UR Community Cares Expansion Plan

UR Community Cares was founded in 2019 to create a scalable solution for better community connections for every town in Connecticut. We oversee all enrollments, provide technical support for users, program development, we use our proprietary website database and its Salesforce reports to give quarterly reports to partners on user data. In 2020 we expanded our services for those individuals that do not have devices (computer or smartphone) or Internet for digital inclusion. We provide digital equity for those that don’t have Broadband/Internet. We use technology to benefit low income/illiterate individuals, so they can have same opportunity for better mental and health outcomes. We created Partner accounts to provide digital equity for aging and disabled residents that don’t have local family support. For those that have devices or may receive new technology at home, Volunteers can provide training for them directly in people’s homes. Learning about cyber security, how to use the device can take multiple visits to make sure the person fully understands. UR Community Cares Mission UR Community Cares provides the connection that helps older adults and people with physical disabilities live safely at home through community-based volunteer support. URCommunityCares.org provides an innovative solution for Connecticut to support their current and future population of older adults and people with temporary or permanent physical disabilities. We securely enroll and match community members in need with local volunteers who provide free home-based assistance. Participants are background-checked (personal identification required, 48-72 hours processing time) for the safety of all parties, and there are no restrictions in terms of income, assets, benefits status, race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Volunteer support allows people to stay in their homes as they are aging, and they can have better health outcomes as a result of improved access to transportation, companions, decrease fall risks by having assistance with household and outside chores. Improving intergenerational community connections for those with and without the internet. Connecticut has many older and physically disabled adults, we seek to help fill in the gaps at the community level. Our secure technology for home-based support will directly benefit these at-risk populations, as well as their family caregivers, local support agencies and participating volunteers who provide social connectedness for the greater good. Improved health outcomes and reduced risks of fall/injury. Intergenerational volunteer-based support is a necessary component for people in need.
We are seeking help on how to scale our organization to all towns in Connecticut and replicate in other states. Our goal is to be a nationwide organization, but we need the funding model in Connecticut to be able duplicate.
Create staffing plan to plan for scaling beyond Connecticut; including governance in various states. Volunteer engagement plan-Generate ideas on how to grow the volunteer base. Research all avenues to obtain funding and develop a plan to implement funding. Develop an operational and staffing model to support the organizational structure that will be needed. Develop a strategy to approach and develop short-term and long-term business relationships. Design an approach and presentation to engage Utility Companies. Create an integrative plan to support the business from its current state in order to grow throughout the state. Make recommendations for a model to use in other states.