An unprecedented survey by the United Way of the Treasure Valley is identifying overlooked issues, inspiring new partnerships and energizing fundraising.

The survey has confirmed the vulnerability of one-parent households, especially among minority populations. It has identified the fastest-growing homeless population in the area: single mothers with children younger than 5. And it showed that no matter the issue — poverty, hunger, dropout rates, kids’ access to dental care — “the situation is always graver in Canyon County,” said Neva Geisler, United Way’s vice president for community engagement.

The survey also is getting local organizations focused on creating a shared community vision, then combining many pockets of good works into a unified force.

The information, said Geisler, is a “jumping-off point” to help set the direction for future projects in the organization’s three focus areas: education, financial independence and health.

Saint Alphonsus, St. Luke’s and Elks Rehab Health Systems, along with Boise State University and the Utah Foundation, partnered with United Way to do the survey.

A NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS

Deciding to do a survey like this was itself a new kind of collaboration between local agencies such as Boise’s biggest health care providers.

“At Saint Al’s, we’ve done community-needs assessments every three years,” said Corey Surber, the hospital’s director of advocacy and community benefit.

The new federal health care law requires all nonprofit hospitals to do local needs assessments. “We knew St. Luke’s would also do one. It made no sense for everyone to gather the same data,” said Surber.

United Way acted as a neutral party to help the organizations come together. It helped prevent duplication of efforts. And it gave all community organizations the data they need to focus their money and efforts on the Valley’s biggest needs.

HELPING ONE PROJECT TAKE OFF

Not surprisingly, the survey also highlighted Idaho’s high suicide rate — 10th highest in the United States. The survey calls Idaho’s lack of a suicide hotline, which closed down years ago, an “identified gap.”

Local groups have been working to reopen the hotline, including the Speedy Foundation, which came together last summer after the suicide of Olympic ski-jumper Jeret Peterson.

Having the clout and focus of the Community Impact Plan boosted the effort.

“Saint Al’s has been on the Idaho Council for Suicide Prevention. We’ve been struggling with the hotline issue for years,” said Surber. “We were eking along. But with United Way coming to the project, it took off.”

The hospital, as well as the Wells Fargo Foundation, made donations toward the $250,000 needed to fund the line for two years. United Way organizations from across the state also contributed.

“The survey validated other work that has been done to curb suicide and energized the fundraising effort,” said Surber.

With a few more donations pending, Surber believes enough money will be raised in the next few months to reopen the service.

AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT COLLABORATION CAN DO

The survey also is spotlighting overlooked issues.

Nora Carpenter, executive director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho, said that she and her staffers have long known that organizations provide lots of educational and healthy living programs for very young kids, and lots of programs for high school students. There’s not much for middle-schoolers.

They’re overlooked, though factors that lead students to drop out of school take root early, often in the middle school years.

“The survey helped us clarify where those gaps were,” said Carpenter.

The club is one of five organizations (along with Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County, Boys & Girls Club of Nampa, Girl Scouts Silver Sage Council and the Treasure Valley Family YMCA), trying to reach kids in the in-between years. Boise Sunrise Rotary also is supporting the project.

The Youth Leadership Collaborative works with 25 students (five from each organization), who come from challenging backgrounds but show leadership potential. “We thought that if that potential were uncovered, nurtured and allowed to grow, these students would excel,” said Carpenter.

The group meets regularly for hands-on service and educational projects. A recent example: making Red Cross care kits for displaced families. Students had to figure out the kits’ contents, organize massive piles of toothpaste, soap and other supplies, and then organize themselves into work teams. Each group came together differently, but they all found a way to get the work done, said Carpenter.

“We wanted them to learn good decision-making skills, what leaders do, what leaders look like,” she said. “One little guy, when they were done, said, ‘I’ve never made a decision that big in my life.’ ”

The group’s next meeting is in February. Students will spend their day working with an expert who teaches “seven habits of highly effective kids.” Students will also make valentines for veterans.

“This youth project comes out of the idea that through collaboration, and identifying a problem, we can all come to the table, and tackle the problem,” said Carpenter.

WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE

Now that the survey is done, United Way and the others have hosted “stakeholder sessions” to share survey information with organizations in the community.

Sessions for health and financial independence took place late last year. The final session on education is Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 in Boise.

The research has created the opportunity for people to come together and is already “resulting in some excellent outcomes, like the progress on the suicide hotline and the EITC/IDA (earned income tax credit/individual development account) program,” said Geisler. “We'll continue to look for opportunities for that kind of collective impact.”

Anna Webb: 377-6431