22 percent of American children live in poverty. We focus our work in some of our nation’s most distressed and under-served communities, where poverty is high and opportunities are limited. We also respond to disasters that occur right here in the United States. These accomplishments represent some of our 2012 impact:

Achievements made possible in 2012 with the support of World Vision donors in the United States.

Achievements made possible in 2012 with the support of World Vision donors in the United States.

Achievements made possible in 2012 with the support of World Vision donors in the United States.
Poverty and its related problems produce a sense of hopelessness among young people in poor communities across America. Teenagers are often dismissed as part of the problem and rarely valued as part of the solution, especially in our most vulnerable areas. Young people who feel helpless, isolated, and unconnected to school, work, and other basic social structures are far less likely to make a successful transition to productive lives as adults. The Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) equips young people to become agents of change, capable of creating positive futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Unlike many student leadership development projects, World Vision’s program engages young people from high-risk neighborhoods. Find out how the YEP is impacting the lives of at-risk youth and even inspiring their leaders to change policies in Washington, D.C.

We maximize and multiply our impact by working in partnership with over 3,000 local organizations, rather than limiting our services to what we could do alone. These community-based groups make sure that help gets to the children and families who need it most. We strengthen what’s already working.
Our primary consideration is the level of child poverty. In the United States, we find pockets of poverty with the same outcomes for child health and education as in the developing world.
Another key factor is the expressed interest of local nonprofit organizations in partnering with World Vision to meet community needs.
Every struggling community in America has faith-based and community-based organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children and families. Most of these groups are under-resourced and overworked because the need is so great.
Rather than duplicate their efforts, World Vision comes alongside them to help them be even more effective with the tools and resources we offer as a strong international organization with years of community development experience.
Families living in poverty are often forced to choose between buying food, paying rent, or buying new clothes and shoes for their children. We provide new, high-quality donated products to our partners to distribute to these families. This includes clothing, shoes, personal hygiene items, household goods, home repair materials, and school supplies.
We also train organizations that work with high-risk children and youth for more effective mentoring, academic assistance, and youth empowerment. We especially focus on community solutions that engage young people in the transformation of their communities. Training topics include: 40 Developmental Assets for Children and Youth, Effective Academic Mentoring, Child Protection, and Advocacy to Improve Life for Children and Youth.
We provide food, clothing, and cleaning supplies immediately after a disaster through churches, schools, and community organizations near the impacted area. We provide new, high-quality school supplies to help young people reconnect with their education. We also provide building materials for home repair and long-term rebuilding and recovery.