What Gets Measured Gets Done

You have probably heard that United Way of Central Florida is committed to creating lasting change in our community. You may have also heard that we're doing that through programs that create measurable results. What you may not have heard is exactly what those "measurable results" are.

We regularly require our partner programs to submit information about their progress toward the goals they have set, and check those against our community's long term goals. Below is a brief summary of where we currently stand:

Goal: Improve school readiness scores

Annual test results show that early literacy programs participating in the Let's Grow! Early Literacy Initiative improved vocabulary scores by 2.16 - 10.73 months for every one month of exposure to the early literacy intervention. Before participating in this initiative, pre-school children are tested using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary and Expressive Vocabulary Tests. After participation, children are retested to measure progress. Many of these students enter the program functioning one or more years below age-level in vocabulary skills, and post-program results show they more than doubled typical growth in vocabulary.

Goal: Enhance academic achievement

Based on the DIME Report*, 6,748 Kindergarten - 12th grade students were served by funded partners. 5,032 were matched to a control group of nonparticipant students in the Polk County School Board database. Results from the 2011-2012 school year showed:

• Students in UWCF funded programs showed statistically significant outperformance of their like peers on report card grades in reading and on FCAT reading scores (3rd grade and up). There was no significant difference in FCAT achievement in math.
• 96.4% of program students were promoted to the next grade level, compared to 94.3% of the control group. This is a statistically significant improvement.
• Program students outperformed control students in school attendance in 2011-2012, and in 5 of the last 6 years.

*DIME Systems (Data Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Systems) is a web-based data collection system used to gather student data from funded programs serving children in Kindergarten through 12th grade. The data is provided to the Polk County school district. Student achievement and attendance data is added to the system by the local school district, and results are returned in a de-identified data file for analysis.

Goal: Increase financial literacy

As of 3/26/13, 219 families and individuals have taken advantage of Free Tax Prep. Refunds total $343,945, and $19,486 of that was deposited in savings accounts.

At this time, were are taking action to establish other programs that will help families improve credit scores, job credentials, and savings for emergencies or assets. Partner agencies, Community Impact Teams, Income Steering Committees, and staff have worked together to:

• Identify the current gap in local services and need for credit counseling and financial education.
• Provide training for financial education classes for partner agencies working with UWCF to improve financial literacy.
• Request proposals for programs to provide advanced credit counseling and debt management training.

Goal: Encourage individual accountability for personal health

Experts on the Health Steering Committee reviewed and revised outcomes and indicators that UWCF expects to see from partner agencies that are working toward this goal.

From July through December 2012, 29,716 health services were provided to 16,258 unduplicated clients. Services included:

• 1,288 substance abuse treatments
• 2,588 mental health services not related to substance abuse
• 7,093 medical treatments
• 1,842 residential support services
• 4,692 life support or life management services
• 12,213 health training or health education services

As you can see, we are making great progress, particularly in the area of Education. And while we're still working to solidify programs for Income and Health, we are making strides in those areas, as well. It's only through your continued support and involvement, your desire to Live United, that we can continue to advance the common good in our community. Thank you! You are making this possible.