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If not us, who?
The statistics are scary:
- One out of four high school students drops out.
- Students unable to read by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.
- And, 60% of low income third graders can't read.
That adds up to a time bomb for all of us because - besides the individual tragedies represented by these youth who are unlikely to be able to compete effectively for jobs in the future - they represent billions of dollars in welfare, medical and criminal justice expenses that will be borne by tax payers.
We have to respond to this challenge by moving with urgency to mobilize communities in Central Jersey. There is no organization better positioned than United Way to convene community collaborations - teachers, parents, school administrators, township officials, non-profits and others concerned with academic success - to determine actionable, evidence-based strategies and to move to implementation as quickly as possible.
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  |  | |  | | Community problems need community solutions |  | |  |
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After School Program in Carteret | |
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UWCJ has been actively pursuing the Community Mobilization Strategy in Carteret. Before the start of the school year in September, UWCJ met with School District Administrators and selected the Columbus School as the site of a pilot program designed to boost the academic performance of elementary school students. A range of interventions including providing school supplies, parent engagement and an after-school literacy program, the Columbus Discovery Club, have been implemented. Components of the Columbus Discovery Club include:
- Academic Enrichment
- Remediation
- Cultural and Artistic Activities
- Sports
Parents and guardians are invited in every Friday to read with their children. Most studies have shown that children who had parents who read to them were most likely to succeed throughout their academic career. Independent research evaluations are still preliminary but look positive. | |
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UWCJ has been actively pursuing the Community Mobilization Strategy in Carteret. Before the start of the school year in September, UWCJ met with School District Administrators and selected the Columbus School as the site of a pilot program designed to boost the academic performance of elementary school students. A range of interventions including providing school supplies, parent engagement and an after-school literacy program, the Columbus Discovery Club, have been implemented. Components of the Columbus Discovery Club include:
- Academic Enrichment
- Remediation
- Cultural and Artistic Activities
- Sports
Parents and guardians are invited in every Friday to read with their children. Most studies have shown that children who had parents who read to them were most likely to succeed throughout their academic career. Independent research evaluations are still preliminary but look positive. | |
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 Literacy Kits at Annual Meeting
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Corporate partners, volunteers and Board Members gathered to hear Board Chair and Chief Volunteer Officer, Larry O'Connell, talk about UWCJ's current focus at the 2012 Annual Meeting. But before the speeches, before the dinner, everyone helped to create Literacy Kits for low-income parents to use with their children to stimulate brain development.
Each kit consisted of a gallon size re-sealable plastic bag in which attendees placed a book, e.g., "Curious George," and a range of additional materials to be used by a parent to create strong readers and better learners through interactive engagement. Written guides included in the kits provided tips for the parent to make reading more fun and help boost children's literacy skills and creativity.
The Literacy Kits are part of UWCJ's campaign to help close the academic achievement gap. UWCJ can help your group of volunteers to create Literacy Kits for distribution to low-income families. Please contact Gloria Aftanski at: 732 247-3727 or gaftanski@uwcj.org
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UWCJ Works With Low-income Tax Payers
UWCJ has helped over 500 tax payers file their 2011 taxes. The IRS asked UWCJ to continue the assistance provided last year when over $300,000 of tax refunds were generated for needy residents. This year, 21 volunteers were trained and certified to prepare taxes. They worked at 8 sites around Central Jersey.UWCJ has coordinated efforts with a range of partners to increase reach among low-income tax payers for whom tax preparation fees are unaffordable and every penny of tax credit is critical. Partners included: Highland Park Senior Center, Jewish Renaissance Foundation, Magyar Bank, New Brunswick Senior Center, North Brunswick Senior Housing, Piscataway Senior Center, Piscataway Westergard Library.
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Volunteers in Action
Volunteers work with UWCJ all year to advance the common good. From readers in preschools who help build childhood literacy to community members who join in the community investment process, Central Jersey residents are giving their time and talent to support the community. During 2012's Volunteer Week, UWCJ recognizes and acknowledges the effort and caring that prompts people to care for their neighbors. Thank you! | |
New Board Members
At the annual meeting March 21st, new board members were elected including: Ms. Natalia Armstrong, Director, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Major, U.S. Army, Retired. Ms. Ana Monroy, Broker Associate, Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors Mr. Brian Moriarty, Vice President, Bank of America Merrill Lynch. UWCJ continues to seek new Board Members that help the Board to reflect the community we serve. If you know someone who should be considered, please contact Gloria Aftanski 732 247-3727 or gaftanski@uwcj.org. |
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Connected, Protected,
Prevented
on April 28th
At the request of the Department of Children and Families, Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships, UWCJ is coordinating with the YMCA in Perth Amboy as part of Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month activities. UWCJ will help to foster social connections between parents in order to build support systems. |
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 PCHP: Read Across America Day
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On March 2nd, ten low-income families gathered at the New Brunswick Library to celebrate "Read Across America" day. The parents of children enrolled in the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) had an opportunity to question a dental hygienist who visited for the occasion. Two parents volunteered to read books aloud for the gathering, and the children went home with three new books. This combination of benefits for both parent and child is characteristic of PCHP's practice model.
PCHP has recently been recognized by the Rand Corporation's Promising Practices Network as a model that improves children's scores on tests related to cognitive development and to improve parents' interactions with children
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 A Latina Nurse Gives Young Mothers Advice and Changes Lives
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When you think of a nurse's job, you might imagine drawing blood, or prepping a patient for surgery. But when Madeline Cruz from the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) gets in her car to visit a first-time pregnant young woman, she dispenses more than medical advice - she is dispensing life advice that helps a woman, her child and her family inch that much closer to the American Dream.
"My job is to find out what is her heart's desire," says Cruz, a nurturing, talkative New Jersey native born to Puerto Rican parents. "The typical young mom I see wants to make something out of her life," she adds. "Our goal is to help them become self-sufficient economically."
What does nursing have to do with economic empowerment? When a first-time mother learns how to live a healthier life and how to raise healthier, smarter children, this behavior has a "knock-on" effect. The Nurse-Family Partnership is the most rigorously tested program of its kind, and over the last 30 years, data has shown its benefits.
Women who participate in the program have 32 percent less future pregnancies, 20 percent less time on welfare, and an 82 percent increase in months employed. Since it encourages communication and parental responsibility, there is a 46 percent increase in a father's presence in the household.Madeline Cruz says she loves her job. "We say at NFP that we do 'power enhancing' not empowerment," she adds, "These young women have power, they just don't how much of it they have. My job is to help them get there."
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