Young African American woman in a classroom

Community Change

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is improving the neighborhoods where young people and their families live by promoting access to high-quality schools, affordable homes and good jobs. Read about our work here.

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Our Work in Community Change

When neighborhoods have quality schools, accessible job opportunities, reliable transportation and safe places for recreation, young people are better positioned for success in adulthood. Yet millions of children live in high-poverty neighborhoods that lack these critical assets. Here’s how we’re working to change the odds.

Building supportive communities that offer children and adults a range of educational and economic opportunities

High-quality early child care and education are key to healthy development but out of reach for too many kids.

For many families, housing costs take a significant chunk out of an already meager paycheck, and being forced to move again and again is a reality. Their communities need more housing options that remain affordable for the long term.

Developing local, state and national partnerships to promote policy reform and community change on a broader scale

Documenting best practices in community development

Transforming a neighborhood may involve rehabbing or building new housing on a scale that disrupts a community to ultimately establish safety and stability. Such projects should put people first, lessen the impact of relocation on residents and create a mixed-income community with affordable homes.

Current Strategies

Atlanta Civic Site

Ourwork initiatives atlantaciviccenter

The Atlanta Civic Site helps families in Southside Atlanta’s NPU-V neighborhoods access good schools, housing, income, and career opportunities to thrive.

Baltimore Civic Site

Ourwork initiaitves baltimorecivicsite

We’re building partnerships across sectors to boost education, jobs, health and neighborhood outcomes for Baltimore City’s youth and families.

Evidence2Success

Ourwork initiatives evidence2success

Public systems, schools and communities guiding public investment toward evidence-based programs that improve the growth and development of kids and youth.

Related Past Initiatives

Family-Centered Community Change

Ourwork initiatives familycenteredchange

We partnered with community development initiatives in Buffalo, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and San Antonio, Texas, to improve the quality of schools for kids and build job and parenting skills for the adults in their lives.

Making Connections

Ourwork pastwork makingconnections

Making Connections showed that kids and families thrive in strong communities — a belief that continues to guide Casey’s two-generation approach today.

Responsible Fatherhood and Marriage

Ourwork pastwork responsiblefatherhood

Casey promotes strong families by supporting responsible fatherhood through education, research and community networks that boost parent involvement.

Faith-Based Initiatives

Ourwork pastwork faithbased

Faith communities supported kids and families through Making Connections, with investments aiding reentry and children of incarcerated parents. Read more.

Rebuilding Communities Initiative

Ourwork pastwork rebuildingcommunities

Launched in 1994, this seven-year initiative trained residents to lead local change and laid the groundwork for the Making Connections effort. Learn more.

Plain Talk

Ourwork pastwork plaintalk

Launched in 1993, Plain Talk showed that preventing teen pregnancy means equipping adults to share clear, credible messages. Its model has spread widely.

New Futures

Ourwork pastwork newfutures

Launched in 1988, New Futures tested strategies to reduce teen pregnancy and dropout rates — shaping nearly every Casey initiative that followed.

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