Health Impact Area
Health Vision Statement:
United Way of Broward County's vision is that every person in our community has the opportunity to achieve optimal health and personal safety.
Scope of Health Impact Area:
Support of access and availability of essential preventative and supportive health programs and services for individuals and families.
- Maternal health and infant well-being
- Healthy children and families
- Healthy and active older adults
- Child abuse prevention
- Substance abuse prevention
- Chronic illness support services
- Physical disability assistance
- Mental health programming
Health Initiatives
Senior Health NOW
Senior Health NOW (Nutritional and Optimal Wellness) is a collaborative effort focused on making sure Broward County seniors receive the nutrition and medical support they need. Pooling their vast experiences and connections to create this program are: Broward Meals on Wheels, Broward County Department of Elderly and Veteran Affairs, Broward County Mass Transit, FLIPANY, Senior Volunteer Services, and Nova Southeastern University.
Growing older can be a daunting situation, especially for seniors with limited financial means. Many are forced to choose between food and medicine. Senior Health NOW efforts are centered on providing nutrition information, as well as prescription and medication management assistance to promote improved health among seniors that allows them to live independently in their own homes. The goal of this program is to delay the onset of disease and help participants enjoy improved health and wellness.
United Way is providing $750,000 over three years to Senior Health Now.
Supporting Broward’s Military Families
This initiative focuses on the emotional and mental health needs of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) returning service members, veterans and their families through educational, social and recreational programs, outreach and referrals. The program design allows military families to access services, benefits and referrals, from a centralized location. Through this initiative, veterans, returning soldiers and their immediate family members will receive support as they transition and readjust to life in the community and at home. Service providers will also receive training to ensure an understanding of the culture of the military family and will use the knowledge gained to improve service delivery.
This initiative is a collaborative effort led by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8195 and Nova Southeastern University. Urban League of Broward County, Henderson Behavioral Health, and Senior Volunteer Services have also partnered with VFW Post 8195 in order to ensure seamless service delivery.
Our funded partners will serve 300 veterans/service members each year of the three-year contract. Services include outreach, referrals, case management, supportive services, and mental health assessment, counseling, and treatment.
Program Goals:
• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) returning soldiers successfully readjust and reintegrate into the community in which they live.
• Military families that participate in the program are connected and supported by the community in which they live.
• OIF and OEF returning soldiers maintain or regain structure and functionality within their family unit.
United Way is providing $750,000 over three years to a selected provider.
