Today’s economy requires individuals who have, at a minimum, a high school degree; a college degree improves an individual’s ability to support a family.  School success and school completion are essential for lifelong financial stability. 

United Way's work around school-age youth focuses on helping children and youth do better in school by having access to safe and enriching after school programs, appropriate mental health support, and tutoring and mentoring services.

Desired Result

To prepare elementary students to succeed in later grades and to increase young people graduating from high school.

Goals

1. Create opportunities for coordinated wrap-around services and learning supports.
2. Engage parents in meaningful roles to support their children's success.

Highlights of Our Work

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, UWGNH 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 older adults (age 55+) to tutor and mentor elementary 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, as well as Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School.  Experience Corps is a national model that is currently operating in 23 cities in the U.S.  Recent research shows that Experience Corps helps students improve their reading ability, while also improving the tutors' physical, mental, and social well-being.  Learn more . . .