United Way creates partnerships with Carson City agencies to address crime, substance abuse prevention

The United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra has chosen several Carson City area nonprofit organizations and agencies to help with funding in areas that address crime and substance abuse prevention among youth.

The partnerships, announced Monday, are aimed to address the complex conditions that are putting youth at risk, said Karen Barsell, CEO and president of United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra.

Among the Carson City area partnerships announced are: he Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, Community Counseling Center, Ron Wood Family Resource Center, Partnership Carson City, Families First Drug Court, Carson City Jail and Carson City Rural Mental Health Clinic.

Here is the full news release put out Monday by the United Way:

United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra Announces Funding for the Upcoming Fiscal Year

Reno, Nev. — United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS) has announced its funded partners, embracing a strategic and community-based approach to funding organizations and partnerships. In this process, UWNNS researched critical needs within its three areas of focus: education, financial stability and health. The organization then established regional needs with area volunteer experts to review research and determine focused priorities to guide decisions. These same volunteers reviewed each of the partner agencies to ensure adherence to UWNNS’ Standards of Excellence.

“Community volunteer councils put an even greater emphasis on partnerships and collaborations among our partner agencies,” said Karen Barsell, CEO and president of UWNNS. “These types of partnerships tackle those particular issues identified by the people who live in our community.”

UWNNS used a “when cash is in hand” philosophy as the cornerstone of sound fiscal strategy and the organization hopes that if additional donations are received in-house by June 30, further allocations may be possible.

With this announcement, UWNNS releases $429,000, with the allocations ranging from $12,000 to $60,000.
Grantees are as follows:

“Total Health” Program (a partnership of Bristlecone Family Resources and Northern Nevada H.O.P.E.S.) - $25,000 to improve the physical and behavioral health of low-income, uninsured and under-insured individuals who suffer from co-morbid disorders (substance abuse and co-existing mental and/or medical disorders).

“Community Support Team” (a partnership of Tahoe Family Solutions, Tahoe SAFE Alliance, Project MANA, Tahoe Youth and Family Services, IVGID Senior Programs and North Tahoe Family Resource Center) - $25,000 to provide clients with integrated, comprehensive services in basic needs, mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse and general support.

“BIGS in BLUE” program (a partnership of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Washoe County School District School Police Department) - $50,000 to expand prevention services for at-risk youth.

“Project Child” (The Children’s Cabinet) - $60,000 to provide children birth to age five with access to licensed child care which will include early learning and pre-kindergarten activities.

Partnership between Reno Youth Bridge and Washoe County School District - $12,000 to enable youth to participate in a program designed to increase students’ ability to reason and exercise critical thinking through a strenuous bridge program.

Partnership between Ridge House and Step 2 - $50,000 to enable individual women and women with dependent children at Step 2 to obtain workforce skills and assistance in obtaining employment.

Boys and Girls Club Partnership (Boys and Girls Club of the Truckee Meadows, Boys and Girls Club of Mason Valley, Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, and Boys and Girls Club of Elko - $60,000 to teach youths aged 10 to18 essential workforce skills, increased civic engagement and ensure progress to next grade level.

Partnership between Nevada Youth Empowerment, Transformations and Golla Project - $50,000 to enable expansion and replication of the Community Living Program into two additional sites.

Partnership between Volunteers of America, Restart and City of Reno - $37,000 to provide case management to homeless individuals.

Partnership between Community Health Alliance (CHA) and the University of Nevada School of Medicine - $35,000 to provide a Pediatric Behavioral Health Program. The partnership supports the placement of fifth year Medical Residents in the CHA clinics to integrate behavioral health care into the primary care setting, serving children.

Partnership between Community Counseling Center, Ron Wood Family Resource Center, Partnership Carson City, Families First Drug Court, Carson City Jail and Carson City Rural Mental Health Clinic - $25,000 to address the complex conditions that are putting youth at risk in that area, initially identified through poor school attendance and substance abuse.

The importance of these partnerships is personified by the “BIGS in BLUE” program created by the Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Washoe County School District School Police Department. This pilot program partners at-risk students in Washoe County with a mentor who is a school police officer in order to help the students succeed and reach their potential.

“BIGS in BLUE is an innovative program that will match critically at-risk kids with mentors from the WCSD Police Department who inspire them to stay in school, improve their grades, and develop self-reliance,” said Ann Silver, chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada. “This collaboration will serve as a pilot for expansion to other community law enforcement agencies and demonstrate the power of collaborating with community resources to improve educational outcomes.”

This year, UWNNS volunteers also looked closely at the applications and coalitions that crossed county borders because of the recently expanded UWNNS service area. In 2011, UWNNS assumed responsibility for the territory of the former United Way of the Great Basin that services Elko, Eureka, White Pine, Lander and Humboldt counties. With the absorption of the additional counties, UWNNS now serves 13 Nevada counties and portions of California. The UWNNS service area now represents more than 800,000 people.

“We were very happy that many of the applications benefitted multiple regions of northern Nevada and the Sierra,” said Barsell. “Over the past few years, we have seen our region’s nonprofits look for strategic ways to work together for the betterment of our collective communities. We feel as though our allocation process is assisting in this.”

About United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra
The foundation that nurtures and supports healthy lives is made up of three, interconnected ‘building blocks’ – education, financial stability and health. United Way is ideally suited to create positive, lasting change by addressing all three areas as one – through proper expertise, capacity and relationships. Join us! Bring your passion, knowledge and resources to get things done all across our community. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when a neighborhood turns around and when workers have solid jobs. For more information, call 775-322-8668 or visit www.uwnns.org.