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DPH Youth Development Grants
To Benefit Central Massachusetts Youth

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United Way is pleased to announce that the central Massachusetts community is the recipient of two grants from the Department of Public Health’s Prevention of Youth Violence through Promotion of Positive Youth Development Grant Program totaling $174,000.

United Way of Central Massachusetts and members of Congressman Jim McGovern’s Task Force on Youth Violence agreed to work collaboratively on developing the two grant proposals in response to this RFP from the Department of Public Health.  Worcester was fortunate to receive both grants; a planning grant and an implementation grant.

Planning Grant: Henry Lee Willis Center is the fiscal agent for a $20,000 DPH planning grant.

The Henry Lee Willis Community Center grant will support the formation of a sustainable, multi-sector coalition that will focus its efforts on the reduction of community violence by investigating multiple factors that contribute to interpersonal violence and how they intersect.  The coalition will identify leverage points for change, identify and prioritize prevention strategies best suited for our community, and develop an implementation plan.  The implementation plan will inform the development of policies, procedures and programming for the social services, political, and governmental bodies that affect the development of Worcester youth.  This work will result in a comprehensive plan that will be provided to elected and agency officials by late spring.

YouthNet Implementation Grant: The YouthNet collaborative, under the fiscal agency of Y.O.U. Inc., will receive a $154,000 DPH implementation grant. YouthNet seeks to grow it current capacity to ensure this long-term successful collaboration is continually more effective at reaching underserved youth aged 11 to 15 during out of school time in the city of Worcester.  This grant will provide capacity building for the YouthNet network:

  • Increase the YouthNet Coordinator position to full time for the school year
  • Hire a full time Case Manager to enhance key partnerships and align services for youth in the most high risk environments
  • Engage in core training on the root causes of youth violence through a series of trainings on Structural Racism and Youth Development provide by the PACT for Social Justice
  • Conduct a Youth Worker Training Institute to provide needed professional development for YouthNet youth workers
  • Expand transportation from Worcester Middle Public Schools to YouthNet to improve access to positive youth development programming
  • Develop and complete an outcome evaluation. 

Click here to read an excerpt from the 11/4/2007 Telegram & Gazette Article

Above photo from press conference, left to right: Congressman James McGovern; Lt. Governor Timothy Murray; Judy Pemstein, UWCM VP Community Impact; Linda Cavioli, CEO YWCA; Tyrone Gamble, Pleasant Area Community Team; DPH Commissioner John Auerbach; and City Manager Michael O'Brien.

United Way of Central Massachusetts Announces New Grant Recipients
More than $5.1 Million will be invested in Community

The United Way of Central Massachusetts has announced the recipients of its 2007 grants. The funding recommendations were voted on by the Board of Directors during their May meeting.  The approval of $3.4 million will fund seventy (70) programs operated by more than forty (40) agencies in central Massachusetts.

In addition to the $3.4 million approved by the board, other resources being invested in the community include $900,000 in donor designations and more than $800,000 in direct community services provided by the United Way of Central Massachusetts, which include work on behalf of Together For Kids, Building Brighter Futures with Youth, our Volunteer Center, Mass 211 and the AFL/CIO Ramp Program, bringing the total contribution to the Worcester community to more than $5.1 million.

For more information please read our press release, or browse through the recipient programs.
*Funding runs from Oct. 1, 2007 - Sept. 30, 2008


What does United Way of Central Massachusetts do?

For 85 years, the United Way of Central Massachusetts has played a critical role in the local community by helping those in need. As community leaders, we convene local resources - donors, volunteers, partners and agencies to address the most critical human needs, and create a positive, measurable impact in the community.

Creating a positive Impact:

In order to create the greatest positive change, we first identify the immediate and most crucial needs of the Central Massachusetts community. With the help of many volunteers, needs and impact areas were identified. We learned that our community is in a cyclical pattern, where children in need grow up to be adults in need. By focusing on the root causes and the needs of our children and youth, we are able to create the greatest positive impact on our future. Our impact areas include:
Ensuring Children’s Readiness for School
Supporting Positive Youth Development 
Helping People Most in Need

Creating Community Change through Collaborations

Through the following strategic initiatives, coalitions, and community programs, United Way is working to convene partners throughout our community to create lasting change in the most pressing issues of Central Massachusetts.

 

 

Through the support of social service organizations that provide health and human services throughout Massachusetts, United Way is introducing a statewide Information & Referral System. To learn more, click here.
 

Community Service Program

United Way works to bring people and resources together to address community issues with innovative and creative volunteer and community service solutions. To learn more, click here.

 

Building Brighter Futures with Youth

An initiative that is designed to increase meaningful job opportunities and career potential for low income youth between 16 and 19 years. With business, government, non-profit and youth partners, this initiative is leveraging systemic change in youth employment practices and resources city-wide.

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Women’s Initiative

An initiative that engages the time, talent and treasure of women to make a positive impact on the lives of women and children. The current focus on middle school girls has women mobilizing and educating the community on the rising occurrence of violence in the lives of girls. Two new dynamic programs are currently funded by the generosity of members of the Women’s Initiative.

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Together for Kids

An initiative that addresses the increasing incidence of challenging behaviors in pre-school settings through a collaborative process that places mental health clinicians directly in childcare settings. These staff work with children, their families and staff as necessary.

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