Skip to main content

Author: Meg Costa

School Resource Rooms Benefit the Entire Community

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

In schools across North Texas, unequal access to key resources can negatively affect children’s educational outcomes, preventing them from succeeding in school and potentially impacting the rest of their lives.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, our work to improve access to education, income and health includes addressing under-resourced schools and communities. We have seen that students who have the resources and support necessary to succeed in school are more likely to secure good-paying jobs, which in turn enables them to afford quality health care for themselves and their families.

To combat the effects of under-resourced schools, we work with local school districts and corporate and community partners to establish campus-based community hubs in areas where a lack of investment has negatively affected schools. These resource rooms not only benefit students at the host campuses; they also serve thousands of students at nearby schools, as well as teachers, parents and other community members.

Read on to learn more about the impact of under-resourced schools on our children, how campus-based community hubs benefit the entire community, and how you can support this important work.

The Effect of Under-resourced Schools

When schools don’t have access to adequate resources, students suffer. These resources often include up-to-date school textbooks, smaller class sizes and one-on-one time with teachers, key instructional materials, and other necessities. In many areas of North Texas—especially those communities with a wealthy tax base—resources like these are a given. In places like Southern Dallas, they are less common.

Unfortunately, this situation plays out in schools across the country. In fact, America’s educational system is one of the most unequal in the developed world, according to The Brookings Institute.

That inequality disproportionately impacts children of color, as the Brookings researchers explain: “Educational outcomes for minority children are much more a function of their unequal access to key educational resources … Despite stark differences in funding, teacher quality, curriculum and class sizes, the prevailing view is that if students do not achieve, it is their own fault. If we are ever to get beyond the problem of the color line, we must confront and address these inequalities.”

In North Texas, we can see the impact of these inequities by looking at the breakdown of educational outcomes in two key areas:

  • Third-grade reading proficiency. Children of color, on average, are less likely to read on grade level by third grade. While 62% of white third graders read proficiently, that number falls to 35% and 41%, respectively, for Black and Latinx students.
  • College readiness. Similarly, Black and Latinx students are much less likely to be college-ready when they graduate high school. While 42% of white high schoolers are prepared for college, only 15% of Black and 17% of Latinx students are.

These two metrics may seem unrelated, but they’re actually closely connected. According to a study from the American Educational Research Foundation, students who are both not reading proficiently by third grade and living in poverty are 13 times less likely to graduate from high school on time compared to their proficient, more affluent peers.

These disparities—which, again, are typically a result of unequal access to resources—can negatively impact an individual throughout their life, affecting how much they can earn in their career, their ability to access quality health care and, in turn, their children’s futures.

Improving Access to Education Resources

A key component of improving access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity—involves addressing the systemic problems that make education so unequal in our region.

Community hub resource rooms are just one of the ways we work with our partners to address gaps in educational access. In the last year, through our Southern Dallas Thrives initiative, we opened two new resource rooms at Lincoln High School and South Oak Cliff High School, delivering key resources to more than 3,500 students, teachers and community members.

The rooms aren’t simply a space for students to gather; they are a hub of resources and services that have the power to open opportunities for everyone in the community. For example, our latest resource room project, at Lincoln High School, includes:

  • Multiple computers and printers with seating for group meetings or classes
  • A collection of free books through a partnership with the Dallas Public Library
  • Free resources including school uniforms, snack kits provided by GoodrCo., toiletries and hygiene products
  • Resources for the entire family, such as technology access, technical assistance and academic tutoring (plus, in the future, peer mentoring and financial literacy seminars)
  • A private room and office to be used for counseling and meetings with students, parents and teachers
  • A teachers’ lounge with a coffee and tea bar, comfortable seating for relaxation, and flexible tables for meetings

All of the services and resources support goals to improve student achievement and close opportunity gaps.

“School hours are already busy times for staff members, so you can imagine how challenging it can be for them to be confronted with a lack of basic needs that have a direct impact on student academics,” explains Cathy Kang, director of education and career success at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “By providing books, computers, printers, uniforms, food items, hygiene products and more, this room is intended to provide those wraparound services and resources so our educators can focus on academics. By rallying alongside partners like Dwell with Dignity, CGI and EY, United Way wanted the school to see that they have an entire community in their corner. We hope that this room will be a safe place for students and families to access needed resources and services to realize their full potential.”

For this project, Dwell with Dignity, an alum of our Social Innovation Accelerator, transformed the space with the help of dozens of dedicated volunteers who donated at least 80 hours in all. Meanwhile, CGI and EY provided generous support that made this project possible.

As the room reached completion, Lincoln High School Principal Johnna Weaver recognized how transformative it would be for her students.

“In addition to providing a space for our hardworking teachers to recharge, this room will be a welcoming place for our students and their families to access the critical resources and services that they deserve to reach their full potential,” she said. “We need to address needs beyond the classroom for students to be successful, and we know this resource room will do just that.”

Support Equitable Education in North Texas

With the support of volunteers and nonprofit and corporate partners, our targeted resource rooms are capitalizing on the community’s biggest opportunities and addressing the community’s biggest challenges. Together, we’re improving access to education for thousands of Southern Dallas residents every year.

This is measurable, lasting change that you can be a part of. Here are three ways you can get involved right now:

  • Give: Make a one-time or recurring donation of any size to invest in our initiatives that improve access to education right here in our community.
  • Advocate: The Texas Legislature convenes for its 88th session on Jan. 10, 2023. Join United Way in advocating for key bills that will impact education in North Texas. To get started, sign up for our Advocacy Alerts.
  • Volunteer: We frequently host volunteer programs that support local students and educators. Keep an eye on current and upcoming opportunities on our volunteer page.

Why Does United Way’s Key Education Goal Focus on Third-Grade Reading?

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

In 2020, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas collaborated with a diverse group of community partners to identify the goals that would guide our work and progress for the next 10 years. Our Aspire United 2030 goals are our North Star in the areas of education, income and health, keeping us focused on the key levers that will have the greatest community impact between now and 2030.

Our three main Aspire United 2030 goals are:

  • Increase by 50% the number of North Texas students reading on grade level by third grade
  • Increase by 20% the number of young adults in North Texas who earn a living wage
  • Increase to 90% the number of North Texans with access to affordable health insurance

Today we’re taking a closer look at our education goal—specifically, why the third-grade reading milestone is so important for a student’s success, both in school and post-graduation.

Third Grade: An Important Milestone in Education

Early-education experts often focus on third grade as an important learning milestone for students. Why? 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. In fact, research indicates that children reading on grade level by the end of third grade are five times more likely to be college or career ready than their peers who don’t read on grade level.

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.”

Third-Grade Reading in North Texas Today

In North Texas, 50% of third graders read on grade level, or “proficiently.” Third-grade reading proficiency in our region varies significantly by race:

  • 35% of Black students read proficiently.
  • 41% of Latinx students read proficiently.
  • 62% of white students read proficiently.
  • 73% of Asian students read proficiently.

These figures are well below where we’d like them to be, especially since education is so closely tied to income and health later in life.

The Link Between Education, Income and Health

Education, income and health—what we call the building blocks of opportunity—aren’t standalone forces in an individual’s life. The three areas are overlapping and interdependent. And when young children aren’t set up for success in school—for example, by having strong reading skills—later in life it will impact their income and health.

The third-grade reading percentages above correspond to low college readiness statistics throughout North Texas, where more than 70% of students are not college-ready. Once again, the outlook is worse for minority students:

  • 15% of Black students are college-ready.
  • 17% of Latinx students are college-ready.
  • 42% of White students are college-ready.
  • 69% of Asian students are college-ready.

Graduates who aren’t ready for success in college (or a career) are more likely to end up with low-paying jobs. We see it play out today in North Texas, where 74% of young adults don’t earn a living wage.

Low incomes prevent many people in our community from achieving and maintaining good health, often because they can’t afford quality health insurance or get the care they need. In turn, poor health keeps adults from earning a steady income and prevents children from doing their best in school.

So, is third-grade reading an indicator of a person’s entire future? Of course not. But we do know that kids who enter school ready to learn are more likely to be “reading to learn” by third grade. And students who read proficiently are more likely to graduate from high school ready for college or career and living-wage jobs, when they can save for the future and cover the costs of health care—leading to success in school and life for their own children.

Join Us in Supporting Early Literacy

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.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we create, lead and invest in a variety of educational programs to improve third-grade reading proficiency in North Texas. We invite you to be part of the change by giving, advocating or volunteering to support early literacy in our community:

  • Give: Invest in United Way to support programs like 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: Join us in advocating for policy changes that will improve access to education for local students. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts.
  • Volunteer: With United Day Reading Day coming up in March, this is a wonderful time to join us in promoting early literacy in our community. We invite you to volunteer to read to school children or sign up for a virtual book drive.

Get Free Assistance with Your 2021 Taxes

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

Tax season can be confusing and stressful. And to make matters worse, there are always at least a few changes to the tax law every year.

Despite the challenges, it’s beneficial to file your taxes on time each year, verify the information is correct and ensure you’re receiving all eligible tax credits and refunds. This will help you avoid penalties for filing late or providing inaccurate information. It will also ensure you receive any tax refunds that may be coming your way. Unclaimed IRS tax refunds are surprisingly common; as of April 2021, taxpayers hadn’t claimed more than $1.3 billion owed to them in refunds—and that’s just for the 2017 tax year.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we recognize how important it is for North Texans to be able to hold on to as much of their income as possible. That’s because income, along with education and health, is one of the building blocks of opportunity. Each year we offer free tax preparation services to ensure our neighbors can navigate tax season with less stress and expense.

Benefits of United Way Tax Prep Services

For more than 10 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has provided Dallas residents with access to free income tax assistance so working families can receive all their eligible tax credits and refunds.

Each year, we serve thousands of families and secure millions of dollars in tax refunds for our neighbors. In fact, since 2010 the program has directed $192 million in refunds back into our local economy.

For tax filers like you, United Way Free Tax Prep offers several benefits:

  • It’s completely free, with no paid add-ons or upcharges.
  • It’s safe, with IRS-trained and certified tax preparers handling your return.
  • It saves you an average of $200 in tax prep fees.
  • Most clients get an average refund of $2,400 by claiming all eligible tax credits and refunds.
  • You can connect with other financial resources, such as affordable bank accounts and financial counseling, which enable you to save money or pay off debt.

Tax Prep Options for 2022

Due to COVID-19 restriction, in-person tax assistance services will likely be limited this year. However, our program includes several online and socially distanced alternatives:

Online tax prep: At MyFreeTaxes.com, you can access free, fully only tax preparation services in English or Spanish (and in more than 120 other languages through an interpretation service). The helpline is staffed by IRS-trained specialists, and 80% of filers finishes their taxes in less than one hour. MyFreeTaxes.com also can improve your overall financial situation by connecting you to important financial products and services, including accessible and affordable bank accounts, a financial counseling program and a student debt fintech platform that will help you resolve student debt challenges and adjust your payment plans to save money.

Drive-through and drop-off tax prep: A variety of local community tax centers are currently offering drive-through and drop-off tax prep to North Texans who earn less than $58,000 a year or have a child under 18. Visit www.dallastaxcenters.org to view a list of locations and to make an appointment.

For details on our tax prep services, including what to bring to your tax appointment, visit our financial resources page.

Other Important Info for 2021 Returns

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded tax benefits for 2021, and you may be eligible to receive more money through your tax refund. Here are important tax benefits for your 2021 taxes:

  • Child tax credit: For 2021, the child tax credit is fully refundable, so if you don’t owe any tax, you’ll get the full amount for which you’re eligible as part of your tax refund.
  • Child and dependent care credit: If you spent money in 2021 on childcare expenses while working or actively looking for work, more of your childcare expenses can be reimbursed than in previous years.
  • Earned income tax credit (EITC): In years past, EITC was only for eligible working people with children, but now the credit has been expanded to include more filers, including lower-income workers with no children, according to the IRS. If you’re a low-income worker who is at least 19 years old (with or without children), or you’re 18 years old and formerly in foster care or experiencing homelessness, you’re now eligible to claim the EITC.

Another important note: If you received emergency rental or utility assistance payments in 2021, these funds aren’t considered taxable income and don’t need to be declared on your tax return.

For more details on these and other 2021 tax considerations, visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Guide to Filing Your 2021 Taxes.

Everything You Need to Know About the March 1 Primary Election

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

Voting is one of the simplest, yet most powerful duties we as citizens hold. It’s important for all of us to be informed voters. Many people only vote during presidential election cycles; however, the power is truly with the people—every election.

Your vote has the power to drive positive change on the big issues right here in North Texas, including our key focus areas of education, income and health. By voting, you are helping determine the elected officials who will prioritize how government funding will be allocated and make decisions that impact your daily life and the long-term viability of our community, like how our schools are run.

This year, Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 1. You can participate in early voting from Monday, Feb. 14 through Friday, Feb. 25. If you plan to vote by mail, please note there are new rules that may apply to you this year (see below).

Here’s everything you need to know to vote:

What’s On the Ballot

There is a long list of offices on the ballot, including Texas governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, state senator, state representative, county commissioner and more .

In Texas, the Republican and Democratic parties hold primary elections to select a single nominee for each office. To win the Democratic or Republican nomination, a candidate must get more than 50% of the primary vote. If none of the candidates gets 50% of the vote, then a runoff will be held on May 7. In November, voters will select between each party’s nominee, and the winner will become the officeholder.

Texas is an open primary state, which means eligible Texas voters can cast a ballot in the Republican or Democratic party primary election (but not both).

To create a customized sample ballot, visit Vote411.org.

Key Dates

Feb. 14-25: Early voting (in-person). Dates and hours vary depending on where you live. Check your county’s election department website—Dallas, Collin, Rockwallor Denton—for dates, hours and locations.

Feb. 18: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (must be received, not postmarked, by this day).

March 1: Election Day and your last chance to vote.

Please note: The deadline to register to vote in the March 1 election has passed; it was January 31.

Other Things to Know

Bring a photo ID: You must present one of the seven acceptable forms of photo identification before you can vote:

  • Texas driver’s license
  • Texas election ID certificate
  • Texas personal ID card
  • Texas handgun license
  • U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
  • U.S. military ID card with photo
  • U.S. passport (book or card)

Your voter registration card is not mandatory to vote, but bring it if you have it. If your name is spelled differently on the official list than on your ID, showing your registration card may resolve the issue.

Voting locations: Polling locations may be different for early voting and Election Day, so visit your county’s election website—Dallas, Collin, Rockwall or Denton—to make sure you’re headed to the right location.

Be an educated voter: Save yourself time at the polls by being prepared. Do your research on the candidates and the responsibilities of each office before getting to the voting machine. You can bring a list of how you want to vote if it’s not a partisan flyer. To learn more about the candidates, visit Vote411.org.

Encourage your network: Make a plan to vote, and invite your neighbors and friends to go vote with you.

Vote by mail: To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Be 65 years old or older
  • Be disabled
  • Be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance
  • Be expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day
  • Be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible

Instructions on how to apply for a mail-in ballot and how to track your completed ballot can be found on the Texas Secretary of State’s website. The mail-in ballot application has changed so make sure you thoroughly read the instructions.

United Way and AT&T Partner to Help Bridge the Digital Divide in Dallas

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

AT&T and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas have teamed up to help bridge the digital divide in Southern Dallas. AT&T is contributing $1 million to our Southern Dallas Thrives initiative to provide residents with free laptops, digital literacy training and technology support over two years.

The program is the latest progress point for Southern Dallas Thrives, an initiative created in partnership with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, The PepsiCo Foundation and Frito-Lay North America, which advances outcomes for students pre-K-12, increases food access, and supports women entering and advancing in the workforce.

The goal of the program is to help students in Southern Dallas neighborhoods engage in online learning and set them up for success in today’s digital school and job environments.

Addressing the Digital Divide

The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to digital technology and those who don’t. This divide has existed for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the significant challenges that students experience when they don’t have access to the technology or skills they need to succeed.

Millions of students across the country cannot connect to online learning opportunities because they don’t have reliable internet access or a computer at home and they lack digital literacy skills. This is especially true in communities that have been historically underserved and have a high percentage of people of color, which includes Southern Dallas. These students often fall behind their peers in the classroom and beyond.

“When we consider the impact of the pandemic on our communities and the rise in virtual supports, digital access is critical for North Texas families,” said Cathy Kang, director of educational career success at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “These devices, hotspots and opportunities for greater connectivity will enable our students in Southern Dallas to continue their learning. The program will also ensure families can access a broad range of other important supports, like accessing health care, finding COVID testing sites, applying for schools and jobs, booking telehealth appointments and more. This initiative is a great start, but we need to keep going to ensure that every family has the access they deserve to these critical resources.”

“This collaboration with United Way builds on the continued commitment we have to addressing the digital divide in Dallas,” said Mike Peterson, vice president, AT&T Texas External Affairs. “AT&T is committed to the city of Dallas, and with this contribution we are helping to remove technology barriers to education and job success for underserved students and families in southern Dallas neighborhoods.”

Encouraging Equity in Education

AT&T’s $1 million contribution to our Southern Dallas Thrives initiative will provide more than 2,000 refurbished laptops, digital literacy workshops and technology support to K-12 students, young adults and families. The first batch of laptops were distributed to students at Lincoln High School the week of Jan. 24.

“We are honored to collaborate with AT&T to provide the students and families in Southern Dallas with digital resources to overcome the challenges associated with the digital divide,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Our work with AT&T will bolster our efforts through the Southern Dallas Thrives initiative to advance economic opportunity for students and ensure they can be competitive and successful in obtaining the living-wage jobs of the future.”

Show Your Support for Local Students

Students across North Texas are struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes this an excellent time to show your support for local children. Here are three opportunities to join our efforts to improve access to education right here at home:

  • Give: Invest in United Way to support programs like Southern Dallas Thrives that benefit students and their families throughout North Texas.
  • Advocate: Improving education is always one of our top priorities when we communicate with our elected officials. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts to receive information on our current policy priorities plus notifications on when and how to connect with your elected officials.
  • Volunteer: Each March, we celebrate United Way Reading Day, a fun-filled annual tradition with a goal of encouraging more kids to fall in love with reading. We’re looking for volunteers who can support this initiative by purchasing or donating books in an online or local book drive.

United Way, Capital Good Fund Team Up to Provide an Alternative to Predatory Lending

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

Last year, Cynthia Sutton, a 54-year-old Dallas resident, suddenly found herself in a financial crisis. She needed money to repair the car she uses for her part-time job as a caregiver to her elderly clients. Without a functioning vehicle, she couldn’t continue to make money. But she also needed to buy groceries.

“My resources were low,” she recalls. “I didn’t have family or friends that I could borrow money from.”

Cynthia was wary of going to a payday lender. In the past, she borrowed funds from a lender that charged her more than 300% interest—turning a $300 loan into an $800 obligation. To make matters worse, she says the lender harassed her and was unwilling to work with her to help her pay off her loan.

Predatory Loans Are All Too Common

Unfortunately, Cynthia’s experience with a payday lender isn’t rare. Texas has the highest payday loan rates in the country, with typical annual percentage rates (APRs) running as high as 664%—more than 40 times the average credit card interest rate.

High interest rates make payday loans a significant problem for low-income North Texans, who often don’t have other options for a quick loan. Many borrowers are unable to pay down the loans and their high interest fees, and they’re forced to roll over or renew the loan, essentially getting trapped in a cycle of debt.

An Alternative to Payday Loans

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we recognize the harmful nature of predatory payday and auto loans and their impact on the financial stability of our neighbors here in North Texas. Working with our dedicated supporters, we strive to limit the effects of high-interest loans on our community. We’ve advocated for reasonable loan practices at the city, state and federal level for more than a decade, which has resulted in measurable progress toward protecting the rights of borrowers.

We also provide people with alternatives to payday and auto loans. One of these programs is our partnership with Capital Good Fund, a nonprofit that works to tackle poverty in North Texas by offering small loans that are fair and flexible.

One of the loan types—a crisis relief loan—has been especially helpful for North Texans who are dealing with financial emergencies related to COVID-19 and who need funds for grocery purchases, medical expenses and rent. The loans are available in amounts from $300 to $1,500 at an APR of 5%, with no closing fee or down payment. Borrowers enjoy three months of no payments before making 12 monthly payments.

“Through our partnership with Capital Good Fund, United Way and our supporters are able to offer assistance to North Texans at the moments they need it most, while avoiding the outrageous interest fees charged by most payday and auto lenders,” said Greg Mangum, vice president of economic mobility at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “This year, the program will enable us to roughly double our impact of providing opportunity and access to safe, affordable and credit-building loans for low-income residents in our community.”

Making a Real Impact

Since Cynthia couldn’t borrow money from friends or family—and she hoped to avoid another payday lender at all costs—she was relieved to have another option to quickly access funds. She took out a low-interest $500 crisis relief loan from Capital Good Fund, and the money enabled her to get her car fixed so she could continue working.

She describes her experience with Capital Good Fund as spectacular. “They were so nice and professional,” she says. “They are really caring. They make you feel like family.”

Support Financial Stability in North Texas

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we believe every North Texan should have the opportunity and access required 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? Join the Live United movement to impact financial stability in our community:

Women of Tocqueville Day of Painting at Agape

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

On December 10 and 11, over 20 volunteers across all United Way Giving Societies gathered at Agape Resource & Assistance Center to help pre-tape, prime, and paint the interior of a townhome to prepare the home for move-in by multiple women facing homelessness. Agape, a Social Innovation Accelerator alumnus, is a nonprofit that helps women, moms and their children facing situational homelessness.

Because of your generous support of time, talent, and treasure, according to Janet Collinsworth – Founder/Executive Director, Agape, “The townhome will provide up to twelve months of safe, stable housing for four women who will call the space home in their journeys to overcome the devastating and debilitating effects of poverty, homelessness, and abuse.” – a life-changing gift and powerful impact beyond the financial savings created by your volunteerism and the generous donations provided for painting supplies and ancillary items.

Agape is a significant community partner with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and is working with the community and city of Wylie to create Jericho Village, an innovative income based urban village, which will provide economically attainable housing for Agape graduates and others in the community who struggle to make ends meet and safely house their families. Jericho Village was incubated through United Way’s Social Innovation Accelerator and is being presented in February to Wylie’s City Council for approval.

The partnership with Agape on this event aligns with the Women of Tocqueville mission to give, advocate and volunteer in support of the community through the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and to leverage the collective power and leadership of women to produce visible impact in education, income and health in North Texas.

A special thank you to Stephanie Bird, Katie Rose and Carol March, fellow members of the Women of Tocqueville Steering Committee and the Volunteerism Subcommittee, for your leadership, service and dedication to our mission.

5 Tips for Building a Strong, Thriving Family

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

Having children is one of life’s biggest changes. Parenting doesn’t come with instructions, and sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s especially true at a time when anxiety and uncertainty from the pandemic are making typical family stressors, like money or busy schedules, even worse.

If you’re feeling anxious and stretched thin, know that you’re not alone. Most parents feel that way at least some of the time. And it’s not something you have to tackle by yourself.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we lead and support a variety of programs that set children up for success now and in the future, because we believe education—along with income and health—is one of the building blocks of opportunity. Initiatives like our Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) and Texas Home Visiting Program provide parents with resources and knowledge to strengthen their families as a unit and build positive relationships between parents and children.

These are beneficial goals at any time, but today it’s especially important to build a strong family unit so you can help your children thrive through these challenging times. Here, we share five tips for strengthening your family:

1. Build up your parental resilience.

Resilience is key to helping keep your family strong. That starts by taking care of yourself so you can take care of your kids. Consider trying a few of these parenting self-care tips each week:

  • Take time to exercise and rest—even if it’s just a 20-minute walk or power nap.
  • Spend time in nature to relieve stress.
  • When possible, allow kids to work through and solve their own problems.
  • Make time for things you truly enjoy.

Get more self-care tips here.

What about when kids are misbehaving? Disciplining your child is a critical component to parenting, but it’s not always easy. Consider adopting a little “positive discipline,” which focuses on what you want your child to do, rather than on telling them what they can’t do. Click below to learn positive discipline techniques that are instructive and caring:

Are you a single parent? Read this single mom’s story to learn some powerful parenting tips that are especially helpful for single parent households.

Are you a new dad? Click here to learn some of the ways that a father’s involvement benefits children in the areas of health, education and emotional well-being.

2. Focus on social connections.

Did you know social connections are important in helping you, your children and your family thrive? Here are tips for fostering healthy social time for you and your kids:

  • Reduce your screen time: It’s easy for all of us to overdo it on digital devices, but for kids, too much screen time can impact their development and cause problems with attention, learning and critical thinking skills. Consider limiting screen time to certain hours of the day and areas of the house, and set a good example by taking breaks from your own screens. Get additional tips for young kids and for tweens and teens.
  • Help prevent bullying: About 20% of students report being bullied, a trauma that can follow a child for life. Click here for tips to help a child who is being bullied and how to respond if your child is bullying others.
  • Get to know your neighbors: Families are more likely to thrive when they are part of a nurturing community where children feel safe and parents support each other. You can do your part by meeting your neighbors, participating in local activities, setting up a playgroup or volunteering at your child’s school. View other ideas for building a strong community.
  • Find a parent support group: This is a fantastic and free way to get expert support and connect with other parents. Sign up for HOPES through one of United Way’s partner organizations, or view other parent support groups in your county.

3. Utilize concrete supports.

North Texas is home to so many wonderful organizations that offer support to local parents. Here are a few key resources to know:

  • Child care assistance: Need help affording child care? Contact your local Workforce Solutions to see if you’re eligible and to apply: Then, check out these tips on picking a child care provider.
  • Health insurance coverage: Need assistance signing up for health insurance? Click here to sign up to work with one of United Way’s certified health care navigators. (Don’t wait: Open enrollment ends Jan. 15.)
  • Mental health support: Don’t be afraid to reach out for support when needed. The Statewide COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line is available 24/7 toll free at (833) 986-1919.
  • Youth and parent helpline: The Texas Youth Helpline provides free and confidential services to youth, their parents and other family members of youth in crisis who need help finding a counselor, safe shelter, legal information, other local referral information or just someone to talk to. Click here for more information.
  • Service hotline: Texas 2-1-1 can help Texans connect with the services they need, available in English and Spanish. Click here for details.
  • Additional family services: Texas has multiple resources to help support families in areas of need such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, child care, health care, and mental health services. Click here to find local support in your area.

4. Learn about child development and parenting.

Increasing your understanding of child development and the dynamics of parenting can help you understand what your kids need, what they’re going through and how to guide them through it. Here are just a few facts to get you started:

  • Research shows that children who receive affection and nurturing from their parents early on have the best chance of healthy development. Every word of encouragement, hug and smile go a long way toward creating a happy, healthy child.
  • Your baby’s brain grows rapidly until about the age of 3. During this critical time, parents can do many things to promote healthy baby growth, such as establishing rituals and routines, setting a sleep schedule and providing nutrient-rich foods at every age. Click here to learn more.
  • Kids are ready to potty train between 18 months and 3 years old. Timing is everything. Every child is different and will potty train when they are ready. Look for signs they are ready in this article.
  • Reading on grade level by third grade is an important milestone, and students who don’t reach that goal are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Programs like Once Upon a Month, an initiative from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Ferst Readers, encourage a love of reading by delivering free age-appropriate picture books to Dallas County children every month. Sign up here.
  • Many children act out as part of their development. With a little guidance, they can learn how to react more appropriately. Adopting some of the positive discipline techniques that we linked to above can get you through difficult moments, which will help your child become more independent and able to control their behavior.

Learn more about child development here.

5. Encourage your children’s social and emotional competence.

Children thrive when parents provide not only affection, but also respectful communication and listening, consistent rules and expectations, and safe opportunities that promote independence.

Today, mental health is a growing challenge for many children. If you’re concerned your child may be struggling with a mental health condition, you’re not alone. The stigma surrounding mental health disorders in children can lead parents to missing early warning signs and delay getting kids the help they need. Click here to learn more about anxiety, stress and depression in children.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health and having a sense of suicide awareness are important when raising kids. Knowing how to talk openly about it and get help can make a world of difference. Click here to learn how to spot warning signs—and how to get help.

It’s important to realize that children experience loss and grief in multiple ways. Since grief looks different for each child, it may be hard to tell what they’re feeling after a loss. This article can help you help a child who is grieving.

Finally, you can play a role in helping your child build and maintain healthy relationships at school. This includes taking thoughtful action to prevent bullying. Help your kid feel more confident with tricks like using positive body language, finding a buddy at school or looking for books or movies with characters who overcome bullying. Click here for more tips.

Ready to learn more? Click here for more tips on encouraging your children’s social and emotional competence.

Looking for Parenting Support?

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, our programs and partnerships provide support for parents who are working to strengthen their families. Here are some of our key resources for parents: