UWKC putting needs assessment into action

In looking to help low-income families who came from low-income families, the UWKC and Chesapeake Charities, along with community partners, offered a workshop program called “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World.” The program ran last year at the Baywood Village affordable housing rental community in Fairlee.

A second iteration of “Getting Ahead” is set to launch soon. An orientation meeting is being held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 4 at the Kent Family Center, 115 South Lynchburg St., Suite B, Chestertown. Child care and lunch will be provided.

Speaking Feb. 26, UWKC Executive Director Beth Everett said the program is for “people who think they could be doing better and don’t know how.”

“It’s open to anyone who feels that they are stuck,” she said.

In looking at affordable transportation, the UWKC and Chesapeake Charities are working with the Washington, D.C.-based Community Transportation Association of America, with assistance from federal funding.

While the funding has been delayed due in part to the last government shutdown, Everett said the UWKC has enough cash on hand to get the effort started. She said two consultants met last week with Chesapeake Charities and with business leaders in Kent County.

“They are finding things are not what they thought,” Everett said.

Everett said in seeking to determine a starting point for the study, the CTAA consultants heard from business leaders that the main issue is not people being able to get to and from work, which had been a previous assumption, but more along the lines of challenges getting to medical appointments.

Another issue is the barrier for people to get driver’s licenses.

Everett said it used to be that a driver’s license meant freedom for teenagers, providing the ability to drive somewhere and see friends. She said technology has, for some children, made that less important, especially if their families cannot afford driver’s education classes, a car or insurance.

Addressing transportation needs also may require new ways of thinking about public transportation.

Everett spoke about how the ENACTUS Club at Washington College is seeking to bring an electric vehicle ride-sharing program to Chestertown. She said perhaps there could be a similar program with locations throughout the county.

On Feb. 19, the commissioners issued a proclamation declaring it 211 Maryland Month. Present at the meeting were 211 Maryland President and CEO Quinton Askew, UWKC President Glenn Wilson, UWKC board members Jean Austin and Mary Fisher and Everett.

“We are here to help. We are excited about the partnership with Beth and the Kent County United Way and we look forward to the great things we are able to do to assist the residents here in Maryland,” Askew said.

Like 911 and 311, 211 is a three-digit hotline people can call. Operators can then connect callers with resources that can help them find mental health and substance abuse treatment, assistance with a utility bill and childcare support to name a few.

“If you dial 2-1-1, on your phone, you will get to a call center — in this case it’s the one in Salisbury — and those folks will be able to direct you to a resource in Kent County to assist you,” Wilson said at the commissioners meeting. “It’s a whole variety of resources.”

Last year’s needs assessment showed the 211 database did not include many of the UWKC’s member agencies serving Kent County residents. The UWKC focused efforts on increasing the number of agencies signed up with the hotline.

Speaking Feb. 26, Everett said she is getting requests from many people in the county for 211 informational materials to direct people to the hotline.

“So it’s getting off the ground,” she said.

For more information on the “Getting Ahead” program, contact Brianna Lentell at 410-810-3790 or blentell@kentgov.org.

To learn more about the UWKC, visit unitedway ofkentcounty.org.