Our Approach

Four Focused Strategies

United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois’ Impact Areas are:

1.

Youth Opportunity (Young people realize their full potential)

2.

Financial Security (Every generation has a stronger financial future)

3.

Healthy Community (Wellness-focused community with healthcare access for all)

4.

Community Resiliency (Urgent needs addressed today for a better tomorrow)

  • Integration: Integrated planning and action.
  • Coherence: Common goals and trust lead to comprehensive actions – concerted planning and action.
  • Cooperation: Shared view and economy of activities encourages common purposes and common goals.
  • De-confliction: Shared view avoids interference and encourages economy of activities – self-synchronize.
  • Awareness: Transparency and information sharing enhances shared view of the engagement space.
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What is a Common Community Approach?

Requires a raised awareness throughout the community
Based on mutual trust and a willingness to integrate
Proactive not reactive
Outcome focused
Shared understanding, commonly agreed end-state, common language, shared approach, and shared responsibility

Five Focused Strategies

Through five focused strategies, we aim to help residents achieve self-sufficiency and live independently with dignity.

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Youth Education

Students graduate from high school college and/or job ready.

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Adult Employability & Income Resilience

Adults are job ready and bankable

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Health

A wellness focused community with healthcare access for all

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Resilience

Prevent trauma and victimization, protect those who are traumatized, develop/improve victim resilience and rehabilitate offenders

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Inform

Needs are matched with resources

What Are the Barriers

A significant percentage of our population is not self-sufficient, which affects their current and future well-being and that of our community.

Poor graduation rates and college/job readiness; significant health issues (access to healthcare, unhealthy behaviors, poor nutrition, inactivity, safety issues, and tobacco use). These issues create the conditions for life crisis and the need for essential services (food, clothing, shelter).

All residents have: The ability and opportunity to provide for themselves and their families without subsidized assistance. The opportunity to live independently with dignity.

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