AdvocatePublic Policy

Speak together and be heard

Policy makers are critical partners in promoting health, education, workforce development, and human services, so we actively engage, help educate, and advocate for good policy. And when you add your voice to our chorus, you make us that much louder and that much more effective.

Metro United Way 2026 Public Policy Priorities

Metro United Way recognizes that systemic change and lasting impact require a pairing of powerful programming and transformative policy making. Elected officials and administrative leaders are critical partners in promoting equity and opportunity for all people in the areas of education, economic mobility, and health, and as such, Metro United Way actively engages in public policy efforts.

The range of issues affecting our priorities is vast. To be effective, Metro United Way has a targeted public policy agenda below that has relevancy across our seven-county and two-state region.

Download Public Policy Priorities Document

Thriving Kids

There’s nothing more important than ensuring our community’s children have what they need to thrive.
  • Ensure access to prenatal care that addresses disparities in birth outcomes and maternal health
    • MUW Programming: Ready for K Alliance
  • Increase availability of high-quality, affordable care, early childhood learning opportunities, and individualized supports for families
    • MUW Programming: Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), Ready for K Alliance
  • Enhance accessibility to out-of-school time programming, academic supports, and interventions for youth and families to ensure they are connected to their community
    • MUW Programming: Youth Success Network, Young Men United

 

Strong Households

When families have what they need, they can break cycles of poverty and work toward a better tomorrow for future generations and our entire community.
  • Advocate for greater access to safe, affordable, and stable housing across all income levels
    • MUW Programming: Siemer Institute, Southern Indiana Housing Initiative, Louisville Lead Safe Strategic Plan, Housing Alliance Louisville
  • Ensure households have resources they need to not only achieve safety and stability, but to thrive and improve their economic mobility
    • MUW Programming: YALift!, Bank on Louisville, VITA, Workforce Financial Coaching, Housing Alliance Louisville
  • Provide framework and support for social service organizations so that they have resources to provide quality, timely care to the community members they serve
    • MUW Programming: United Community, 211, CORE Home Repair Hub, Mission Marketplace

 

Equitable Community

We envision the Greater Louisville region as a place where zip code doesn’t determine destiny and everyone has the opportunity to grow into their full potential.
  • Implement equitable, common sense criminal justice reforms that prevent at-risk individuals from becoming justice-involved and promote successful reentry from the justice system
    • MUW Programming: H.O.P.E (Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, Empowerment) United Fellowship
  • Address the history of structural and institutional policies that have perpetuated cycles of generational poverty
    • MUW Programming: Fund BLACK Founders, United Neighborhoods, Racial Wealth Gap Simulation, Black L.O.V.E. (Live, Own, Vote, Excel) Philanthropic Partnership, H.O.P.E United Fellowship, Louisville Support for Immigrant Coalition
  • Promote civic and voter engagement to ensure that all voices are heard in the decision-making processes that shape our shared future
    • MUW Programming: Black L.O.V.E. Philanthropic Partnership

 

Nonprofit Sector

Empowering nonprofits is crucial to their ability to meet critical needs and solve our community’s most pressing challenges.
  • Promote tax policy that fuels community solutions through nonprofits and encourages philanthropic giving
  • Support laws and executive actions that help build stronger communities by strengthening the nonprofit sector and its workforce
Kentucky Legislative Tracker Indiana Legislative Tracker

Kentucky’s 2026 Legislative
Session Updates

(February 26, 2026) Metro United Way congratulates the Kentucky Senate for its passage of Senate Bill 122 – the Family Preservation and Accountability Act. This measure balances public safety with children’s need for family and caregiver stability by encouraging judges to consider the caregiving responsibilities and alternatives to incarceration at the sentencing phase for nonviolent offenses.

We are grateful to Sen. Julie Raque Adams for championing this thoughtful legislation that promotes family stability and prevents unnecessary harm to Kentucky’s children when safe alternatives to incarceration are available.

(February 24, 2026) House Bill 185 takes a practical approach to eliminating barriers for Kentuckians with past convictions, allowing them greater access to careers in the public sector and licensed professions, and improving employment opportunities while re-entering the workforce. Metro United Way is excited to see this important measure pass the Kentucky House. A special thanks to Rep. Emily Callaway for championing this bill to support re-entry and strengthen Kentucky families.

(February 20, 2026) Metro United Way applauds the Kentucky Senate for advancing Senate Bill 80, a bipartisan proposal to restore voting rights to Kentuckians who have completed their sentences.

At Metro United Way, we believe strong communities depend on full civic participation and meaningful opportunities for individuals to reengage and contribute after involvement with the justice system. Policies that support successful reentry help strengthen families, expand economic opportunity, and promote more stable communities across the Commonwealth.

Senate Bill 80 reflects a thoughtful step toward recognizing that when individuals have completed their sentences, pathways back to full participation in civic life matter — not only for those individuals, but for the health of our communities and our workforce.

We are grateful to Sen. Jimmy Higdon and Sen. Keturah Herron for championing this legislation and look forward to continued engagement as the measure moves forward.

(February 12, 2026) Metro United Way celebrates today’s committee passage of House Bill 6 and Joint Resolution 50!

Together, these measures will strengthen the state’s child care infrastructure, support working families, and reinforce the role child care plays in Kentucky’s workforce and economy.

We are grateful to Rep. Samara Heavrin for her championship of these policies. MUW looks forward to standing with partners and legislators to move these policy solutions forward for final passage in this legislative session.

JOIN US!

From Impact to Advocacy: The Path from Pantry to Policy

Metro United Way is convening partners from the front lines of food access and the policy arena to examine how direct service experience can drive smarter, more effective solutions — and what providers are seeing as community needs continue to rise. Because ensuring no one goes hungry is only the starting point — our community should be positioned to thrive.

Featuring Vincent James (Dare to Care), Rhonda Bowles Kumar (Feed Louisville), and Representative Rachel Roarx (KY House District 38), this discussion will spotlight the path from pantry to policy and the systems change our community needs.

Monday, April 20, 2026
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Metro United Way
334 East Broadway, Louisville, KY 40204
Lunch will be provided.

Register

JOIN OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK

 

/

Resources

  • Vote411

    Metro United Way has partnered with VOTE411 to provide information on voting and elections and features a tool which helps people get information about upcoming elections, polling places, and check their registration.

    View

  • The Family Preservation and Accountability Act Overview

    Download

  • Louisville Housing Needs Assessment

    Download

  • Housing: The Affordability Challenge in a Growing Region

    Clark and Floyd Counties, Indiana

    Download

  • Foundation for Action: Child Care Solutions Report

    Read Report Here

  • Health Impacts of Proposed Land Development Code Reform: Benefits of Middle Housing

    Download

  • A Qualitative Assessment of Prenatal Care and Prenatal Care Access in Louisville / Jefferson County

    Download

  • Eviction Expungement: A Tool to Reduce Homelessness and Improve Health for Kentuckians

    Download

  • Update to the Health Impact Assessment of Kentucky’s Child Care Assistance Program:

    Increasing eligibility for Public Pre-Kindergarten Support

    Download

  • Health Impact Assessment of Expungement Policy in Kentucky

    Click to View Assessment

  • Health Impact Assessment of Kentucky’s Child Care Assistance Program

    Download

  • Impact of COVID on KY's Child Care Providers

    Learn More

  • Greater Louisville Project Early Childhood Report

    View Report

  • 2023 State of Metropolitan Housing Report

    Download

Connect with us

Sign up and find out about everything we’re doing for people in the community. Or how you can help us make a difference.