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YOUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
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United Way of Gratiot County established two focus areas for the undesignated dollars it receives- Youth and Self Sufficiency. Here are just a few examples of where your United Way donation is going, and the impact you are making on our community. Last year:
Youth:
- During 2010 157 students participated in programs through The Explore/Mentor PLUS progarm. Those various programs focus on safety, education, health and wellness. The students that meet the at-risk criteria are matched with a mentor. The Explore/Mentor PLUS Program in 2009-2010, 84% of mentor/mentee matches were sustained, 61% of mentees demonstrated improvement in academic core subjects and unexcused absences decreased for Mentor-PLUS students. Of the 26 matched students, 14 had fewer unexcused absences in theprogram period as compared with the baseline year. This represents 53% of the reporting universe demonstrating reductions in the number of unexcused absences. During the 2009-2010 school year 100% of the mentor-mentee matches were sustained. 61% of the mentees improved thier academic standing, measured by GPA, after engaging in the Mentor PLUS Program.
- Big Brother Big Sisters assisted 99 kids and their Bigs with community based programs and 15 kids participated in the school-based program at St Louis Public Schools for the year 2010. In addition 20 new volunteers were processed and matched in the second half of 2010. 28 Littles also attended Camp-Hayo-Went-HA in August. The children who attend summer camp experience increased self-esteem amd confidence.
- Red Cross teaches babysitting training courses as well as CPR and Frst Aid certification for our youth of Gratiot County
Self Sufficency:
- The Salvation Army of Gratiot County served 2,768 clients providing food to each of their families. They provided food for 237 cases which is 744 people, and 596 families which is represented by 2010 people received Christmas assistance which included a food basket.
- Women't Aid Service, Inc. provided17 women and children safe shelter and 127 counseling hours as well as 20 instances of advocacy and 140 crisis calls for assistance while in shelter. It provided 1300 units of counseling, 351 units of group counseling, 36 crisis calls, and 340 instances of advocacy for 23 sexual assualt clients. Women's Aid had 37 domestic violence clients and provided 612 units of counseling, 135 units of group counseling, 14 units of advocacy as well as 213 units of life skills. They also provided 16 clients with children's counseling services as well as 303 units of counseling and 3 units of advocacy. 10 schools received prevention education services which reached 1167 students. 7 community groups were assisted with DV/SA prevention reaching 288 individuals. Women's Aid provided legal advocacy to 50 clients through 513 instances of advocacy and 22 crisis calls.
- Child Advocacy held 3 Happiest Baby classes as well as one 6 session Public Parenting Class for parents 0-6. The Protect Yourself Program has been taught to 184 children in 8 classrooms. Each class receiving five 1/2 hour session. Ten Foster Parent Support Groups were held with varying numbers of participats including a Family Picnic in August with 80 foster parents and children in attendance.
- Gratiot Emergency Housing has fully of partially funded the immediate housing related needs of 38 client cases impacting at least 75 total households from June 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. In addition to funding clients immediate housing needs, each is individually given budgeting and simple financial management information and counsel prior to recieving the assistance.
- Through the Dental Care Services of the Mid-Michigan District Health Department 186 Gratiot county residents were served. Many of the clients required multiple visits to address long-term decay and oral disease, which is reflected in the 583 total visits during the calendar year.
- From 10/1/10 through 12/31/10 Gratiot County Juvenile Justice clinician worked with 11 youth and their families. Out of the 11, one had to be placed out-ot-home for 2 weeks but was able to return home quickly due to the program, and another had to be placed for 3 days, but has remained home since. By comparison, in theis same group, 8 of the 11 had previously been in out-of-home placements, 5 of those being considered a "long-term" placement. There are currently 2 substance abuse groups and 1 parenting group being co-facilitated with Juvenile Court Counselor. This represents providing some services to an additional 9 families. One of the substance abuse groups meets twice a week, and is a major deterrent to palcing adolescents in substance abuse residential centers.
- During the second half of 2010 Red Cross volunteers responded to 11 single-family fires in Gratiot County. 23 adults and children were helped
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