The level of educational attainment of both individuals and communities is one of the single most critical predictors of outcomes such as personal health, life expectancy, potential earnings and civic participation.
United Way's work to assist school-age youth focuses on helping children achieve in school by giving them access to safe and enriching after school programs as well as appropriate mental health supports, tutoring and mentoring services.
Desired Result
All school-age youth succeed in school and are prepared for college and work.
Goals
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Create opportunities for coordinated wrap-around services and learning supports.
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Expand after-school programs and behavioral supports
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Engage parents in meaningful roles to support their children's success.
Highlights of Our Work
Boost! Wraparound Partnership Boost! is a partnership among United Way of Greater New Haven, the City of New Haven and the New Haven Public Schools. Together, we work to increase focus and accountability around the provision of quality wraparound supports and services within the schools.
Boost! is a key element of the nationally-recognized New Haven School Change Initiative, which combines results-oriented management of schools and teaching talent with new efforts to engage parents and the community in supporting children’s success. Our vision is that our community can work together to ensure that students are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy; they are ready for school and attending consistently; and their families are involved and supportive of their education.
Grantmaking. United Way provides grants to local organizations that provide high-quality services that meet community needs. To meet the needs of school-age youth, United Way invests in after-school programs, mental health services, and mentoring programs that serve low-income students. Learn more.
Experience Corps of Greater New Haven trains adults age 55 and older to tutor and mentor elementary school students, with a particular emphasis on students who are struggling with reading. Experience Corps of Greater New Haven is a partnership between United Way of Greater New Haven and the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut and is currently operating in Hamden Public Schools and Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School. Experience Corps is a national model that is currently operating in 23 cities nationwide. Recent research shows Experience Corps helps students improve their reading ability, while also improving the tutors' physical, mental, and social well-being.