Indianapolis

For more than 90 years, United Way of Central Indiana has supported innovative, practical and efficient agencies and programs in order to address local needs. United Way of Central Indiana helps sustain vital human services for those who need help most while reducing such needs for future generations.

United Way of Central Indiana is focused on two priorities: Meeting the community's
human service needs; and helping kids start school ready to learn and graduate ready
to earn. United Way of Central Indiana operates in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties. Local volunteers identify, plan and carry out community-building and fundraising activities for health and human care solutions here in Central Indiana.

In support of its efforts, United Way of Central Indiana periodically conducts a community assessment. This in-depth study of the Central Indiana community and its current needs is designed to create a collective understanding of key community conditions, assets and concerns.

Social Assets and Vulnerabilities Indicators (SAVI)

As the name implies, SAVI is an electronic database that includes data on community assets such as schools, churches and community centers, as well as information on community vulnerabilities such as crime, safety, poverty and health. SAVI, launched in 1993, is a joint database project of the United Way/Community Service Council of Central Indiana and the Polis Center. Building on the strengths of both organizations, the United Way/CSC handles SAVI training and community outreach, while Polis provides research assistance and collects, analyzes and maps the data. SAVI's mapped and tabular data covers the Indianapolis metropolitan area. SAVI is intended to help human service agencies, governments, community organizations, and individuals conduct research, as well as engage in planning, community development and policy making.

Polis and United Way/CSC are committed to making this valuable information on central Indiana available to many users. SAVI is available free of cost in many public libraries in Central Indiana, and enhanced access sites are also available for a fee. In recent years, Polis and United Way/CSC have made great strides in improving access to SAVI through interactive mapping and data delivery over the web.