Our Work - Health

by Nicole Milbradt, Sr. Marketing Associate & Events Manager

We believe education, income and health are the foundation for a good life. Good health is critical for everyone, especially families with children. United Way has always supported this area by funding a safety net of essential human services. Now we want to also address some of the systemic issues and achieve long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place.
Here in Pierce County we’re focused on improving access to health care, in particular increasing enrollment in state and federally-funded healthcare programs for those who may not have other coverage. One of the keys to improving people’s health is access to quality medical services.
Our goal is to improve people’s health by improving access to critical health care services and by increasing the health of children and adults through education and prevention.
One in eight people in Pierce County does not have health insurance. Seventy percent of children who are uninsured are eligible for coverage but their families don’t know how to get access.
Here are a few ways United Way is addressing the problem:

• United Way partnered with the Client Outreach program to help uninsured apply for and receive the benefits they are eligible for. These efforts have resulted in thousands accessing coverage and millions in health care costs being recovered.
• United Way also partnered with dentists in the community to launch the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program, which provides low-income families access to dental care. Since its inception, the program has served 18,000 children.
• Free cataract services worth several hundred thousand dollars to be provided by private and public entities to individuals unable to afford such care.
• United Way of Pierce County launched the annual Tacoma City Kids Marathon, in conjunction with the Tacoma City Marathon, to encourage kids to engage in healthy activities and community service.
• In addition, United Way helped convene the people needed to improve health care access in rural communities that would be most affected by a natural disaster, like the eruption of Mt. Rainier.

WE WANT TO KNOW…What health issues do you think affect children the most?