Greater Twin Cities United Way Unveils Policy and Advocacy Agenda for 2023 State Legislative Session

New priorities include early childhood trauma-sensitive care, housing stability for youth and adults exiting foster care and incarceration

MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 19, 2022) — Greater Twin Cities United Way today unveiled its policy priorities and advocacy agenda, including two new lead issues, for the 2023 Minnesota state legislative session. Informed by 100 nonprofit partners, coalition partners, staff and other key stakeholders, the agenda focuses on policies and funding that promote trauma-sensitive early child care and education for children ages zero to five, prevent homelessness for youth exiting foster care and adults transitioning out of incarceration, and address the impacts of the benefits cliff, to help address immediate community needs and transform inequitable systems.

United Way’s Three Lead Advocacy Issues for the 2023 Legislative Session Are:

• Increase investments to stabilize the early child care and education workforce and expand access to culturally responsive, trauma-sensitive early child care and education for all children prenatal to age five.
• Provide holistic services to prevent homelessness and build pathways to stable housing for populations experiencing high risk of housing instability, such as youth exiting the foster system and those transitioning out of incarceration.
• Advance policies that remove systemic barriers and mitigate the impacts of the benefits cliff to create pathways toward economic independence for working families.

“Advocacy is key to eliminating disparities and changing inequitable systems in our region and state so all people can thrive,” said John Wilgers, President and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way. “Informed by our stakeholders, Greater Twin Cities United Way’s advocacy agenda includes issues important to our community, including trauma-sensitive early child care and preventing homelessness for foster youth and adults leaving incarceration. Through funding and policy changes, we believe we can make a real impact in addressing these challenges while also supporting long-term system solutions.”

United Way surveyed its nonprofit partners and other stakeholders to better understand important issues for the organization to support at the Capitol. This information, coupled with real-time data from United Way’s 211 resource helpline and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, informs United Way’s policy and advocacy agenda.

“By engaging our nonprofit partners and stakeholders before drafting our agenda, and integrating their feedback, we address pressing needs, strengthen community relationships and center trust and community perspective into our legislative work,” said Susan Carter, Greater Twin Cities United Way’s new director of advocacy and external engagement.

Learn more about Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 2023 Policy and Advocacy Agenda.

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About Greater Twin Cities United Way: Greater Twin Cities United Way unites changemakers, advocates for social good and develops solutions to address the challenges no one can solve alone to create a community where all people thrive. The organization serves the community through five key offerings: Crisis and Information Support (211 resource helpline, 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline), innovation initiatives, nonprofit partnerships, advocacy work with legislators, and business and individual donor partnerships. For more information, visit www.gtcuw.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Liz Skree, Greater Twin Cities United Way, liz.skree@gtcuw.org, 651-334-7764