Upstream Activity & Further Resources

River Story

Link to the video at Women with Heart program - River Story

What Is Downstream/Upstream?

Downstream approach reacts to problems after they’ve occurred, while Upstream approach aims to prevent problems from happening in the first place! Upstream approach looks at systemic factors that influence the mushrooming of problems into even bigger problems. (Learn more)

Resource: Let's Talk - Moving Upstream (National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health) - pdf available to download

Our Partner Agencies

Click here for the list of Greater Mankato Area United Way's partner agencies.

Sunflower Activity: Examples of Ways to Take Action

DOWNSTREAM: Intervene after there is a problem.

Volunteer at a food shelf or meal program.
Hold a supply drive for personal care items (toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, deodorant) that can be donated to shelters or food shelves.
Donate money to a homeless shelter.

MIDSTREAM: Identify and intervene early to minimize or prevent ongoing harm.

Let a friend or colleague know you’re ready to listen when they are ready to talk about their mental health or substance use disorder.
Be a volunteer tutor or mentor.
Volunteer to give rides to older adults.
As an employer, give employees a safe place to discuss their needs.
Diversify membership on nonprofit boards, committees, and task forces.
Invite, listen, and support the leadership of people most impacted by factors that contribute to health inequities.
Empower an underrepresented voice to participate in decision-making.
Join a United Way Community Impact Team and/or invite someone from an underrepresented community to join you. (Employers, encourage employees to attend during paid work hours).

UPSTREAM: Identify the structural factors connected to health and wellness. Interventions create the positive conditions that prevent problems and create the conditions that make downstream and mid-stream intervention less necessary and more successful.

Learn more about what it means to move “upstream.”
Educate yourself on a current issue and how it affects our community.
Learn about and advocate for a policy you care about, such as affordable childcare policies, living wage policies, etc.
Learn more about equity in the places where you work, play, worship, and within our community.
Challenge your assumptions about factors that impact health and wellness. This may include poverty, homelessness, housing insecurity, hunger and food insecurity, mental health and mental illness, involvement in the criminal justice system or child welfare system, and more.
Learn more about the history of ableism, ageism, racism, sexism, or other issues.
Find and join a group or coalition doing upstream work.
Think of your own idea to go upstream.
Participate in United Way’s conversations about moving upstream (please include your name and email on the sunflower petal).