Tarrant County United Way's role in public policy focuses on educating the community and elected officials about how health and human service policies and practices affect constituents and advocating for policies and services that promote healthy communities. Our public policy activities have included

• Convening a Public Policy Committee
• Hearing briefings from local health and human service coalitions on issues of concern
• Developing a legislative agenda
• Hosting legislative forums
• Providing testimony at public hearings
• Writing letters explaining implications of proposed policies
• Talking to elected officials about the effects of policies on local constituents  

The 2009 Legislative Agenda of United Way of Tarrant County was developed by the Public Policy Committee in partnership with our Impact Councils, regional offices in Arlington and Northeast Tarrant County, partner agencies, other community non-profit organizations, United Ways of Texas and United Way of America.

Tarrant County United Way's 2009 Legislative Agenda is divided into three tiers:

Legislative Priorities
•  United Way will take the lead on selected issues in its three priority areas: education, income and health, the building blocks for a good life.

Issues of Interest
• United Way is also interested in other health and human service issues of concern to Tarrant County, on which other organizations will take the lead. 

Issues to be Monitored
• Where these issues are concerned, United Way will stay alert to legislation that could be detrimental or supportive, and be ready to resond.