foundationS for
a lifetime of learning

Early Childhood Development

Quality Child Care For All

United Way fights for high-quality early childhood care and education that is accessible and affordable for all. That's how we LIVE UNITED.

A recent survey conducted by Care.com found that one-third of American families spend 20% of their income on child care. What’s more, five out of six children eligible for federal child care assistance do not receive it, primarily due to lack of funding. Far too many families in our community are unable to afford the costs of quality child care and our local children are at risk of missing out during the most important time of their personal development. Skills build upon skills and the further a child falls behind, the harder it is to catch up. 

Fortunately, United Way and its partners are banding together to provide child care assistance vouchers to low-income and underserved families in LaPorte County; and at the same time, fighting for early care and education at the local, state, and national levels.

Continuing Education

United Way of LaPorte County's Early Childhood Development Collective Community Impact work also supports the continual professional development of education of pre-k educators and professionals in our community through traditional higher education, trainings, workshops, and networking opportunities. 

Pathways to
a future of Success

SuPPORT FOR Youth

United Way strives to build partnerships and support organizations that provide school-age children and young people with high-quality out-of-school time opportunities that help them  reach the academic and developmental milestones that ultimately lead to success in their college/workforce training, career, and life. That's how we LIVE UNITED.

Youth development programs are opportunities and/or services that engages youth in a variety of social, emotional, educational, and recreational activities to promote improvements to their intellectual, behavioral, and physical well-being, consistent with a youth-focused approach.

Our Youth Development Collective Community Impact work engages children and youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a productive and constructive way. United Way and our partners recognize, utilize, and enhance our local youths’ strengths. We promote positive outcomes by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their strengths.

Our local youth development programs help our community's school-age children and young people: 

– Avoid drugs, tobacco and alcohol
– Increase school attendance
– Improve grades and test scores
– Increase job readiness
– Decrease school discipline problems
– Have increased leadership skills
– Improve communication and decision-making skills
– Have knowledge and understand the consequences of sexual activity
– Increase their computer and technology skills
– Decrease delinquent behaviors
– Avoid school suspension
– Have increased comfort with diversity
– Attend college
– Become productive citizens

STRENGTHENING Youth MENTAL HEALTH

United Way of La Porte County is proud to partner with local organizations to bring life saving mental health services to our community’s youth and the people who love them. If a child or teen in your life needs help, please

• Dial 9-8-8 or 800-273-TALK to reach The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• Dial 2-1-1 to access local La Porte County System of Care resources

• Text “helpline” to 62640 to chat via text message, or

• Chat online at www.nami.org

YOUR COMMUNITY IS HERE FOR YOU!

Please click to download and share our free youth mental health brochures:

 LaPorte County System of Care

The LaPorte County System of Care is a local collaborative of caring adults and organizations who provide support to young people with mental health and related needs, hoping to see them achieve wellness, engage in their communities, and ultimately thrive.

We can help children between 6 and 17 years old who are struggling:

• to manage behaviors or emotions at home, school, and/or in the community,

• with listening, following rules, running away, and getting in trouble with adults,

• with depression, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts, and

• with anger, aggression, and uncontrollable outbursts.

The LaPorte County Access Site provides a point of entry to the LaPorte County System of Care to help find and provide the right services for youth and families in our community. The Access Site can conduct both a pre-screening and an assessment to determine if a youth qualifies for the Children’s Mental Health Wraparound Programs.

The Children’s Mental Health Wraparound Programs work well with youth who have not improved with “traditional” services, as well as with youth who are at risk of being placed outside of the home.

An individualized planning process begins with the assistance of a Wraparound Facilitator .(WF). The WF will assist in creating a child and family team that includes, friends, family, pastors, neighbors, and whomever the family chooses.

Thank you to NIPSCO for being a financial supporter of the United Way of LaPorte County System of Care.

To begin the process of developing a system of care for a youth in need, please contact:

Call 211 to see if your child qualifies for the Children's Mental Health Wraparound Program.

La Porte County System of Care is proudly supported by the HealthCare Foundation of La Porte and NIPSCO.

Follow Us on our Facebook page, LaPorte County System of Care,
to stay up to date with the latest news.

SOC Newsletters

Summer Newsletter | 2023

Bridges to
FInancial
Stability

Financial Stability

United Way fights to put every person in our community on a path toward financial empowerment. That starts with access to services, job training, credit counseling, and money management programs.

United Way and our partners in LaPorte County are helping individuals and families build strong, stable foundations through resources and programs that enable them to achieve stable employment and financial literacy. We invest in partners that offer job training and placement, financial education, free tax preparation, and legal advice that helps adults and families succeed in work and in life.

When you raise your hand to support Financial Stability, you empower adults and families in LaPorte County to move from surviving to thriving. That is how we LIVE UNITED.

Nearly 40% of the people in the United States in the last two years have either skipped filling a prescription or reduced doses because their medicine was too expensive. To address this issue in LaPorte County, United Way has coordinated community-wide distribution of the free SingleCare prescription discount cards. The SingleCare program in Central Kentucky helps individuals and their families save an average of 30% on their prescription medications.

The SingleCare prescription discount card can save you and your family an average of up to 30% or more on 8 out of 10 prescriptions.

IT'S FREE  •  SingleCare a free resource from the United Way of LaPorte County and the SingleCare community service partnership. Use the SingleCare card today to start saving money on your prescription drugs today.

IT'S EASY  •  Simply present your card and prescription to a participating pharmacy to obtain the discounted price. You always receive the lower of the discounted price or pharmacy's retail price.

NO RESTRICTIONS  •  Use your card as often as you need, for any prescription, for everyone in your family. There is no income limit, age requirement, eligibility or registration required.

My United Way 2-1-1 connects residents in 19 northern Indiana counties with comprehensive and up-to-date information about social, health, and government services.

Instead of making multiple calls that often leading to dead ends, you can dial 2-1-1 seven days a week, 24 hours a day and talk to a live phone counselor or browse online to find the help you need.

Basic Needs
In times of Crisis

The Safety Net

Stabilizing individuals and families during times of crisis is absolutely critical in the delivery of our mission to help our community's households thrive.

It’s difficult to talk to someone about going back to school or preparing a household budget when they're worried about where their children will sleep tonight or whether there will be enough food to eat. In some cases, it’s vital to stabilize individuals and families with emergency food, shelter, clothing, and other essentials before we can begin working on improving their education, financial stability, and health. 

United Way's safety net strategies for individuals and families in LaPorte County are focused around meeting basic needs and  fostering independence when faced with unexpected life challenges and times of crisis. We take a holistic approach to helping people move toward prosperity by creating opportunities and removing barriers. We support local partners who are providing basic human needs such as access to healthy food, a safe place to live, shelter from violence, and a solid platform from which our neighbors in need can focus on long term goals.

When we join together in times of crisis, we can empower all our neighbors to live healthy, prosperous lives. That is how we LIVE UNITED.

My United Way 2-1-1 connects residents in 19 northern Indiana counties with comprehensive and up-to-date information about social, health, and government services.

Instead of making multiple calls that often leading to dead ends, you can dial 2-1-1 seven days a week, 24 hours a day and talk to a live phone counselor or browse online to find the help you need.