Community Issues

• Almost 80 percent of victims of domestic violence in Minnesota did not report one or more incidents of violence.
• High school graduation rates can be predicted from third-grade reading success. In our community, a large academic achievement gap exists between students from low-income families and students who have greater access to resources. This gap widens throughout school, resulting in vastly divergent high school graduation rates.
• Annually, each youth in Minnesota has about 2,000 hours of out-of-school time, without structure or supervision. Studies show that crime and sexual activity peak during these unsupervised hours.

Agenda for Lasting Change Goals

• Reduce family violence by increasing access to services 20 percent by 2012.
• Increase the number of third-graders from low-income families reading at grade level to 80 percent by 2012.
• Reach 15,000 additional youth through quality out-of-school time programming by 2012.

Learn More

• Read the United Way Overview (PDF)
• Children and Families Impact Plan Executive Summary (PDF)
• View Children and Families Success Stories.
• Last year, 14,000 parents learned skills to better care for their children and provide a stable, nurturing environment at home. More results.
• Visit our parenting tools to help your child grow and develop.
• Born Learning has tipsheets, videos and much more to help the child in your life thrive.
• Learn how United Way Women's Leadership Council is building awareness about early childhood development.