From summer meals to literacy tools, United Way supports programs that help children, families and communities.
United Way works with our partners to support families with programs and initiatives that support children as they learn and grow, put education tools at parents’ fingertips, and help people keep and grow their earnings.
Browse programs and resources below, or call our 2-1-1 helpline for assistance with finding a program that meets your needs.
Resources
Child Care and Early Education
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Child Care Checklist
The Child Care Aware Checklist gives parents a list of important questions to ask care providers to find one that is right for their family.
Child Development Associate training
Through our partnership with Leaps and Bounds, child care providers can receive assistance with training to help them earn their CDA certificate and improve their quality rating.
Early Childhood Resource Center
The Great Start to Quality Wayne-Oakland-Macomb Resource Center provides training, support and a lending library of materials to caregivers and parents.
Call 1-877-614-7328 for assistance.
Early Childhood Support Network
United Way leads the Southeast Michigan ECSN region, providing support and assistance to child care providers in the State of Michigan’s Great Start network.
Find Child Care
Great Start to Quality
Families can find quality, star-rated care and other helpful resources through Great Start to Quality.
Find Child Care in Wayne, Macomb, Oakland and Washtenaw Counties
Connect4Care Kids
Connect4Care Kids is an online tool to help parents and caregivers in Southeastern Michigan access affordable, quality child care.
Kids’ Health Connections in Wayne County
Kids’ Health Connections (formerly the Wayne Children’s Healthcare Access Program (WCHAP)) educates and empowers parents to better manage their child’s health care.
Parent and caregiver support
Early Learning Communities
United Way Early Learning Communities connect parents and caregivers with resources, training and support to aid in children’s development and education.
Text tips for parents
ParentPowered
ParentPowered is a text messaging service for parents of children ages 13 and younger. The service sends helpful tips around education, health and development based on your child’s age.
Education
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Summer Discovery
Summer Discovery
Students and families participating in Summer Discovery will explore their interests, engage in their communities, and discover their potential through robust enrichment and academic programming. This free program provides fun learning experiences to support the whole child in their educational journey and life beyond the classroom.
Family Finances
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Financial workshops and coaching
Centers for Working Families
In partnership with Detroit LISC, United Way supports the network of Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families. CWFs provide financial coaching and workforce training to help people on their path to financial stability.
Tax preparation assistance
Through our partners Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency and Accounting Aid Society, United Way supports the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, providing individuals and families with free in-person and virtual help with tax preparation.
United Way also partners with H&R Block to provide MyFreeTaxes.com, a free online tax preparation tool.
Utility assistance
MEAP
The Michigan Energy Assistance Program helps families keep their monthly energy bills affordable. It also helps them connect to other income support programs.
Will Preparation
FreeWill
As a thank you for being a friend of United Way, FreeWill is delighted to help you create your legal will. It’s 100% free to you, and most people finish in 20 minutes or less.
Food and Health
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Kids’ Health Connections in Wayne County
Kids’ Health Connections (formerly the Wayne Children’s Healthcare Access Program (WCHAP)) educates and empowers parents to better manage their child’s health care.
School breakfast
Better With Breakfast
United Way’s Better With Breakfast initiative helps schools make free breakfast available to all students. Parents and elected officials can find resources to learn how to make their school Better with Breakfast.
Summer meals for children
Meet Up and Eat Up
Meet Up and Eat Up summer meal sites serve more than 1 million meals to children every summer.