Partner with United Way to build systems that get families to the incomes they need. In January, United Way for Greater Austin hosted the Family-Sustaining Income Summit, where we highlighted a persistent challenge in how we design and implement economic mobility programs, systems, and initiatives in our area. The data we commonly use to inform upward mobility opportunities does not reflect what families actually need to be stable. Poverty measures, like Federal Poverty Level (FPL), are used to evaluate household needs and set eligibility for government and nonprofit assistance. A household income of 100% FPL defines households living in poverty and 200% FPL is classified as low-income. Most government and nonprofit support systems are designed to phase out around these household income levels. However, because the Greater Austin area has a higher cost of living than other parts of the country and because the FPL has not meaningfully changed in decades, FPL is greatly undercounting the number of households actually struggling to make ends meet. Poverty measures show us what households are potentially in crisis and eligible for public assistance programs, but not the entirety of households struggling to make ends meet. Family-sustaining income measures calculate the income families actually need to be able to pay their bills, send their children to high-quality child care, and save for emergencies. This is the income families need to be stable, and beyond that, to thrive. The ALICE dataset is a family-sustaining income measure used by United Way that makes visible the thousands […]
Read MoreHow a Travis County Grant Helped Bring Families and Pediatricians Into Early Childhood Planning
In 2023, United Way for Greater Austin received the Texas Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5), investing $484,500 over three years to strengthen early childhood support in Travis County. This report highlights what was accomplished and the foundation built to continue improving how families with young children access support in our community. Two key strategies guided this work: Creating a sustainable way for families to share their voices through the launch of United Way’s Family Advisory Council and a dedicated Family Engagement Coordinator to lead this effort. Bringing healthcare providers into early childhood conversations by establishing a Physician Champion role. Together, these efforts expanded the impact of the Success By 6 (SX6) Coalition, helping organizations collaborate more effectively to support families across the region. Centering Family Voices in Early Childhood Planning Funding supported the launch of the Success By 6 (SX6) Family Advisory Committee (FAC) and a new Family Engagement Coordinator role. This structure ensures parents and caregivers have a consistent voice in coalition planning and decision-making. “Having a dedicated person is the greatest need. You can’t do this work haphazardly,”— Dr. Nicole Cummings-Lewis FAC members were recruited through coalition partners including schools and community programs. Participants received stipends through United Way’s Community Compensation Plan, recognizing the value of parent and caregiver expertise and ensuring families could participate meaningfully in leadership discussions. Dr. Cummings-Lewis emphasized: “Compensation is non-negotiable.” The committee was also designed to reduce barriers to participation by providing: Translation services Childcare during meetings Through the FAC, parents […]
Read More2-1-1 Day Spotlight: Carmen and the Team That Answers When Greater Austin Calls
Every day, thousands of Central Texans face moments of uncertainty, wondering where they’ll find food, how they’ll pay a bill, or where to turn during a crisis. For many, hope begins with 2-1-1. This year marks United Way for Greater Austin’s 30th year helping Central Texans navigate basic resources through 2-1-1. 2-1-1 Assistant Manager Carmen and her team of 11 build off decades of expert service connection every day, ensuring every call is met with understanding and care. As we celebrate 2-1-1 Day today, we’re proud to spotlight Carmen and the extraordinary work she and her team do to support our community. For Carmen, this role is more than a job. It’s a chance to meet people at pivotal moments in their lives. “One of the most rewarding parts of this work is hearing hope return to someone’s voice,” Carmen shares. “Sometimes people call feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, and by the end of the call, they know they’re not alone.” Just this month Carmen recalls a powerful moment that reflects the impact of the 2-1-1 team. One of her staff members conducted a follow-up call with a survivor of domestic violence who had reached out for help. During the initial call, the team connected the caller to critical safety and support resources. During the follow-up, the survivor shared that she had successfully accessed services and was beginning to rebuild her life. “It was incredibly meaningful – not just for the caller, but for our staff member […]
Read MoreClosing the Gaps in Early Development
Pediatricians play a vital role in identifying developmental milestones, detecting delays, and ensuring children receive the support they need to thrive. Success By 6, Healthy Beginnings 2025 Progress Report The Healthy Beginnings workgroup, a pillar of the Austin/Travis County Success By 6 (SX6) Coalition, works to ensure families feel empowered to navigate medical systems and access resources they need to thrive before, during, and through a child’s first year of life.Their 2025 Progress Report offers a clear snapshot of the first year of progress under the Austin/Travis County (SX6) 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. The report is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and community understanding of the critical work underway to improve systems for families with young children experiencing developmental delays. It outlines four foundational steps taken to drive long‑term impact: Established an administrative group to shape the project’s scope Strengthened partnerships with Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) providers Cultivated a diverse and engaged cohort of stakeholders Expanded collective understanding of current screening practices and unmet needs across the community. A key insight from this early work is the significant gap in support for children who screen positive for mild developmental delays but do not qualify for ECI. In response, the workgroup is shifting from data collection to targeted system improvements focused on expanding available services, demystifying the pathways to access support, and increasing access to ECI‑related data. Overall, this report reflects a year of foundational work, learning, and collaboration – laying the groundwork for meaningful system change that will help more young […]
Read MoreSupporting Young Children with Developmental Delays
A young child exercising their fine motor skills, a foundational component of early childhood development. In Fall 2025, United Way for Greater Austin conducted a survey of Austin/Travis County Success by 6 (SX6) coalition members to better understand how local organizations identify and support young children with potential developmental delays. The survey gathered insights from a wide range of early childhood partners about current screening practices, referral processes, and challenges families encounter when seeking developmental support. Why it Matters Addressing developmental needs as early as possible helps ensure children are better prepared to succeed when they enter Kindergarten. Early identification and timely support can significantly influence a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development, shaping long-term outcomes in school and beyond. In particular, strengthening supports for children who do not qualify for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) but still experience developmental or learning challenges is critical to closing school readiness gaps. By improving access to screening, referrals, and services, communities can create more equitable pathways to success for all young children. Key Takeaways The survey findings underscore a clear need to: strengthen developmental screening practices, expand access to services, and improve coordination across early childhood systems in Travis County. Several key themes emerged that the Austin/Travis SX6 Healthy Beginnings Workgroup aims to address: Provider Capacity & Access: Partners reported a shortage of pediatric therapy providers – especially bilingual providers and those who accept Medicaid – pointing to an advocacy opportunity: increase state and local ECI funding and improve Medicaid reimbursement rates. Screening […]
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