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 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 […]
Read MoreBehind every call is a family striving for stability
Layla was tired. A single mom of two teens, she worked full-time and still struggled to afford the basics. She and her children shared a bedroom in her sister’s house. Without a car, she relied on buses and family rides to get to work and take her kids to school. For months, she fought to apply for health insurance benefits. Each time, her application was denied – not because she didn’t qualify, because the language barrier made the process confusing. Without an interpreter, every conversation about documentation left her stuck. Then, at her friend’s suggestion, Layla called 2-1-1, United Way’s 24/7 helpline connecting people to resources like food, housing, utilities, transportation, and health care. On the other end of the line was Alicia, a compassionate Navigation Specialist who listened with patience and understanding. Sensing how overwhelmed Layla was, Alicia invited her to the United Way office so they could complete the application together. An expert on community resources, Alicia guided Layla through the application, and they submitted it together. This time, her application was approved. For the first time, her children had health insurance. “Before, when my kids got sick, the most I could do was buy vitamins and pain relievers,” Layla said. “It broke my heart to see them sick and not be able to help. Now, I’m not as worried.” Without someone checking in and believing in her, Layla might have given up. “United Way helped me build a better life for myself and my kids,” she said. “My […]
Read MoreInside the Parenting Students Project’s Life-Changing Supports
Program evaluation shows investing in whole-family success makes an impact Parenting students are nearly twice as likely to leave school for preventable reasons: lack of child care, conflicting course and work schedules, and even convenient transportation*. Today, 1 in 5 college students in the US are parents **. Without adequate support, they face higher risks of financial insecurity, reduced quality of life due to time constraints or “time poverty,” and discontinuing college courses. Over the last four years, The Parenting Students Project (PSP) pilot program provided comprehensive support for a group of these students. The program set out to improve academic outcomes and financial stability for the families. The results proved organization and institutional collaboration is a key combination: We partnered with Austin Community College to undergo this pilot program. We also partnered with Trellis Strategies to evaluate its impact. Trellis evaluated 91 students in the program and released their evaluation results in a report earlier this year. The report highlights the value and impact that the Parenting Students Project resources had on students. The resources included: $500 monthly stipend Peer networking/engagement Leadership and advocacy opportunities Academic counseling Other wrap-around services, such as child care stipends Read the Report Report Highlights: 88% of students who had ever participated in the PSP had either graduated or were still enrolled at ACC in Spring 2024, compared to 54% of parenting students who had never participated. 95% of students who participated in the PSP in a given term were retained into the following […]
Read MoreIn her darkest moment, United Way for Greater Austin offered a network of support
United Way for Greater Austin advances our mission — bringing our community together to break economic barriers and build opportunity for all — using four strategies. One of those is services and support. United Way envisions a Central Texas where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. And 2024 marks an important milestone for us: 100 years serving the community! As we reflect on a century of change and a legacy of impact, our new strategic plan lays a strong foundation for our next 100 years. Our new strategic plan galvanizes our promise to realize a future where every child is set up for success with high-quality early care and education – in a community where everyone is connected to the essential resources they need, when they need them. Through this plan, four key strategies emerged. One of them is services and support. One example of our work in services and support is our Navigation Center, which paved the way for connecting local families and individuals to resources in our region. For more than 25 years, we have served as a 24/7 helpline that connects families and individuals right here in our community to more than 30,000 resources. Last year, we answered more than 200,000 requests for help – that’s one call every two minutes. Our Navigation Center is just one example of our work in services and support. Programs like Family Connects and Parenting Students Project provide health and education services to families in our region. We also support more […]
Read MoreHis life changed in an instant
United Way for Greater Austin advances our mission — bringing our community together to break economic barriers and build opportunity for all — using four strategies. One of those is services and support. United Way envisions a Central Texas where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. And 2024 marks an important milestone for us: 100 years serving the community! As we reflect on a century of change and a legacy of impact, our new strategic plan lays a strong foundation for our next 100 years. Our new strategic plan galvanizes our promise to realize a future where every child is set up for success with high-quality early care and education – in a community where everyone is connected to the essential resources they need, when they need them. Our services and support strategy unites us toward our vision of a Central Texas where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. One example of our work in services and support is our Navigation Center, which paved the way for connecting local families and individuals to resources in our region. For more than 25 years, we have served as a 24/7 helpline that connects people right here in our community to more than 30,000 resources. Last year, we answered more than 200,000 requests for help – that’s one call every two minutes. United Way programs like Family Connects and the Parenting Students Project also provide health and education services to families in our region. Beyond providing essential support directly to families and individuals, […]
Read MoreFor an expecting mother, access to essential resources means safety for her family.
United Way for Greater Austin advances our mission — bringing our community together to break economic barriers and build opportunity for all — using four strategies. One of those is services and support. United Way envisions a Central Texas where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. And 2024 marks an important milestone for us: 100 years serving the community! As we reflect on a century of change and a legacy of impact, our new strategic plan lays a strong foundation for our next 100 years. Our new strategic plan galvanizes our promise to realize a future where every child is set up for success with high-quality early care and education – in a community where everyone is connected to the essential resources they need, when they need them. Through this plan, four key strategies emerged. One of them is services and support. One example of our work in services and support is our Navigation Center, which paved the way for connecting local families and individuals to resources in our region. For more than 25 years, we have served as a 24/7 helpline that connects families and individuals right here in our community to more than 30,000 resources. Last year, we answered more than 200,000 requests for help – that’s one call every two minutes. Our Navigation Center is just one example of our work in services and support. Programs like Family Connects and Parenting Students Project provide health and education services to families in our region. We also support more […]
Read MoreFor a young mother with medical debt, one call provided hope
United Way for Greater Austin advances our mission — bringing our community together to break economic barriers and build opportunity for all — using four strategies. One of those is services and support. United Way envisions a Central Texas where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. And 2024 marks an important milestone for us: 100 years serving the community! As we reflect on a century of change and a legacy of impact, our new strategic plan lays a strong foundation for our next 100 years. Our new strategic plan galvanizes our promise to realize a future where every child is set up for success with high-quality early care and education – in a community where everyone is connected to the essential resources they need, when they need them. Through this plan, four key strategies emerged. One of them is services and support. One example of our work in services and support is our Navigation Center, which paved the way for connecting local families and individuals to resources in our region. For more than 25 years, we have served as a 24/7 helpline that connects families and individuals right here in our community to more than 30,000 resources. Last year, we answered more than 200,000 requests for help – that’s one call every two minutes. Our Navigation Center is just one example of our work in services and support. Programs like Family Connects and Parenting Students Project provide health and education services to families in our region. We also support more […]
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