Hurricane Harvey, Attendance Awareness, Back to School Supplies, Financial Security for ALICE

United Ways in Connecticut and across the nation are joining together to show support, raise awareness and provide information on resources to help our friends in Texas. Early Saturday morning, August 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas, as a category 4 hurricane, causing catastrophic flooding across much of southeastern Texas.

Information and ways to provide help can be found in Connecticut 2-1-1’s eLibrary paper and in a United Way Press Release.   A list of United Ways raising funds to aid disaster recovery in Texas can also be found on the United Ways of Texas Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Page.

Preparing for emergency weather can help keep you and your loved ones safe, organized and informed during a weather emergency. Peak hurricane season in Connecticut began in mid-August and runs through mid-October. You can download ‘CTPrepares’, a free emergency mobile app, that provides Connecticut residents with information and alerts in emergency situations. The app can be downloaded for free to smart phone and tablet devices from the Apple iTunes store and the Google Play store.

United Way of Connecticut 2-1-1 is a gateway to services related to emergency/disaster response and recovery as well as a statewide resource for emergency-related information collection and dissemination. Call 2-1-1 or visit www.211ct.org for access to services and to stay informed during any extreme weather episode.

September is Attendance Awareness Month

This September marks the fifth annual Attendance Awareness Month. Attendance awareness is an ongoing campaign to address chronic school absence.

Nationwide, as many as one out of 10 students are chronically absent from school. Defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year (2-3 days every month) for any reason (excused or unexcused absences), chronic absence is an early warning indicator of academic trouble and effects a child’s ability to perform at grade level.

Making school attendance a priority and addressing chronic absence in our communities is a necessary step in preparing our youth for later grades, college, and their future careers.

School success starts with regular attendance, and United Ways in Connecticut and their community partners are committed to providing our youth with the tools they need to be successful in school. Contact your local United Way to learn more about programs geared toward school readiness and success as well as volunteer opportunities in your community.

To learn more, download the Count us In! 2017 Attendance Awareness Toolkit and read 2-1-1’s eLibaray paper, Why Attendance Matters.

Back to School Supplies and Clothing

As summer comes to a close, make sure students in your community have the supplies they need for the classroom. 2-1-1’s eLibrary paper School Clothes and School Supplies can help students, parents and teacher access resources such as backpacks, shoes and school uniforms. 

To learn more about what resources and assistance may be available, visit 211ct.org and search School Clothing or School Supplies or dial 2-1-1 to speak with a contact specialist that can help you find local resources.

ALICE® Update- Helping ALICE Families Access Good Jobs and Save for the Future

In this ALICE Update, we explore the challenges ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) faces due to low wages and a lack of savings as well as the work United Ways and organizations throughout the state are doing to help ALICE access good jobs, save for the future and achieve financial stability.

In Connecticut, 27% of households have earnings above the Federal Poverty Level but below a basic cost of living which often results in living paycheck to paycheck. Lack of savings is the financial challenge American families’ worry about the most.  Nationwide, one in three households have no savings, which means that a medical emergency or unexpected car repair has the potential to send them spiraling into poverty.

Visit the Connecticut United Ways ALICE website to learn more about ALICE and click HERE to read the 2016 ALICE Report.