Become An Advocate
for our community
Advancing public policy is crucial for our success as a community
Our work doesn’t stop at understanding our community’s needs and connecting individuals and families with the direct services they need to achieve long lasting success. United Way of Summit & Medina advocates at the local, state and national level for policies that advance our Bold Goals for 2028, including the basic needs of our community. Our longstanding community connections and firsthand experience help guide policy makers as they tackle the problems that face Summit & Medina counties.
Public Policy Engagement
United Way of Summit & Medina provides direct services to hundreds of thousands of people in an eight-county region. Our ecosystem of services connects people to the help they need while providing support until they achieve their goals.
Engaging in public policy and advocacy is vital to the mission of United Way of Summit & Medina – a powerful way to drive long-term change and address the effects of poverty throughout our communities. We engage in public policy and advocacy to leverage our knowledge, partnerships and influence to shape decisions that impact our community.
We provide a unique, nonpartisan platform where our engagement with policymakers can make a meaningful difference. Our work puts people at the center of a system of support, giving them personalized help to meet their needs – from necessities like housing to ongoing support like financial counseling. And help is always just a phone call away.
United Way of Summit & Medina’s
2024 Policy Priorities
Financial Empowerment, Access and Recovery
Financial Empowerment
We support policies that empower individuals and families to become financially secure and self-sustaining, including additional funding for community programs focused on financial empowerment, accessing safe and affordable banking, increasing savings and eliminating debt. We advocate at the federal level for continued support of Volunteer Incomer Tax Assistance (VITA), a refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and an extended Child Tax Credit (CTC).
Broadband Connectivity
We support policies that increase the accessibility and affordability of broadband Internet. It’s critically important to have equitable access for all Summit and Medina County residents who need this for digital learning, workforce development, telehealth, and to reduce social isolation of seniors.
Benefits Cliff
We advocate to ensure working families do not lose essential public support faster than they can earn income to replace them. We support policies and legislation that remove disincentives to wage progression and gainful employment, implements transitional periods off benefits, and/or increases the eligibility thresholds for childcare subsidies.
Community Focus
211
We advocate for state and federal funding to leverage 211 as a key partner of state government to meet pressing needs. We educate legislators and the administration on the key role 211 plays in stabilizing individuals by addressing social determinants of health, quickly linking them with needed resources such as food and housing, directing individuals to mental and behavioral health services, and assisting local governments during emergencies.
Housing
We advocate for local expansion of eviction mediation programs which allow landlords and tenants to minimize the adverse effects of evictions. We support policies that promote development of safe and affordable rental units for low- to moderate-income households in Summit and Medina counties. We advocate for sustained and increased state and federal funding for programs to reduce homelessness and housing instability and allocation of state dollars to help with the housing crisis by augmenting federal dollars, such as the Homeless Crisis Response Program administered by the Ohio Department of Development.
Medicaid and Infant Mortality
We advocate for stable Medicaid eligibility and limit work-reporting requirements. We support continued funding through the Ohio Department of Medicaid for evidence-based programs that are working to reduce disparities in infant mortality.
Education, Literacy and Wraparound Services
Early Childhood
We advocate for increased support for quality early learning programs and resources needed to keep staff and students safe. We educate legislators on the importance of high-quality education and the Step up to Quality standards currently in place. We support Universal Pre-K for all of Summit & Medina counties.
Wraparound Services
We advocate for continued funding in wraparound services for school-aged kids and their families. When families need health and wellness programs, United Way of Summit & Medina provides Family Resource Centers located in several Akron Public Schools that support the basic needs and wellbeing of students and their families.
Imagination Library
We advocate for the continued funding of Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library which provides a new book, once a month, for free to children under age 5 enrolled in the program. It’s imperative for kids to have access to books in the home to support early literacy.
Be an Advocate For Change
Make Your Voice Heard
There are many ways to be an advocate and to educate yourself, members of the community and local, state and federal legislators. Two simple ways to become involved are ensuring you’re registered to vote and knowing who your elected officials are. Make your voice heard!
Have questions, or are you looking for more ways to advocate for your community? Email us to start the conversation.
Register to Vote
Find Your Elected Official
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Our system puts people at the center. We break down the barriers that prevent our neighbors from getting help by working in, with and for our community to build lasting solutions.