Agenda for Community Impact - United Way / Centraide Windsor ...

MAKING A
Case for Change
In 1999, United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County Board of Directors
undertook a review of its activities to make sure that it remained
relevant, given the number of changes happening in the community. This
internal reflection resulted in a refocus and return to our Core Purpose,
to be a “resource to the total community”. It is the role of United Way, in
partnership with the community, to ensure that programs and services
funded continue to meet the changing needs in our community.
And our community was changing; the nature of the challenges and
problems is becoming more and more complex. Given this situation the
board recognized that, to continue to be effective, the way that United Way
carries out its role as a resource also needed to change.
In October 2001, a paper titled, “The Way of the Future, Building a Strong
Community – Neighbourhood By Neighbourhood,” was presented to the
community by United Way. The Paper outlined the impact of changes to
the health and social services system, the implications of these changes,
and United Way’s role in planning for community response.
The changes in our community included:
· Population growth, particularly in many of the County
municipalities;
· Changing demographics, including an increase in diversity
provides new opportunities and
challenges;
· A shift in government and core services and funding
priorities;
· Changes in the Voluntary sector;
· Increased competition for funding;
· Recognition of the complexity of many issues in our
community and the need to address the root causes of
problems.
Despite all the money raised and the services United Way and others
provide, many problems in our community are growing. To address these
complex issues there is a need to deal with the root causes that create
them.
This means new ways of thinking and new actions. A Community Building
Framework was identified as the most effective way to make this happen.
A SNAPSHOT OF
Windsor - Essex County
· The total population of
Windsor-Essex County
is 374,975 (2001), an
increase of 7% in the five
years between 1996 and
2001;
· The immigrant population
represents 21.5% of the
total population in our
community (2001); we
are the 4th most diverse
community in Canada;
· 33% of our local labour
force participate in
Manufacturing and
Construction and this area
remains the top industry;
· Lone parent families
have become a
significant presence in
our community, LaSalle,
Tecumseh, and Kingsville
have experience significant
increases in the number
of lone parent, primarily
female-led families;
· Of the total number
of private dwellings in
Windsor-Essex County,
73% are owned, and 27%
are rented;
· In 2004, there were 59
family physicians per
100,000 people in our
community, compared to
85 physicians per 100,000
in Ontario.
AGENDA FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT
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