Health
United Way improves and promotes the physical and mental health of our community. We strive to increase the number of healthy youth and adults and have them avoid risky behaviors. Twenty-two percent of United Way of Southeast Mississippi’s overall community investment is devoted to health-related programs.
Community Investment Partners in this area include:
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ARC (Association for Rights of Citizens with Disabilities)
The ARC provides many services to individuals with mental retardation and other disabilities and their families.
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D.R.E.A.M. of Hattiesburg (Drug-free Resources for Education and Alternatives in Mississippi)
DREAM provides drug and alcohol awareness and prevention and an after-school enrichment program to help youth and families lead healthy, drug-free lifestyles.
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DuBard School for Language Disorders
This school offers intensive instruction for children with severe language/speech disorders and/or hearing impairments.
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Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi
Girl Scouts empowers girls and teaches them to live healthy lifestyles through a pathway of services including in-school and traditional troop activities.
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Living Independence for Everyone (L.I.F.E.) of Mississippi
LIFE provides advocacy, referral, support, equipment and training for persons with disabilities in order for them to live as independently as possible.
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Pinebelt Association for Families
This organization offers health, nutrition, recreational and support programs for families in which grandparents or other relatives are raising grandchildren.
Meet Zac
Zac Jones had always struggled in English and reading but excelled in science and math. He was tested for dyslexia as a child but was not properly diagnosed until 2009, when he was 17 years old. The high school senior then began outclient therapy at DuBard School and immediately started making progress. After just one year of therapy, his ACT score nearly DOUBLED, and his grades improved in all academic areas.
Zac advanced to the community college level and plans on a career in science. He continues therapy twice a week and says his reading improves each month. "Within two months of starting therapy, I could tell a difference at school," Zac said. "I was reading better. I could sound out words and understand their meaning. My grades continue to improve." Zac is another example of your United Way donations at work!