United Neighbors Community Partnership
The United Neighbors Community Partnership (UNCP) is a collaboration of over 40 community and state agency representatives, religious leaders, local government staff and concerned citizens. After over a year of strategic planning and conducting extensive resident surveys, the partnership has developed 3 priorities; to increase access of resource information to families and providers, parent advocacy and violence prevention. The UNCP has created task forces to impact these priorities. These committees are collaborating with other groups in the city to create networks of support to address the issues identified. Some of our current collaborations are with Healthy City Fall River, the City of Fall River's Youth Services Program, the Fall River School Department, the Fall River Police Department, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office and many others!
UNCP Violence Prevention Task Force
To read the article about the task force's latest event, click here
To read an article published in the Herald News on Violence Prevention, click here
To view photos and read the article on the first community meeting, click here
MYFallRiver.org
United Neighbors of Fall River is working with Healthy City Fall River and Partners for a Healthier Community, Inc. to bring the My Fall River.org website to Fall River. Vanessa Funfsinn, Americorps Vista, is working with United Neighbors on Mondays to help kick off this community website! Vanessa can be reached at 508-324-7900 on Mondays.
The Facts About Foster Care Community Awareness Campaign
While dining in restaurants throughout the Greater Fall River Community, you may learn a little more about foster care! The United Neighbors of Fall River Foster Care Support Task Force has initiated a new project in the Fall River area to raise awareness of the vast needs of foster care. These placemats display pictures of children and answer many of the questions people may have about foster care. The hope is to raise community wide awareness and support. United Neighbors to date has distributed over 100,000 placemats in the Greater Fall River areas. The Task Force expanded this campaign and has distributed over 60,000 color flyers through the Fall River Public Schools and has made color posters with the same message available throughout the city. We have also launched a city bus campaign with the same theme and the Durfee High School FRED TV has produced a foster care PSA.
The campaign is now being expanded across the state. We have provided workshops for other communities across the state wishing to implement this campaign in their communities. The Facts About Foster Care Campaign (c) was developed by the Fall River Foster Care Support Task Force in 2006. Anyone wishing to adapt this campaign into their community should contact Jenny DiBlasi for more information: jldblasi@comcast.net.
Thank you to our participating restaurants!
Jukebox Diner ~ 1155 GAR Hwy., Somerset Gina's Restaurant ~ 950 Wilson Rd., Fall River Dunk N Munch ~ 4263 N. Main St., Fall River Tony's Restaurant ~ 1393 Rodman St., Fall River |
Goodfellers Pizzeria ~ 1856 Pleasant St., Fall River St. Michael's Club ~ 63 Webster St., Fall River Ponderosa Steakhouse ~ 728 GAR Hwy., Swansea Savas Pizza ~ Somerset Save Sum Direct |
Facts About Foster Care Bus Campaign
Currently, the Facts About Foster Care Bus Campaign is running until the end of December 2007. We have signs on the side of 6 city buses and 30 interior signs (like the one shown above) inside the buses.
The United Neighbors of Fall River ~ Building Bridges Bag Project
The Building Bridges Bag Project was an expansion of our previous Welcome Family Bag Project. The Building Bridges Bags are full of Community Resource brochures, a Basic Needs Resource Booklet, Information on positive parenting, health issues, child safety items, prevention materials and other assorted items. These bags are provided at no cost to any parent who is in need of being connected to their community, in need of services or just need information. The goal of this project is to help prevent child abuse and neglect by strengthening families. By connecting families with much needed resources and information in their community, they are better able to meet the basic needs of their families.
Currently, we are distributing the Building Bridges Bags through: The Fall River Public School Department, Department of Social Services, Fall River Housing Authority, People Incorporated, Child & Family Services, Fall River Family Resource Center, WIC and the Homeless Education Coalition. We are also in the process of connecting with Charlton Memorial Hospital to provide these bags to new parents.
The bags contain items on nearly 100 community services, information on gangs, being a mother, tobacco prevention, substance abuse, talking with your teen about drugs, breast cancer, prostate cancer, healthy eating, single parenting, disciplining your child, affects of family violence and so much more! They also contain items such as: medicine spoons, bandaid holders, toothbrushes, etc.
The bags are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and coming soon in Khmer.
If you are an organization, Medical Center or agency that would like to provide these bags to the families they work with, please contact our office at (508) 324-7900 or email us at jldiblasi@comcast.net.