Ann Bandy "LIVES UNITED" for Northern Oklahoma Youth Services

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Ann Bandy is a long time resident and successful business woman in Ponca City. Despite her busy schedule as a State
Farm Insurance Agent, Ann finds time to be an active volunteer for the CASA program sponsored by Northern Oklahoma
Youth Services a United Way Agency.  Ann joined the CASA family in November of 2005, reasoning that her teaching
background, the common sense gleaned from having been a parent, and the proper training through the CASA program
would make her a good volunteer.

When asked how she came to be a CASA Volunteer, Ann said, “I had been familiar with the CASA Program while I was
volunteering with other organizations for several years. I eventually decided that I would like to volunteer more time to
one organization where I could really make a difference.” According to Vearl Caid, Executive Director of  NOYS, “A CASA
volunteer is not your ordinary volunteer. Ann invests a lot of time and energy to advocate for young victims in the child
welfare system. Like all CASA volunteers, Ann completed a rigorous 40 hour initial training course. Her CASA cases are
complex and continue for many months. Ann recently finished her third case in as many years.  Last year she volunteered
144 hours averaging 12 hours per month.”

Ann is a perfect example of “LIVING UNITED”.  She gives to the local campaign and advocates for distressed children
as a volunteer for the CASA program.  Ann says, “I've always felt that if you can make the difference in the life of a child, 
then your life has counted for something” That’s how Ann Bandy LIVES UNITED.

Northern Oklahoma Youth Services

Northern Oklahoma Youth Services (NOYS) has been a United Way member agency for the past two decades.
In that time NOYS has seen a change in the needs of young people and their families.  “We are excited by the bold national goals set by the United
Way of America” says Vearl Caid, Executive Director of NOYS. Although United Ways are locally led and locally driven, United Way of America
has set national goals to help communities meet some of the greatest needs including health, education and financial stability.  These goals are
to: “cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school; cut by half the number of working families that lack financial stability
and increase by one-third the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behaviors.” Using the latest slogan, “LIVE UNITED” the
national United Way is encouraging local United Way organizations to lead their communities to embrace and accomplish these goals. 

The Board and management of NOYS see the value of these goals as they are consistent with the goals and objectives of the service programs
delivered by NOYS for the past decade.  The planned outcomes of many of the current projects are directly consistent with the new goals. 
Cutting the number of students who drop out by half requires improved readiness for kindergarten and closer attention to students as they move
through the school system.” The NOYS Family Resource Program provides in-home and center based education and social work to assist teenage
and other at-risk parents to raise healthy babies that are ready for kindergarten when the time comes. Our Outreach Counseling program, Shelter
Program, ARMS Mentoring Program, Family Education Program and First Time Offenders Program encourage youth to remain in school and to
achieve by addressing personal and family issues that leads to poor performance and dropout behavior.

Reaching young people is critical if the goal to reduce “by half the number of working families that lack financial stability” in the next ten years.
NOYS programs are directed at outcomes that will directly affect the ability of today’s youth to achieve financial stability when they are in the
workforce. Counseling assists youths to avoid delinquency and other self-defeating behaviors that limit employability. The NOYS Youth Workforce
Initiative Act Program helps youth from low income families stay in school and make realistic plans for future education and career goals.    

The third national goal is to “increase by one-third the number of youth and adults who are healthy and avoid risky behaviors” We are doing our
part by assisting families and children develop mentally healthy lifestyles through our Counseling and Family Education Programs. Our Family
Resource Program is partially funded by the Oklahoma State Dept of Health and is highly involved in early child hood health issues and promotes
health screening, smoking cessation and substance abuse treatment when needed. All of the NOYS programs teach young people to avoid risky
behavior. 

NOYS service programs are designed to promote the United Way goals and make our community a better place to live. That’s how we LIVE UNITED!