MAHONING VALLEY United Way shifts focus

United Way funded-programs will be issue-oriented and results-driven.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR HEALTH WRITER
BOARDMAN -- The Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way announced today a new way of doing business -- called "community impact" -- as it heads into a future with changes in the way people give, and in how communities deal with their problems.
Under its community impact thrust, the local United Way will continue its traditional role of fund raising and distribution, but will overlay that with a leadership role of bringing together various groups to address problems and issues identified by the community.
Larry Moliterno, United Way director of planning and community development, presented the agency's new direction at the annual meeting of the Community Corporation, parent of the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, at the Holiday Inn in Boardman.
Under the new business plan, community impact teams consisting of volunteers, service professionals, health-care systems representatives and consumers will identify issues, community goals and strategies and evaluate programs -- rather than agencies -- to determine fund distribution, Moliterno said.
Identifying problems
"Rather than be the biggest collector of charity dollars, we have to identify critical problems, making sure as we go along and as we are investing money in programs, that they are have the desired effect and efficiency," said William J. Bresnahan, 2003-2004 campaign chairman.
Other changes in fund distribution are:
UCommunity impact teams will be allocated a specific dollar amount before agency budget hearings. In the past, funds were distributed to agencies after budget hearings.
UThese teams will review individual programs of a number of agencies. Previously, panels reviewed all programs of a particular agency.
UThe teams will review predetermined program outcomes in relationship to overall community goals. In the past, individual program outcomes were reviewed.
Moliterno said agency leaders have been involved in developing United Way's new philosophy and in changing the fund distribution process over a period of about two years.
Bringing groups together
Moliterno said United Way views itself as a "catalyst" agency, along with Youngstown State University and the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, that can impact the entire community by bringing various stakeholders to the table to identify issues and devise strategies to address them.
He said impact areas of special interest are nurturing children, enriching the lives of seniors, promoting health and wellness, and caring for people in crisis.
A community needs-assessment, done in conjunction with YSU and other individuals and groups, is being finalized and will be revealed this summer.
Bresnahan, president of Hynes Industries, said the traditional role of United Way as collecting and distributing money is going to become less relevant. With the new business plan, "I think we can leverage our strengths," said Bresnahan.
"There are a handful of organizations in any community that have the standing to convene a variety of groups, and we believe United Way is one of them," he said.
The 2003-2004 financial campaign will begin with the Pacesetter Campaign on July 30. The general campaign will start Sept. 9 with the communitywide Day of Caring.