By Rich Peterson
Kitsap County United Way President
In December 2010, three community partners established the Kitsap Community Health Priorities (KCHP).
The initial sponsor group was led by Dave Foote, executive director of United Way of Kitsap County, Scott Lindquist, director of Kitsap Public Health District, and Bob Cross, public relations director Harrison Medical Center.
In 2013, Kol Medina, executive director of the Kitsap Community Foundation, and Doug Washburn, director of Kitsap Human Services, were added to the sponsor group and leadership team.
The sponsor group provides leadership and coordination for the Community Health Improvement Process in Kitsap County. Community health is defined as: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
The KCHP process is collaborative among diverse community partners working to determine the most critical community priorities. The 2014 KCHP results found the following community issues in priority order:
1. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs, for example: child abuse/neglect, alcoholic/drug addicted parent, loss of a family member as in death or abandonment, homeless, etc.).
2. Mental Health (many issues due to ACEs).
3. Affordable Housing and Homelessness.
4. Prevent/Reduce Obesity, especially in our youth.
For several years, United Way of Kitsap County has been moving towards becoming a Community Impact (CI) United Way. The simple definition for CI is: “Improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community.”
KCHP has accomplished that by bringing together diverse groups of community members and organizations to review and analyze data specific to Kitsap County to determine those issues most critical to improving the lives of people in our community.
From the beginning, United Way promised to strategically prioritize resources based on the KCHP results in order to advance the common good and work collaboratively with local organizations.
The goal: “Work towards positive outcomes that help individuals and families lift themselves out of poverty.”
Our strategic plan calls out ACEs as it relates to Early Childhood Learning, building resilience against ACEs and preparing children to enter kindergarten; homelessness and affordable housing as it relates to shelter for the homeless and keeping families in safe housing; health as it relates to healthy lifestyles and youth obesity as well as helping to meet basic needs.
Today, United Way is fulfilling that promise to target resources towards community priorities that will aid in building resilience to ACEs, school readiness, the reduction of poverty, homelessness and encourage healthy lifestyles choices especially in young children and adolescents.
We have also established a solid community partnership with the Kitsap Community Foundation in support the Kitsap Great Give and a partnership with the foundation, the Suquamish Tribe and the Gates Foundation to build community philanthropy and to reach out to other partners to educate the community on adverse childhood experiences to help increase the resiliency in our children.
These are important steps forward in our evolution as a Community Impact United Way and to be more to the community than just a collector and grantor of funds.
It is true when we say, “We can do more united than we ever can alone.” United Way, our partners and the community working together, targeting and tackling real problems and issues is the key to making a better life and a better community for everyone.
We hope that you will join us on our transformation as we strive to truly impact the community in which we work to advance the common good of our community.
You can help. You can Give by making a pledge today to United Way and help impact the community. You can advocate for your favorite cause. You can volunteer at your favorite charity or during the United Way Day of Caring in June.
Give, advocate, volunteer: Live United. It’s a credo, it’s a mission, it’s a goal. It’s a constant reminder, when you reach out to one you influence the conditions of all. Please help United Way, by calling 360-377-8505 or go online at www.unitedwaykitsap.org.
