Impact Communities

YOUTH IN DALLAS, NAVARRO & ELLIS COUNTIES ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF OUR SEVERE FUNDING CUTS!

With an 88-year legacy, Impact Communities is a CRUCIAL non-profit organization serving Dallas and Navarro counties. Despite being designated the 2023 Texas Prevention Organization of the Year by HHSC, the funding they have granted us for 20+ years has been cut by a staggering 60 percent.

As a result of this substantial funding cut, 60 percent of at-risk students will no longer receive our services, and their parents will no longer participate in positive alternative activities.  These activities are designed to educate adults about what their students are learning, how they're growing in awareness of their resiliency and worth, and how the adults can continue teaching them at home.

Despite our severe loss of operating funds and staff cuts, the Impact Communities team, including you and your family, is resilient and nimble.  

For instance, not long after receiving the devastating news about funding, our Impact Navarro Coalition, in partnership with the city, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Corsicana's first ever Sensory Playground. What started as an idea quickly turned into a coalition action plan that was supported by many community partners. Thank you to everyone who helped make the community's dream a reality!  

Groundbreaking:  Impact Communities Sensory Playground

Safe Haven Baby Box Installation 

We also hosted a blessing of the first Safe Haven Baby Box at a fire station in Corsicana.  A Safe Haven Baby Box is a designated location where parents can anonymously and safely leave an infant they are unable or unwilling to care for. The process involves opening the box's secure door, placing the baby inside, and then closing the door. Once the door is shut, a sensor alerts authorities to retrieve the baby.  These boxes aim to prevent unsafe abandonment and ensure that infants are placed in proper care, following legal protocols.

We want to continue this work and many more projects. But frankly, without funding, we won't be able to. Due to the severe cut, we will lose the ability to convene stakeholders who understand prevention and advocate for it regularly in Dallas and Navarro counties. 

We have a lofty goal of raising $75,000 by the end of the year. Rest assured any donation you make will stay within your county. We know how important that is for you.

Without your funding, fewer youth will be supported with our programs. 

Do you think we can risk it?

 Youth prevention programs are designed to address the following significant needs within our communities:

• 30 percent of high school students report using alcohol in the past year
• 20 percent of high school students report smoking marijuana in the past year
• 21 percent of high school students say they used any illicit drug in the past year
• 14 percent of 11th graders reported using e-cigarettes in the past year
• 20 percent of students think about suicide “often or a lot”

To remind you, a child's brain is not fully developed until the middle 20s, so any substance ingested is detrimental to healthy brain growth.

We believe the risk is too high and hope that you agree.  Please support our youth by making a donation today!  Thank you.