hunger, literacy, domestic violence, mental health and substance abuse, and financial stability.

1. The “Nutrition Alliance” combines a lead agency, Mercer Street Friends, with four partners: Community Action Service Center of Hightstown, The Crisis Ministry, HomeFront, and Mt. Carmel Guild. This project will increase access to nutritious food for vulnerable people, education on healthy eating, and assistance to stabilize their living situations and increase their economic self-sufficiency.
2. The Family Guidance Center will lead the “Community of Services Collaboration” and coordinate the services of five partners: CONTACT of Mercer County, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), HomeFront, PEI Kids, and Womanspace. Wrap-around case management services include mental health and substance abuse counseling, consumer credit counseling, transitional housing and domestic and sexual violence prevention.
3. The “Latino Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative” is led by Catholic Charities with partners Womanspace and Community Action Service Center of Hightstown. This project focuses on services to both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence in the major Latino communities in the county, including counseling, shelter, legal assistance, support groups and advocacy.
4. The Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness will lead the “Mercer County Economic Empowerment Project,” which combines the services of Boys and Girls Club, The Crisis Ministry, and John O. Wilson Hamilton Neighborhood Center in order to expand the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) and Asset Building Campaign to more sites. Services include Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, financial literacy, and training in asset building.
5. The “Housing First Initiative” is a special UWGMC collaborative demonstration project that is described in detail in a separate article (below).

CSPD addresses the goals of increasing mobility, socialization and access to services for older adults and people with disabilities, and decreasing the incidence of isolation, depression, substance abuse and suicide among these populations, through two projects that cover the county with comprehensive case management services. Both projects seek to keep seniors and people with disabilities in their own homes by increasing their resiliency and reducing the risk factors that lead to illness, loss of independence, and placement.

1. Mercer Street Friends leads “Project Connect,” a coalition of eight agencies that cover the “southern” part of the county (greater Trenton): Catholic Charities, Enable, Interfaith Caregivers of Trenton, Jewish Family and Children’s Service, Mobile Meals of Trenton/Ewing, Mt. Carmel Guild, and The ARC/Mercer. Services include care coordination, home healthcare, mental health and substance abuse counseling, transportation, socialization/recreation, respite, home modifications, home-delivered meals, and in-home volunteer support.
2. “Partners in Caring,” led by Jewish Family and Children’s Service, is a coalition of seven agencies: American Red Cross, CONTACT of Mercer County, Enable, Greater Mercer TMA Ride Provide, Princeton Senior Resource Center, and RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) that covers the “northern” part of the county. Services include care management, mental health/substance abuse, home-delivered meals, caregiver support, transportation, nursing, and volunteer support.

For more information on these collaborative projects, please visit our website: www.uwgmc.org. Over the next year we will be highlighting these projects in each edition of this newsletter. This month we are featuring our “Housing First Initiative” (see below).

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Craig E. Lafferty

Dear Friends,
Looking for INSPIRATION …

Sitting at my desk one late summer afternoon, I asked myself “What inspires me?” As I sat there, I started to reflect on people and events. I have been inspired by people with great minds – Ghandi, Clara Barton, Dr. Martin Luther King, Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. All these individuals had a vision, a commitment to a cause.

Events have inspired me – the Civil War veteran’s march on Washington D.C. at the turn of the 20th century for veteran’s benefits, freedom marches for civil rights, landing on the moon at the close of the 1960s, the generosity of Americans after the events of September 11 and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

Further reflection brought to mind the struggle of a single-mother to raise her children, an elderly couple caring for each other as health begins to slip in their twilight years, a young person striving to achieve in school and make plans to go to college, low-income families in which both are working to make ends meet and keep a roof overhead and food on the table.

What about a disabled person whose needs are so demanding on the family – yes, that too inspires me as I see what families do to care for one another. And then there is the new-born child who checked into this world a little too early and needs special medical attention to survive. Wait a minute – don’t forget about the doctors and the nurses!

Hopefully, some of you had the opportunity to meet Dr. Teena Cahill, author of the “Cahill Factor.” Teena spoke at the Women’s Leadership Reception in July. Her message was moving and compelling. Teena’s book should be on your list of must reads this autumn. She demonstrates how adversity can be turned into advantage through our actions and thoughts. Many of the things she said reminded me of my mother who would always say, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me” – meaning that it was time to pull up your socks and make the changes you want to see happen.

Recently I met Cos Delli, another local author who has written “The Way.” If you have not yet read his book, I urge you buy it today. Cos explains how he changed his life by changing himself and has written many works that inspire us to change ourselves in order to change the world, one step at a time. His practical and inspirational message is very moving.

The list of inspiring people and events in this world is endless. Each of us has been shaped by the people we have known and the events we have experienced or read about. Now that’s another source of inspiration – the gift of knowledge and wisdom. The opportunity to learn and grow from others.

What inspires you? Have you taken time to reflect? Write down what inspires you - perhaps to pass it on.

Each of you has inspired me. We may have met, but then again maybe not. Yet you have chosen to support United Way’s work in the community, to make it a better place for others.
You have touched the lives of countless people. You have been a role model for the people with whom you interact. You can change tomorrow by what you do today. By being a supporter of the community through the United Way, you have shown your commitment to the belief that, in a larger sense, we are all here to take care of each other. You too then, are a source of inspiration for me and I thank you.

Best Wishes,
Craig E. Lafferty
President and CEO

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Summary: A coalition of select state, local and city government agencies, United Way of Greater Mercer County (UWGMC), private funders, and nonprofit organizations has developed a three-year Housing First Initiative designed to immediately house the homeless and provide the diversified supportive services they need to retain their housing and cope with, address, and/or overcome the issues that caused their homelessness. It will leverage at least 10 funding sources to generate 50 rental vouchers and over $600,000 in annual supportive service funding. UWGMC initial pledge of funding brought the other funding partners to the table in a new and creative partnership, whose aim is to end chronic homelessness.

Target Population: The Initiative will house and provide supportive services to 35 individuals with disabilities who have experienced long-term homelessness, and 15 families who have a head of household who is disabled and has experienced long-term homelessness. Participants may be in recovery from chemical dependency and/or have physical and mental health issues contributing to past experiences of repeated or persistent homelessness. In the context of Mercer County’s Continuum of Care (the local recipient of HUD homeless funding), the Initiative will result in an approximately 20% decrease in the chronically homeless population, and a 10% decrease in the number of families with children experiencing long-term homelessness.

Collaborative Partners: The Collaborative Committee comprised of partners funding and/or planning this Demonstration Initiative includes: NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, NJ Department of Community Affairs, NJ Department of Human Services, Mercer County Board of Social Services, City of Trenton, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Monarch Housing; Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, United Way of Greater Mercer County, the Partnership to End Long-Term Homelessness, and additional private funders. Together, the Collaborative expects to commit over $1.2 million annually to the project for three years. This Collaborative Committee will manage Initiative funding and oversee its implementation and evaluation.

Initiative Model: The HFI model utilizes scattered site rental units and a single integrated supportive service team comprised of interdisciplinary professionals. This team delivers wrap-around case management and behavioral and mental health care services to project clients and establishes linkages to community-based medical care, independent living skills training, employment services, financial literacy, benefits coordination, and housing search assistance. The project will be evaluated by an experienced outside evaluator funded by private dollars, who will evaluate the social and economic benefits of utilizing a Housing First approach for those with disabilities experiencing long-term homelessness. The results of the Initiative are intended to inform state policy making and increase resource allocation to supportive services and permanent housing solutions in Mercer County.

Timeframe: In April 2007 Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare (GTBHC) was selected as the provider agency to implement the Initiative, slated for an official start date of January 2008. The Collaborative will work with GTBHC in further program planning throughout 2007. It will meet bi-weekly initially, and then at least quarterly or more frequently as necessary, to oversee the Initiative, ensuring effective implementation and evaluation. UWGMC has a seat on this collaborative body, which will provide regular progress reports to the Resource Investment Cabinet (RIC), and to the Board, through its regular monitoring process.

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The New Business Development (NBD) committee was established last year to help UWGMC identify, establish, cultivate and maintain strategic business relationships throughout Mercer County. The involvement of the business community has always been critical to the ability of UWGMC to address human service issues and needs. Businesses work with UWGMC to ensure that their employee’s investments of time, talent and resources are effectively utilized.

Through a combination of cultivation and outreach efforts, including direct mail, networking and face to face visits, the NBD committee has successfully increased not only the number of business partnerships but the level and intensity of corporate involvement as well. Companies are becoming more aware and engaged in UWGMC activities. Many are getting a firsthand, close up look at UWGMC by participating in Women’s Leadership networking events, taking agency bus tours, volunteering year-round for back to school book bag drives, holiday drives and days of caring. UWGMC is helping companies to fulfill their philanthropic corporate goals and give back to the community.

Benefits to companies that partner with UWGMC: connect and forge relationships with other like minded community business leaders via networking, develop leadership skills, help build morale and enhance team work among employees to expand business operations. UWGMC and businesses work together to create a better future for everyone in Mercer County.

We welcome the following new companies to the UWGMC family:

• The Bank
• The Mercadien Group
• Waste Management
• Miele
• Peterson’s, A Nelnet Company
• Amicus Therapeutics
• RCP Management

For more information on how to join the NBD Committee or if your company is interested in partnering with UWGMC, please contact Donna Wilson at 609-637-4907 or donna.wilson@uwgmc.org

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Those in need in the Greater Mercer County area rely on United Way; we rely on you.

The annual campaign of United Way of Greater Mercer County is a year-long effort to amass resources to address our communities’ most pressing human care needs. During the fall season the campaign steps into high gear with many of our area’s leading companies sponsoring workplace giving campaigns.

Workplace giving campaigns provide opportunities for employees to become informed and engaged in the critical issues facing their work and home communities, and to invest in community solutions through a gift to United Way. Employer-sponsored giving campaigns allow employees to give through payroll deduction over a 12 month cycle. In addition to the employee giving, many of our corporate partners add a corporate gift to United Way, thus maximizing the impact of the company’s effort to support our communities.

If you have questions about workplace giving, or wish to get your company involved, please contact Rod Robertson at 609-637-4906 or rod.robertson@uwgmc.org.

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This past summer, United Way of Greater Mercer County (UWGMC) partnered with local businesses, corporations, community organizations and individuals to help prepare children from low-income families return to school with pride, self-esteem and a new backpack full of supplies. With a generous donation of $3,000 from NRG, Inc. and donations of backpacks filled with supplies from employees and individuals at companies around the county, we were able to provide over 760 children with the tools needed to return to school.

The smiling faces of these eager learners remind us why the little things mean so much. Click here to view photos.

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On August 15th United Way of Greater Mercer County’s Young Leaders United sponsored two program bus tours. The morning group boarded their tour bus and headed to Better Beginnings Day Care Center in Hightstown, and Mercer Street Friends Food Bank in Ewing. The afternoon group made their way to St. Francis Medical Center Mobile Medical Van and then it was off to the Rescue Mission of Trenton.

As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and here are some pictures that speak volumes. ENJOY! Click here to view photos.

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Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive
October 23 - November 9, 2007
Help local families enjoy a festive Thanksgiving with a food basket. On a holiday rich in tradition and food, share your good fortune with others. Please donate baskets with items for a Thanksgiving dinner. For more information and what the baskets should include, visit our website at www.uwgmc.org or contact Rod Robertson at 609.637.4906 or rod.robertson@uwgmc.org.

Holiday Gift Drive
November 1 - December 7, 2007
Bring the joy of the holiday season to all local children.
The holiday season is rapidly approaching. This year, please extend your kindness to children in the community who have no gifts waiting for them. For more information visit our website at www.uwgmc.org or contact Donna Wilson at 609.637.4907 or
donna.wilson@uwgmc.org.

Latino Vision Council
4th Annual Leadership Conference
November 2, 2007
Carl A. Fields Center, Princeton University
“Developing Cultural Competence in Organizations Serving
the Latino Community”
For more information about the conference contact Ely Mateo
at 609.637.4918 or ely.mateo@uwgmc.org.

United Ways of New Jersey Women’s Leadership Council
Seven Golden Rules of Leadership - Networking Reception with Betsy Bernard, retired President of AT&T
November 29, 2007
The Bridgewater Manor, Bridgewater, NJ
For more information contact Carolee Kueller at 609.637.4902 or carolee.kueller@uwgmc.org.

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