Getting Human Needs on the National Radar Screen

National Human Services Assembly, Spring 2012

Why this is an issue:

1% 2% 3% FEDERAL FUNDING 5% 21% 7% Safety Net Programs 37% STATE FUNDING 26% 22% 20% 13% 6% 13% All Other 1% 5% 5% 13% All other

Why this is an issue:

Why this is an issue:

Sector is confused with charity

Why now?

• The funding outlook could barely be worse.

• The needs rising to the surface are not identified with human services.

• We’re talking problems and programs, when the clamor is for solutions (and EBP).

• We knew before the looming crisis that the system was fragmented and broken.

TAX REVENUE FEDERAL EXPENDITURES = FEDERAL DEFIC IT

In crisis, opportunity

What is the opportunity:

• Find a better way of communicating • Get more of us to communicate the same way…and in concert • Leverage the opportunity to re-form broken systems, innovate Image source: wiesp @ deviantart.com

Safety Net

Your frame for Safety Net:

• Allowed you to process the information quickly • Make sense of the information, i.e., contextualize it • • Fill in any blanks • Direct your thinking

May contrast with others’ frame for the term!

A frame on a given subject is about how a person receives information.

Framing

is about how we shape the information to get the best possible reception.

But frames are tricky and hard to change: • They are pretty strongly held and emotionally triggered • New information, even contradictory information, can reinforce a frame

One’s

political point of view

is a critical element of his/her internal framing of human needs and human services.

The intake of information differs, for example, if one believes more strongly in personal responsibility or community responsibility.

Our challenge is to find common values and language that do not trigger just one pole or the other. Most of us agree, for example: • Everyone should be a healthy, productive, contributing member of the community • Individuals and families should take maximum responsibility for caring for their own • Community adds value to individuals, families, and the state

The Best Framing:

• Resonates with the individual (this is about me and mine not just other people) • Is based on research not supposition and bias • Is about solutions not problems • Uses data strategically and sparingly

How do we apply this to human services?

1. Walk the talk: solutions not problems; opportunities not programs 2.

Organize “human needs-human services” so people can easily capture the concept (build their own frame around it) 3. Do the research to find out what language works 4. Adopt ourselves first and then roll out to our constituents

NHSA’s working concept:

Capturing the “all” of human development in a few inter-related, relatable, positive concepts:

Children & Youth

Outcome Ready for college, work and life Dimensions Strategies

Learning: Achieve academic foundation at each stage; success in school Informal education reinforces Common Core Standards Working: Children know and follow career paths Career exploration addressed at all stages, ramped up in grades x-z Thriving: Children are healthy, nourished, and fit; and have habits to sustain wellness Fitness and health addressed in all intake and service plans; a major component of every youth program Connecting: Children relate positively to others, within and beyond family; participate in ways that build community Family connection/engagement an element of school, out of school assessment; civic engagement and relationship bldg. explicit learning topics Leading: Children exhibit attitudes and behaviors of civic responsibility, exercise leadership Personal and community leadership are elements at grades x, y, and z

Next Steps

• • Building imagery around these desired outcomes Fleshing out the elements of each outcome — at a high, non-jargony level:

Outcome Strategy Implementing Policy/Programs Metrics

Engaging expertise to get to language that resonates…

What would success look like?

• • • Human development (or whatever term) is an integral part of public budgets There is public will around the concept and reality of human development As a society, we are more successful at achieving positive outcomes for people

• Children and Youth • Older Adults • Families • People with Disabilities