The Community Impact Model
United Way of Greater Lorain County brings people and resources together to find new solutions to problems through the Community Impact model. The goal of Community Impact is to ensure community resources are targeted effectively to improve the quality of life in Greater Lorain County in the areas of Education, Income, Health.
Each focus area is a high priority as the success of one area directly impacts the success of the other two areas. The Community Impact Model focuses on changing a system to benefit residents of Lorain County. Community Impact is results-based, root cause-focused community engagement. It is not enough to support residents through life-changing programs and services; we want to support that consumer to address the root causes of that individual’s needs.
A stronger individual creates a stronger community. A stronger community creates a stronger Lorain County. And a stronger Lorain County creates more opportunities, better education, more effective government and independence for all.
Education
Education is the cornerstone of individual and community success. All children deserve the chance to grow into healthy, educated and productive members of society no matter where or when they are born. But with 17% of adults over age 25 without a high school degree and 76% of families living below the poverty level (Ohio County Profiles, Lorain County), opportunities abound to develop educational capacity and programs around the county.
United Way of Greater Lorain County takes a holistic approach to developing educational capacity. Education is more than just a classroom or a teacher. In order for youth to receive a quality education, it takes the focus and resources of the entire community to create learning-rich environments where dreams are fueled and opportunities are delivered to those who need them.
Income
Opportunities are not equally distributed. A child whose parents subsist on a meager income and live in a rural area lives with a very different set of circumstances than a child whose parents are middle-income earners in an urban area. United Way of Greater Lorain County creates opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the individual needs of communities around the community
To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families from getting ahead financially, United Way promotes community-change strategies to help families meet their basic needs, while gaining the financial capability to plan for, and accomplish, their long-term financial goals.
Health
Health is all encompassing. It is vaccinations, it is prenatal care, it is safe harbor from abuse, it is support for mental illness and addiction, it is affordable and sustainable care.
Achieving this goal requires us all to become more aware of health risks and the potential effects they have on ourselves and others, starting before birth. Working to change policies and practices will enable more people to live healthier lives.
Healthier lives equate to healthier communities. Healthier communities enjoy more success.
Health Of Lorain County – A Snapshot
The current health of our community directly impacts the success we share together in the weeks, months and years ahead. What we do for ourselves, our community today directly impacts the next generation of those leading, working in and shepherding the success of Greater Lorain County.
What exactly does Lorain County look like today? Take a tour of County Health Rankings to get a snapshot of the health in Lorain County: http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/ohio/lorain
