Addressing urgent needs today for a better tomorrow

A crisis can strike at any time. From natural disasters to child abuse, from emotional trauma to emergency needs, recovery takes more than immediate relief. It takes long-term support, trusted community connections, and systems built for both healing and prevention.

At United Way of Sumner County, we help our neighbors prepare for and respond to life’s most difficult moments. By supporting trauma-informed care, legal aid, emergency response, and disaster recovery efforts, we work to ensure individuals and families can find help, healing, and hope.

Impact Area Initiatives

Through this impact area, we support programs that address trauma, strengthen safety nets, and increase community preparedness and resilience:

• Disaster Relief and Recovery
  When disaster strikes, we’re here right away AND here to stay.  We help individuals and families access emergency supplies, shelter, and support, and we walk alongside them through recovery.  Our Disaster Relief Hub with information for how to donate to disaster relief, volunteer for cleanup efforts, and find help resources for victims had almost 3,000 page views following the December 2023 tornado.
• Emergency Preparedness
  We support efforts that help residents, schools, and community organizations plan and prepare for emergencies before they happen, strengthening resilience across Sumner County.
• Crisis Hotline and Support
  In moments of personal crisis, immediate connection matters. We help fund hotlines and support networks that provide counseling, resource referrals, and stabilization for those facing domestic violence, abuse, addiction, or suicide risk.
• Trauma Prevention and Recovery
  We invest in programs that address the root causes and long-term effects of trauma, offering education, therapy, legal advocacy, and safe spaces for those impacted by abuse, neglect, violence, and loss.

Why This Matters in Sumner County

• In FY23, there were 7.2 victims of child abuse or neglect per 1,000 children in Sumner County, a number higher than the state average.
• Children under age one account for the majority of abuse deaths in Tennessee. Between 2018 and 2022, 62% of child deaths were infants under age one.
• Nearly 7,500 Tennessee children are victims of domestic violence each year, and roughly 1 in 6 of those are repeat victims, often despite protective orders
• 13% of students in Sumner County were chronically absent in 2023. Chronic absenteeism is often a sign of trauma, instability, or caregiving burdens at home.
• In 2024, 1,465 Sumner County residents called 211 in the midst of crisis, most commonly for housing, food, and utility needs.
• In 2024, emergency housing requests made up nearly half (47%) of all 211 calls, underscoring the urgency of crisis response and shelter services.
• 42.7% of Tennessee high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in the past year which is higher than the national average of 39.7%.
• Among high school girls, this rate jumps to 55%, and among boys, 30%—a 50% increase since 2013.
• More than 1 in 4 high school students (over 25%) reported attempting to hurt themselves (e.g., cutting or burning) in the past year without suicidal intent. Among girls, the rate is 38.9%.
• 15% of Tennessee high school students reported attempting suicide in the past year—significantly higher than the national average of 9.5%.
• 35% of students said they have lived with someone who was depressed, mentally ill, or suicidal—pointing to widespread exposure to household mental health struggles.

Together, We Can Build a More Resilient Community

At United Way of Sumner County, we know that crisis doesn’t end when the headlines fade. Recovery takes time—and it takes a community. That’s why we partner with local nonprofits, legal advocates, schools, health professionals, and volunteers to respond quickly, provide support, and help people rebuild their lives.

Whether it’s protecting children from abuse, guiding a family through disaster recovery, offering mental health support to a struggling teen, or connecting someone to emergency shelter, we stand ready to help our neighbors face life’s toughest challenges.

Because resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about healing, growing, and finding a path forward. Together, we’re building a stronger, safer Sumner County where no one faces crisis alone.

To learn more about these programs, click HERE.

Sources:
2024 Sumner County Profile from the TN Commission on Children and Youth Child Well Being
2024 Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth's The State of the Child in Tennessee
2024 211 Counts