When United Way of the Quad-City Area begins to evaluate proposals for Birth to Work Fund in the next few months, staff and committee members expect to see "new, innovative, creative ways to reach people we haven't reached before," said Scott Crane, the organization's president.

The new local initiative, designed after looking at a community needs assessment, will allow the organization to work on "issues at a deeper level than we have in the past," said Crane. The program's objective is to increase the number of children ready for school, increase the percentage of students who graduate from high school and increase the post high school enrollment and career training.

In the program's initial year, the focus will be on increasing parental involvement and engagement in their children's lives. "We have to look at new and innovative ways to get parents in," said Crane, acknowledging challenges and difficulties. United Way is "open to all sorts of ideas. A lot of our problems aren't getting any better. We can't expect to do the same things over and over and get a different result."

The Birth to Work initiative is a move away from the safety net of services that the local United Way has traditionally funded. Nationally, too, the organization is shifting toward community impact projects, according to Crane. While the organization will continue to allocate part of its resources to traditionally funded programs, Birth to Work is "not designed to be a supplement for losses in the community fund." Agencies will choose whether to write a proposal for the new program or continue traditional funding.

Crane anticipates a long term commitment to the Birth to Work agenda. "The pieces in it will change, but if we find things that are successful, we are looking at funding longer term."

Health and human service agencies in Scott or Rock Island counties that prepare children to be ready for school, ready to graduate and ready to work should declare their intent to apply for program funding by July 10. More information is available at www.unitedwayqc.org or by calling resource investment manager, Leslee Cook at (563) 344-0321.

United Way will review applications, determine awards and announce final decisions in September. The Birth to Work Fund comes from donations made through United Way supporters who decide whether to direct their money toward the traditional pool of money or the Birth to Work Fund.