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Public Policy

Public Policy Priorities

In 2020, United Way Quad Cities (UWQC), together with community partners, established Rise United 2030 — a long-term, community-wide framework to improve education, financial security, and health outcomes that strengthen student success, workforce participation, and family stability.

Local data and partner experience show that progress depends on addressing these areas together and supporting approaches that work in the Quad Cities.

Elected leaders play a critical role in achieving these outcomes. The priorities that follow identify where state and federal policy can most effectively remove barriers, strengthen systems, and accelerate measurable progress in our community.

  • Policy Alert
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group-of-elementary-age-kids-standing-in-a-line-at-school

Education

We will focus efforts on strengthening supports for families and child care providers, funding for schools and school- based services, and targeting resources to advance the region’s Rise United education goals and address the root causes of low academic performance.

Learn more about our education priorities
mother and three kids sitting outside on a couch

Financial Security

We will work to reduce barriers to employment for at-risk families, expand access to living wage careers and aligned training pathways, and address regulatory issues that negatively impact the financial well-being of at-risk individuals.

Learn more about our financial security priorities
mother smiling as young daughter runs into her arms

Health

We will closely monitor the implementation of recent changes to key health and food benefits and advocate for resources to support medium-to-long term care for high need individuals, with attention on impacts to Rise United goals.

Learn more about our health priorities

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Public Policy
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group-of-elementary-age-kids-standing-in-a-line-at-school

Education

We will focus efforts on strengthening supports for families and child care providers, funding for schools and school- based services, and targeting resources to advance the region’s Rise United education goals and address the root causes of low academic performance.

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mother and three kids sitting outside on a couch

Financial Security

We will work to reduce barriers to employment for at-risk families, expand access to living wage careers and aligned training pathways, and address regulatory issues that negatively impact the financial well-being of at-risk individuals.

mother smiling as young daughter runs into her arms

Health

We will closely monitor the implementation of recent changes to key health and food benefits and advocate for resources to support medium-to-long term care for high need individuals, with attention on impacts to Rise United goals.

Iowa Priorities

Education

  • Support parity in bi-state region for CCAP program eligibility to ensure consistent access for working families
  • Support expansion of full-day, high quality pre-school options
  • Address administrative delays of CCA reimbursements to providers
  • Promote funding for apprenticeships. work-based learning, and career & technical education, including Iowa’s 260 programs

Financial Security

  • Advance Scott County eligibility for regional transit authority
  • Eliminate the retirement savings penalty for Medicaid
  • Support legislation to combat predatory lending practices
  • Support increased funding for workforce housing, affordable housing, and homeless services

Health

  • Promote funding to address need for medium-to-long term mental health services for high frequency users
  • Monitor and address potential issues with SNAP and Medicaid benefit change implementation
  • Promote funding to address food deserts and access to nutritious food
Illinois Priorities

Education

  • Align with and support the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood
  • Promote funding for high-quality full-day preschool
  • Engage with Illinois State Board of Education and Governor’s Office on statewide numeracy plan
  • Address administrative delays in CCA reimbursements to child care providers
  • Promote funding for apprenticeships, work based learning, and career and technical education

Financial Security

  • Eliminate the retirement savings penalty for Medicaid
  • Support legislation to combat predatory lending practices
  • Support increased funding for affordable housing and homeless services

Health

  • Promote funding to address need for medium-to-long term mental health services for high frequency users
  • Monitor and address potential issues with SNAP and Medicaid benefit changes
  • Promote funding to address food deserts and access to nutritious food
Federal Priorities

Education

  • Support the Child Care Modernization Act
  • Maintain and grow funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
  • Maintain and grow funding for Head Start and Early Head Start
  • Increase access to work-based learning, apprenticeships, and career and technical education through improved funding and regulatory relief

Financial Security

  • Monitor and support effective implementation of short-term/workforce Pell
  • Promote regulations that combat predatory lending practices
  • Promote modernization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
  • Maintain and grow investment and eligibility of core housing programs including CDBG, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and HUD Continuum of Care funding

Health

  • Support efforts to lower costs for families accessing insurance through ACA markets
  • Monitor and share impact of changes to Medicaid and SNAP in local community
  • Promote increased funding to allow SNAP recipients and food banks to access healthy, whole foods and ready-to-eat meals
Smiling volunteer woman sitting next to a young girl with a magazine.

Education

We will focus efforts on strengthening supports for families and child care providers, funding for schools and school- based services, and targeting resources to advance the region’s Rise United education goals and address the root causes of low academic performance.

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