United Way of Yellowstone County Led Programs/Projects
Discover Zone
The Goal of Discover Zone is unique in that it does not duplicate the work of existing programs in our community and was created with their input. It enhances the number of safe places for middle school students during non-school hours. It provides the one stop shop for a safe, exciting after school experience and partners with local youth serving organizations to ensure that a quality program is available. Discover Zone is cost effective because it uses quality volunteers to run programs under the supervision of one paid coordinator at each site. The coordinator works to build relationships in the school, with students, and in the community. These relationships create strong community ties and provide middle school students with the diversity they need to stay engaged. For more information regarding Discover Zone Click HereCARE Academy
CARE Academy is a before and after-school program that provides a safe place for students during "out of school time" hours. This program includes opportunities for hands-on enrichment activities, homework help, fun physical activities, healthy snacks, and relaxation time. CARE Academy is a tuition based program.CARE Academy works closely with community partners to provide quality, age-appropriate programming to student participants.
For more information regarding CARE Academy Click Here
Reading Matters
Mission: United Way of Yellowstone County partners with seven nonprofits to identify enroll and engage children and their families in the monthly book program. Over 200 children are currently enrolled. Each child receives one age appropriate book per month until their sixth birthday. Children who have been enrolled in the program since birth could potentially receive 72 books through the end of their eligibility at age six. This builds their home library with many books and increases their access to daily reading opportunities. In addition to the new books each month, parents receive information on the importance of shared reading, tips on how to read to their children at every stage, sheets about their child's developmental milestones, and fun educational ideas to help children grow to their potential. Reading Matters - Importance
Kindergarten Readiness
Mission: A very exciting day for children and their families is the first day of school. United Way of Yellowstone County is working with local partners to ensure that all of our children are prepared to enter school ready to learn and succeed. United Way of Yellowstone County is pleased to announce the arrival of a new resource for area families, the "Getting Ready for Kindergarten" calendar. This Calendar provides parents and caregivers with daily activity ideas to use with preschool aged children, suggested reading lists, notice of important dates for families with young children, and information for parents on local resources, schools, and libraries.
Financial Stability Partnership
Mission: Low-to-moderate-income households in Yellowstone County find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. In Billings, the cost of housing has roughly doubled since 1997. Over the past 20 years, the cost of living nation-wide has increased by almost 90 percent due, in large part, to significant increases in the costs of housing, healthcare, transportation, insurance, and utilities.
United Way of Yellowstone County brings together cross-sector partners in a Financial Stability Partnership to help local people achieve financial independence. The Partnership works to strengthen current efforts in the community and to build new strategic alliances. The goal of the Partnership is to create a comprehensive infrastructure of services and policies that lead to financial stability. For more information on the Financial Stability Partnership click here.
Roots of Promise
Mission: Roots of Promise: The Alliance for Children and Families is a coalition working to reduce substance abuse by ensuring that all children in Yellowstone County have caring adults, a healthy start, safe places, an effective education, and the opportunity to serve. For more information regarding Roots of Promise Click Here
Volunteer Center
Mission: "Mobilizing people and resources to deliver creative solutions to community problems." The United Way of Yellowstone County Volunteer Center is a member of the Points of Lightnstitute and HandsOn Network, the nation's largest organized delivery system for mobilizing volunteers to meet important needs in local communities. Volunteer Centers, local leadership organizations for community volunteering, are catalysts for volunteer action and knowledge leaders about volunteering. In Yellowstone County, Volunteer Center Services include: connecting people with opportunities to serve; building capacity for effective local volunteering; promoting volunteering; participating in strategic initiatives that mobilize volunteers to meet local needs. For volunteer opportunities go to youcanvolunteer.org