Programs and initiatives

United Way of Kentucky works to promote programs and initiatives all across Kentucky.  Currently, United Way of Kentucky lends support to a number of crucial initiatives through leadership, public policy and training.

Public Policy
As a leading community impact organization, United Way knows that real and sustained change in community conditions requires more than money. United Way of Kentucky represents the Commonwealth's local United Ways in Frankfort and in Washington on issues crucial to our community needs. By using a grassroots network of concerned citizens, United Way of Kentucky promotes issues crucial to the well-being of Kentucky's citizens. For more information, visit our advocate section

2-1-1
Every hour of every day, someone in the United States needs essential service--from finding substance abuse assistance to securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent. Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help lines, people often don't know where to turn. In many cases, people end up going without these necessary and readily available services because they do not know where to start.

To solve this daily problem, United Way of Kentucky is working to introduce a simple, three digit telephone number that will put Kentuckians in touch with essential services 24 hours a day all across the Commonwealth.

Learn more about Kentucky's 2-1-1 initiative by visiting the Get Help section.

KCHIP
United Way of Kentucky has been provided with a substantial grant to work to increase the enrollment of unservered children in the Kentucky Child Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). 

Currently, there are estimates of 67,000 eligible children who are not enrolled in KCHIP.  Governor Steve Beshear recently announced an aggressive goal of getting 35,000 unserved children enrolled in KCHIP by 2011. In conjunction with Cabinet of Health and Family Services, an aggressive campaign launched in late 2008 and will be sustained throughout next year.

United Ways across the state provide information about KCHIP enrollment to their funded agencies, the local media and community healthcare providers. 

To learn more about the KCHIP program visit the Kid's Health website.

Success by 6
United Way Success by 6 is the nation's largest network of early childhood coalitions, focused on improving school readiness through community change. In more than 350 U.S. communities, Success By 6 coalitions are changing the way things work so young children can come to school ready to succeed.

Operating under local United Way organizations, the coalitions are galvanizing business, government, and non-profit leaders around early learning. For 16 years, Success by 6 coalitions have been raising awareness of the importance of early childhood development, increasing access to services, advocating for public policies and improving systems-- to improve young children's lives.

Visit Kentucky United Way's Success By 6 programs at:
Metro United Way (Louisville):www.successby6louisville.org          
Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky's: www.uwgc.org

Born Learning
Born Learning is a national public engagement campaign, focused on creating early learning opportunities for young children. It was created by United Way, Civitas, and The Advertising Council.

Its website (www.bornlearning.org) and material is based on the latest early childhood development research and offers educational tools for parents, grandparents, and caregivers-- including tips to encourage learning; answers to help care for young children; fact sheets on a child's ages and stages; and checklists to simplify parenting. The ads and Web site are also in Spanish.

Across the country, even in Kentucky, some local United Ways and other community organizations are partnering on local campaigns. Many are connecting parents with local resources and providing research-based materials. And others are building on the campaign to make long-term community change to help children come to school ready to succeed.

Financial Stability
Financial education provides information and skills that enable individuals and families to manage their financial resources wisely, create positive relationships with financial institutions, and make informed decisions regarding their personal finances. 

Many individuals and families obtain financial education through local programs geared toward saving, credit management, home ownership and retirement planning. A component of financial education often includes actions like opening a checking and/or savings account with a mainstream financial institution, signing up for direct deposit, or filing for the EITC.