UNITED WAY OF
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
2015 – 2016 Comprehensive Listing of
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
Internal Asset
Mapping
Table of contents
Education ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Health .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Economic Development - Financial Stability .................................................................................. 9
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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EDUCATION
Success By 6
The mission is to ensure that all children by age six are healthy, safe and functioning physically,
emotionally, intellectually and socially at their optimum potential.
United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Success by 6 Collaborative is laying the groundwork to
create a license class for Family Child Care providers. Louisiana is one of only three states that do
not require licensure of paid child care arrangements that are provided in private homes. The goal
of this legislative reform is to ensure the state provides needed oversight in health and safety to
these child care settings and simultaneously pave the road to improved kindergarten readiness.
Licensure will also benefit FCC parents and providers as it will allow them to participate in available
state financial incentives such as the school readiness tax credits under the state’s Quality Rating
and Improvement System.
Role: LEAD- State-wide
Achievements:
 Increase the organizational capacity of child care center to improve the quality of care and
increase their Star rating
 Child care providers value and increased the use of standards
 Funders and policy makers require standards and regulations
 $1,000,000+ secured in grant funding
Born Learning
Born Learning is the only national early learning public engagement campaign designed to be
adapted locally. While local communities are increasingly focused on young children’s early learning
needs, they don’t always have a free public engagement toolkit at their disposal. That’s why Born
Learning offers pre-designed, localizable educational materials based on the latest early childhood
research, that can be localized and a wide array of community engagement tools and templates.
There is no cost, except for printing. Born Learning offers a tangible way for local United Ways to
make lasting community change to boost school readiness.
Role: Partners/Participates - Orleans and Tangipahoa
Achievement:
 Born Learning Trail – New Orleans
 Born Learning Trail – Tangipahoa
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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Children & Youth Planning Board
The mission of the New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board is to prepare a comprehensive
plan for services and programs that address the needs of the children and youth of New Orleans in
order to encourage positive development and diversion of children and youth from the criminal
justice system.
Role: Partners/Participates (Todd Battiste, Appointment by New Orleans City Council) Orleans
Education’s Next Horizon
Education’s Next Horizon is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to PreK-12 education
improvement in Louisiana. Our mission is two-fold: (1) to help frame the debate for comprehensive
system-wide PreK-12 education reform and (2) to connect Louisiana’s leadership—education,
government, business and community—as a force supporting school improvement.
Role: Partner - State-wide
Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning
The mission of LACAL is to innovate learning in the out of school hours by ensuring a coordinated and
uniform focus on high quality afterschool programs across Louisiana that improve outcomes for
young people and support working families.
Role: Partners- State-wide
Louisiana Association for the Education of Young Children
The Louisiana Association for the Education of Young Children seeks to improve early childhood
education in Louisiana by supporting members to be effective early childhood advocates and by
collaborating with other agencies to promote public policies that address the needs of young children
and their families. We encourage all early childhood advocates to stay informed of the latest
information related to early childhood agendas and legislation in Louisiana. Call, write and email
your legislators to let them know how you feel about pending legislation, etc.
Role: Member - Todd Battiste, Past President, Current Public Policy Chair) State-Wide
Stand For Children
Stand for Children commissioned fifteen education policy research papers to identify the most
promising strategies for ensuring that disadvantaged students graduate high school, ready for, and
with access to college. We convened a task force with representatives from the 10 Stand for
Children state offices to review the research, draft a shared perspective, and solicit and incorporate
feedback from Stand staff and members. The task force approached the project with independence,
rigor and pragmatism.
Role: Partners/Participate - State-Wide
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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Early Grade Reading Campaign
The Campaign is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, business leaders,
government agencies, states and communities across the nation to ensure that more children in lowincome families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship.
The Campaign focuses on an important predictor of school success and high school graduation—
grade-level reading by the end of third grade.
Role: Partners/Participates - Orleans
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an early literacy initiative that provides new, age-appropriate
books to children each month for the first five years of their lives FOR FREE, regardless of their
family’s income. The program encourages parents to read with their children, giving them a big
boost toward a successful education.
Role: LEAD - Jefferson , St Tammany and Tangipahoa
Club Connect
The United Way Club Connect Adopt-a-School Program is a partnership between the National
Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Scholastic, and United Way to provide
resources to the schools most in need to improve early grade reading. This is the only educational
program funded, supported, and marketed on a nationwide basis, and available in all communities
in the country, by Scholastic, United Way and the NAESP.
Role: LEAD - Orleans, Jefferson, St Tammany, Plaquemine, St Bernard, Tangipahoa, Washington
Advisory Council for Louisiana Child Care and Development Block Grant
The Advisory Council on Child Care & Development Block Grant was re-established by Executive
Orders of Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, KBB 04-28 and KBB 04-40, with duties to make
recommendations on the expenditure and disbursement of the Child Care and Development Block
Grant (CCDBG) Funds, improving, modernizing and updating quality of child care at day care centers
in Louisiana, study and make recommendations on the potential of a “quality rating system”, and
assist the Department of Social Services in updating its long range plans for insuring quality child care
at day care centers operating in Louisiana.
Role: Todd Battiste Appointed by Governor Murphy (Mike) Foster- State-Wide
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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YOUTH
School To Career
School to Career (SCT) is an initiative of United Way of Southeast Louisiana that seeks to measure the
impact of developmentally appropriate youth employment/internship opportunities on soft skills,
employability and school outcomes for pilot participants as compared to a cohort of other NOLA
Youth Works. SCT and NOLA Youth Works three year pilot program are conducted within NOLA Youth
Works’ framework, pilot programs receive training for providers on developmentally appropriate
practices for adolescents, guidance and support in adapting program models to meet the
developmental needs of students, soft skills training for youth participants The purpose of the United
Way of Southeast Louisiana School to Career; and NOLA Youth Works/Job 1 are working to create a
local career development model that incorporates the best practices of youth development while
simultaneously being informed by the needs of local business. This work aligns with the following
strategies developed by the Children and Families Vision Council through School to Career:
 Expand out of school time efforts to help students connect to careers and develop careerready skills
 Establish and refine the definition of high quality out of school time efforts. (UWSELA
funding and potential grantee training will reflect this evidence-supported understanding
as it develops.)
 Create links between programs that can improve the local out of school time landscape.
Role: LEAD - Orleans
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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HEALTH
SENIORS
Elder Action Coalition
The Elder Action Coalition is a quarterly, networking forum made up of service providers to discuss
issues and topics pertinent to the implementation of a system of care for older adults. The purpose
of the Elder Action Coalition is to improve the overall quality of life for Senior Citizens living in the
Metropolitan New Orleans area.
Role: Coalition Member
HEALTH – GENERAL
FamilyWize
The goal of the FamilyWize® Community Service Partnership, Inc is to reduce the cost of prescription
medicine for children, families and individuals by $1 billion by the end of 2015. We believe that
stronger, healthier and happier people make healthier and better communities.
Role: Distribution partner for SELA area
Louisiana Healthy Community Coalition
The Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition (LHCC) strives to improve health across Louisiana by
mobilizing and empowering communities to implement health policy, systems and environmental
changes through the convening of regional, multi-sector partnerships.
Role: Coalition Member
HEALTH – BEHAVIROAL HEALTH
Greater New Orleans Drug Demand Reduction Coalition
To develop and implement a comprehensive and sustainable strategic plan using prevention,
treatment and law enforcement to reduce the negative consequences of the use of illicit drugs and
other drugs of abuse and abuse of alcohol in the Greater New Orleans area.
Role: Coalition Member
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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Jefferson Parish Alliance of Concerned Citizens
The Coalition is dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle through the prevention and reduction of
substance abuse.
Role: Coalition Member
Washington Parish Coalition on Human Services
The Washington parish Coalition on Human Services is a multi-sector coalition that meets monthly to
focus on enhancing the psycho-physical well-being, with an emphasis on reducing substance abuse,
of all individuals of Washington Parish throughout their life span. The Organization received a Drug
Free Communities Grant for the next five years and the focus will be on coalition building.
Role: President & Partner
St. Tammany Behavioral Health Task Force
In partnership with Louisiana Public Health Institute and the National Council for Behavioral Health,
the St. Tammany Behavioral Health Task Force aims to transform the behavioral health system in St
Tammany.
Role: Task Force Member
St. Tammany Suicide Prevention Project
By late 2010, the suicide rate in St. Tammany was among the highest in the state and a growing
concern to parish leaders. The suicide prevention project created a seamless public – private system
to prevent suicides and recurrent attempts. Two pivotal service providers were VIA-Link 2-1-1 and
Volunteers of America. With the parish, United Way created the “It’s OK to Talk about It” media
campaign to increase awareness, worked with Charter Communications to secure air time, and
provided some early funding to support service provision. The work was later funded by a targeted
millage passed by the parish.
Role: Marketing strategy & materials, data collection, workgroup participant
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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Economic Development Financial Stability
Asset Building Coalition of Southeast Louisiana (ABC-SELA)
The Asset Building Coalition of Southeast Louisiana focuses on Volunteer Income Tax Assistance,
Financial Education, and Asset Building Services. ABC-SELA’s Mission is “To ensure community
members of Southeast Louisiana have access to quality financial and asset-building services in an
effort to build and sustain strong communities that will move individuals and families in the
communities from financial vulnerability to financial stability”. ABC-SELA’s target population is low to
moderate income taxpayers. ABC-SELA’ geographic focus is Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St.
Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, Lafourche, St. John parishes. ABC-SELA Partners
include the following: Association for the Improvement of Minorities Internal Revenue Service (AIM
IRS), Delgado Community College, Dillard University, 4U, Habitat for Humanity for Humanity St.
Tammany West, Help LA, Internal Revenue Service, Jefferson Community Action Programs, Lafourche
Community Concerned Citizens, Lower 9th Ward NENA, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
(LUNO-LAW), Loyola College of Law Outreach Program, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Southern
University at New Orleans, St. John Baptist Department of Health and Human Services, Tulane
University Law Center, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic
Training (VIET), Word of Truth Fellowship, and Xavier University.
Role: United Way is the Lead Organization, Fiduciary, and responsible for coordinating the
Marketing & Outreach efforts of the VITA Program and EITC.
Successes:
UWSELA became involved in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program in 2008 when it
became the lead organization of the Asset Building Coalition of Southeast Louisiana (ABC-SELA).
United Way has been awarded 2 one-year grants in the amount of $92,250 and $98,500 respectively
. In addition to the $92,250 grant in 2011 UWSELA secured an additional $41,000 (Wal-Mart
Foundation & Entergy Charitable Foundation). In 2012 we secured an additional, $41,500 . In 2013,
Unite Way was awarded a three-year grant from Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $103,000
for each year. In 2013 UWSELA secured an additional $64,000 (Entergy Charitable Foundation & WalMart Foundation). For the upcoming 2014 tax season we have been award the 2nd $103,000 of the
three-year grant and $45,000 from Entergy Charitable Foundation. Since the 2008 ABC-SELA has
completed over 31,300 returns for low to moderate income taxpayers that totaled over $61,683,000.
Of the number, more than $20,317,200 was in Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC).
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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Louisiana Homebuyer Education Collaborative (LHEC)
The Louisiana Homebuyer Education Collaborative began life roughly 10 years ago as the New
Orleans Homebuyer Education Collaborative, an affiliate of the Finance Authority of New Orleans,
who recognized a need to organize non-profits who offered financial services in the greater New
Orleans area. Today the “Collaborative” as it is known by its membership, supports non-profit
agencies offering first time homebuyer education, financial literacy, credit counseling, foreclosure
prevention and other related services by ensuring that each agency adhere to a strict core
curriculum. Homeownership is the American dream and the passion of the Collaborative. The
Collaborative annually certifies those agencies who meet its tough standards and who embody and
exemplify excellence in financial education. Our goal is to increase the number of “certified” agencies
across Southeast Louisiana so that every perspective homebuyer is assured a quality financial
education to be a successful homeowner and to support the non-profit agencies as they meet the
challenges of educating perspective borrowers and assisting existing homeowners navigate today’s
difficult task of foreclosure prevention. LHEC Target Population is low to moderate income
households in need of Homebuyer training and Financial Education. LHEC geographic focus area is
Southeast Louisiana.
Role: UWSELA has been a member of LHEC for the past five years.
United Way’s Individual Development Account) IDA) Project
United Way’s IDA Project is designed to help low-income individuals and families save money
through a matched savings program and meet the need of a community that has long-standing high
percentages of international poverty. We are addressing these needs by allowing participants to use
their IDAs for the purchase of a new home, vehicle, start a new or expand an existing business, and
for pay for post-secondary education. Participants make regular deposits to a special “Individual
Development Account”, held at a local financial institution. IDA participants will receive a 4:1 match
on their savings. They can save up to $1,500 for homeownership and small business start-up or
expansion and will be matched up to $6,000 for a maximum of $7,500. The Transfer IDA (TIDA) and
vehicle purchase participants can save up to $1,000, and will be matched up to $4,000 for up to
$5,000. IDA participants will be required to open custodial IDAs at our partner financial institutions
and save at least 6 months before they can withdraw or purchase their asset of choice. These
interest bearing custodial accounts will be opened and maintained by UWSELA partner institution.
Participants will also be required to take financial fitness and asset specific training before they
acquire their asset. They will have to get credit counseling if they have a history or problems
managing their finances and/or have credit issues. When the savings goal is reached United Way
sends a check for the asset purchase to the closing agency, dealership, college/university, technical
school or vendor.
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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UWSELA will target low-income individuals and/or families that are below 200% of the federal
poverty guidelines. We will also reach out to survivors of domestic violence that meet both AFI and
UWSELA guidelines. Participants must reside in UWSELA’s seven parish service area of Orleans,
Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes.
Successes:
United Way was awarded a $1million grant September 29, 2006. We secured an additional $2.3
million to cover the cost of the program. Due to the hard work and dedication of the United Way of
Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) IDA Project staff and participants as of December 31, 2012 we had
enrolled 395 participants, of whom 389 had opened their IDAs as early as July of 2007. Of the 395
enrolled, 285 had completed the Financial Fitness education, 187 had completed First Time
Homebuyer training, 50 had completed the vehicle purchase training, 8 had completed the Child Care
Business training, and 325 received credit counseling and assistance with credit repair. 255 of the
395 met their asset goal. United Way is also pleased to report 232 asset purchases; 178 for
homeownership, 48 for vehicle purchase, and 6 child care start-ups/expansions. The return on the
$2.27 million dollar investment is over $20 million in United Way’s seven parish service area of
Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes.
We have no foreclosures, repossessions, and all of the childcare businesses are still in operation!
On September 30, 2013 United Way was awarded its second five-year Assets for Independence grant
in the amount of $250,000 and secured an additional $216,000 so far. Thus far, there are 42
participants enrolled and 42 IDAs are open. There have also been 2 closings and 2 vehicle purchases.
Role: Lead
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Program
United Way of Southeast Louisiana, in partnership with Entergy, the City of New Orleans, 2-1-1, and
Asset Building Coalition are urging families with low or moderate incomes to keep more of what they
earned by applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
The Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax credit helps eligible families with children and earned income
get a larger refund each year. This credit can also be used to pay taxes owed for self-employed
families and those who owe taxes for any other reason.
When families get a larger tax refund, they can put money in savings to help pay for expenses
throughout the year. This extra money can help the family buy food, clothing, pay off bills, or could
be used towards rent or their mortgage. Many American families live paycheck to paycheck, so any
extra money can help them plan for their future and pay for emergencies and other unexpected
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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expenses. Even families with simple tax preparation can take advantage of volunteer income tax
assistance if they meet the income eligibility.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance [VITA] program offers free person-to-person tax help to people
who generally make $53,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English
speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers
provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
United Way connects volunteers with low to moderate income families. Volunteers are professional
tax preparers, and they know the current tax refunds and rules. These volunteers can help families
find refund they may not even know about to increase their refund or reduce the amount they owe
on their taxes.
Role: Lead
NOW Collaborative
NOW is a workforce collaborative focused on building partnerships between employers, trainers,
educators/training providers, workers, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders.
The goal is to connect low skilled workers to post-secondary education and jobs that provide not only
immediate economic security, but also prepare workers for professional growth through livable
wages and a focused career path. For the first workforce partnership, the collaborative worked with
Oschner Health System and Delgado Community College to train Medical Assistant to provide patient
care alongside licensed healthcare providers. The geographic focus area for the NOW Collaborative is
Jefferson, Orleans Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes.
Role: UWSELA is a funder and voting member of the collaborative.
Initiatives, Coalitions and Programs
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