News from United Way of Connecticut

2016 ALICE UPDATE Report   

A Message from Richard Porth         

President/CEO of United Way of Connecticut  

Connecticut United Ways have released the 2016 ALICE Update Report on financial hardship in Connecticut. The ALICE report aims to “put a face” on working families in Connecticut and serves as a call to action. This demographic is known as ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

More than 1 in 3 households (38%) in Connecticut cannot afford basic needs such as housing, child care, food, health care and transportation. To download the recently released 2016 ALICE Update Report, visit http://alice.ctunitedway.org. Additionally, see if you can walk 30 days ALICE’s shoes by visiting www.makingtoughchoices.org and using the ALICE Online Simulator.

2-1-1: Celebrating 40 Years of Service    

In recognition of 2-1-1’s 40 year anniversary, United Way of Connecticut invites you to an open house on October 18 from 3-5 p.m. Tour the contact centers (2-1-1, 2-1-1 Child Care and 2-1-1 Child Development Infoline), meet with staff and listen to call examples. There will also be demonstrations on 2-1-1 Counts and the ALICE simulator.

2-1-1 Counts is the first tool to provide real-time, searchable and visual presentations of data from 2-1-1 call centers across the nation. Using 2-1-1 Counts, you’ll find a snapshot of community-specific needs displayed by zip code, region or call center as recently as yesterday, enabling you to easily check trends, make comparisons and share information.

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE families are those that have earnings above the Federal Poverty Level, but below a basic cost-of-living threshold. Using the ALICE simulator, you’ll experience some of the tough choices that these families have to make every single day.

Come out to learn more about the new website features of 211ct.org and 2-1-1’s unique way of connecting state residents to local services. To register go to http://conta.cc/2e4pNTi .

Office of Early Childhood has partnered with United Way of Connecticut to develop a Quality Improvement System for Early Child Care.

An immense body of research has demonstrated that healthy development during the early years is absolutely critical to a child’s long term success and health. The Office of Early Childhood has engaged with United Way of Connecticut as its operational partner to create a Quality Improvement System. The Quality Improvement System is focused on providing quality improvement support to centers and home-based providers serving children birth to five. Trainings such as CPR, First Aid, and Medication Administration are already being offered to childcare providers. Access to National Accreditation for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) support is another service currently being offered through the Quality Improvement System. Information on these trainings, availability and registration can all be found on the OEC’s Quality Improvement System website: http://qispublic.211ct.org.

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National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day    

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is an effort to provide an environmentally safe way to dispose of prescription medications and to keep those drugs from being used improperly. Saturday, October 22, 2016 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Many towns in Connecticut will have sites open between 10am and 2pm where you can bring expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Connecticut’s effort is being led by the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, the Departments of Consumer Protection and Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Attorney General.

To find the nearest collection site, click here or call 800-882-9539.