Basic Needs Investment Strategies 2012-2014
UWSEM is supporting result-oriented projects and programs that deliver services to individuals and families in need. UWSEM will fund organizations that
provide basic resources and assist those in need in two basic ways: 1) first, to navigate the safety net of community services; 2) to move away from that safety
net and achieve positions of financial stability and general self-sufficiency. As UWSEM aligns its work in the areas of Financial Stability and Basic Needs, we are
examining ways to leverage our investments to create the greatest impact. We have concluded that we can maximize the impact of our investments if we
concentrate our resources in communities where we are making a difference already. Therefore, one of our investment strategies in 2012 is to select agencies
in communities where there are UWSEM initiatives already in place, such as a
Target High School,1 an Early Learning Community or a Center for Working Families.
UWSEM FUNDING FOCUS
GOALS FOR THE FAMILIES
Create an investment process that:
 The household income is sufficient and well managed.
 Provides a client-centered approach to delivery of services.
 The family has safe, adequate and affordable housing.
 Removes barriers to access and navigation of services.
 The household can choose to purchase the food the family needs.
 Integrates services to put individuals and families on the path to
 The household has a way to provide for all basic needs of healthy daily living
self-sufficiency.
 Family has the mindset that you can make the future better than the past.
 Creates networks to meet a variety of community needs.
 Ties specific metrics to the self-sufficiency matrix.
 Focuses on sustainability and the leveraging of existing resources
Strategies
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKS
 Invest in pilot projects to create networks to better
serve individuals and families through formal
collaboration, information and data sharing, barrier
removal and integrated services. Initial investments
will focus on neighborhoods served by target high
schools.
 Create Neighborhood Networks comprised of a
variety of partners, with a designated lead
organization.
 Maximize assets, capacity and impact throughout
neighborhoods to move individuals and families from
crisis to self-sufficiency.
REGIONAL ALLIANCES
 Invest in existing or new regional networks to
improve the social safety net through systems change
across the region.
Key Deliverables
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Demonstrate how the network has been effective in collectively moving clients through
the service provider network under an integrated services model.
Increase the number of individuals and families moving along the continuum from crisis
to self-sufficiency.
In addition to the deliverables listed above for Neighborhood Networks, Regional Networks will:
 Demonstrate how the regional network is improving the safety net.
 Address systems change across the region.
 Increase efficiencies.
 Demonstrate client movement towards self-sufficiency as a result of systems change.
BRIDGING THE GAP
 Fund partners throughout the region who are
providing essential services for individuals and
families in crisis and moving them in the direction of
self-sufficiency.
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Increase in the number of individuals and families accessing benefits (public and private)
and services.
Increase the number of individuals and families moving from crisis to self-sufficiency.
Demonstrate a strong network of community relationships and linkages in community to
ensure that children and families are getting the services needed to move them toward
self-sufficiency.
FOOD - BEST PRACTICES
UWSEM will invest in the following best practices:
 Integrating and expanding food distribution.
 Accessing food-related benefits.
 Supporting child nutrition programs such as school
meals, after school feeding and summer feeding sites.
 Creating “Super Sites,” which provide meals year
around so families will know they can always access
food.
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Supporting the goal of reducing child hunger by 50%.
Increasing the number of individuals served.
Increasing the number of meals provided.
Facilitating systems change to remove barriers to food access.
INNOVATION
UWSEM investments will focus on innovative practices as a
result of the safety net study conducted in 2010. Innovative
practices include:
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Supporting Family Independence Initiative.
Expanding Michigan Benefits Access Initiative.
Implementing Collective Impact approach to change.
Targeted High Schools include: Hamtramck High School, Pontiac High School, Central High School, River Rouge High School, Melvindale High School, Lincoln High School, Osborn
High School, Harper Woods High School, East Detroit High School, Madison Heights High School, Henry Ford High School, and Cody High School.