United Way Quad Cities seeing results, seeks to grow "United for Schools" initiative

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

United Way Quad Cities does more than fund grants and connect schools with community resources; it's bringing the community into schools.

In 2021, the organization piloted "United for Schools" at Madison Elementary School in Davenport, an initiative designed to help local Title I schools and students overcome non-academic barriers.

Schools receive Title I funding if 40% or more of their students receive free and reduced-price lunch or are from households at or below the federal poverty line.

Out of the Quad-Cities' 106 public schools, 83, or 78%, qualify as Title I, prompting United Way QC officials to grow the initiative.

After the Madison pilot in 2023, United Way expanded the initiative to Washington Elementary School in Moline. This past October, three more local schools signed on to become United for Schools sites via a new partnership with the nonprofit Communities in Schools, or CIS.

People are also reading... Investigation of Bettendorf massage spas leads to arrest of woman on pimping charges Iowa Senate President: Bill passed by state lawmakers 'not a property owners' rights bill' Former Iowa Hawkeye basketball player, Clear Lake-native Ken Grabinski dies Demonstrators rally against ICE in Davenport, spurred by L.A. protesters Iowa's Next WNBA Star: How Lucy Olsen cultivated a permanent fanbase, WNBA future with Hawkeyes Davenport police make arrest in early morning homicide A new Mexican restaurant, Icy Bubbles opens and more Quad-Cities business news Whitey's to open new location in Bettendorf later this year Eldridge family to hold fundraiser Friday to help 10-month-old daughter with leukemia Minnesota man makes first appearance on Scott County murder charge LeClaire woman sentenced to 25 years after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide, OWI Rock Island Arsenal Museum on list for potential closure, decision weeks out Charge of possessing child sex abuse materials dropped as Scott County prosecutors investigate further Marissa Meloy Lawsuit: Rock Island police shooting of Jakarta Jackson was 'objectively unreasonable'

Jefferson Elementary School in Davenport, Rock Island Academy in Rock Island and Wells Elementary School in East Moline will all be full-fledged United for Schools sites by the fall.

Built on decades of national research, CIS integrates targeted academic and non-academic student supports based on each school's needs. The model is implemented locally by United Way site coordinators, who are trained to address students' academic, social, emotional and basic needs through strong community partnerships.

"In short, CIS gives us the playbook, allowing us to be more strategic, consistent, and more effective across every school we serve by equipping us with the tools, training and proven practices to do our work better and with greater confidence," said Rene Gellerman, president and CEO of United Way QC.

This fall, all United Way site coordinators will provide targeted support to 10% of their building's enrollment, totaling 200 students across all five sites.

Washington site coordinator Ciara Llave said a big part of her job is building meaningful relationships with the 16 students in her caseload.

"I am proud to share that 11 of those 16 students have shown improved attendance this school year," she said. "Looking ahead to next school year, we have even bigger dreams."

United Way is the first licensed CIS partner in Iowa and Western Illinois, estimated to impact roughly 2,000 students in the Quad-Cities metro. Gellerman said this has been "instrumental" in growing United for Schools and reaching more students.

"With the kind of infrastructure that makes scale possible," she said.

That's exactly what she and other United Way QC leaders hope to do moving forward -- primarily because it works.

How the program has helped one student

Letitia Moore's son, Carmello, is an incoming sixth grader at Wilson Middle School in Moline. Since United Way launched in Washington Elementary, she said his academics, behavior and involvement at school improved significantly.

"He was on the verge of not graduating," from Washington at one point, Moore said. "But he did, and we're really excited about that."

To ensure Carmello is ready for middle school, he's using United Way's summer tutoring and mentorship services, resources he used at Washington to get back on track.

"He's more interested in going to school," and learning in general, Moore said. "They've also helped me fund any (expenses) my son needs for the programs he's attending."

Thanks to United Way, Carmello has joined football, basketball and safety patrol, on top of boosting his academics.

Moore describes the partnership as a "very supportive network" for the Moline school community.

"Being able to communicate with somebody about resources we need, and (knowing) they'll direct me to the right people to help, has helped him and the family so much," she said, especially after relocating from Texas last school year.

United for Schools works, Gellerman said, thanks to more than 75 local partners "aligning their efforts" inside schools.

"That kind of coordination is what creates a real, lasting impact," she said, adding United Way partners "(break) down silos and (deliver) the right support at the right time."

To sustain and broaden this impact, Gellerman said United Way needs more than just funding and donor support -- it needs the community working together.

"We need shared ownership," she said. "That means continued support from (businesses), deeper partnerships with school districts and nonprofits, and a community-wide commitment to helping kids succeed."

Student support pays off

Over the next three to five years, United Way is building a long-term funding model for the United for Schools initiative, one that blends public and private dollars

"Public dollars alone don't cover what it takes to help kids overcome barriers," Gellerman said, as this funding covers areas of education like teacher pay, curriculum and facilities.

For every $1 invested locally, United Way leverages an additional $1.74 through the Ballmer Foundation and other partner contributions -- raising more than $1.15 million so far.

That equates to a more than $2 million commitment to providing local students and families with coordinated, wraparound support at their Title I school.

"It represents a 74% return in direct dollars invested in building a stronger, more equitable support system for our region's kids," Gellerman said.

National studies on integrated student support models like CIS show that for every $1 invested, there's a $3 to $11 return in long-term outcomes such as increased graduation rates, reduced public assistance reliance and improved lifetime earnings.

"While we're still building out our long-term impact data locally, we're confident the return in the Quad-Cities will track within that range as we scale," Gellerman said.

While social capital can be harder to gauge, she and her team hope to illustrate this as United Way continues to see local success.

"When people understand the return on investment -- improved attendance, stronger mental health, better academic outcomes -- they see this not as charity, but as a smart, community-centered (investment) strategy," Gellerman said.

Giving students, schools what they need

School is all about learning, but science shows that kids can't learn if they're dealing with hunger, housing instability, trauma or a lack of proper health care.

"That's just a proven fact," said Tara Bahnks, principal of Washington. "Learning also can't take place until you build a relationship with them (students)."

United Way selected each United for Schools site based on the highest student need per school, particularly in areas like chronic absenteeism, behavior and academic proficiency.

Principals, site coordinators, volunteers and other United Way stakeholders gathered to discuss what drives these gaps at a "Lunch and Learn" session on Tuesday.

Ragan Baker, student success coordinator for United Way, described chronic absenteeism as a "symptom" of barriers like students' lack of transportation or basic needs, family disruptions and poverty. Mental health and trauma are other common student and family risk factors.

At the event, Llave highlighted how local businesses and retail entities can be effective partners. Goodwill has distributed $360 in clothing vouchers to Washington students since February, she said, and Fisher Construction LLC sponsored the school's free little library.

"Looking ahead to next school year, we have even bigger dreams," Llave said, citing plans to host more family events and expand after-school programming.

"Students really want to be involved, but cost is a barrier for many families," she added. "These programs help to keep our children active, social and healthy, and we want to make sure every child has access."

Llave urges more people to get involved with United Way by volunteering, plugging the "Read United" program, where adult volunteers read with students for 30 minutes each week at their school.

"Our children really need us and our time," she said. "They need adults who show up, who listen and believe in them."

Bahnks agreed, adding that "showing up for students" -- even if it's just 30 minutes each week -- can make a world of difference for some.

"It's being there for our kids that makes them successful," Bahnks said, also noting how Llave has helped her and other building leaders meet and address school, student or family-related needs or tasks.

"This has been such a wonderful addition to Washington," she added. "I could go on for another hour."

Looking at other non-academic supports, United Way also provides students with free vision screenings, eye exams and glasses via its "Vision to Learn" program. In the 2023-24 school year, the program provided 1,906 screenings, 1,030 glasses and 547 exams.

United Way has also partnered with Midwest Technical Institute to provide free hair services to students at Washington via the school's "Books and Braids" club, offering credit hours to participating MTI cosmetology students.

Reflecting on her family's experience, Moore hopes to see United Way take off in more area schools down the road.

"I really think (schools) should offer it," she said. "It helps to know more students now have better access to resources that will get them where they need to be in life."

Moore said she would have benefited from United Way's support growing up, encouraging parents to be more open-minded about letting people from the community "in" to their child's school.

"Because it isn't about it, it's about the kids," she said. "The kids are our future, and I think some people tend to forget that. ... I think the more love and (healthy) support systems there are, it will reflect positively on us in the future."

Photos: Vision to Learn and United Way provides free glasses to students 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Want to see more like this?

Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Olivia Allen

Education Reporter

Author twitter Author email Follow Olivia Allen Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today