Programs & Resources
Or keep scrolling to learn about all of our programs and resources.
211
Help Starts Here.
211 Services
Established July 1, 2005, 2-1-1 Riverside County, a program of Community Connect, has been the program for linking people to the services they need, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The 2-1-1 Riverside County Resource Database stores detailed information about community agencies and the services and programs they provide. Over 800 non-profit and governmental human service agencies with more than 2000 programs are listed in this database.
Community members can dial 2-1-1 toll-free, from any landline in Riverside County (and some wireless providers as well), when they have a need. On the other end a number of trained Information/Referral Specialists expertly match the caller's need with the best resources in the caller's area
The goal is not to become a clone of 4-1-1, but rather to ascertain how best to help the caller receive what she/he needs. Sometimes in asking questions the Information/Referral Specialist can discover a need the caller had not identified initially and help meet it as well.
2-1-1 provides callers with information and referrals to health and human services for every day needs, and in times of crisis.
For example, 2-1-1 can offer access to the following types of services:
Basic human needs resources including food, clothing and shelter
Physical and mental health resources
Drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation
Employment support including job training and transportation assistance
Support for senior citizens and people with disabilities
Support for children, youth and families
Childcare services
Legal help
Hospice Care
Summer Camps and recreation programs
Protective Services
If you are in need of services or information and referrals, please dial
2-1-1 or 800-464-1123,
or visit www.connectriverside.org.
RX Discount Card
The Coast2Coast Rx Card is a free prescription discount card provided by township, city and county governments – and by local United Way organizations. The program includes participation by U.S. pharmacies to provide annual savings up to 55%. Savings on a single prescription range from a few percent up to 75% (sometimes more) off the retail price of the drug. Cardholders save on both brand name and generic drugs. All members of a family can use the card. It is always FREE and the card can be used immediately. There are no age, income or other exclusions. There are no forms to fill out. Simply take the card to one of the 59,000+ participating pharmacies to start saving today.* The Coast2Coast Rx Card has been endorsed by the State County Associations in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico and Utah.
Cards are available to:
Anyone who does not currently have health insurance
Anyone who does not have prescription coverage
Anyone who is purchasing a medication not covered by their insurance
To print your savings card, please click here.
To find a participating pharmacy, please click here.
Born Learning
Imagine if every child had five years of quality education before kindergarten.
We know what happens in a child’s early years matters – for school readiness and success in life. Yet many parents and caregivers don’t know how to prepare young children for school, or feel like they don’t have time to do what’s needed. It's easier than you might think. Everyday moments are teaching moments!
Born Learning provides practical tips and tools to help parents and care-givers provide quality early learning opportunities for young children.
Born Learning is built on three cornerstones: awareness, education, and action.
It is necessary for parents and caregivers to realize the opportunities available each day to teach their children valuable lessons, without having to change their routine. Born Learning takes early learning research and translates it into activities and educational tools for parents and caregivers.
The educational materials for Born Learning are user-friendly and designed to help parents and caregivers understand how to prepare their children for school.
BornLearning is broken down into three different initiatives and two volunteer projects:
BornLearning Academy (Coming Soon)
Ages & Stages: Your Child @ Series
Parent Tools: Everyday Moments Series
Understanding Children Series
Host a BornLearning Literacy Kit Drive & Party (Volunteer Project)
Host a BornLearning Community Baby Shower (Volunteer Project)
For more information on Born Learning initiatives or projects, please contact Anthony Richardson by email, [email protected], or call (951) 697-4710.
Day of Action
When people unite for the greater good, every day is a day of action.
Join us and make a difference in your community June 20-22, 2019. For more information, fill out the form below and you will be contacted by our staff with details.
Early Grade Literacy
A child who cannot read by the 3rd grade is four times less likely to graduate from high school.
If you are interested in becoming a collaborative partner on this initiative, please contact Cordell Thomas at [email protected], or by calling
(951) 697-4700.
Third grade is considered the pivotal milestone in a child's education.
Children learn to read by the 3rd grade, and then read to learn for the rest of their lives. The Early Grade Reading Program is designed to develop literacy skills, improve silent reading fluency, and increase comprehension and vocabulary skills so that every child has the opportunity to succeed in school and life. United Way of the Inland Valleys partners with agencies to bring early grade literacy programs to children in Riverside, Perris, Murrieta, and Temecula.
United Way of the Inland Valleys created this early grade literacy program for Western Riverside County. This after-school program provides students with access to computer based software designed to identify learning barriers and disabilities in children ages Pre-K to 5th grade.
The program is tailored to the unique needs of each student to help them overcome personal barriers to reading fluency. In addition, the content difficulty and duration of activities are based on the student's response rate so that they are able to proceed at a pace that corresponds to their own reading skill level.
The program is currently offered in partnership with the Community Settlement Association of Riverside and the Perris Valley Family Resource Center and focuses its efforts on children identified to be most 'at risk'. Most of the children come from the neighborhoods where families are defined as low income; experiencing higher unemployment rates, and astounding school drop out rates. Over the course of the last 3 years, the Early Grade Reading Program has impacted more than 180 children giving them the opportunity and motivation to succeed in school.
FIT Programs
Financial Independence Training for Foster Youth 18-24 Years Old
FIT Academy
A key component to United Way's vision to end youth homelessness in Western Riverside County, the FIT ACADEMY provides financial literacy workshops to current and former foster youth.
Upcoming FIT Academies to be Scheduled
Cohort: Riverside Community College District – Guardian Scholars Program
Cohort: Moreno Valley College – Guardian Scholars Program
Cohort: University of California, Riverside - Guardians
2019 FIT Schedule
Event: FIT Academy
Dates: April 10th through May 15th
Attendees: By Invitation Only
Agency: Rising Stars Business Academy Youthbuild
Location: 12125 Day St, Moreno Valley, CA 92557
Event: FIT Graduation
Date: TBD
Attendees: FIT Graduates and guests
Agency: United Way of the Inland Valleys
Location: Announced in Invitations
Event: FIT Academy
Dates: June 8th through July 13th
Attendees: By Invitation Only
Agency: Aspiranet & Olive Crest
Location: To be announced
To learn more about FIT and how you can get involved, contact Cordell Thomas at [email protected] or at (951) 697-4719.
Created by the Foster Youth Financial Action Collaborative of United Way of the Inland Valleys
The FIT ACADEMY provides financial literacy workshops to current and former foster youth. United Way's vision is to end youth homelessness in Western Riverside County, and the FIT Academy is a key component to make this happen.
United Way of the Inland Valleys’ FIT Academy Partners:
Department of Public Social Services, Axis Foundation, Aspiranet, Springboard Credit, Inc., Oak Grove, Olive Crest, Rancho Damacitas, Housing Authority, iFoster, and Inspire
GEMS
Girls Excelling in Mathematics with Success
A program created by Dr. Pamela Clute
VISION
To inspire a love for math and science in 7th grade girls, and to encourage STEM-related careers.
Demographics
100% Female
80% Low-income
60% Hispanic
15% African American
20% Caucasian
5% Asian/Pacific Islander
Outcomes
Through GEMS, young women:
Stay focused on career goals and educational attainment in STEM-related studies
Improve mathematics performance through enrichment activities emphasizing critical thinking
Form positive attitudes toward STEM that may not have existed before participating in the GEMS program
Events
GEMS STEM Fest
550 7th grade girls are recruited from Moreno Valley, Perris Union, Val Verde, Banning, Beaumont, Murrieta, and Temecula USD for an event that includes local mathematicians and a panel of esteemed female STEM professionals from the Riverside County area. Events are held at Bourns Inc. in Riverside and Abbott in Temecula.
GEMS Summer Academy
A one week mathematics and science academy for girls who attended the GEMS STEM Fest.
GEMS University & STEM Corporate Tours
Participants in the GEMS program witness first-hand the type of education required for their careers with tours of STEM-related businesses and a tour of a 4-year university in the field of math or science.
To learn more about GEMS and how you can get involved, contact Cordell Thomas at [email protected] or at (951) 697-4719 or Jennifer Thornton at [email protected]
Thank you to our sponsors!
SoCal Edison
Thank you for your many years of supporting this program!
Abbott Temecula
Thank you for making the Southwest County launch possible.
Real Cost Measure
The United Ways of California have produced an insightful, and data-based report about the Real Cost Measure in California.
This report details the actual costs for families and individuals to thrive in the neighborhood where they live. We know that the measure of a good life is access to quality healthcare, education, and financial stability. Now we can see how we measure up in those areas, and where we have room to improve.
We've included a snapshot of the Riverside County data as well as the cover of the entire report. You can download the report here and you can download county specific data here, or by clicking on either of the photos below.
If you are the type of person who believes that every person deserves a good quality of life, then you are the type of person who needs to join our fight for the education, health, and financial stability of every person in our community. That is what it means to #LiveUnited
Tax Prep Help
It’s free.
Did you know California has a new Earned Income Tax Credit for working families? It’s called the California Earned Income Tax Credit (Cal EITC) and it is modeled after the federal credit. With the combined credits eligible families can get up to $6,000 back after filing their taxes. What would you do with an extra $6,000 dollars?
To get your cash back, simply file your state and federal tax returns; and if you qualify, you can file for free right here in Riverside County. Call CAP Riverside at 951-955-4900 or find a free tax preparation site:
Read an article that appeared on Fox Business about United Way's work to help get the word out about free tax assistance. It's your money - go get it!!