Improving health and wellbeing for all.
United Way of Greater New Bedford increases access to basic needs and strengthens physical, mental, and social wellbeing to support safe and healthy communities.
- Nutrition & food security
- Mental health
- Maternal & child health
- Substance misuse
UWGNB Healthy Community Initiatives
Hunger Commission
The Hunger Commission provides food and logistical support free of charge to programs that support families and individuals in need. Program partners include established pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and Council on Aging centers.
Mass 211
Free, confidential hotline that provides 24/7 support for those looking for local resources such as finding government benefits and services, nonprofit organizations, support groups, volunteer opportunities, donation programs, and other local resources.
SingleCare
Find a better price on prescription medications by as much as 80% for uninsured or underinsured families and individuals.
Healthy Community Community Impact Partners
Program Name: The Caring Network
Award Amount: $20,000
Since 1996, Caring Network has been providing free psycho-educational groups to children between the ages of 4-14 that have witnessed or were victims of violence in their home, school or community. The groups help children work productively through the trauma associated with witnessing violence. Strategies, skills, and educational components include identifying feelings, understanding abuse is not their fault, stress reduction, and safety procedures. The program also serves to help reduce feelings of isolation, increase selfesteem and improve conflict resolution skills Groups run once per week for a period of 8 to 10 weeks to address the violence children are exposed to every day through society, family, media and neighborhoods. At the start of a group cycle, a treatment plan is created to help facilitate discussions and is reviewed/updated to reflect the needs of the group as sessions progress as necessary. Pre/Post tests are used to help evaluate group effectiveness.
Program Name: New Bedford Equity Now: Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic
Award Amount: $20,000
Health Imperatives provides confidential, high-quality sexual and reproductive health services to 200 low-income, uninsured, or underinsured mothers and children at the Orchard Street clinic in New Bedford. In response to community needs, clinic hours will expand from three to four days weekly, with added focus on harm reduction services and client assistance for transportation, food, and basic needs like snacks and clothing.
Services include pregnancy testing, birth control, STI and Hepatitis C testing and treatment, HIV prevention and testing, HPV vaccinations, cancer screenings, colposcopy, cervical cell removal, gender-affirming hormone therapy, and annual exams. A Harm Reduction Specialist offers counseling, outreach, and direct linkage to care, while also assisting clients in securing health insurance. These comprehensive services aim to improve health, foster stability, and enhance the well-being of New Bedford residents.
Program Name: Recovery Support in Greater New Bedford
Award Amount: $20,000
Herren Project is a national nonprofit organization providing free resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. We have three main areas of our work: individual recovery services, family support services, and prevention and wellness. We offer all of our services free of charge. Our individual recovery services include treatment placement assistance and recovery coaching and housing scholarships. Once individuals have completed treatment, we offer scholarships for 7 weeks in recovery housing and six months of recovery coaching. This past year, 87% of our scholarship recipients achieved a 90-day sobriety milestone, which is much higher than the national average of 37%-60% based on substance and other individual factors. Our distinctive family support services empower family members to best care for themselves and navigate their loved one’s addiction so they can begin to heal and rebuild the family. These services include one on one consultations with a licensed clinician, 26 online family and grief support groups, and educational webinars. 79% of support groups participants have reported an improvement in their mental health. Herren Project is committed to the prevention of substance use disorder and overall personal wellness. Our school and community initiatives encourage substance-free living, empower people of all ages to celebrate who they are and bring positive awareness to the disease of addiction. We have 309 Herren Project Clubs in schools across the country including 50 in Massachusetts. The request for this grant is for our individual recovery services in the Greater New Bedford area.
Program Name: Student Mental Health and Wellness Services
Award Amount: $15,000
Nativity Prep is committed to providing counseling services to its students through a service agreement with North Star Learning Centers, Inc. These services include one-on-one counseling, support, and advocacy. Additionally, professional orientation and guidance is provided to teaching faculty and staff to support the mental health needs of students.
Program Name: Supporting Students for Academic and Life Success
Award Amount: $15,000
OSS added a full-time school counselor in 2022 to support student well-being and academic success with an emphasis on social-emotional and communication skills that align with the School's standard for social interaction. The current school counselor provides individual and group counseling and collaborates with teachers and parents.
Program Name: New Beginning Moms Do Care
Award Amount: $10,000
Program Name: New Bedford Women's Graduate Program
Award Amount: $20,000