Comal County Needs Assessment
United Way Comal County
Brief History of the Comal County Needs Assessment
In 2002, a few UWCC Board members expressed concern that the county had changed so much that the United Way needed to examine how it determined who and what organizations received funding. With a little research, the board learned that there were more than 400 501(c)3 non-profit organizations listed for Comal County. Also in that research, the board learned of a UW office in Pennsylvania with a similar population but was raising twice the money and helping twice the number of people. The board later invited the Executive Director from Pennsylvania to give a workshop for the United Way of Comal County board members.
This Director became a consultant and returned in 2006 for a follow up meeting. Out of that process came two initiatives:
In 2007, the United Way of Comal County secured the financial and directional support of several organizations to support the Assessment:
Later that same year, the United Way of Comal County signed a contract with the University of Texas, School of Public Health to conduct the Assessment.
Another contract was signed with the University in 2014 to update the data in the 2008 Assessment and to include Guadalupe County data. Those organizations that supported this work include Christus Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels, City of New Braunfels, McKenna Foundation, New Braunfels Area Community Foundation, Resolute Health, United Way of Comal County, and the United Way of Guadalupe County.
More than $100,000 has been committed to this project along with hours of dedicated support that resulted in hundreds of interviews, community and neighborhood meetings, and statistical compilation. The result of this project will provide: