United Way of Santa Barbara County-Health


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Health

United Way Works to Improve People's Health

Whether it is an individual without health insurance, a victim of abuse, or someone struggling with mental illness or an addiction, United Way is working to ensure that every local resident has access to quality care.

Background

From 2007 to 2009, United Way of Santa Barbara County’s local community driven Power of Partnership Initiative (POPI) asked 6,000 local individuals from all backgrounds, 300 business and organizations and hundreds of community leaders to share their hopes and desired goals for the future.

POPI reached an unprecedented level of agreement on 10-year goals to help children, families, and seniors with a focus on Education, Financial Stability, and Health.

Our Goal

In 2010, United Way of Santa Barbara County launched a 10-year Health Initiative to accomplish the following goals:

Increase by 30% the percentage of youth and adults who receive preventative care and avoid risky behavior.
Increase the percentage of seniors who stay independent and live safely in their homes as long as possible.

Download a copy of United Way's 10 Year Goals

Our Strategy

Achieving our goal requires us all to become more aware of health risks and the potential effects they have on ourselves and others, starting from before birth. Working to change policies and practices, such as extending health care coverage, will enable more people to live healthier lives.

Our Programs

• Covering California's Children • First 5 - Early Childhood Projects • Healthy Kids Santa Barbara County

• Oral and Visual Health Assessments and Treatments • Prescription Drug Discount Card • Senior Caregiver Coalition

Health Facts

More than 33% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. That’s 25 million kids and teenagers.

Children with health coverage are better prepared to learn in school and succeed in life.¹

The number of Americans without health insurance has increased steadily since the beginning of the century, now totaling about 47 million. More than 80% are working families.²

8.7 million children live without health insurance – more than the total number enrolled in the first and second grades in U.S. public schools.³

¹Institute of Medicine. From Neurons to Neighborhood: The Science of Early Childhood Development. Washington DC: National Academies Press, 2000.)
²Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the March Current Population Survey, 2007 Supplement.
³Compiled by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC), University of Minnesota School of Public Health, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey 2007.

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