Building a Healthy Community
Health is a central tenet of a great quality of life. Good health keeps kids in school and keeps adults employed, which helps keep households stable.
By investing in the health of 4,500 more residents in Story County, we can chip away at the inequities that keep people from succeeding. Health services can range from in-home hospice to mental health, substance abuse counseling to healthy food.
Health & Resiliency in Story County
We strive to enhance food security by implementing innovative programs and collaborative initiatives that address the specific needs of our community. By uniting our efforts, we can develop sustainable solutions that provide reliable access to nutritious food for all in Story County.
NOTE: Data from 2019 or most recent year available. While these indicators are not the only ways to assess food security in our community, these are data points that illustrate that there is a need in our goal area.
Nearly 20,000 people are food insecure in Story County
- 10.2% of people in Story County are food insecure
- 31% of Iowa State University students (low to very low security)
- 27.3% of children qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch
Increase access and awareness of healthy food programming
- Fund programs that provide meals and nutrition education
- Strengthen inter-agency partnerships through Story County Hunger Collaboration
- Host annual LIVE UNITED Food Drive to collect high-need items and educate the community about local needs
40% more people served through programs UWSC invests in
- 1,029 individuals participated in healthy food access/ nutrition programs
- 20+ food pantries serve people from all Story County zip codes
- 724,740 meals served annually through partner agency programs and services
Our mission is to foster a supportive environment through innovative programs and collaborative initiatives that address the unique needs of our community. By working together, we can create tailored solutions that enhance mental health and well-being for everyone in Story County.
NOTE: Data from 2019 or most recent year available. While these indicators are not the only ways to assess mental health in our community, these are data points that illustrate that there is a need in our goal area.
Limited resources especially for counseling services and crisis support
- 10% of all youth deaths in Story County were by suicide in 2022
- 14% of adults reported 14 or more poor mental health days
- 2,751 adults with independent living difficulty
- 420:1 ratio of Story County residents per mental health provider
Increase access and awareness of mental health services
- Invest in programs that provide mental health services and education
- Promote 211 resources for people in crisis
- Facilitate opportunities for social connection through collaboration groups and public events
298 mental health programs available to Story County residents
- 1,779 people were provided with mental health services
- 8,865 participants in mental health awareness programs
- 11,406 hours of counseling provided annually
- 84.9% of those surveyed reported improved quality of life
We strive to promote physical well-being by developing innovative programs and collaborative initiatives that address the distinct needs of our community and create pathways to improved health and fitness for every resident in Story County.
NOTE: Data from 2019 or most recent year available. While these indicators are not the only ways to assess physical wellbeing in our community, these are data points that illustrate that there is a need in our goal area.
12% of adults report fair or poor health
- 1,550:1 resident to primary care physician ratio
- 1,950:1 resident to dentist ratio
- 4.6% of Story County residents have no health insurance coverage
Increase access and awareness of local health services
- Promote safety
- Promote community health clinics
- Provide prescription cost-savings cards
+129% increase in individuals who received regular check-ups
- 473 community health clinics offered
- $14,264 saved through SingleCare prescription cost-savings cards
- 93% of individuals surveyed reported feeling increase physical safety
Our Local Investments & Initiatives
LIVE UNITED Food Drive
Hunger is real. The statistics are scary and steady. More than one in four children in Story County continues to be eligible to receive free/reduced lunch.
Once summer break starts, these children won't have access to school-provided meals. Therefore, the need for food at local food pantries is even greater during the summer months.
BackPack Program
Story County's Free and Reduced Lunch rates have risen, with one in four students affected. To support at-risk students over weekends, the United Way of Story County launched the BackPack Program™, providing backpacks filled with food for students during weekends and extended breaks.
Summer Meals
UWSC is doing even more to help meet the summer demand by coming together with other community organizations to run summer food programs through Summer Learning programs throughout the county.
Story County Hunger Collaboration
Despite our efforts to address the problem, we know that the number of people in our county who go to bed hungry at night is much higher than most of our general population recognizes. Because of that, we developed a Hunger Collaboration to work with others in our community to create a plan that educates our communities that there is a need and to work together to significantly reduce the incidence of hunger in our community.
SingleCare Prescription Cards
UWSC has partnered with SingleCare to bring a free prescription discount card to Story County. The card works like a reusable prescription coupon on all FDA approved medicines. Anyone can use it. You can even use it if you have health insurance, both during deductible periods and for anything your insurance doesn't cover.
Download a printable card online! If you don't have a printer, simply pick one up at our office (315 Clark Ave. in Ames) anytime we're open.
Partner Agencies
Indicators
Our Clear Impact Scorecard helps us keep track of how well the programs we fund are doing. By looking at this data, we can see what works and how to better support the community. This way, we make sure our efforts really make a difference.
Healthy Community Indicator #1
Story County residents have access to enough food and healthy food. - LEARN MORE
Healthy Community Indicator #2
Children, youth, and adults are emotionally/behaviorally and socially well - LEARN MORE
Healthy Community Indicator #3
Story County residents are physically well - LEARN MORE