Supporting. Serving. Uplifting.
We believe that the well-being of our community is centered around the well-being of our children and families. And it’s our mission to support organizations who serve them, particularly our community members with the greatest economic need and least opportunity.
Please join us in celebrating our grantees and their hard work in supporting, serving, and uplifting children, families, and especially women this Women’s History Month.
Supporting Women’s Health, Starting at Pregnancy
Healthier Moms and Babies’ mission is to prevent infant mortality and improve the outcome of pregnancy in our community. “We provide prevention programs where we walk alongside our community’s most vulnerable women and men, providing them support, encouragement, and advocacy,” shared Paige Wilkins, executive director, Healthier Moms and Babies. “When the women we serve feel encouraged and supported, they feel empowered to make life-impacting changes for themselves and their growing families.
“Allen County has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the state, with preterm birth being the leading cause. We need to be proactive if we really want to move the needle on infant mortality. Allen County has a preterm rate of 13%, and Healthier Moms and Babies’ preterm rate is 6%, which speaks volumes to the services we provide considering the high socioeconomic and medical risk factors the women we serve are facing.”
Supporting Women Throughout Motherhood
SCAN’s Prevention Services support women and children in Allen County by giving mothers the confidence they need to navigate life as parents.“When mothers gain an understanding of child development and their children’s capacity, they are able to support this natural process and prepare their children for success academically, socially, physically, and emotionally,” explained Whitney Craig, marketing & communications director at SCAN. “Studies repeatedly show that success in early childhood leads to long-term wellness.
“A lot of things about life are harder than ever. With SCAN, parents don’t have to feel alone in navigating stressful situations such as discipline, medical diagnoses, financial issues, and developing stable family relationships. We continue to see that having someone to talk to and get resources from is empowering and leads to lasting family change.”
Empowering Professionals Who Help Kids, Families
Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES offers training, resources, and education for professionals with an emphasis on the principles of positive youth development. “Today we know that the individuals we live, work, and engage with have a collection of experiences throughout their childhood that has formed the person they are today,” said Amanda Miller, director, Great KIDS. “Gaining knowledge and skills using a strengths-based lens enables professionals to build upon the existing strengths within the child (and their family) and to encourage resilience within both that will pay dividends and encourage independence throughout their lives.
“It’s crucial for us as adults to form relationships with children that meet their needs and give them the security and resilient qualities they need to make healthy choices.”
Protecting Women
YWCA Northeast Indiana meets women when they are in crisis and helps them become self-sufficient, which includes providing education about healthy relationships, parenting, and generational violence to break the cycle of domestic violence,” explained Paula Hughes-Schuh, CEO, YWCA Northeast Indiana.
“COVID-19 has led to an increase in the severity of domestic violence cases, including the frequency of death. The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) reported a 102% increase in domestic violence related deaths from March 1, 2020 – December 2020 compared to the same period the previous year. The increase can directly be attributed to results of COVID, i.e. isolation, economic stressors, increased alcohol consumption, and reduced access to services.
“The services YWCA Northeast Indiana provides to victims of domestic violence, such as emergency shelter, safety planning, and advocacy, are needed more than ever to prevent fatalities and the cycle of abuse from continuing.”
Supporting Aging Populations
Homebound Meals delivers hot, medically tailored meals to residents in Fort Wayne. “When people have limited control over their environment for whatever the reason, having someone check specifically on them lifts their spirits. We’ve always said our deliveries are about checking on them as much as taking them the meals,” said Barb Umber, executive director, Homebound Meals.
“This service is crucial for at-risk individuals, including those who are aging or have disabilities, because they’re more likely to actually eat meals and it will help them stay in their homes longer.
“COVID has sent the already-challenged into a major tailspin. We are hearing from all kinds of people who have put together their sustenance in a band-aid way from multiple sources. With transportation, contact, and supply chain issues, our clients have far fewer choices. We can help them.”
Because of mission-driven, well-governed, and results-oriented organizations like Healthier Moms and Babies, SCAN, Great KIDS make Great COMMUNITIES, YWCA Northeast Indiana, and Homebound Meals, Allen County residents have access to the resources and tools they need to increase their self-reliance.