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Connect the Dots is a series of topical papers presented by the Omaha Community Foundation to begin a conversation on subjects that matter to our community.
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Welcome to "Connect the Dots," a series of informational papers which the Omaha Community Foundation is developing in the hope of drawing public attention to issues of importance to our community.
The first is literacy. The ability to read, write and quantify is the essence of "literacy." It's a force that can deliver positive change while its unfortunate flip-side - low literacy - contributes to a litany of ills, from unemployment and loss of worth to family problems and crime.
Literacy is a major contributor to self-sufficiency. A national study showed that every dollar invested in one of the major literacy programs generates a $33 gain the earning power of each student. An improvement in literacy results in a reduction in dependence on public assistance among students. Seventy percent of adult welfare recipients function at the lowest levels of literacy.
So there are human and financial costs, but the greatest of those is doing nothing. The literacy situation requires public attention. This paper aims to answer some key questions so that public discourse, hopefully, turns into action:
- How major a problem is low literacy?
- How great an opportunity do we have by raising literacy?
- What are the barriers to increasing literacy or achieving full literacy?
- How do the Omaha Metro Area and Nebraska compare to the USA; and the USA to the world?
- What impact does literacy have on jobs and employers?
- What groups are working to raise literacy levels in our area?
These and many other issues are explored in the following report. | |
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The second in our series of informational papers is Early Childhood Health Issues.
A growing body of evidence and expertise suggests that the time from birth to five is life’s most significant period. It is the time of greatest vulnerability and yet greatest opportunity. These are the years when so many things can go right or wrong that entire lifetimes – even whole families and communities – are positively or negatively affected.
This informational paper addresses early childhood health issues from the following perspectives:
- Physical Issues Affecting Early Childhood Health
- Mental Issues Affecting Early Childhood Health
- Social Issues Affecting Early Childhood Health
- Interventions: Points in Each Life Where the Right Choice Makes a Critical Difference
Click on the link below to read the entire paper. | |
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The most recent in the Foundation's series of topical papers is entitled, "Adolescent Health Issues".
For many young people, the "between years" are relatively ordinary. For some, adolescence can be a maelstrom. Understanding this critical phase of human development and the myriad physical, mental and social issues that our youth face today is an essential assignment for all of us.
To read more about the "between years", click on the link below.
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