United Way briefs McLennan County on child‑wellbeing plan as court proclaims weeks and months for child protection
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Summary
McLennan County commissioners approved proclamations recognizing Belinda Summers’ 32 years of service, Child Abuse Awareness Month and the Week of the Young Child, and heard a United Way update on the county Child Well‑being Movement emphasizing coordinated services, 112 action steps and plans to expand the Dolly Parton Imagination Library locally.
The McLennan County Commissioner’s Court entered into the minutes a proclamation honoring Belinda Summers for 32 years of county service and approved proclamations designating April as Child Abuse Awareness Month and April 11–17, 2026 as the Week of the Young Child.
Dustin Chapman read the proclamations into the record and the court voted to approve and enter them in the official minutes. After the proclamation honoring her, the honoree said she was humbled. “I just appreciate everybody for this. I’m very humbled,” the honoree said during brief remarks and introduced family members.
The court then heard a presentation from United Way representatives about the McLennan County Child Well‑being Movement and a community action plan United Way helped convene. The presenters said the plan has five focus areas — including expanding access to high‑quality early care and meeting basic needs — and that nearly 17,000 children ages 0–5 live in McLennan County. Presenters reported that of 112 action steps in the plan, roughly 15 remain unaddressed and that work groups are recalibrating priorities.
“We are a nonprofit organization that has been working here in McLennan County for over 100 years,” the United Way representative said, noting local funding and partnership strategies that keep most donated dollars in the county. The presentation listed specific program steps the group is pursuing, including taking on local administration of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library affiliate with plans to add a fully bilingual track for interested families and expanding ZIP‑code eligibility.
United Way also described recent activities and community supports: a one‑day designated agency summit with 36 agencies aimed at improving coordinated referrals and warm handoffs, publication of a public agency resource guide listing 50 vetted organizations and an internal phone book to speed agency‑to‑agency connections. Upcoming public events highlighted to the court included an April 24 community book drive and an April 16 “Impact Unplugged” event.
Commissioners praised the coordination emphasis and stressed the need to limit duplication and track budget implications. The judge and other members urged continued reporting on progress and asked United Way and partner agencies to return with updates on priorities and any outstanding funding needs.
