Addressing the root of complex social problems

For over 100 years, United Way of East Central Iowa has operated under the belief that working together for the common good can truly help create and sustain a healthy and stable community - a belief that continues to guide us into the future.

We are proud to have:

' Assisted during the Great Depression with emergency aid;

' Provided funding for World War II veterans and families;

' Supported our neighbors during the farm crisis in the 1970s; and

' Helped 5000 households meet their basic needs when the Flood of 2008 hit.

Many needs continue to exist within our five-county area. To best address those needs, with limited resources available, United Way chose several years ago to focus its investments in three primary areas, and community goals have been established in each of these areas:

' Education: school readiness and youth programs;

' Financial stability: basic needs for families and services to help them become financially self sufficient; and

' Health: mental health services for children and community based health services for women and seniors.

This focus has become known as our community impact model - a process of addressing the root cause of social issues within our communities. United Way, with help from many community partners and volunteers, identifies critical health and human services issues and gaps in the service systems. Community goals and outcomes are defined and programs and services are provided based on those identified needs. Financial contributions and volunteer time are strategically used to address these community issues and progress is tracked. Social issues are typically too large and complex to be tackled by any one organization. It takes many partners all focused on a common solution. Collectively we can address larger issues than any one organization can do on its own. United Way helps focus these partners on areas of greatest need and where the most change is possible.

So how are we doing? What is the plan for the future? This summer we will be releasing a condition of the community report that will address the status of social issues in our community. We will share the progress in our three focus areas and on the community impact goals established to address the needs in those areas.

Few organizations survive for 100 years. United Way's long life is a measure of stability, good management, innovation, adaptability and, most of all, meeting community needs. Over the past century, United Way of East Central Iowa has grown, adapted and evolved into an organization that continually focuses on the needs of Eastern Iowa. We have observed the tremendous strength and resilience of our community after a crisis and been in awe of the generosity of so many. We are proud that we have served our community for a century and, as the Executive Director and the volunteer leader of our United Way, we pledge to continue to find a diverse range of resources to address the ever changing social needs of children and families in our community.

' Lois Buntz is president, and Brad Hart is board chairman of the United Way of East Central Iowa. Comments: lois.buntz@uweci.org