Family Supports | Overview

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Overview Key Trends Indicators at a Glance Related Indicators

Families are the backbone of the community. Effective support for families -- including parents and children, young adults and seniors -- is critical to a healthy, vibrant community.

Through our Family Support Network and Family Resource Centers, United Way invests in programs and initiatives that support strong individuals and healthy families.  United Way-funded partners and initiatives help people enjoy physical and mental well-being, provide caregivers with the skills and resources to raise successful families, and assist seniors with living in a safe and secure environment. United Way’s goals are to create long-lasting changes that form the foundation of a thriving community.

In this section, we examine the state of early childhood and the teen years and evaluate the Capital Region’s health status and crime levels.

Research shows that a healthy start prepares children for success in school and a productive adult life. Our early childhood indicators measure the percentage of children born to mothers who received early prenatal care, the infant mortality rate and the rate of babies born with low birth weights. We also examine the rate of children exposed to dangerous levels of lead, which can cause cognitive delays, and the proportion of preschoolers receiving special education services.
Unfortunately, children face numerous threats to their optimal development, both inside and outside their homes. To gauge the risks children face, we examine measures of child abuse and neglect and foster care admissions, as well as rates of teen pregnancy and juvenile delinquency.

The overall health of the community has an enormous impact on families. We assess two aspects of community life by examining health measures (such as access to insurance and rates of alcohol/drug abuse treatment admissions), as well as measures of public safety, including violent crime and domestic violence.