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Together, We’re Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect So Kids Can Thrive

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

This April, as we commemorate National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we’re calling on all North Texans to learn more about the prevalence of child abuse and neglect in our community, to raise awareness of this important issue and to join our efforts to prevent child maltreatment of every kind.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’ve identified education, income and health as the building blocks of opportunity. Child abuse prevention is one important component of our work that touches on all three of these areas—because a stable, loving home provides a foundation for children to live a healthy life, succeed in school and go on to achieve financial stability.

In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, let’s take a look at the state of child abuse in Texas, how United Way of Metropolitan Dallas works to prevent child maltreatment and how you can get involved in this important work.

Child Abuse Remains Far Too Common in Texas

After peaking during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, rates of child maltreatment, neglect, deaths and suicide in Texas have leveled off but remain tragically high.

In 2021, about 52,345 unique victims of child abuse were reported in Texas, the most out of any state. On a regional level, things aren’t much better. In 2022, more than 9,000 North Texas children were served by Child Protective Services (CPS), which means our region led the state in child abuse and neglect last year. More than 5,800 of those cases happened in Dallas County alone.

In 2022, 182 Texas children died due to abuse and neglect, and seven of those deaths occurred in Dallas County, according to the Department of Family and Protective Services. That state-wide number is slightly lower than the previous year’s total of 199; however, our state is still seeing, on average, more than three children die every week.

The most common cause of fatalities involving neglect were drowning, unsafe sleep, and physical neglect and medical neglect fatalities. Most Texas children who died from abuse or neglect (68%) were too young for school and not enrolled in day care, and Hispanic children accounted for the largest percentage of 2022 deaths.

These figures all indicate that our entire North Texas community must do more to prevent child abuse and neglect before it ever begins.

How United Way Works to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we work to provide support services and educational resources to parents to foster healthy, caring home lives. Together with our committed supporters, we give parents the tools and knowledge they need to ward off child abuse and neglect before it ever happens.

United Way has been the lead organization on home visiting in Dallas County since 2012. Each year, we serve thousands of caregivers in North Texas with parent support programming, and we work to empower parents and eliminate common parenting stressors that increase the risk for child abuse and neglect.

Two of our programs focus specifically on supporting families with young children:

  • Healthy Outcomes Through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES): HOPES helps local parents create home environments in which young children can thrive. Working with clinics, organizations and government agencies, the program seeks to reduce instances of child maltreatment by helping improve parenting skills through instruction, support and connections to community resources.
  • Texas Home Visiting Program (THVP): THVP supports people in becoming great parents. This free program for soon-to-be-parents and those with children under the age of 5 matches Dallas and Collin County families with a trained home visitor—a nurse, experienced parent, trained professional or volunteer—to answer questions, offer advice, provide support and teach parents how to prepare their kids for kindergarten.

Programs like HOPES and THVP offer a variety of benefits to parents, children and the community as a whole. For example, preventing child abuse saves our state significant amounts of money. Serving a single child in the foster care system for a year costs the state of Texas $17,290, which is 17 times the amount our child abuse prevention programming costs to serve one family.

HOPES and THVP also have a profound impact on new parents, as well as any family that experiences stressful times. Take for example Karla, a client from our partner agency Lumin. Karla and her family came to Lumin when Karla was 18 months old. In her initial developmental screenings, Karla showed delays in communication and social-personal development. She also had numerous challenges during home visits: She would throw things across the room, she struggled with concentration and she had difficulty with expressive language. During some visits, Karla would hit herself in frustration. This made her mother uncomfortable and, as a result, she cancelled visits, would not take her children out of the house and became isolated.

This situation was understandably frustrating for both Karla and her mother. However, the parent educator at Lumin kept working with Karla’s mother, speaking with her about strategies and establishing routines. They worked together to create a home learning environment, to offer freedom of choice and to establish limits and routines for Karla. One year later, Karla and her mom have taken a 180-degree turn. Karla is aware of the visit routine, she sits patiently and waits until the materials are set up, and she listens attentively when mom reads her a book. Karla now goes to childcare with other kids where she is social, shares and knows how to take turns. When completing a Family Centered Assessment, Karla’s mother showed significant gains in parenting skills and building capacity.

With a little guidance and support, Karla’s mother learned how to support her daughter and create a positive learning environment in which she can thrive. This is the type of intervention that has been shown to prevent child abuse and neglect by empowering parents when they need it most.

Together, We Can Prevent Child Abuse

Child abuse cases remain high in North Texas, and we believe every child deserves protection. Join us as we work to prevent child abuse across our region. Here are three ways to get involved right now:

  • Advocate for strong families. During this year’s legislative session, one of our top priorities is to advocate for expanded funding for child abuse prevention programs like HOPES and THVP. Sign up here to receive our Advocacy Alerts, and we’ll let you know how and when to contact your lawmakers to make the biggest impact possible. And click here to read more about our legislative priorities for the year.
  • Volunteer during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Support local children and parents this month through two volunteer opportunities: by donating to our baby essentials drive or giving time to the First3Years’ Safe Babies program.
  • Make a donation to support child abuse prevention. When you invest in United Way, you create lasting change right here at home. Your donation will help support programs like HOPES and TVHP and help ensure all North Texas children have the opportunity to thrive. Click here to donate.

Suspect Child Abuse?

If you suspect abuse or neglect, contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services toll-free at 1-800-252-5400, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also file a report via their Abuse Hotline website.

Need Support?

If you are a parent who is struggling with keeping your children safe and healthy, please contact one of our partner agencies for resources and support:

Volunteer Mentors Drive Impact Through the Social Innovation Accelerator

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we encourage all North Texans to join our Live United movement by giving, advocating and volunteering. Each is a powerful way to contribute to our mission of improving access to education, income and health.

In this article, we’re highlighting just one of our volunteer programs that enable individuals to be part of the change right here at home: by serving as mentors for the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator. We’ll hear from several mentors about why they chose to volunteer and how the experience has impacted them, as well as how you can learn more about serving as a mentor with United Way.

The Role of Accelerator Mentors

The Social Innovation Accelerator is one of the ways in which we encourage and support novel solutions to social problems that are more effective, efficient, sustainable or just than current solutions. The program provides entrepreneurs with critical resources—funding, mentorship and community connections—to accelerate the growth and stability of their innovative ventures.

For fellows who join the Social Innovation Accelerator, the experience includes three key components:

  • A bootcamp, powered by Santander
  • One-on-one professional mentorship
  • A chance for a spot at The Pitch powered by PNC, our live social innovation competition where finalists compete for additional seed funding

For the entrepreneurs who go through the Accelerator, mentoring is one of the most important and beneficial components of the program. Each fellow is paired with two to three professional mentors who provide one-on-one mentoring and coaching and offer connections and resources through the United Way network of partners, investors, contacts and more. Each year, our volunteer mentors provide more than 1,500 hours of mentoring and coaching to our Accelerator fellows.

PNC has partnered with the United Way to power the Accelerator mentorship program and its culminating event, The Pitch. Brendan McGuire, PNC regional president for North Texas, says it’s important for the broader North Texas business community to support social entrepreneurs who are working to make a difference.

“As a national main street bank, we understand that every community is unique and this understanding guides not only our business model but also how we look for ways to uplift the North Texas community,” he said. “United Way’s Social Innovation Accelerator uplifts entrepreneurs who have developed innovative solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing our community and economy. We’re proud to support the Accelerator mentorship program, which connects social entrepreneurs with business and philanthropic leaders who can work alongside them to transform their ventures and benefit all North Texas.”

The business and philanthropy community has long recognized the importance of quality mentorship. According to Entrepreneur magazine, 92% of small business owners say mentors had a direct impact on the growth and success of their business.

Having professional guidance is extremely beneficial for Accelerator fellows—many of whom are new to entrepreneurship—enabling them to efficiently and effectively scale their ventures and expand their impact in North Texas. In fact, thanks to the support of their mentors, our Accelerator alumni have gone on to positively impact more than 150,000 of our neighbors during the nearly 10-year history of the program.

Who Are Our Mentors?

Our Accelerator mentors include corporate executives, entrepreneurs, social change-makers, leading philanthropists, public policy advocates, investors and more. They leverage their experience, knowledge and networks to advise and guide social entrepreneurs through the Accelerator program, ensuring that the fellows are set up to succeed as they work to create meaningful change in North Texas.

Of course, it’s not only the fellows who benefit from the mentor-mentee relationship. Our Accelerator mentors invest significant time to provide insights and guidance to entrepreneurs who are working to improve our community. As members of the Live United movement, these mentors are directly supporting social change in North Texas. Meanwhile, many wind up forming lifelong connections with their mentees and the work that they are doing in our community.

Hear from Our Mentors

Read on to hear from some of our Accelerator mentors about why they volunteered to be part of the program, how their efforts help to create real impact and some of their most memorable experiences so far.

Tolu Akinjayeju
Director, Business Controls and Risk Manager at Santander Consumer USA

Mentor for ESTe2M Builders and Reading to New Heights

 

Jamika Doakes
Senior Program Manager, Philanthropy at AT&T

Mentor for BT Foundry and Heart of Courage

 

Gwen Echols
Nonprofit Advisor/Board Member

Mentor for NTARUPT, Carson’s Village, Trusted World, Veritas Impact Partners,and March to the Polls

 

Renee George
Board Member/Community Volunteer

Mentor for Heart House, The Welman Project, The Artist Outreach and March to the Polls

 

Michael Martin
Solar Entrepreneur/Advisor

Mentor for Yoga N Da Hood, Habitat for Humanity of Collin County, To Be Like Me, FEED Oak Cliff and Cornerstone Crossroads Academy

 

William M. Smith
EVP, Commercial Banking Market Executive at PNC

Mentor for Empowering the Masses

 

Q: What inspired you to become an Accelerator mentor?

Tolu Akinjayeju: I chose to become an Accelerator mentor because of the opportunity to provide guidance to entrepreneurs who are creating innovative solutions to address the needs of North Texas communities in health, income and education. This is especially crucial in communities with disparities and inequities; access to these vital focus areas is critical to inclusion and equity.

William Smith: I recently relocated to Dallas from Charlotte, N.C., with PNC Bank’s acquisition of BBVA’s U.S. operations. It was important for me to quickly find an avenue where I could gain a greater appreciation for the fabric of the Dallas community. I was attracted by the Accelerator program’s unique approach that supports early-stage, innovative organizations that are tackling some of our biggest community challenges.

Michael Martin: I wanted for my experience in life and business to help those committed to local social impact, thus improving our community.

Gwen Echols: I’ve always been passionate about helping the community solve problems. The Accelerator had a fantastic track record and great leadership. Most of all, it offered the chance to draw from both my financial and business experience, as well as 25 years of nonprofit stewardship, to help organizations tackle their obstacles. It has been a great partnership.

Jamika Doakes: My colleague served as a mentor and recruited me to join, knowing I’ve always had a passion for helping to provide resources that could benefit causes and organizations. The Accelerator offers a unique opportunity for me to give to entrepreneurs making a difference in their community.

Renee George: When I was asked to become a mentor for the Accelerator, I jumped at the chance to be able to help innovative nonprofits realize their big ideas. I love working with the fellows. Their passion for improving the lives of North Texans is nothing but extraordinary. It gives me great hope for our world that there are so many incredible social entrepreneurs dedicating their lives to lifting up others.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a mentor?

Smith: In short, inspiration. I had the pleasure of working with Tammy Johnson, the founder of Empowering the Masses. Tammy’s passion and energy to drive change is infectious and gives me great inspiration and hope. She is a terrific reminder that embracing a growth mindset paired with grit is a recipe for driving impactful change. Second, the program has afforded me the opportunity to build my personal network and grow as a professional. My fellow mentors and mentees are incredibly talented and successful in their own careers. I come away from all our sessions having learned something that has stretched my personal growth. Mentoring can be just as exciting, educational and satisfying as being mentored!

Echols: The Accelerator is a culture of making connections for people. We are all there to help open doors and make introductions. The program is strong—but not due to just one individual. Rather, it is the collective effort of all the mentors. Every year it is satisfying to see how much our fellows accomplish through the combined efforts of our committee members.

Doakes: My favorite part of the Accelerator is learning about all the local nonprofit organizations doing such fantastic work for under-resourced communities. When you have someone leading an organization that is either from the community or has gone through lived experiences like their clients, the impact they have is more significant.

Akinjayeju: Giving back and learning are the best parts. I enjoy getting to know the mentees in the cohort and the other mentors. They are genuine change agents, and understanding the needs of the mentees I work with and helping them home in on strengthening those areas is very rewarding.

Martin: Meeting inspirational and innovative social impact entrepreneurs who I can (hopefully!) help…and from whom I can learn more about our local problems and ways to reduce or solve them. I also have new friends on the committee, which is an awesome side-benefit as the Accelerator committee and United Way staff are a top-shelf crew!

Q: Do you have a favorite anecdote from your time with your Accelerator mentee?

Echols: We have had some tremendous “wins,” post program. Recently, NTARUPT, my first mentoring assignment, successfully merged with two nonprofits to become a statewide powerhouse called Healthy Futures. The new organization is poised for great impact in Texas, and I was honored to join their board of directors this summer.

George: I had the opportunity to help in the early days of the Accelerator, when it was called GroundFloor. Along with a team of other business executives from YPO, we helped Daron Babcock from Bonton Farms prepare for the big stage at The Pitch, the Accelerator’s marquee event. I loved getting to know Daron at such an early stage in his organization, back when it was just a small urban farm in South Dallas. Daron’s big, innovative ideas for transforming his neighborhood across all aspects of health, housing, jobs and education from a shack with a tin roof were inspiring.

Martin: Doing yoga at the United Way office with YogaNDaHood or advising Habitat for Humanity Collin County with their solar project for the Cotton Groves townhomes in McKinney.

Akinjayeju: Last year, I mentored ESTe2m Builders, a team that provides STEM education through a creative approach. In addition to project-based learning activities in DNA collection and analysis, they also highlighted to the students an innovative pathway for comparing information from what they already understood about their heritage with their own scientific discoveries in genetic engineering in the classroom. One of my favorite experiences was when the students got to see the results of the DNA analysis and how science and culture are interconnected.

Q: What else stands out about your mentorship experience?

Echols: We want our fellows to feel valued and comfortable with “thinking big.” There are no wrong answers. The best mentoring relationships extend well beyond the Accelerator completion. That’s when you know mutual trust and respect has been built over the course of the year, and it’s very gratifying.

Doakes: As I think of the fellows’ work, I am reminded of a quote from Margaret Mead: “Never depend upon institutions or governments to solve any problem. All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals.”

George: From a mentor standpoint, I enjoy the challenges that we are able to help them with, whether that be strategy, marketing, fundraising, board development or any other milestone they are working to achieve. Year after year, it is exciting and gratifying to see these organizations executing on the innovations we talked about while they went through the Accelerator.

Smith: The United Way’s Social Accelerator program is one of the most unique programs I’ve participated in. The program’s structure, resources, rigor and funding provide a multiplier effect on impact, creating more change by helping to strengthen bold new organizations that are tackling our greatest community challenges. I’m fortunate and proud to be part of this innovative and impactful program.

Akinjayeju: I feel grateful for this experience and that Santander partners with United Way’s Social Innovation Accelerator to continue to bridge the gap in health, income and education disparities.

At United Way Day at the Capitol, Advocates Call Attention to Key Policy Issues for North Texans

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, one of the ways we work to improve access to education, income and health is by uniting our voices through advocacy. When we speak up and speak out, together, we show that improving our community isn’t just a goal—it’s a movement.

On March 1, United Way team members and supporters gathered in Austin for United Way Day at the Capitol, our largest and most impactful advocacy event during Texas’ legislative session. Throughout the day, our 24 advocates met directly with 30 local state legislators and their staff and voiced their support of our legislative priorities.

Read on to learn more about United Way Day at the Capitol, some of the key “wins” our advocates achieved this year and how you can get involved with our advocacy efforts.

The Power of Advocacy

United Way Day at the Capitol is an impactful, empowering and memorable experience for anyone who cares about improving access to education, income and health in North Texas. As Stephanie Mace, vice president of strong communities at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, explains, advocating to lawmakers doesn’t require an expert understanding of policy issues—just a passion for our community.

“Meeting with elected officials and advocating for policy change—especially at the Texas Capitol—can be intimidating and overwhelming for those who have never done it before,” she said. “One of the goals of this trip was to educate and empower advocates to know that their voice matters. Advocacy can be quick and easy, and elected officials want to hear from their constituents.”

Indeed, 14 of this year’s advocates had never participated in Day at the Capitol before. But each said their experience was empowering and eye-opening.

Vineeta Salvi participated in the trip to Austin as a first-time advocate.

“Everyone should do this at least once,” said Salvi, who joined the trip to Austin at the request of a friend. “The trip gave me a unique perspective into the legislative process in Texas.”

Salvi also said with so many interest groups vying for the support of lawmakers, you have to make yourself stand out—and meeting with lawmakers in person truly gets their attention.

“If we believe in something, we need to put in that same effort to gain the support of lawmakers,” she said. “If we don’t show up, we can’t count on anyone else to make our voices heard.”

By meeting directly with local lawmakers and sharing their perspectives, United Way advocates highlighted the importance of policy issues that stand to significantly impact North Texas.

“We advocate because we know that lawmakers hold the keys to systemic change,” Mace explained. “By building relationships at the Capitol, we put ourselves in the best position to reach our education, income and health goals.”

Mace said when all of us speak up and speak out with a united voice, we have the power to create meaningful change for our communities.

“Not all North Texans have the capacity and resources to build relationships with elected officials and follow what’s happening at the Capitol,” she said. “We use advocacy as a tool to keep the needs of our neighbors at top of mind in the Texas Legislature.”

Impact of United Way Day at the Capitol

This year’s Day at the Capitol resulted in important progress regarding our legislative priorities, which include increasing housing stability for low-income workers, expanding child abuse prevention programs, increasing access to school-based mental health services for children, and strengthening the 211 Texas information and referral network.

Key achievements from Day at the Capitol included:

  • Sen. Royce West honored local United Ways and recognized United Way of Metropolitan Dallas from the Senate floor.
  • United Way advocates learned more about key issues facing our community and spoke passionately with our elected officials about the need for change.
  • We raised awareness of our legislative priorities and associated bills. Our advocates met with several legislators who were not aware of the bills we told them about (which is understandable, considering that more than 4,500 bills have been introduced this session). Most of the lawmakers said they felt they could support the bipartisan bills.
  • We called attention to resources that benefit our North Texas neighbors. For example, almost all of the offices we met with were not aware that 211 is an important resource in our community and can be a tool that their constituents use 24 hours a day to get connected to services.
  • We learned which legislators oppose some of the priority bills we’re following. Now, we can work with allies and community partners to share constituents’ stories and research on these priorities to demonstrate why they are key to improving the lives of those in our community.
  • We also learned of new bills that align with our Aspire United 2030 goals that are being pushed through the house and senate by our North Texas representatives in the areas of education, income and health. We plan to closely follow these bills as they progress in the session.

Learn More About United Way Advocacy

We invite all North Texans to be part of the change by advocating with us throughout this year’s legislative session. If you’re interested in learning more, here are resources to get you started:

Our 2023 Legislative Priorities at United Way of Dallas

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

The 88th Texas Legislature is in full swing, and lawmakers have introduced more than 4,500 bills on a staggering number of topics. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we keep an eye out for those bills that will have the greatest impact in our focus areas of education, income and health.

To guide our advocacy efforts over the coming months, we’ve homed in on four legislative goals that would have a significant impact on our North Texas neighbors. These are important topics that have the potential to undergo big policy changes this session. As a United Way supporter, we invite you to learn a bit more about each legislative goal and how it would impact our region.

#1: Increase Housing Stability for Low-Income Workers

Millions of Texans are in crisis, struggling to find affordable housing. Workers in Texas’ fast-growing occupations have average wages below 50% area median income (AMI) and are most often affected. When low-income working Texans lose stable housing, many fall into homelessness.

Research shows that it costs far more to rehouse or provide services for someone who is already experiencing homelessness than it does to avoid homelessness by preventing an eviction or providing affordable housing.

What we’re asking lawmakers: Help keep low-income workers in their homes by:

  • Allocating $1.5 billion to the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs to 1) increase the construction of housing for Texans earning below 50% AMI, which could go toward low-income housing tax credits, and 2) replenish the Texas Rent Relief program, which kept 316,000 Texas families housed during the pandemic.
  • Ensuring tenants who have won their eviction case or had their case dismissed are protected from inaccurate eviction screening reports by sealing their record, like House Bill 1450 by Collier proposes.
  • Protecting local municipalities’ constitutional authority to enact ordinances giving tenants time to come up with back rent and stay in their homes. These ordinances do not contradict state law.

#2: Scale Child Abuse Prevention Programs

Child abuse costs Texas billions annually in criminal justice, healthcare, social services, education and lost workforce productivity. Preventing abuse upstream not only produces the best outcomes for children, families and communities but also saves the state from other costs. Most allegations confirmed by CPS are neglect and occur between birth to 5 years old—the most important time in a child’s brain development.

Home visiting is a prevention strategy used to support pregnant moms and new families to promote maternal and child health, foster school readiness, and prevent child abuse and neglect.

What we’re asking lawmakers: Fully support Texas Department of Family & Protective Services’ exceptional item #2 to “strengthen services for prevention services by $87.8 million GR/$87.9 million AF and 20 FTEs for the biennium” so more families could be served by these valuable programs.

#3: Increase Access to School-Based Mental Health Services

Over the past two decades, the rate of Texas children who have felt hopeless, struggled with anxiety or depression, or experienced suicidal ideation has been rising. Learning can be challenging for a student experiencing trauma, stress or other difficult life events, and trauma and stress are associated with difficulties with concentration, memory, motivation and decision-making. Alternatively, students who are emotionally and mentally well are more engaged in learning.

What we’re asking lawmakers: Expand access to school-based behavioral and mental health services. This can be done by:

  • House Bill 1571 (Lozano) and House Bill 1795 (Howard): Allowing school districts to claim federal Medicaid funding for services provided to Medicaid-enrolled students.
  • Senate Bill 948 (West) and House Bill 2451 (Allision): Establishing and funding a School Mental Health Allotment for comprehensive school mental health strategies with flexibility depending on their needs.

#4: Strengthen 211 Texas Information & Referral Network

The 211 information and referral helpline is a federally designated dialing code that provides callers with referrals to local health and social service agencies. In Texas, 211 is a public-private partnership between the state and community-based organizations. 211 Texas is unique in that it is one of the only 211s in the country to be managed, operated and funded by a state government.

Unfortunately, challenges within the 211 Texas system pose obstacles for Texans seeking assistance and put strains on community organizations managing the network. Funding for 211 Texas has remained relatively level for nearly 14 years despite an increase in call volume, operational costs and contract expectations from the Texas Health & Human Services Commission.

What we’re asking lawmakers: Bolster the capacities and functionalities of 211 by:

  • Supporting House Bill 2473 (Bucy), which calls for increasing the community-based resource database, improving 211’s technology and utilizing caller data to identify resource gaps.
  • Increasing the base budget for 211 by a minimum of $4.6 million per biennium. This would allow call centers to attract and retain quality staff, maintain quality operations, and enhance technology and communication.

Learn More About These Important Topics

Interested in learning more about these priorities and how they impact North Texans? Check out the following resources:

Support Meaningful Change in North Texas

Lasting change only happens when we all work together. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, one of the ways we work to improve access to education, income and health is by uniting our voices through advocacy. When we speak up and speak out, together, we show that improving our community isn’t just a goal—it’s a movement.

To stay up to date on our advocacy efforts and legislative priorities, sign up for our Advocacy Alerts.

Collaborating to Address Child Poverty in North Texas

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, addressing inequities in our community is one of the key ways we create opportunity for all North Texans to thrive. One of the starkest inequities that we see year after year is the rate of child poverty. Today, more than 32% of children in Dallas live in poverty, which can have a lifelong impact on an individual and their family.

This is a challenge that a variety of local organizations are working to address. At United Way, we lead and invest in initiatives that create opportunity in our three focus areas—education, income and health—each of which overlap and are inextricably linked to child poverty.

Recently, the United Way Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society brought together some of the community leaders who are working to combat child poverty in our region for an important and engaging panel discussion. The event, held Feb. 6, featured George Kaiser, president and CEO of GBK Corporation, and Todd Williams, chairman and CEO of Commit Partnership. Susan Hoff, chief strategy and impact officer, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, served as moderator.

The panel discussion touched on a variety of important topics including:

  • The state of child poverty
  • Unique challenges in North Texas
  • Whether there are “silver bullets” for solving systemic challenges in education and child welfare
  • The importance of collaboration
  • The role of systemic racism in child poverty

View the full event below, or read on for a few of the highlights from the conversation.

Susan Hoff: George, could you give us a brief overview of the George Kaiser Family Foundation’s work around child poverty?

George Kaiser: Our mission is equal opportunity for very young children. We focused very much on birth to 3 or even prenatal or preconceptual, because about 20 or 25 years ago, when electronic tools were coming into medical diagnostic work, they used MRIs to examine the blood flow in baby’s brains. And they learned that brain cells at birth are fully formed, but functionally undeveloped. But the experience at one day, one week, one month and one year is extraordinarily powerful. The infant brain is extremely plastic. They are smarter than we are. They just don’t have any facts. [Researchers] claim 1 million attempted synaptic connections occur every second in a baby’s brain. So that’s the reason we have the focus there. And the moral reason we have the focus there is that I cannot imagine something that is more morally compelling than the fact that an infant born into poverty has the disadvantage of most likely not realizing his or her full potential, purely because of the accident of birth—what Warren Buffett calls “winning or losing the ovarian lottery.” We felt that was morally compelling and that there was a good justification for why to do it. We then started with early childhood education, and we are the second largest sponsor of early childhood education birth to 3 in the United States. But then we learned very quickly that there is no silver bullet in social service, and that we had to do a whole bunch of other things, heavily oriented around criminal justice, teen pregnancy and several other things we’re going to talk about in a second here.

Hoff: Todd, talk a little bit about the critical importance of collaboration, and some of the challenges you’ve encountered and how you’ve addressed those challenges.

Todd Williams: I came to the conclusion relatively early that [child poverty] was too big to try and solve alone—that there were many individuals and institutions that wanted to solve this problem. But we had to try and figure out how to collectively work together to do it. Sometimes the reason I think collaboration is difficult is it’s not done historically. Sometimes people are fearful collaboration because they think it’s a zero-sum game: If you’re doing better, then the philanthropic system will reward me less. I think the beauty of what’s happened here in Dallas through partnerships with the United Way and with Commit and with Child Poverty Action Lab and many others, is that we truly have a comprehensive scale. We have built a comprehensive infrastructure. We’ve been able to show meaningful results both in the Dallas County area, but also progress at the state policy area.

Think about this: There are 3,100 counties in America, and only six counties have fewer children living in poverty [than Dallas County]. The fact that any region leads the country in job growth and leads the nation in poverty doesn’t make sense to me. But we’ve got to make sure that the jobs that are coming here, because of the business climate, etc., are also going at least proportionally to our own kids and their ability to participate in that system. We know where the system breaks down and we have to be laser focused in working with others to try and solve it collectively and put our egos at the door.

Hoff: In the field of education and child welfare, we’ve often cited some “silver bullets” for long-term outcomes. George, in your experience, are there any silver bullets? What are the most important components of success?

Williams: Yes, there are certain strategies that are probably more important than others. But for example: Just 40% of our kids meet the state standard in fourth grade reading. Is it because of pre-k enrollment or early childhood or prenatal? Is it because of where we staff our most effective teachers? Is it because that child was hungry the night before or there was trauma in the neighborhood due to gunshot violence? Is their family facing eviction, so they have to move from one school to another school during mid-year? All this stuff adds up.

So I think any attempt to solve this problem by focusing on two things or three things, you won’t get what you want to do. And I think we’ve learned to just try and be very relentless about trying to figure out what are the more important issues. Early childhood is absolutely critical. The talent and capacity that’s in the system is critical to actually effectuate the work. You have to have a legislature that really understands and is data driven and continuous improvement focus.

Hoff: George, you touched on it a bit with the Women in Recovery program. I wonder if you’d talk a little bit about public-private partnership, particularly “pay for success” models?

Kaiser: We are a big believer in pay for success—anything which saves money for some level of government and improves the outcomes for their citizenry. And if we can generate that on an entrepreneurial private sector basis, deliver it to them and they can adopt it statewide, and there is some financial sharing arrangement, that’s a win. We’ve had several of those. Women in Recovery is one example. We do now have an arrangement with state government, under which if any woman who does not backslide after our program for one to four years, they pay a portion of the cost of the program for them. Let me mention one other: During the pandemic, we’ve been doing assistance for people for many years, the earned income tax credit. If you don’t apply for it, you don’t get it. And the people who need it the most are the ones least likely to be able or knowledgeable about applying for it. So we trained, I think, literally thousands of people in all kinds of government programs, the new ones and the old ones. And then we got together with all the social service agencies and said, refer people to us. It’s called Tulsa Response. And we helped several thousand people apply for grants or assistance in a series of areas. And Todd, I think you’ve been doing the ITC and similar work, have you not?

Williams: Between ourselves and the Child Poverty Action Lab, which is a fellow backbone in this work, focusing on community factors, we convene about 25 different CEOs on a quarterly basis: school district superintendents, city managers, county judge, Parkland Hospital, DART, etc. Collectively, those CEOs control about $13 billion in annual public funding. In that analysis, we’ve discovered that effectively about $1 billion of legislatively appropriated funding has been approved by the state or the federal government that is not being accessed by the citizens of Dallas County every year: $400 million in SNAP benefits, $150 million in Pell grants, $100 million in pre-K enrollment dollars, $115 million in CCMR success funding, which we and many others in this room helped create that legislation back in 2019.

So part of what we’re very focused on is, how do we access that funding? How do we make sure that funding is spent smarter? Because ultimately this is what makes it sustainable. Because you’re never going to solve the problem of economic mobility solely through philanthropy. You’ve got to figure out how to get public funding to work smarter and more effectively and to make sure that it’s getting to the districts that you legislatively appropriate as a policymaker when you pass that law to begin with. And it’s that continuous cycle that’s really important, because otherwise policymakers can pass all the laws they want, but if they don’t figure out how to make sure that government gets up every day thinking, “How do I make sure that I deliver that benefit that they just appropriated?”, you’re just not going to win the battle.

Join Us in Fighting Child Poverty

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we work to improve access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity. By creating opportunity for all North Texas children and their families to thrive, together we can reduce the rate of child poverty so that our community is a better place to live, work and play for everyone.

We invite you to Live United by investing in lasting change today. Visit unitedwaydallas.org/donate to get started.

Meet Our 5 Inspiring Finalists for The Pitch

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

It’s that time of year: when North Texas gears up for The Pitch, the exhilarating culmination of our Social Innovation Accelerator program, when five finalists compete live on stage for hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize funding and the title Social Innovator of the Year.

The Social Innovation Accelerator is just one of the ways that United Way of Metropolitan Dallas leverages the power of social innovation to improve access to education, income and health in North Texas. Social innovation is a creative, inclusive approach to community impact work, where we find new solutions to social problems that are more effective, efficient, sustainable or just than current solutions.

Through the Accelerator program, we partner with local social entrepreneurs who have innovative new solutions to systemic challenges in our community. And at the end of the months-long program, we select five finalists to compete at The Pitch powered by PNC—held April 19 at Toyota Music Factory—where these innovators pitch their game-changing ideas that are creating meaningful impact in our focus areas of education, income and health.

This year’s Pitch finalists have used their experience in the Accelerator to refine their business plans, hone in on new ideas and rapidly grow their impact. Now, as they approach The Pitch, they are better equipped than ever to create opportunity for North Texans to thrive.

Read on to learn more about our five innovative finalists, as well as how their experience in the Social Innovation Accelerator is empowering them to create even greater positive change in North Texas.

Meet Our Finalists

Cornerstone Crossroads Academy

The mission of Cornerstone Crossroads Academy is to end poverty with a holistic approach to education. The organization supports people who have dropped out of high school as they work to earn their diploma, which in turn increases their lifetime earning potential.

Principal Wayne Sims says when kids from under-invested communities enter the workforce, they’re more likely to receive lower wages than kids who come from well-resourced neighborhoods. By addressing this disparity, Cornerstone Crossroads Academy’s work aligns with our goals at United Way of Metroplitan Dallas: to improve access to education, income and health. As Sims and his team understand, these three areas are interconnected, because a strong education leads to a better-paying job, which enables individuals and families to access quality healthcare.

Although Cornerstone Crossroads Academy has been around for 15 years, Sims says being part of the Social Innovation Accelerator is giving him the guidance he needs to grow their impact. The mentorship program in particular has really benefitted Sims and his vision for the academy’s growth.

“My mentors are awesome,” he says. “They are all successful in their own right and open to sharing their resources and connections with me.”

One of those mentors is R. Michael Martin, president of MM Solar Advisory. He says he has been impressed with Cornerstone Crossroads Academy throughout the Accelerator program, especially as Sims has leveraged the skills, connections and resources provided by the experience to expand the academy’s scope into workforce development. Sims created and launched an innovative new Work Academy intern program, which will enable students to learn and develop their skills as employees.

“CCA is building on its 15 years of making impact in second-chance high school education,” Martin says. “It has solid leadership and resources, including energetic principal Wayne Sims and his teaching team, that positions them well to expand and succeed in the workforce domain for the long-haul in South Dallas!”

Learn more about Cornerstone Crossroads Academy at www.cornerstonecrossroads.org.

Empowering the Masses

Empowering the Masses provides North Texans with access to a quality education that can be completed in a short amount of time. Tammy Johnson, the founding executive director of the organization, says she and her team utilize their nonprofit’s food pantry as a unique entry point to introduce individuals to their training programs.

Johnson says the educational programs improve participants’ self-sustainability by giving people access to a higher living wage, access to health insurance, and the ability to purchase quality and healthy food options—all of which align with United Way’s mission to improve access to education, income and health.

Although Johnson had an innovative idea—engaging potential students with her educational program through her food pantry, once they had better food security—she was looking for greater support and resources to scale her program.

“I needed access to the tools, mentorship and influence that would help me to take our program to the next level,” she says. “United Way has the affluence needed to address the problems in our community. Empowering the Masses has an influence in our communities, because we are boots on the ground serving. Together we can have effluence and create lasting, impactful change.”

During her experience in the Accelerator, Johnson has found the support she needed, particularly through the mentorship program.

“My mentors have helped to cultivate my voice and used their influence to provide me with access to a seat at the tables of individuals who were not aware of our existence or our work,” she says. “Their wealth of knowledge has provided me with the opportunity to view our work in a different light.

Scott Schoenvogel, CEO at Compass Professional Health Services, has been one of Johnson’s professional mentors throughout her Accelerator journey. He says he has seen Empowering the Masses rise to new heights as Johnson has learned new skills and achieved key milestones in the Accelerator program.

“Tammy has meaningfully expanded her relationships with large healthcare systems in the Metroplex,” he explains. “These healthcare systems desperately need employees with the types of skills that Empowering the Masses teaches, and they are willing to pay for that training. A relationship between Empowering the Masses and those large healthcare employers is truly a win-win for the community and the employers, thanks to Tammy!”

Learn more about Empowering the Masses at www.empoweringthemasses.org.

Heart of Courage

Heart of Courage serves local parents who have been impacted by the child welfare system and who want to improve their lives and the lives of their children. Dania Carter, founder and CEO, says the overall purpose of the program is to help parents become self-sufficient. She and her team achieve this by addressing education, income and health of their clients, providing education and advocacy, one-on-one mentoring, parent support groups, job readiness, educational services and community outreach.

Carter said she knew she wanted to be part of the Social Innovation Accelerator after completing United Way’s Social Innovation Incubator.

“I learned so much from being in the program,” she said. “After completing the Incubator, I realized that I knew how to start an organization, but I needed more mentoring with developing further strategic skills to continue to sustain it.”

Following her experience in United Way’s Incubator, Carter continued to grow her organization’s capacity and added a peer advocacy component. Now, the Accelerator has enabled her to tap into even more resources, form new partnerships with alumni of the program and refine her business model. As a result, the organization is able to serve double the number of clients compared to last year.

Jamika Doakes, director of corporate social responsibility at AT&T, is one of the Accelerator mentors for Heart of Courage. She said that through the Social Innovation Accelerator, Carter has revamped her mission statement, developed a three-year financial roadmap and created collateral material for peer advocates. Doakes is confident that after the program, Heart of Courage will continue to grow and reunite more families.

“Heart of Courage founder and CEO Dania Carter is a gem in the North Texas community,” she says. “The time and effort Dania has given over six months are stellar. As mentors, we serve to assist our fellows in dreaming big. Dania has high aspirations for Heart of Courage, and we know through her participation in SIA, she will achieve them and reunite more families in Dallas County and beyond.”

Learn more about Heart of Courage at www.heartcourage.org.

March to the Polls

At March to the Polls, executive director Camila Correa Bourdeau and her team work to increase voter participation for historically underrepresented communities—because voting is a key lever for improving education, income and health outcomes in our community.

Bourdeau says she knew the organization would benefit from the Social Innovation Accelerator as soon as she heard about the program.

“The need to improve, change course and reflect on the impact of our work on the community is ever-present,” she explains. “Our organization was stoked to find out that a program like the Social Innovation Accelerator existed to support our thinking and planning process in a holistic way.”

Bourdeau says the program has helped her realize the importance of collaboration to truly make an impact. Indeed, collaboration is one of the key ways United Way is able to positively impact 1.5 million people every year.

“My mentors have made me realize that my nonprofit team is not alone in this work,” she says. “Our work impacts an entire community, and it is great to see how invested the mentors have been in making sure we are doing our best. They have given us great feedback, ideas and reassurance as we introduce new elements to our work. The Accelerator has given me an opportunity to focus on how our nonprofit is contributing and making sure we are doing so effectively, efficiently and thoughtfully.”

John Watson, an entrepreneur and a longtime Accelerator mentor, is one of the mentors for March to the Polls. He knew right away that Bourdeau had an innovative and unique idea with her organization, and he was eager to support her vision.

Watson and Ken Barth, former Committee Chair of United Way’s Social Innovation Accelerator, encouraged Bourdeau to apply for the Accelerator to help her, and her organization, grow in their ability to execute on their mission. Since she joined the program, Watson has seen the nonprofit’s potential grow exponentially.

“Her milestones as a fellow—dealing with data collection, marketing and communications, and youth focus groups—were all three achieved in a timely manner,” he said. “These milestones produced not just data but, more importantly, outcome. And outcome is what the Social Innovation Accelerator program is all about.”

Learn more about March to the Polls at www.marchtothepolls.org.

Together We Thrive

Together We Thrive works to connect North Texas youth who have experienced homelessness, sex trafficking or the foster care system with community support and resources. The organization provides a life coach for each client, creating a consistent relationship on which children can rely. Life coaches work closely with their clients until they achieve a place of sustainability, while also helping them develop and grow relationships in the community.

Founder Tracey Hardwick says she learned about United Way’s Social Innovation Accelerator program last year, and she knew she had to be a part of it.

“What better way to serve the community I call home, with the wisdom, leading and guiding of United Way and experienced individuals that could teach me and Together We Thrive how to broaden our wings?” she said.

Her goal through the program was to expand her team’s impact and serve more youth—and both goals are much more within reach now.

“The biggest takeaway so far is how to better tell our story that would set us apart from others in order to make the biggest impact,” Hardwick explains. “By doing this, we can grow our revenue to allow us to hire more life coaches, which impacts more youth, which impacts more communities.”

Amber Wagenknecht, an Accelerator mentor for Together We Thrive, says Hardwick has worked methodically over the last four years to prove her innovative concept, and now even more success is on the horizon.

“They started with 41 youth in Dallas ISDs’ alternative school, all homeless with little chance of graduating,” Wagenknecht explains. “But the results are incredible: All have graduated from high school. Today, Together We Thrive serves 200 vulnerable youth each school year and has aggressive but achievable plans to serve 600 by 2025. Together We Thrive is a nonprofit with impressive impact, strength, leadership and sustainability.”

Learn more about Together We Thrive at togetherwethrivetexas.org.

Join Us at The Pitch on April 19!

On April 19, these five incredible finalists will take to the stage at The Pitch, where they’ll pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience. Join us for this exhilarating, inspiring social innovation competition, and find out which one of these entrepreneurs will walk away with hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize funding and the title Social Innovator of the Year.

Join us at The Pitch on April 19.

Girl and father putting coin into piggy bank, sitting on sofa at home

Free Tax Services Save North Texans Millions Every Year

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

Preparing and filing a tax return can be time consuming, confusing and expensive. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we offer free tax prep services to simplify the process and ensure that all North Texans have access to the resources needed to file a thorough, accurate return and get any refunds they are entitled to.

Offering free tax preparation is just one of the ways United Way of Metropolitan Dallas creates opportunity and access for each of our neighbors to achieve a firm financial foundation. By ensuring that our neighbors save money when filing their taxes and receive all eligible credits and refunds, our programs help support financial stability throughout our community. In turn, financial stability supports our other focus areas—education and health—helping to ensure that generations of North Texans have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Read on to learn more about our free tax prep services, the impact of these important initiatives and how you can support programs that encourage financial stability in our community.

United Way Offers Free Tax Prep

For more than 10 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has provided North Texans with access to free income tax assistance so that working families can receive all their eligible tax credits and refunds. This type of support is especially important as tax law changes at least somewhat every year, as we saw with the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit over the last few years.

We partner with community organizations that leverage tax experts to offer online, in-person, drive-through or drop-off tax prep assistance, as well as self-directed online tax prep tools. These services are especially beneficial for low- and moderate-income North Texans who otherwise may not be able to get professional help with their taxes and, as a result, may miss out on credits and refunds or be subject to penalties for filing late or providing inaccurate or incomplete information.

It’s all too common for people to not claim their full tax refund. As of April 2022, taxpayers hadn’t claimed more than $1.5 billion owed to them in refunds—and that was just for the 2018 tax year. That figure is proof that tax time is stressful and confusing for everyone.

How Free Tax Services Benefit North Texans

Each year, North Texans utilize free tax prep services to file thousands of returns. With the help of volunteer tax experts, the average filer gets a refund of almost $2,000. As a result, the IRS distributes millions of dollars in refunds back into our community every year.

During our 2021 to 2022 fiscal year, North Texans filed a total of 6,042 through these programs, resulting in $11.7 million in refunds for our community alone. These initiatives engaged 129 volunteers, each of whom is an IRS-certified tax preparer.

Clients see significant cost savings by using these services. Individuals save an average of $200 in tax preparation and filing fees, plus get an average refund of $2,400 by claiming all their eligible tax credits and refunds.

“By ensuring that our neighbors get the refunds that they are entitled to, Free Tax Prep programs bring millions of dollars back to our region every year,” said Greg Mangum, vice president of economic mobility at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “This adds to the financial stability of individuals, families and our community as a whole.”

Considerations for Your 2022 Taxes

There are several important changes to the tax law for 2022. Most notably, several of the tax credits that provided financial relief to families during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to 2019 levels, which means many taxpayers will receive a smaller refund compared to their 2021 return.

Changes include amounts for the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child and Dependent Care Credit:

  • Those who got $3,600 per dependent in 2021 for the CTC will, if eligible, get $2,000 for the 2022 tax year.
  • For the EITC, eligible taxpayers with no children who received roughly $1,500 in 2021 will now get $500 in 2022.
  • The Child and Dependent Care Credit returns to a maximum of $2,100 in 2022 instead of $8,000 in 2021.

Visit the IRS guide to Credits and Deductions for more information on changes for the 2022 tax year.

Sign Up for Free Tax Services

Tax season is already in full swing, and this year your tax return is due Tuesday, April 18. To get started with one of our free tax services, explore your options below:

  • In-person, drive-through or drop-off tax prep assistance: Households that earned $60,000 or less in the last tax year are eligible for services including current and previous year tax returns, non-resident returns and ITIN renewals. For site locations and hours of operation, you can text TAXCENTERS to 833-939-1387 or visit www.DallasTaxCenters.org. Services are available in English and Spanish.
  • Online tax prep help: Households at any income level can access fully online, self-directed tax prep services that are not subject to fees or paid add-ons. Visit www.MyFreeTaxes.com. Services are available in English and Spanish.
  • Self-directed online tax prep: Our partner Let’s Get Set provides families making less than $70,000 with tools to estimate their refund, files taxes and get tailored support via text. Filing services are free for families in the Dallas area that select “United Way of Metropolitan Dallas” on the platform when asked “How did you hear about us.” To get started, go to app.letsgetset.co/sign-up.

Learn more about these services, including what you’ll need to bring with you, on our Free Tax Prep resources page.

Support Financial Stability in North Texas

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we believe every North Texan should have the opportunity and access to achieve financial stability. We invite you to be part of the change by joining our movement to ensure North Texans can get and keep better jobs, establish savings and hold on to more of what they earn.

Ready to start making a difference right here at home? Here are three ways to join the Live United movement and help improve financial stability in our community:

  1. Donate to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to invest in our income-related programs.
  2. Sign up for Advocacy Alerts. Throughout this year’s legislative session, we’ll let you know when and how to contact your elected representatives to advocate for policies related to financial stability.
  3. Volunteer with us at one of our monthly events.
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Reading Day volunteer

How We Can All Improve Reading Proficiency in North Texas

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

With United Way Reading Day happening in just a few weeks, everyone at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is feeling the excitement around this exciting and impactful annual event.

United Way Reading Day presented by EY is a unique opportunity for us to work with community volunteers to spark a love of reading in young students across North Texas. Early literacy is important for all children and is foundational to our three focus areas—education, income and health—which we’ve identified as the building blocks of opportunity.

As we look ahead to Reading Day presented by EY, held Friday, March 3 in 18 different local schools, let’s explore the importance of reading proficiency, how our children have fared on their reading test scores in the years since the start of the pandemic, the impact of Reading Day throughout North Texas and how you can be part of this incredible event.

The Importance of Reading Proficiency

Education lays the groundwork for financial stability and good health later in life. When kids have the skills they need to succeed in school—like reading at grade level—they are better equipped to thrive at every stage. Research shows the connection between education and other key areas:

  • Children who enter school ready to learn are more likely to read proficiently by third grade.
  • Students who read on grade level by third grade are five times more likely to graduate ready for success in college or career.
  • College graduates can earn $36,000 more a year, enabling them to save for the future.
  • Financially stable adults can access quality health care for themselves and their families.

Early-education experts have identified third grade as an important learning milestone for students and a time when reading proficiency is especially significant. That’s because the ability to read opens the door to a child’s future, whether that takes the form of college, a career, the military or some other path.

Reading isn’t just great for children’s development, creativity and vocabulary. It’s the foundation for all other learning. When a student has strong reading skills, they are equipped to learn in other subjects, such as science, math, history and so much more. In fact, an estimated 85% of all curricula is taught by reading.

“Leading up to third grade, children are learning to read, but after that there’s a shift when they are reading to learn,” said Abigail Sharp, vice president of early childhood initiatives at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Once children develop strong literacy skills, they are ready to begin learning and succeeding in every subject.”

Reading Proficiency in North Texas

When the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted learning in North Texas, parents and teachers alike worried that students would fall behind in key areas like reading skills. And while standardized reading test scores in 2020 and 2021 showed that some learning loss did occur, the most recent nationwide tests indicate that local students’ reading skills are back to their pre-pandemic levels.

Consider the results for the 2022 Reading Report Cards for fourth and eighth graders. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)—a congressionally mandated nation-wide assessment—is designed to measure students’ knowledge of key topics as they progress in school.

Nationwide, students’ 2022 reading scores declined an average of three points compared to 2019. Fourth graders’ average reading scores were lower than all previous assessment years going back to 2005. The same was true of eighth graders going back to 1998. In addition to their test scores falling, students’ confidence in their reading skills also declined.

However, students in North Texas bucked this trend. The local NAEP reading scores showed no significant change since 2019, and Dallas Independent School District stood out, outperforming 16 other large urban districts. This indicates that over the last few years many of our students have caught up on any learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic.

“These national results give us a baseline from which we can continue to work to improve and lift up our students,” said Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde in a district press release. “They also show a student-centered board who supported the hard work teachers, principals, auxiliary staff, parents, partners and everyone with our district did during the pandemic to minimize disruptions and accelerate learning.”

Sharp also points to the success of early literacy initiatives like those from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

“United Way and other local community organizations recognize the importance of literacy and exposure to reading from a very early age,” she says. “Programs like United Way Reading Day and Once Upon a Month create opportunity and access where it didn’t exist before, exposing children to the joys and possibilities of books in a way that will benefit them for years to come.”

Impact of United Way Reading Day

Each year, United Way Reading Day presented by EY engages hundreds of volunteers who read exciting and educational picture books to thousands of children across North Texas.

After switching to a virtual format in 2021 due to the pandemic, United Way returned to an in-person event last year. As Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, explained, this shows students “that their community cares and is invested in their success in school. Sparking a love of reading at an early age creates a strong foundation for children, ensuring they’re equipped to succeed in school, in their careers and in life.”

This year, Reading Day presented by EY will be held March 3 across 18 North Texas campuses, with more than 7,000 young scholars participating. Volunteers will promote literacy and celebrate the joy of reading as they read to primary school scholars across North Texas classrooms, participate in virtual book drives and create inspirational bookmarks for students.

This year’s books will explore the themes of diversity and friendship—two topics that are sure to engage young and curious minds and draw them into the enchantment of a good book.

We invite you to join us as a Reading Day volunteer, either by signing up to read to students in person or by joining one of our virtual volunteer opportunities. To learn more about United Way Reading Day and to volunteer, visit our volunteer page.

Support Early Literacy in North Texas

Research indicates that by the end of third grade, 74% of struggling readers won’t ever catch up. That’s why it’s so important for children to have literacy opportunities and exposure as early as possible.

In addition to volunteering for Reading Day presented by EY, consider a few other ways to be part of the change in our community:

  • Give: Make a donation to support programs like Reading Day and Once Upon a Month™, which delivers age-appropriate children’s books to North Texas children every month to encourage language development and spark a love of reading.
  • Advocate: The Texas Legislature is currently in session, and now is the perfect time to join us in advocating for policy changes that will improve access to education for local students. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts today.