Over the past years, we at United Way of Utah County have learned more and more how crucial it is that the community at-large comes together to support our kids. Because of this, we have focused our efforts more intently over the past decade on supporting the children of our community and the people who surround them. It has been humbling to see how much great work has been done during that time, particularly in the areas of resilience and literacy.

In recent years, emotional health has emerged as a significant area of concern for the children and youth in Utah County. While this can be a complex topic, we’ve learned that there are many things that parents and trusted adults can do to help our kids learn resilience. United Way’s EveryDay Strong initiative provides education and resources that support families in this process.

Since the launch of the initiative five years ago, thousands of families have received the tools they need to build resilience. To date, over 80,000 EveryDay Strong handbooks containing tools and resources have been distributed in our community. Over 160 training workshops have been held and more than 18,000 families have been trained in the EveryDay Strong model of resilience. The principles of safety, connection, and confidence are becoming second nature for many Utah County families.

The success of the EveryDay Strong initiative testifies to the power that comes when families, neighbors, friends, teachers and other trusted adults work together to support our kids. Building resilience is not a one-time deal; it’s a process that involves learning and requires patience. But by continuing to promote these principles, we can help make sure our kids have access to the tools they need.

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Another area of concern for local kids that has become even more important over the past couple of years is literacy. Literacy skills, particularly in early childhood, lay a strong foundation for future educational success. In order for our kids to start strong, we need to help them develop literacy skills from their very first years. The EveryDay Learners initiative has been helping parents and other trusted adults incorporate literacy into their children’s daily lives for years. Thousands of books have been put in the hands of local kids through partnerships with programs such as Sub for Santa. These efforts, although they may seem small, have a huge impact on the lives of our kids.

One place that exemplifies the impact that such efforts can have is the South Franklin Community Center. Each year, hundreds of families participate in programs that not only provide them with essential resources but also build relationships. Just this spring, over 300 families are registered for programs. In the past years, one of the most impactful of these programs is the STEM program for kids. This program, which has received amazing support from Dr. Ryan Nixon and his students in Brigham Young University’s Teacher Education department, introduces kids to a variety of STEM topics. This program not only supports learning, but also builds confidence among its participants.

While these successes are exciting and inspiring, it’s important to remember that our efforts are ongoing. Over the past two years, we’ve seen both great progress and great challenges. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our kids’ emotional health and on their educational progress have been severe. Many kids are in greater need of support than they have been before, and there are many facing barriers that have yet to be surmounted.

The good news is that we can all help. There are so many simple, easy steps that we can take to support the kids in our lives and our community. Making a difference doesn’t have to be hard — all it takes is a commitment to showing up and being there for our kids. You can change the future of our community by being there for our kids today. Together, we can help make sure that our kids are ready to face the future with resilience, with hope, and with the skills they need to succeed.

To learn more about EveryDay Strong, EveryDay Learners, and other programs that support local kids, please visit http://unitedwayuc.org.