United Way addresses FVC funding issue

Van Wert independent/United Way information

With the news that one of its member agencies, the Family Visitation Center, is closing its door, a United Way of Van Wert County official provided some explanation on its funding process and why the Visitation Center received a lower amount than sought.

The United Way has been privileged to serve the Van Wert community for nearly 90 years and takes very seriously the obligation and trust it has been charged with by the community: to be good stewards of contributed dollars, according to Board President Meghan Dicke.

“Community needs are matched with financial resources to achieve the best results for the betterment of the people of Van Wert County”, states Dicke.

Dicke also explained that the United Way funding process. First, the Admissions and Review Committee, comprised of community volunteers, spend countless hours reviewing funding applications and making their recommendations to the United Way Executive Committee. The Executive Committee then presents the recommendations to the Board of Trustees, which discusses and votes on which requests are to be approved.

“Funding recommendations are discussed at three different levels,” Dicke continued, adding that the decision made in regards to the Family Visitation Center was not one that came lightly. “It was discussed at length during the Admissions and Review process before a recommendation was made.”

Dicke said United Way funding of $3,558 represented just 7.7 percent of the Visitation Center’s overall budget, with the other 92.3 percent of the budget coming from the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners, and state and federal governments.

In addition to the Family Visitation Center, Dicke added, seven other United Way agencies also saw a reduction in their allocation.

In the case of the visitation center, United Way funds would not have done much to solve its funding problems, she said.

“There were just not enough funds to meet the full request of $9,156,” Dicke explained. “We knew that it was going to be difficult for the center to remain open because of program funding being reduced by the state and federal government.

“Unfortunately, we could not in good conscience continue to fund a program that was going to see major reductions and/or elimination of its major funding sources,” she said.

Dicke did say the center could appeal the United Way funding decision. Each agency filling out a funding application is provided with a written appeals process. If an agency does not agree with the funding decision, it can request a meeting with the executive director within 10 working days to review the funding application and factors involved. If an agency feels the situation has not been resolved, it can then request a meeting with the Admissions and Review Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Trustees.

The Crisis Care Line did not appeal its funding amount, according to Dicke.