Youth Opportunity

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota prioritizes a holistic, multi-generational approach to giving local children the best chance for successful futures. We recognize that education is a powerful tool in breaking the cycle of poverty and that building resiliency is critical to improved health, development, and educational outcomes.

 

Targeted Issue: Literacy and Youth Development

Goals and Objectives:

  • Increase number of available childcare spots in our region.
  • Improve early literacy skills.
  • Improve overall academic achievement.
  • Improve social and emotional development.
  • Ensure children in need of mentoring and tutoring have access to programming.

Strategies:

  • Support early literacy programming.
  • Invest in programs that increase academic success and remove barriers to learning for youth.
  • Invest in programs that improve children's social emotional development and behavior.
  • Support new and expanding childcare facilities/providers. 

 

Targeted Issue: Youth Mental Well-being

Goals and Objectives:

  • Ensure youth experiencing a mental health crisis have support and resources.
  • Increase number of services to promote mental well-being for youth.
  • Reduce number of youth dealing with substance abuse.
  • Work towards building a continuum of care for youth and their families.

Strategies:

  • Invest in programs that provide mental health services to youth.
  • Support programs that teach youth healthy living skills and provide resources.
  • Invest in programs that focus on prevention and provide substance abuse counseling for youth.
  • Invest in programs and services that take a multi-generational approach to building resiliency.